leonvanzyl

gsd-to-autocoder-spec

@leonvanzyl/gsd-to-autocoder-spec
leonvanzyl
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Updated 1/18/2026
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Convert GSD codebase mapping to Autocoder app_spec.txt. This skill should be used when the user has run /gsd:map-codebase and wants to use Autocoder on an existing project. Triggers: "convert to autocoder", "gsd to spec", "create app_spec from codebase", "use autocoder on existing project", after /gsd:map-codebase completion.

Installation

$skills install @leonvanzyl/gsd-to-autocoder-spec
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Details

Path.claude/skills/gsd-to-autocoder-spec/SKILL.md
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Scoped Name@leonvanzyl/gsd-to-autocoder-spec

Usage

After installing, this skill will be available to your AI coding assistant.

Verify installation:

skills list

Skill Instructions


name: gsd-to-autocoder-spec description: | Convert GSD codebase mapping to Autocoder app_spec.txt. This skill should be used when the user has run /gsd:map-codebase and wants to use Autocoder on an existing project. Triggers: "convert to autocoder", "gsd to spec", "create app_spec from codebase", "use autocoder on existing project", after /gsd:map-codebase completion.

GSD to Autocoder Spec Converter

Converts .planning/codebase/*.md (GSD mapping output) to prompts/app_spec.txt (Autocoder format).

When to Use

  • After running /gsd:map-codebase on an existing project
  • When onboarding an existing codebase to Autocoder
  • User wants Autocoder to continue development on existing code

Prerequisites

The project must have .planning/codebase/ with these files:

  • STACK.md - Technology stack (required)
  • ARCHITECTURE.md - Code architecture (required)
  • STRUCTURE.md - Directory layout (required)
  • CONVENTIONS.md - Code conventions (optional)
  • INTEGRATIONS.md - External services (optional)

Process

<step name="verify_input"> ### Step 1: Verify GSD Mapping Exists
ls -la .planning/codebase/

Required files: STACK.md, ARCHITECTURE.md, STRUCTURE.md

If .planning/codebase/ doesn't exist:

GSD codebase mapping not found.

Run /gsd:map-codebase first to analyze the existing codebase.

Stop workflow. </step>

<step name="read_codebase_docs"> ### Step 2: Read Codebase Documentation

Read all available GSD documents:

cat .planning/codebase/STACK.md
cat .planning/codebase/ARCHITECTURE.md
cat .planning/codebase/STRUCTURE.md
cat .planning/codebase/CONVENTIONS.md 2>/dev/null || true
cat .planning/codebase/INTEGRATIONS.md 2>/dev/null || true

Extract key information:

  • From STACK.md: Languages, frameworks, dependencies, runtime, ports
  • From ARCHITECTURE.md: Patterns, layers, data flow, entry points
  • From STRUCTURE.md: Directory layout, key file locations, naming conventions
  • From INTEGRATIONS.md: External APIs, services, databases </step>
<step name="read_package_json"> ### Step 3: Extract Project Metadata
cat package.json 2>/dev/null | head -20 || echo "No package.json"

Extract:

  • Project name
  • Version
  • Main dependencies </step>
<step name="generate_spec"> ### Step 4: Generate app_spec.txt

Create prompts/ directory:

mkdir -p prompts

Mapping GSD Documents to Autocoder Spec:

GSD SourceAutocoder Target
STACK.md Languages<technology_stack>
STACK.md Frameworks<frontend>, <backend>
STACK.md Dependencies<prerequisites>
ARCHITECTURE.md Layers<core_features> categories
ARCHITECTURE.md Data Flow<key_interactions>
ARCHITECTURE.md Entry Points<implementation_steps>
STRUCTURE.md Layout<ui_layout> (if frontend)
INTEGRATIONS.md APIs<api_endpoints_summary>
INTEGRATIONS.md Services<prerequisites>

Feature Generation Guidelines:

  1. Analyze existing code structure to infer implemented features
  2. Each feature must be testable: "User can...", "System displays...", "API returns..."
  3. Group features by category matching architecture layers
  4. Target feature counts by complexity:
    • Simple CLI/utility: ~100-150 features
    • Medium web app: ~200-250 features
    • Complex full-stack: ~300-400 features

Write the spec file using the XML format from references/app-spec-format.md:

cat > prompts/app_spec.txt << 'EOF'
<project_specification>
  <project_name>{from package.json or directory}</project_name>

  <overview>
    {Synthesized from ARCHITECTURE.md overview}
  </overview>

  <technology_stack>
    <frontend>
      <framework>{from STACK.md}</framework>
      <styling>{from STACK.md}</styling>
      <port>{from STACK.md or default 3000}</port>
    </frontend>
    <backend>
      <runtime>{from STACK.md}</runtime>
      <database>{from STACK.md or INTEGRATIONS.md}</database>
      <port>{from STACK.md or default 3001}</port>
    </backend>
  </technology_stack>

  <prerequisites>
    <environment_setup>
      {from STACK.md Runtime + INTEGRATIONS.md requirements}
    </environment_setup>
  </prerequisites>

  <core_features>
    <!-- Group by ARCHITECTURE.md layers -->
    <{layer_name}>
      - {Feature derived from code analysis}
      - {Feature derived from code analysis}
    </{layer_name}>
  </core_features>

  <api_endpoints_summary>
    {from INTEGRATIONS.md or inferred from STRUCTURE.md routes/}
  </api_endpoints_summary>

  <key_interactions>
    {from ARCHITECTURE.md Data Flow}
  </key_interactions>

  <success_criteria>
    <functionality>
      - All existing features continue working
      - New features integrate seamlessly
      - No regression in core functionality
    </functionality>
  </success_criteria>
</project_specification>
EOF
</step> <step name="verify_output"> ### Step 5: Verify Generated Spec
head -100 prompts/app_spec.txt
echo "---"
grep -c "User can\|System\|API\|Feature" prompts/app_spec.txt || echo "0"

Validation checklist:

  • <project_specification> root tag present
  • <project_name> matches actual project
  • <technology_stack> reflects STACK.md
  • <core_features> has categorized features
  • Features are specific and testable </step>
<step name="completion"> ### Step 6: Report Completion

Output:

app_spec.txt generated from GSD codebase mapping.

Source: .planning/codebase/*.md
Output: prompts/app_spec.txt

Next: Start Autocoder

  cd {project_dir}
  python ~/projects/autocoder/start.py

Or via UI:
  ~/projects/autocoder/start_ui.sh

The Initializer will create features.db from this spec.
</step>

XML Format Reference

See references/app-spec-format.md for complete XML structure with all sections.

Error Handling

ErrorResolution
No .planning/codebase/Run /gsd:map-codebase first
Missing required filesRe-run GSD mapping
Cannot infer featuresAsk user for clarification