| name | spec-chat |
| description | Discussion mode. Everything said during this mode is treated as thinking material only — no documents are touched. Use for brainstorming directions, or to talk through concerns about a proposal before deciding how to change it. |
$spec-chat
Topic: $ARGUMENTS
Entering discussion mode
Everything the user says during this mode is treated as thinking material — no documents are touched.
- Does not write research.md
- Does not write proposal.md
- Does not call $spec-revise
- Does not write project source code
May Read existing artifacts for discussion context.
Value
Makes "discussion mode" an explicit state. Prevents Claude from automatically editing documents when you share feedback — this is the SDD workflow's "safe pause zone".
Exit conditions
The user issues a clear command to switch to another mode:
| User says | Transition to |
|---|
| "update the proposal based on what we just discussed" / "revise section X" | $spec-revise [section] |
| "research X again" / "look into Y" | $spec-research <direction> |
| "we just surfaced N TBDs — ask me about them" | $spec-ask |
| "let's draw the architecture" | $spec-design |
| "let's pick this up tomorrow" / "leave it for now" | stay in chat mode |
No explicit switch command → stay in chat mode and keep talking.
Anti-patterns
- ❌ User shares a view → immediately editing the proposal (that is not chat, it is overstepping)
- ❌ Presenting options A / B / C → picking one without asking the user's preference (that is
$spec-ask's job)
- ❌ Drifting into writing code during a chat session (Write/Edit on project source is NEVER allowed in chat mode)
- ❌ Wrapping up with a "meeting notes" md file (no touching documents means no touching documents)
Boundaries with other commands
| Command | Touches proposal | Touches research | Signal to Claude |
|---|
$spec-chat | ❌ | ❌ | "just talk, don't act yet" |
$spec-ask | ❌ | ✅ (TBD→Decided) | "structurally ask me about preference-driven decisions" |
$spec-revise [seg] | ✅ (partial) | ❌ | "I know what I want to change in section X" |
$spec-propose | ✅ (full) | ❌ | "write or rewrite from scratch" |
