LeanSpec Dogfooding: Real SDD Case Studies

Status: ✅ Complete · Priority: High · Created: 2025-11-17

Project: lean-spec
Team: Core Development

Overview

Users need real-world examples of SDD in action. LeanSpec project itself uses SDD extensively - showcase this to demonstrate practical value and best practices.

Problem:

• Users see LeanSpec has 90+ specs but don't see how they were actually used
• No examples of spec evolution during development
• Missing "show, don't tell" evidence that SDD works

Goal: Create case studies documenting how specific LeanSpec features were built using SDD:

1. Simple Feature Case Study (spec 071 - Simplified Token Validation)

   • Small, focused spec
   • Show spec → implementation → completion flow
   • Demonstrate single-concern spec

2. Complex Feature Case Study (spec 082 - Web Realtime Sync Architecture)

   • Large, multi-phase spec
   • Show how spec evolved during implementation
   • Demonstrate sub-spec usage and complexity management

3. Refactoring Case Study (spec 067 - Monorepo Core Extraction)

   • Breaking change requiring careful planning
   • Show dependency analysis and coordination
   • Demonstrate spec-driven refactoring

4. Cross-Team Feature (spec 043 - Official Launch 02)

   • Multiple related specs
   • Show spec relationships and dependencies
   • Demonstrate team coordination

Each case study includes:

• Original spec content
• Implementation approach
• Challenges encountered
• How spec helped (or needed updates)
• Lessons learned

Design

Case study structure:

1. Context: What problem were we solving?
2. The Spec: Link to actual spec, show key sections
3. Implementation: How we built it
4. Evolution: What changed during development
5. Outcome: Final result, metrics
6. Lessons: What worked, what we'd do differently
7. AI Agent Collaboration: How AI agents used the spec

Selection criteria for case studies:

• Completed specs (status: complete or archived)
• Representative of common use cases
• Various complexity levels (simple → complex)
• Different spec types (feature, refactor, architecture)
• Show both successes and challenges

Presentation:

• Create "Case Studies" section in docs-site
• Each case study = separate page
• Include screenshots/diagrams where helpful
• Link to actual spec in GitHub
• Show before/after code where relevant

Anti-patterns to avoid:

• Cherry-picking only perfect examples
• Hiding challenges or mistakes
• Making it look effortless (be honest about iteration)

Plan

Phase 1: Case study selection

• Review completed specs, identify good candidates
• Select 4 specs covering different scenarios
• Gather context: git history, PR discussions, implementation details

Phase 2: Case study writing

• Write Simple Feature case study (spec 071)
• Write Complex Feature case study (spec 082)
• Write Refactoring case study (spec 067)
• Write Cross-Team Feature case study (spec 043)

Phase 3: Integration

• Create "Case Studies" section in docs-site
• Add case study navigation
• Link from homepage/getting started
• Add "How LeanSpec uses SDD" overview page

Phase 4: Maintenance

• Add more case studies over time (target: 1 per quarter)
• Update case studies as specs evolve
• Collect user feedback on case studies

Test

• Users report understanding SDD better after reading case studies
• Case studies demonstrate concrete value of SDD (not just theory)
• Both successes and challenges are clearly documented
• Users can relate case studies to their own projects
• Case studies cover range of scenarios (simple to complex)

Notes