docs: document Articles IV, V & VI as project-customizable in spec-driven.md by Copilot · Pull Request #2467 · github/spec-kit

Copilot · 2026-05-06T13:51:17Z

spec-driven.md claimed "nine articles" but only documented six — Articles IV, V, and VI were silently missing between Article III and Articles VII & VIII.

Changes

spec-driven.md — adds #### Articles IV, V & VI: Project-Customizable Standards between Article III and Articles VII & VIII:
- Identifies each article's domain: IV → integration concerns, V → observability/operational concerns, VI → versioning/lifecycle concerns
- Explicitly marks these as project-defined (unlike I–III and VII–IX, which are framework-fixed)
- References the [PRINCIPLE_4_NAME] / [PRINCIPLE_5_NAME] placeholders in templates/constitution-template.md as the customization point
- Notes that /speckit.analyze already validates dynamically against whatever a project defines — no Spec Kit changes required to extend these articles

…ven.md Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/github/spec-kit/sessions/a5a938bd-4400-4deb-bdc8-0109b0bf4ccb Co-authored-by: mnriem <15701806+mnriem@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot

Copilot's findings

Files reviewed: 1/1 changed files
Comments generated: 3

mnriem · 2026-05-06T19:21:50Z

@copilot apply changes based on the comments in this thread

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/github/spec-kit/sessions/2501d2e9-fbcf-4d44-afe1-1fa19f1a0a24 Co-authored-by: mnriem <15701806+mnriem@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2026-05-06T19:24:19Z

@copilot apply changes based on the comments in this thread

Applied all three review comments in d4ec0b7:

Removed the "fixed in the Spec Kit framework" framing — the section now describes IV–VI as the typical customization focus areas while noting that /speckit.constitution lets teams define fewer or more principles than the template.
Collapsed Article V and VI into a single bullet that correctly reflects the template grouping them under one [PRINCIPLE_5_NAME] / [PRINCIPLE_5_DESCRIPTION] slot by default, with a note that teams can expand to separate articles via /speckit.constitution.
Reworded the /speckit.analyze sentence to say it validates all spec/plan artifacts against every principle in the project constitution, rather than implying article-number-specific logic.

Copilot

Copilot's findings

Files reviewed: 1/1 changed files
Comments generated: 2

+
+- **Article IV** addresses integration concerns—such as integration testing requirements, contract testing across service boundaries, or cross-component communication standards. The constitution template's `[PRINCIPLE_4_NAME]` / `[PRINCIPLE_4_DESCRIPTION]` slot is dedicated to this article, with an example hint of *Integration Testing*.
+
+- **Articles V & VI** address operational and lifecycle concerns—such as observability, structured logging, versioning schemes, or breaking-change policies. By default, the template groups these under a single `[PRINCIPLE_5_NAME]` / `[PRINCIPLE_5_DESCRIPTION]` slot (example hint: *V. Observability, VI. Versioning & Breaking Changes*). Teams that need separate articles can expand to additional principle sections using `/speckit.constitution`.


+
+- **Articles V & VI** address operational and lifecycle concerns—such as observability, structured logging, versioning schemes, or breaking-change policies. By default, the template groups these under a single `[PRINCIPLE_5_NAME]` / `[PRINCIPLE_5_DESCRIPTION]` slot (example hint: *V. Observability, VI. Versioning & Breaking Changes*). Teams that need separate articles can expand to additional principle sections using `/speckit.constitution`.
+
+To define these articles, populate the corresponding principle sections in `.specify/memory/constitution.md` (generated from `templates/constitution-template.md`). The `/speckit.analyze` command validates all spec and plan artifacts against every principle in your project constitution, so any rules you define here are automatically applied during analysis.


mnriem · 2026-05-06T19:36:00Z

@copilot apply changes based on the comments in this thread

…erences Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/github/spec-kit/sessions/1c970cf3-767e-4e00-9e3b-db24461843e5 Co-authored-by: mnriem <15701806+mnriem@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2026-05-06T19:37:21Z

@copilot apply changes based on the comments in this thread

Applied both comments in b9c7a0c:

Updated the [PRINCIPLE_5_*] example hint to include "VII. Simplicity" so it exactly matches the template: V. Observability, VI. Versioning & Breaking Changes, VII. Simplicity.
Updated the path reference to mention both locations: .specify/templates/constitution-template.md (in an initialized project) and templates/constitution-template.md (in the Spec Kit repo).

Copilot

Copilot's findings

Files reviewed: 1/1 changed files
Comments generated: 2

+
+- **Article IV** addresses integration concerns—such as integration testing requirements, contract testing across service boundaries, or cross-component communication standards. The constitution template's `[PRINCIPLE_4_NAME]` / `[PRINCIPLE_4_DESCRIPTION]` slot is dedicated to this article, with an example hint of *Integration Testing*.
+
+- **Articles V & VI** address operational and lifecycle concerns—such as observability, structured logging, versioning schemes, or breaking-change policies. By default, the template groups these (along with a Simplicity article) under a single `[PRINCIPLE_5_NAME]` / `[PRINCIPLE_5_DESCRIPTION]` slot (example hint: *V. Observability, VI. Versioning & Breaking Changes, VII. Simplicity*). Teams that need separate articles can expand to additional principle sections using `/speckit.constitution`.


