---
title: Installation
description: Install specs.md and select your development flow
---

## Prerequisites

- Node.js 18 or higher
- An AI coding tool (Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, or Google Antigravity)

## Install specs.md

:::note
Always use npx to get the latest version. Do not install globally with npm.
:::

```bash
npx specsmd@latest install
```

## Select Your Flow

During installation, you'll be prompted to select a development flow:

```
? Select a development flow:
  Simple - Spec generation only (requirements, design, tasks)
❯ FIRE - Adaptive execution, brownfield & monorepo ready
  AI-DLC - Full methodology with DDD (comprehensive checkpoints)
```

| Flow | Best For | Agents |
|------|----------|--------|
| **Simple** | Quick specs, prototypes, handoff | 1 |
| **FIRE** | Adaptive execution, brownfield, monorepos | 3 |
| **AI-DLC** | Full traceability, comprehensive documentation | 4 |

:::info
**Not sure which flow?** Check out our [Choose Your Flow](/architecture/choose-flow) guide.
:::

The installer automatically detects your AI coding tools and sets up:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Agent Definitions" icon="bot">
    Specialized agents for your selected flow
  </Card>
  <Card title="Standards" icon="ruler">
    Project guidelines and conventions
  </Card>
  <Card title="Slash Commands" icon="terminal">
    Easy agent invocation commands
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What Gets Installed

After installation, you'll see the following structure based on your selected flow:

**Simple Flow**

```
.specsmd/
├── manifest.yaml              # Installation manifest
└── simple/                    # Simple flow
    └── agents/                # Single agent

specs/                         # Your specs will go here
└── (feature folders)
```

**FIRE Flow**

```
.specsmd/
├── manifest.yaml              # Installation manifest
└── fire/                      # FIRE flow
    ├── agents/                # Orchestrator, Planner, Builder
    └── skills/                # Agent capabilities

.specs-fire/                   # Project artifacts
├── state.yaml                 # Central state tracking
├── standards/                 # Project standards
├── intents/                   # Intent documentation
├── runs/                      # Run logs
└── walkthroughs/              # Generated documentation
```

**AI-DLC Flow**

```
.specsmd/
├── manifest.yaml              # Installation manifest
└── aidlc/                     # AI-DLC flow
    ├── agents/                # Master, Inception, Construction, Operations
    ├── skills/                # Agent capabilities
    ├── templates/             # Artifact templates
    └── memory-bank.yaml       # Memory bank schema

memory-bank/                   # Project artifacts
├── standards/                 # Project standards
├── intents/                   # Intent documentation
└── bolts/                     # Bolt tracking
```

## Tool-Specific Setup

**Claude Code**

Slash commands are installed in `.claude/commands/`. Type `/` to see available commands:

<Frame>
  <img src="/images/claude-code-commands.png" alt="Claude Code Commands" style="border-radius: 8px" />
</Frame>

**Simple Flow:**
- `/specsmd-agent`

**FIRE Flow:**
- `/specsmd-fire`
- `/specsmd-fire-planner`
- `/specsmd-fire-builder`

**AI-DLC Flow:**
- `/specsmd-master-agent`
- `/specsmd-inception-agent`
- `/specsmd-construction-agent`
- `/specsmd-operations-agent`

**Cursor**

Commands are installed in `.cursor/commands/` as `.md` files. Invoke them by typing `/` followed by the command name:

<Frame>
  <img src="/images/cursor-commands.png" alt="Cursor Commands" style="border-radius: 8px" />
</Frame>

**Simple Flow:**
- `/specsmd-agent`

**FIRE Flow:**
- `/specsmd-fire`
- `/specsmd-fire-planner`
- `/specsmd-fire-builder`

**AI-DLC Flow:**
- `/specsmd-master-agent`
- `/specsmd-inception-agent`
- `/specsmd-construction-agent`
- `/specsmd-operations-agent`

**GitHub Copilot**

Agents are installed in `.github/agents/` using `.agent.md` format. Type `/` to see available commands:

<Frame>
  <img src="/images/copilot-commands.png" alt="GitHub Copilot Commands" style="border-radius: 8px" />
</Frame>

**Simple Flow:**
- `/specsmd-agent`

**FIRE Flow:**
- `/specsmd-fire`
- `/specsmd-fire-planner`
- `/specsmd-fire-builder`

**AI-DLC Flow:**
- `/specsmd-master-agent`
- `/specsmd-inception-agent`
- `/specsmd-construction-agent`
- `/specsmd-operations-agent`

**Google Antigravity**

Workflows are installed in `.agent/workflows/` as `.md` files. Type `/` to see available commands:

<Frame>
  <img src="/images/antigravity-commands.png" alt="Google Antigravity Commands" style="border-radius: 8px" />
</Frame>

**Simple Flow:**
- `/specsmd-agent`

**FIRE Flow:**
- `/specsmd-fire`
- `/specsmd-fire-planner`
- `/specsmd-fire-builder`

**AI-DLC Flow:**
- `/specsmd-master-agent`
- `/specsmd-inception-agent`
- `/specsmd-construction-agent`
- `/specsmd-operations-agent`

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card
    title="Simple Quick Start"
    icon="feather"
    href="/simple-flow/quick-start"
  >
    Generate specs in minutes
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="FIRE Quick Start"
    icon="zap"
    href="/fire-flow/quick-start"
  >
    Ship your first feature fast
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="AI-DLC Quick Start"
    icon="building"
    href="/getting-started/quick-start"
  >
    Full methodology walkthrough
  </Card>
</CardGroup>