Speckit Constitution

User Input

$ARGUMENTS

You MUST consider the user input before proceeding (if not empty).

Pre-Execution Checks

Check for extension hooks (before constitution update):

• Check if .specify/extensions.yml exists in the project root.
• If it exists, read it and look for entries under the hooks.before_constitution key
• If the YAML cannot be parsed or is invalid, skip hook checking silently and continue normally
• Filter out hooks where enabled is explicitly false. Treat hooks without an enabled field as enabled by default.
• For each remaining hook, do not attempt to interpret or evaluate hook condition expressions:
• If the hook has no condition field, or it is null/empty, treat the hook as executable
• If the hook defines a non-empty condition, skip the hook and leave condition evaluation to the HookExecutor implementation
• When constructing slash commands from hook command names, replace dots (.) with hyphens (-). For example, speckit.git.commit → /speckit-git-commit.
• For each executable hook, output the following based on its optional flag:
• Optional hook (optional: true):

``` ## Extension Hooks

Optional Pre-Hook: {extension} Command: /{command} Description: {description}

Prompt: {prompt} To execute: /{command} ```

• Mandatory hook (optional: false):

``` ## Extension Hooks

Automatic Pre-Hook: {extension} Executing: /{command} EXECUTE_COMMAND: {command}

Wait for the result of the hook command before proceeding to the Outline. ```

• If no hooks are registered or .specify/extensions.yml does not exist, skip silently

Outline

You are updating the project constitution at .specify/memory/constitution.md. This file is a TEMPLATE containing placeholder tokens in square brackets (e.g. [PROJECT_NAME], [PRINCIPLE_1_NAME]). Your job is to (a) collect/derive concrete values, (b) fill the template precisely, and (c) propagate any amendments across dependent artifacts.

Note: If .specify/memory/constitution.md does not exist yet, it should have been initialized from .specify/templates/constitution-template.md during project setup. If it's missing, copy the template first.

Follow this execution flow:

1. Load the existing constitution at .specify/memory/constitution.md.

• Identify every placeholder token of the form [ALL_CAPS_IDENTIFIER].

IMPORTANT: The user might require less or more principles than the ones used in the template. If a number is specified, respect that - follow the general template. You will update the doc accordingly.

1. Collect/derive values for placeholders:

• If user input (conversation) supplies a value, use it.
• Otherwise infer from existing repo context (README, docs, prior constitution versions if embedded).
• For governance dates: RATIFICATION_DATE is the original adoption date (if unknown ask or mark TODO), LAST_AMENDED_DATE is today if changes are made, otherwise keep previous.
• CONSTITUTION_VERSION must increment according to semantic versioning rules:
• MAJOR: Backward incompatible governance/principle removals or redefinitions.
• MINOR: New principle/section added or materially expanded guidance.
• PATCH: Clarifications, wording, typo fixes, non-semantic refinements.
• If version bump type ambiguous, propose reasoning before finalizing.

1. Draft the updated constitution content:

• Replace every placeholder with concrete text (no bracketed tokens left except intentionally retained template slots that the project has chosen not to define yet—explicitly justify any left).
• Preserve heading hierarchy and comments can be removed once replaced unless they still add clarifying guidance.
• Ensure each Principle section: succinct name line, paragraph (or bullet list) capturing non‑negotiable rules, explicit rationale if not obvious.
• Ensure Governance section lists amendment procedure, versioning policy, and compliance review expectations.

1. Consistency propagation checklist (convert prior checklist into active validations):

• Read .specify/templates/plan-template.md and ensure any "Constitution Check" or rules align with updated principles.
• Read .specify/templates/spec-template.md for scope/requirements alignment—update if constitution adds/removes mandatory sections or constraints.
• Read .specify/templates/tasks-template.md and ensure task categorization reflects new or removed principle-driven task types (e.g., observability, versioning, testing discipline).
• Read each command file in .specify/templates/commands/*.md (including this one) to verify no outdated references (agent-specific names like CLAUDE only) remain when generic guidance is required.
• Read any runtime guidance docs (e.g., README.md, docs/quickstart.md, or agent-specific guidance files if present). Update references to principles changed.

1. Produce a Sync Impact Report (prepend as an HTML comment at top of the constitution file after update):

• Version change: old → new
• List of modified principles (old title → new title if renamed)
• Added sections
• Removed sections
• Templates requiring updates (✅ updated / ⚠ pending) with file paths
• Follow-up TODOs if any placeholders intentionally deferred.

1. Validation before final output:

• No remaining unexplained bracket tokens.
• Version line matches report.
• Dates ISO format YYYY-MM-DD.
• Principles are declarative, testable, and free of vague language ("should" → replace with MUST/SHOULD rationale where appropriate).

1. Write the completed constitution back to .specify/memory/constitution.md (overwrite).

1. Output a final summary to the user with:

• New version and bump rationale.
• Any files flagged for manual follow-up.
• Suggested commit message (e.g., docs: amend constitution to vX.Y.Z (principle additions + governance update)).

Formatting & Style Requirements:

• Use Markdown headings exactly as in the template (do not demote/promote levels).
• Wrap long rationale lines to keep readability (): explanation` and include in the Sync Impact Report under deferred items.

Do not create a new template; always operate on the existing .specify/memory/constitution.md file.

Post-Execution Checks

Check for extension hooks (after constitution update): Check if .specify/extensions.yml exists in the project root.

• If it exists, read it and look for entries under the hooks.after_constitution key
• If the YAML cannot be parsed or is invalid, skip hook checking silently and continue normally
• Filter out hooks where enabled is explicitly false. Treat hooks without an enabled field as enabled by default.
• For each remaining hook, do not attempt to interpret or evaluate hook condition expressions:
• If the hook has no condition field, or it is null/empty, treat the hook as executable
• If the hook defines a non-empty condition, skip the hook and leave condition evaluation to the HookExecutor implementation
• When constructing slash commands from hook command names, replace dots (.) with hyphens (-). For example, speckit.git.commit → /speckit-git-commit.
• For each executable hook, output the following based on its optional flag:
• Optional hook (optional: true):

``` ## Extension Hooks

Optional Hook: {extension} Command: /{command} Description: {description}

Prompt: {prompt} To execute: /{command} ```

• Mandatory hook (optional: false):

``` ## Extension Hooks

Automatic Hook: {extension} Executing: /{command} EXECUTE_COMMAND: {command} ```

• If no hooks are registered or .specify/extensions.yml does not exist, skip silently

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: merllinsbeard
• Source: merllinsbeard/merlin-skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.