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Micro Spec Template

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Ultra-lightweight template for changes under 1 day of effort - bug fixes, copy changes, minor tweaks.

Template Usage

Copy the template below and fill in the bracketed sections. This should take less than 5 minutes to complete.

[Brief Change Description]

Type: [Bug Fix/Copy Change/Config Update/Minor Feature]
Effort: [X hours]
Assignee: [Name]
Date: [YYYY-MM-DD]

What

[One sentence describing the change]

Why

[Brief justification - why is this needed?]

How

  • [Implementation step 1]
  • [Implementation step 2]
  • [Implementation step 3]

Acceptance

[Simple pass/fail criteria - how do you know it worked?]

Files

  • [file/path] - [what changes]

Examples

Bug Fix Example

Fix Login Button Alignment

Type: Bug Fix
Effort: 2 hours
Assignee: Alex Kim
Date: 2024-01-15

What

Fix login button that's misaligned on mobile devices

Why

Button is partially cut off on screens smaller than 375px, preventing users from logging in

How

  • Update CSS media query in login.css to use flex-direction: column for small screens
  • Adjust button margin from 10px to 5px for mobile
  • Test on iPhone SE and Android small screens

Acceptance

Login button is fully visible and clickable on all screen sizes 375px and above

Files

  • styles/login.css - Update mobile media query

Copy Change Example

Update Welcome Message

Type: Copy Change
Effort: 30 minutes
Assignee: Maria Santos
Date: 2024-01-15

What

Change homepage welcome message to reflect new product positioning

Why

Marketing team updated messaging to emphasize "collaboration" over "productivity"

How

  • Replace "Boost your productivity" with "Enhance team collaboration"
  • Update subheading from "Get more done" to "Work better together"
  • Verify text fits in existing design layout

Acceptance

Homepage displays new messaging and layout looks correct on desktop and mobile

Files

  • components/HomePage.jsx - Update welcome text constants

Configuration Update Example

Enable Feature Flag for Premium Users

Type: Config Update
Effort: 1 hour
Assignee: David Chen
Date: 2024-01-15

What

Enable advanced_analytics feature flag for users with premium subscriptions

Why

Premium feature is ready for release to paying customers only

How

  • Update feature flag config to check user subscription status
  • Set flag to true for premium users, false for free users
  • Deploy config change to production

Acceptance

Premium users see advanced analytics dashboard, free users do not

Files

  • config/feature-flags.json - Update advanced_analytics rule

Minor UI Tweak Example

Add Loading Spinner to Save Button

Type: Minor Feature
Effort: 3 hours
Assignee: Lisa Park
Date: 2024-01-15

What

Show loading spinner on save button while form is submitting

Why

Users are clicking save multiple times because they don't know if it's working

How

  • Add loading state to save button component
  • Show spinner icon and disable button during API call
  • Reset state when save completes or fails

Acceptance

Save button shows spinner and is disabled during form submission, returns to normal when complete

Files

  • components/SaveButton.jsx - Add loading state logic

Quick Checklists

Before Starting

  • [ ] Change is clearly defined
  • [ ] Effort estimate is under 1 day
  • [ ] No dependencies on other work
  • [ ] Success criteria are obvious

During Implementation

  • [ ] Make minimal necessary changes
  • [ ] Test the specific change
  • [ ] Verify no unintended side effects

Before Completing

  • [ ] Acceptance criteria met
  • [ ] Code reviewed (if required)
  • [ ] Change deployed/merged
  • [ ] Stakeholder notified (if needed)

When to Upgrade

Upgrade to Quick Spec if: - Implementation takes longer than expected - Multiple components need changes - Other developers need clarification - Testing reveals additional requirements

Upgrade to Standard Spec if: - Design questions arise - Dependencies on other teams discovered - Performance or security implications found - Stakeholder review is needed

Common Patterns

CSS/Style Changes

# [Style Change Description]

**What:** [Visual change needed]
**Why:** [Design/UX reason]
**How:** 
- Update CSS property `[property]` from `[old]` to `[new]`
- Test on [browsers/devices]
**Acceptance:** [Visual result description]
**Files:** `[css-file]` - [specific changes]

Text/Copy Updates

# [Copy Change Description]

**What:** [Text that needs updating]
**Why:** [Business/marketing reason]
**How:**
- Replace "[old text]" with "[new text]"
- Verify text fits in UI layout
**Acceptance:** [New text displays correctly]
**Files:** `[component-file]` - [text constants]

Configuration Changes

# [Config Change Description]

**What:** [Setting that needs updating]
**Why:** [Operational reason]
**How:**
- Update config value `[key]` from `[old]` to `[new]`
- Deploy to [environment]
**Acceptance:** [System behavior change]
**Files:** `[config-file]` - [specific setting]

Simple Bug Fixes

# Bug: [Issue Description]

**What:** [What's broken]
**Why:** [Root cause]
**How:**
- [Fix step 1]
- [Fix step 2]
**Acceptance:** [Issue no longer occurs]
**Files:** `[file]` - [fix description]

Related Content

Prerequisites

Other Templates

Examples

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