--- title: "Write code not specs" url: https://daily.dev/posts/write-code-not-specs-dswociw3l source_url: http://softwaredoug.com/blog/2026/07/04/write-code-not-specs.html type: article source: "Software Doug" published: 2026-07-04T13:08:06.146Z updated: 2026-07-04T14:21:31.492Z tags: ["ai-agents", "tdd"] reading_time: 3 upvotes: 3 comments: 0 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Write code not specs **[Software Doug](https://daily.dev/sources/softwaredoug)** · 3 min read · 3 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary A developer argues for writing code and tests instead of maintaining English-language specs when working with AI coding agents. The core idea: code is precise and self-documenting, while specs are imprecise and create a dual-maintenance burden. Tests serve as executable requirements, and by writing code to establish patterns, developers build a 'gradually expanding surface of trust' where agents can be given more autonomy in well-tested areas while humans stay hands-on at the frontier. The factory analogy frames the developer as a mechanic who must understand the system deeply to maintain quality, even as agents handle more of the work. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [Dispatches from O'Reilly: The right amount of spec for agentic development](https://daily.dev/posts/dispatches-from-o-reilly-the-right-amount-of-spec-for-agentic-development-jofa5viob) · Stack Overflow Blog · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [AI Agents: Experience Doesn’t Fit in a Prompt](https://daily.dev/posts/ai-agents-experience-doesn-t-fit-in-a-prompt-vunycsiyo) · Atomic Spin · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#ai-agents](https://daily.dev/tags/ai-agents), [#tdd](https://daily.dev/tags/tdd) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/write-code-not-specs-dswociw3l)