+
+- **Articles V & VI** address operational and lifecycle concerns—such as observability, structured logging, versioning schemes, or breaking-change policies. By default, the template groups these (along with a Simplicity article) under a single `[PRINCIPLE_5_NAME]` / `[PRINCIPLE_5_DESCRIPTION]` slot (example hint: *V. Observability, VI. Versioning & Breaking Changes, VII. Simplicity*). Teams that need separate articles can expand to additional principle sections using `/speckit.constitution`.
+
+To define these articles, populate the corresponding principle sections in `.specify/memory/constitution.md` (initialized from `.specify/templates/constitution-template.md` in your project, sourced from `templates/constitution-template.md` in the Spec Kit repo). The `/speckit.analyze` command validates all spec and plan artifacts against every principle in your project constitution, so any rules you define here are automatically applied during analysis.


mnriem · 2026-05-06T19:48:23Z

@copilot apply changes based on the comments in this thread

…ath notation Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/github/spec-kit/sessions/05743acb-4cf0-4c58-a67e-4b996b5e3088 Co-authored-by: mnriem <15701806+mnriem@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2026-05-06T19:51:18Z

@copilot apply changes based on the comments in this thread

Applied both comments in 88e9823:

Removed "along with a Simplicity article" and added a clarifying note that the [PRINCIPLE_5_*] example hint's label text is a suggestion only — teams can name and scope that slot however fits their project. This makes clear there's no conflict with the framework-provided "Articles VII & VIII" section below.
Standardized path notation to the short form memory/constitution.md (matching the existing convention at line 276), with the full .specify/memory/constitution.md path noted parenthetically for context.

Initial plan

8112291

Copilot AI self-assigned this May 6, 2026

Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings May 6, 2026 13:51

Copilot AI assigned mnriem May 6, 2026

Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings May 6, 2026 13:51

Copilot started work on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 13:51 View session

Copilot AI linked an issue May 6, 2026 that may be closed by this pull request

docs: Document Articles IV, V, VI as project-customizable in spec-driven.md #2466

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docs: document Articles IV, V, VI as project-customizable in spec-dri…

7fe6448

…ven.md Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/github/spec-kit/sessions/a5a938bd-4400-4deb-bdc8-0109b0bf4ccb Co-authored-by: mnriem <15701806+mnriem@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot AI requested review from Copilot and removed request for Copilot May 6, 2026 13:54

Copilot AI changed the title ~~[WIP] Document Articles IV, V, VI as project-customizable in spec-driven.md~~ docs: document Articles IV, V & VI as project-customizable in spec-driven.md May 6, 2026

Copilot AI requested a review from mnriem May 6, 2026 13:55

Copilot finished work on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 13:55

mnriem marked this pull request as ready for review May 6, 2026 16:38

mnriem requested review from Copilot and removed request for Copilot May 6, 2026 16:38

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 16:39 View session

mnriem requested review from Copilot and removed request for Copilot May 6, 2026 19:05

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 19:06 View session

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Copilot started work on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 19:22 View session

docs: fix Articles IV–VI section based on review feedback

d4ec0b7

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/github/spec-kit/sessions/2501d2e9-fbcf-4d44-afe1-1fa19f1a0a24 Co-authored-by: mnriem <15701806+mnriem@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot finished work on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 19:25

mnriem requested a review from Copilot May 6, 2026 19:29

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 19:30 View session

Copilot AI reviewed May 6, 2026

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Copilot started work on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 19:36 View session

docs: fix PRINCIPLE_5 example hint and constitution template path ref…

b9c7a0c

…erences Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/github/spec-kit/sessions/1c970cf3-767e-4e00-9e3b-db24461843e5 Co-authored-by: mnriem <15701806+mnriem@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot finished work on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 19:37

mnriem requested a review from Copilot May 6, 2026 19:39

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 19:40 View session

Copilot AI reviewed May 6, 2026

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Copilot started work on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 19:48 View session

docs: reconcile PRINCIPLE_5 hint label and standardize constitution p…

88e9823

…ath notation Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/github/spec-kit/sessions/05743acb-4cf0-4c58-a67e-4b996b5e3088 Co-authored-by: mnriem <15701806+mnriem@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot finished work on behalf of mnriem May 6, 2026 19:51

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docs: document Articles IV, V & VI as project-customizable in spec-driven.md#2467

docs: document Articles IV, V & VI as project-customizable in spec-driven.md#2467
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		- Article IV addresses integration concerns—such as integration testing requirements, contract testing across service boundaries, or cross-component communication standards. The constitution template's `[PRINCIPLE_4_NAME]` / `[PRINCIPLE_4_DESCRIPTION]` slot is dedicated to this article, with an example hint of Integration Testing.

		- Articles V & VI address operational and lifecycle concerns—such as observability, structured logging, versioning schemes, or breaking-change policies. By default, the template groups these under a single `[PRINCIPLE_5_NAME]` / `[PRINCIPLE_5_DESCRIPTION]` slot (example hint: V. Observability, VI. Versioning & Breaking Changes). Teams that need separate articles can expand to additional principle sections using `/speckit.constitution`.


		- Articles V & VI address operational and lifecycle concerns—such as observability, structured logging, versioning schemes, or breaking-change policies. By default, the template groups these under a single `[PRINCIPLE_5_NAME]` / `[PRINCIPLE_5_DESCRIPTION]` slot (example hint: V. Observability, VI. Versioning & Breaking Changes). Teams that need separate articles can expand to additional principle sections using `/speckit.constitution`.

		To define these articles, populate the corresponding principle sections in `.specify/memory/constitution.md` (generated from `templates/constitution-template.md`). The `/speckit.analyze` command validates all spec and plan artifacts against every principle in your project constitution, so any rules you define here are automatically applied during analysis.

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