Tools

SpecDD works as plain files first. The CLI handles project setup and framework updates. Agents & Skills covers two paths for AI coding agents: named integrations for specific agents, and universal Agent Skills for clients that support the open Agent Skills standard. The JetBrains plugin adds editor support for .sdd files.

SpecDD CLI

Use the CLI to initialize SpecDD in a project, update an existing SpecDD setup, and check whether the local framework files are current.

Source and help: github.com/specdd/cli

Install with npm:

npm install --global specdd

Install with Yarn:

yarn global add specdd

Install with Homebrew:

brew tap specdd/cli
brew install specdd

Run with Docker:

docker run --rm specdd/cli:latest --help
docker run --rm ghcr.io/specdd/cli:latest --help

Initialize SpecDD in the current directory:

specdd init

Initialize SpecDD in another directory:

specdd init path/to/project

Update an existing SpecDD setup:

specdd update

Check whether an update is available:

specdd check-update

The npm and Yarn installs require Node.js 22 or newer. For all command options, run specdd --help or specdd <command> --help.

Agents & Skills

SpecDD can give your AI coding assistant the same project rules a human reads in .sdd files. If you use Codex, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Antigravity, Junie, or Cline, start with the dedicated plugin below. If you use another tool that supports Agent Skills , install the universal Agent Skills package instead.

Dedicated Agent Plugins

These plugins package the SpecDD skills for each supported agent’s own install system. The Codex, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Antigravity, Junie, and Cline integrations are generated from the same shared source repository and expose the same SpecDD skills.

Source repository: github.com/specdd/agent-plugins

The shared skills help agents:

• Read a target project’s active .specdd/bootstrap.md chain.
• Use the SpecDD CLI for project setup, updates, checks, and Agent Skills deployment.
• Author or revise .sdd specs while preserving ownership, authority, and SpecDD language rules.
• Resolve local .sdd spec authority before editing.
• Orient themselves in a SpecDD project before work starts.
• Explain specs in concise human language.
• Plan changes under existing specs.
• Implement code, docs, tests, tasks, or spec changes under authority.
• Review diffs against active SpecDD contracts.
• Find, add, organize, and verify SpecDD tasks.
• Trace specs to code, tests, docs, changed files, and coverage gaps.
• Derive focused tests from governing specs.
• Refactor while preserving specified behavior.
• Debug by comparing failures to the governing contract.
• Turn specs into user or developer documentation.
• Classify change risk before work starts.

Codex

Source and install details: github.com/specdd/plugin-codex

Install from the SpecDD marketplace:

codex plugin marketplace add specdd/specdd --ref main
codex plugin add specdd@specdd

Claude Code

Source and install details: github.com/specdd/plugin-claude

Install from the SpecDD marketplace:

claude plugin marketplace add specdd/specdd
claude plugin install specdd@specdd

GitHub Copilot

Source and install details: github.com/specdd/plugin-copilot

Install each desired SpecDD skill separately with GitHub CLI.

GitHub CLI Skill Installs

GitHub CLI installs one skill at a time. Replace specdd-orient with any skill ID from the list below. See the gh skill install manual for command options.

Available skill IDs:

• specdd-adopt
• specdd-author
• specdd-cli
• specdd-debug
• specdd-do
• specdd-docs
• specdd-explain
• specdd-orient
• specdd-plan
• specdd-refactor
• specdd-review
• specdd-risk
• specdd-task
• specdd-test
• specdd-trace

gh skill install specdd/plugin-copilot specdd-orient

Alternative - universal Agent Skills: You can use universal Agent Skills as an alternative installation method.

Antigravity

Source and install details: github.com/specdd/plugin-antigravity

Install from the plugin repository:

agy plugin install https://github.com/specdd/plugin-antigravity.git

Junie

Source and install details: github.com/specdd/plugin-junie

Install globally by copying the skills into Junie’s user skills directory:

git clone https://github.com/specdd/plugin-junie.git /tmp/specdd-plugin-junie
mkdir -p ~/.junie/skills
cp -R /tmp/specdd-plugin-junie/skills/* ~/.junie/skills/

For a project-local install, copy the skills into .junie/skills/ instead.

Alternative - GitHub CLI: Use gh skill install with --agent junie --scope user; see the gh skill install manual .

Alternative - universal Agent Skills: You can use universal Agent Skills as an alternative installation method.

Cline

Source and install details: github.com/specdd/plugin-cline

Install globally by copying the skills into Cline’s user skills directory:

git clone https://github.com/specdd/plugin-cline.git /tmp/specdd-plugin-cline
mkdir -p ~/.cline/skills
cp -R /tmp/specdd-plugin-cline/skills/* ~/.cline/skills/

For a project-local install, copy the skills into .cline/skills/ instead.

Alternative - GitHub CLI: Use gh skill install with --agent cline --scope user; see the gh skill install manual .

Alternative - universal Agent Skills: You can use universal Agent Skills as an alternative installation method.

Universal Agent Skills

SpecDD also publishes an Agent Skills -standard package for clients that support the portable skills format. Agent Skills package procedural knowledge as version-controlled folders that compatible agents can discover and load when a task calls for them. This is the universal path for Agent Skills-compatible agents, including clients that do not have a SpecDD-specific plugin yet.

SpecDD Agent Skills source and install details: github.com/specdd/agentskills

Agent Skills are currently supported by a wide variety of agents and clients: VS Code, Claude, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, OpenHands, Roo Code, Kiro, Goose, Amp, Agentman, Autohand Code CLI, bub, Command Code, Databricks Genie Code, Emdash, Factory, fast-agent, Firebender, Google AI Edge Gallery, Laravel Boost, Letta, Mistral AI Vibe, Mux, nanobot, Ona, pi, Piebald, Qodo, Snowflake Cortex Code, Spring AI, Superconductor, Tabnine, TRAE, Vita, VT Code, and Workshop.

The recommended install path uses the SpecDD CLI:

specdd agentskills deploy

That installs the skills into the current project’s Agent Skills directory:

<cwd>/.agents/skills

Install into another project directory:

specdd agentskills deploy path/to/project

Install globally for clients that read the user Agent Skills directory:

specdd agentskills deploy --user

That installs into:

~/.agents/skills

For manual installation, clone the package and copy the specdd-* skill directories into the target client’s skills directory.

JetBrains Plugin

Use the JetBrains plugin for IDE support while editing .sdd specification files. It provides syntax highlighting, structural validation, section documentation, structure view entries, section and path completion, clickable project file references, unresolved path warnings, and create-file quick fixes.

Marketplace page: plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/31808-specdd

Install from the IDE:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Plugins.
3. Open the Marketplace tab.
4. Search for SpecDD.
5. Click Install and restart the IDE if prompted.

Install from the command line with the plugin ID:

idea installPlugins ai.specdd.idea

Depending on your JetBrains IDE and launcher setup, the command may be idea, idea.sh, or a product-specific launcher generated by JetBrains Toolbox.