How Can You Use SDD for Websites?
I wondered whether I should use Spec Driven Development to build Websites, so I started looking into that. It turns out that Spec Driven Development (SDD) is an excellent approach for building a website - whether it’s a simple portfolio or a complex web application. Let’s break down how, why, and what interesting patterns emerge.
Define the Website Specs
Before you start coding, you can outline what your website should do in specs. These might include:
- User stories: e.g., “As a visitor, I should see a homepage with my bio.”
- Acceptance tests: Automated checks for features like navigation, form submission, etc.
- API contracts: If your site fetches data via an API, define endpoints and responses.
- Component specs: Describe expected behavior and appearance of UI components.
Implement Features to Meet the Specs
You then develop the site - each page, API, and component - referring back to the specs for guidance. As you code, you can continually run tests or verify contracts to ensure everything matches the spec.
Validate via Automated Testing
Modern web development tools make spec validation possible and easy:
- End-to-end tests: Tools like Cypress or Playwright run browser-based tests to verify workflows.
- Unit/component tests: Libraries like Jest (JS) or pytest (Python, e.g., Flask/Django apps) validate small pieces but also act as specs.
- Visual regression testing: Ensures your UI matches the design spec.
Why SDD is Powerful for Websites
- Prevents surprises: Clear specs mean you don’t forget essential details in features or design.
- Smooth teamwork: Designers, frontend, backend, and QA use the same specs to stay aligned.
- Faster iteration: When requirements change, update the spec and see if the site still passes all checks.
- Better documentation: Specs double as living docs for what your site should do.
Real-World Patterns
- API-first sites often use OpenAPI specs for all backend/frontend communication.
- Design systems use tools like Storybook with coded specs for each component.
- Many teams write Cypress/Gherkin stories so non-coders can read and contribute to website specs.
Resources - Spec Driven Development Kit on #GitHub
Fun Fact
Nearly every successful website project has some spec, even if it’s a simple checklist or Figma file! Spec Driven Development formalizes this, adding automated tests to keep your web site working perfectly.