The Spec MCP Server is an AI-assisted development workflow automation tool that analyzes codebases, generates implementation plans, and coordinates task execution through automated verification.
Core Capabilities:
Codebase Analysis: Generates foundational steering documents (
product.md,tech.md,structure.md) in.spec/steering/that capture product features, technology stack, and project structureImplementation Planning: Creates detailed
tasks.mdfiles with numbered requirements (EARS format), implementable tasks with IDs (T-1, T-2, etc.), dependencies, phases, and testing guidance based on user requestsTask Orchestration: Coordinates systematic task execution by analyzing dependencies, identifying parallelization opportunities, and managing workflow based on
tasks.mdTask Execution: Provides detailed implementation guidance for specific tasks including requirements, acceptance criteria, and code patterns using the
task-executorTask Verification: Validates task completion by checking acceptance criteria against evidence and providing clear PASS/FAIL decisions using the
task-checkerComplex Workflow Support: Handles framework migrations, feature implementations, and refactoring projects through dependency-aware task management
Multi-Platform Integration: Works with VS Code, Zed, Claude Code CLI, and Claude Desktop
Force Regeneration: Optionally regenerates analysis documents for updated codebase understanding
Spec MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol server designed to streamline development workflows through AI-assisted analysis, planning, and verification.
Features
Tech Steering: Automated codebase analysis and documentation
Plan Generation: Comprehensive requirement and design documentation
Task Breakdown: Detailed task generation with dependencies
Implementation Verification: Automated code review and compliance checking
Installation
Configure your AI client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.)
Add the server to your MCP configuration
Start using the tools through your AI interface
Configuration Examples
Visual Studio Code
Add to your VS Code MCP configuration file:
Regular VS Code:
~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/mcp.jsonVS Code Insiders:
~/Library/Application Support/Code - Insiders/User/mcp.json
Zed
Open Zed > Settings > Open Settings (it will open
~/. config/zed/settings.json)Add a context_servers section to your configuration:
Claude Code (CLI)
For Claude Code CLI, use the following command:
Claude Desktop
Add to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:
Workflow
The Spec MCP workflow guides you through complex development tasks like framework migrations, feature implementation, or refactoring. Follow these steps:
1. Analyze Codebase (One-time Setup)
Analyze the existing codebase to create steering documents that guide all future operations.
Prompt: Use Spec MCP to analyze the codebase
This creates three steering documents in .spec/steering/:
product.md- Product overview and business contexttech.md- Technology stack and development guidelinesstructure.md- Project organization and patterns
Note: You can recreate these documents anytime with
2. Search Documentation
Search documentation for relevant information about frameworks, APIs, or migration guides using e.g. Context7 MCP.
Prompt: Search docs with Context7 MCP for [topic/framework/library]
3. Generate Tasks
Ask the Spec MCP server to generate a clear, evidence‑driven task list from your goal.
Having your previous analysis in context window you can create tasks from it.
Example prompt:
Generate tasks from the analysis using Spec MCP
Output:
.spec/specs/tasks.md(includes overview, requirements with EARS, implementable tasks, dependencies, and tests)
4. Implement Tasks
Execute tasks systematically using the task orchestrator, which handles dependencies and parallelization.
Prompt: Implement tasks from tasks.md using Spec MCP task orchestrator
The orchestrator will:
Identify ready tasks based on dependencies
Execute tasks through task-executor
Verify completion with task-checker
Report progress and next available tasks
Available Tools
generate-codebase-analysis
Analyzes codebase and generates three foundational analysis documents: product.md, tech.md, and structure.md in .spec/steering/ directory. These documents provide comprehensive analysis of the product features, technology stack, and project structure.
generate-tasks
Spec MCP: Generate tasks.md (Plan & Task Breakdown)
Generate tasks.md (implementation plan & task breakdown) from your request and codebase. Writes .spec/specs/tasks.md with overview, numbered requirements using EARS, implementable tasks (T‑1…), dependencies/phases, and testing guidance. Use for “task breakdown”, “create tasks.md”, “implementation plan”, or “roadmap”. Inputs:
user_request(required)project_path(optional, defaults to.)
task-orchestrator
Analyzes tasks.md to identify dependencies, parallelization opportunities, and coordinate task execution. Returns a structured execution plan for deploying task executors efficiently.
task-executor
Executes a specific task from tasks.md by providing detailed implementation guidance, requirements, acceptance criteria, and code patterns. This tool focuses on implementing one task thoroughly.
task-checker
Checks if a task can be marked as done by verifying all acceptance criteria checkboxes are checked and optionally running build/tests. Returns PASS or FAIL with clear reasons.
License
MIT