OpenSpec (Spec-Driven Development) Failed My Experiment — Instructions.md Was Simpler and Faster

📰 Dev.to AI

OpenSpec's Spec-Driven Development approach failed an experiment due to complexity, while a simpler Instructions.md file achieved faster results

intermediate Published 1 Apr 2026

Action Steps

Evaluate the complexity of your project to determine the best approach
Consider using a simple Instructions.md file for smaller projects
Experiment with Spec-Driven Development frameworks like OpenSpec for larger projects
Assess the results and adjust your approach accordingly

Who Needs to Know This

Developers and software engineers on a team can benefit from understanding the trade-offs between Vibe Coding and Spec-Driven Development approaches, as it affects their workflow and collaboration with AI coding tools

Key Insight

💡 Simpler approaches can be more effective than complex frameworks for certain projects