Choose Your Flow
Compare Ideation, Simple, FIRE, and AI-DLC flows to find the right fit for your project
Four Flows, Every Use Case
specs.md offers four flows, each designed for a different stage and context. Choose the one that matches your current need.
Ideation Flow
Creative brainstorming
Spark → Flame → Forge. Diverse ideas to polished concept briefs before you commit to building.
Simple Flow
Spec generation only
Quick requirements, design, and task documents without execution tracking.
FIRE Flow
Rapid execution
Ship in hours with adaptive checkpoints and first-class brownfield support.
AI-DLC Flow
Full methodology
Complete lifecycle with DDD, 4 agents, and comprehensive traceability.
Quick Decision Guide
Do you have a clear feature idea yet?
- No, I’m still exploring → Use Ideation Flow (brainstorm → evaluate → shape a concept brief)
- Yes, I know what I want to build → Continue to Step 2
Do you need execution tracking?
- No → Use Simple Flow (spec generation only, like Kiro)
- Yes → Continue to Step 3
Do you want adaptive or fixed ceremony?
- Adaptive (right-size rigor based on task complexity) → FIRE Flow
- Fixed (predictable checkpoints every time) → AI-DLC Flow
Do you hate unnecessary friction?
- Yes (check when necessary, not everything) → FIRE Flow
- No (prefer comprehensive documentation always) → AI-DLC Flow
Detailed Comparison
| Aspect | Ideation | Simple | FIRE | AI-DLC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optimized For | Creative exploration | Spec generation, prototypes | Teams who hate friction | Full traceability needs |
| Output | Concept briefs | Specs (req/design/tasks) | Working code + walkthroughs | Working code + full artifacts |
| Execution Planning | N/A | N/A | Dynamic (recommends next run) | Pre-planned (bolts) |
| Checkpoints | 0 (non-blocking) | 3 (phase gates) | Adaptive (complexity + config) | Comprehensive (fixed) |
| Agents | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Execution Tracking | No | No | Yes (runs, walkthroughs) | Yes (bolts, stages) |
| Design Docs | Concept briefs | Basic specs | When complexity warrants | Always (DDD integral) |
| Monorepo Support | No | No | First-class | Limited |
| Brownfield Support | No | Basic | First-class | Alpha |
| Output Structure | .specs-ideation/ |
specs/{feature}/ |
.specs-fire/ |
memory-bank/ |
| Ceremony Style | Zero friction | Minimal | Adaptive | Comprehensive |
When to Use Each Flow
Ideation Flow
- Early-stage product discovery
- Finding novel angles before writing a spec
- Brainstorming sessions (solo or team)
- Evaluating multiple feature directions before committing resources
- When your first idea might not be the best idea
Output: spark-bank.md (ideas), flame-report.md (evaluations), concept-brief.md (shaped concepts)
Simple Flow
- Building prototypes or MVPs
- Generating specs for handoff to another team
- Small features in established projects
- Solo developers wanting structured documentation
- Projects that don’t need AI-assisted execution
Output: requirements.md, design.md, tasks.md
FIRE Flow
FIRE is Adaptive Spec-Driven Development—it analyzes work complexity and your config to decide when to ask and when to burn through.
- Teams who hate unnecessary friction
- Brownfield projects with existing code
- Monorepo architectures
- Projects where implementation plan is often enough, but design docs when needed
- Anyone wanting to ship fast without reckless code generation
Key Features:
- Dynamic execution: No pre-planned runs—Builder scans work items and recommends what to run next
- Change-friendly: Requirements changed? Just update specs, next run adapts automatically
- Adaptive checkpoints: Based on work complexity + your autonomy preference
- Walkthrough generation: AI documents every change for review
- Hierarchical standards: Module-specific overrides in monorepos
- Brownfield-first: Analyzes your existing structure and respects your patterns
AI-DLC Flow
- Teams with multiple developers
- Complex domain logic requiring DDD
- Projects needing comprehensive documentation
- Regulated environments requiring audit trails
- Multi-stakeholder initiatives
Key Features:
- Four specialized agents: Master, Inception, Construction, Operations
- Domain-Driven Design: Full DDD stages in Construction
- Complete traceability: Every decision documented
- Mob rituals: Mob Elaboration, Mob Construction
Flow Comparison Matrix
Switching Between Flows
Flows are independent—they’re not an upgrade path. Choose based on your project needs:
However, you can:
- Use Simple Flow to generate initial specs, then implement manually
- Use FIRE Flow for rapid feature development within a project
- Use AI-DLC Flow for major initiatives requiring full planning