Developer advocates for concise 'change briefs' over exhaustive specs in AI-assisted coding

The article argues that traditional, comprehensive specification documents often become outdated and cumbersome after software is shipped. It proposes a leaner alternative called a 'change brief,' which focuses on the intended outcome, constraints, and acceptance evidence for a specific change. This brief is designed to bring crucial external context into the development decision, such as business obligations or dependencies, which the code itself cannot convey. Most of the brief can be archived after release, with only the enduring facts requiring ongoing maintenance. The approach is presented as a way to maintain clarity and relevance in teams using AI coding agents that generate implementations rapidly.