whetstone_DSL/docs/planning/professional_project_spec_v1.md

Professional Project Spec v1

Use this template for projects intended for production execution.

0) Project Identity

• project_id:
• project_name:
• owner:
• status: (draft | ready_for_execution | in_progress | shipped)
• version:
• created_at:
• updated_at:

1) Why This Matters

• mission_summary: one paragraph
• personal_significance: why this matters to you specifically
• must_not_fail_outcomes: what failure would be unacceptable
• non_goals: what this project will explicitly not try to solve

2) Users and Use Cases

• primary_users:
• secondary_users:
• critical_user_journeys:
• success_moments:

3) Product Scope

• in_scope_capabilities:
• out_of_scope_capabilities:
• milestones:
  • M1:
  • M2:
  • M3:

4) Environment and Constraints

• target_platforms: (web, desktop, mobile, server, embedded, edge, etc.)
• runtime_environments: (OS/runtime/container)
• hardware_constraints: CPU, RAM, storage, device class, special hardware
• latency_constraints: p50/p95/p99 targets
• throughput_constraints: req/s, jobs/hour, etc.
• availability_constraints: uptime/SLA targets
• dependency_constraints: required/prohibited libraries/services
• security_constraints: auth, encryption, secrets handling, threat model notes
• compliance_constraints: legal/regulatory requirements
• budget_constraints: cost ceilings for infra/services

5) Architecture Intent

• system_context:
• major_components:
• data_flows:
• integration_points:
• migration_strategy: if replacing existing system
• rollback_strategy: precise rollback triggers and playbook

6) API and Data Contracts

• external_api_contracts:
• internal_contracts:
• data_models:
• versioning_policy:
• backward_compatibility_requirements:

7) Quality and Determinism Requirements

• determinism_requirements:
• replay_requirements:
• auditability_requirements:
• observability_requirements: logs/metrics/traces + required dashboards
• error_budget_and_alerting:

8) Acceptance Criteria (Executable)

• Every criterion should be pass/fail and testable.
• functional_acceptance_criteria:
• performance_acceptance_criteria:
• security_acceptance_criteria:
• resilience_acceptance_criteria:
• operational_acceptance_criteria:

9) Test and Validation Plan

• unit_test_scope:
• integration_test_scope:
• e2e_test_scope:
• load_test_plan:
• failure_injection_plan:
• release_readiness_gate:

10) Delivery Plan

• execution_order:
• dependency_graph:
• release_plan: canary/staged rollout details
• owner_checkpoints:

11) Risk Register

• top_risks:
• risk_mitigations:
• contingency_plans:

12) Project Memory (For Future Agents)

• decision_log:
• known_tradeoffs:
• open_questions:
• handoff_notes:

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Minimum Ready-for-Execution Checklist

Mark all as true before queueing this project for build:

• Personal significance and must-not-fail outcomes are explicit.
• Constraints are quantified (latency, throughput, hardware, budget).
• Acceptance criteria are executable pass/fail checks.
• Rollback and migration strategy are concrete.
• API/data contracts are versioned and compatibility expectations are clear.
• Risk register includes mitigations and contingency plans.