technical-spec-bridge

Technical Spec Bridge

Overview

The gap between "what users need" and "what engineers build" is where miscommunication happens. A technical spec bridge translates product requirements into engineering-ready specifications: API contracts, data models, state machines, error handling, and non-functional requirements. This skill helps PMs work effectively with engineering by providing the right level of technical detail.

When to Use

• Handing off PRDs to engineering for implementation
• Writing API specifications for new features
• Defining data models and schema changes
• Scoping technical work for estimation
• Don't use for: overriding engineering design decisions (specs are guidance), front-end only changes (design specs may be sufficient)

Instructions

1. Map Product Requirements to Technical Components

For each requirement in the PRD, identify:

• Data model: What new entities or fields are needed?
• API endpoints: What needs to be created or modified?
• Business logic: What rules need to be implemented?
• UI components: What new screens or components?
• Integrations: What external services need to be connected?

2. Define API Contracts

For each API endpoint that needs to change:

## [Method] /api/[resource]
- **Purpose**: What this endpoint does
- **Auth**: What authentication is required
- **Request**: 
  - Query params: [name, type, required, description]
  - Body: [field, type, required, description]
- **Response (200)**:
  - [field, type, description]
- **Error responses**:
  - 400: [when it occurs]
  - 401: [when it occurs]
  - 403: [when it occurs]
  - 404: [when it occurs]
  - 500: [when it occurs]
- **Rate limiting**: [limits if applicable]

3. Document Data Models

Define entities and their relationships:

## [Entity Name]
- **id**: UUID, primary key
- **name**: string, required, max 100 chars
- **status**: enum(pending, active, archived), default: pending
- **created_by**: FK → users.id, required
- **Relationships**:
  - belongs_to :team
  - has_many :updates
  - has_many :members through: :team_memberships