Spec-Driven Development MCP server

The Spec-Driven Development MCP server facilitates structured development workflows by providing prompts that guide you through requirements generation, design documentation, and code implementation following a systematic approach. It uses the industry-standard EARS format for requirements and creates a traceable path from requirements to implementation.

Installation

Prerequisites

• Node.js 20+

VS Code Installation

You can install the MCP server in VS Code using the Install MCP Server button available on VS Code or VS Code Insiders.

Alternatively, you can add configuration in mcp.json:

{
    "servers": {
        "spec-driven": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "mcp-server-spec-driven-development@latest"
            ]
        }
    }
}

Cursor and Claude Code Installation

Install the MCP server in Cursor using the Install MCP Server button.

Alternatively, you can add configuration in mcp.json:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "spec-driven": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "mcp-server-spec-driven-development@latest"
            ]
        }
    }
}

Available Prompts

Generate Requirements Document

• Name: generate-requirements
• Description: Generate requirements.md using EARS format
• Input: High-level requirements of the application. Example: 'A Vue.js todo application with task creation, completion tracking, and local storage persistence'
• Output: Structured requirements document in specs/requirements.md

Generate Design from Requirements

• Name: generate-design-from-requirements
• Description: Generate design.md from requirements.md
• Input: Reads from specs/requirements.md
• Output: Design document in specs/design.md

Generate Code from Design

• Name: generate-code-from-design
• Description: Generate code from design.md
• Input: Reads from specs/design.md
• Output: Implementation code in the root folder

Using the Workflow

Follow this step-by-step workflow to develop your application:

1. Start with Requirements: Use the generate-requirements prompt with your initial requirements text
2. Create Design: Use generate-design-from-requirements to create a design document based on your requirements
3. Generate Code: Use generate-code-from-design to generate implementation code from your design

This creates a traceable path from requirements through design to implementation, ensuring consistency and completeness in your development process.

How to install this MCP server

For Claude Code

To add this MCP server to Claude Code, run this command in your terminal:

claude mcp add-json "spec-driven" '{"command":"npx","args":["-y","mcp-server-spec-driven-development@latest"]}'

See the official Claude Code MCP documentation for more details.

For Cursor

There are two ways to add an MCP server to Cursor. The most common way is to add the server globally in the ~/.cursor/mcp.json file so that it is available in all of your projects.

If you only need the server in a single project, you can add it to the project instead by creating or adding it to the .cursor/mcp.json file.

Adding an MCP server to Cursor globally

To add a global MCP server go to Cursor Settings > Tools & Integrations and click "New MCP Server".

When you click that button the ~/.cursor/mcp.json file will be opened and you can add your server like this:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "spec-driven": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "mcp-server-spec-driven-development@latest"
            ]
        }
    }
}

Adding an MCP server to a project

To add an MCP server to a project you can create a new .cursor/mcp.json file or add it to the existing one. This will look exactly the same as the global MCP server example above.

How to use the MCP server

Once the server is installed, you might need to head back to Settings > MCP and click the refresh button.

The Cursor agent will then be able to see the available tools the added MCP server has available and will call them when it needs to.

You can also explicitly ask the agent to use the tool by mentioning the tool name and describing what the function does.

For Claude Desktop

To add this MCP server to Claude Desktop:

1. Find your configuration file:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
• Linux: ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

2. Add this to your configuration file:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "spec-driven": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "mcp-server-spec-driven-development@latest"
            ]
        }
    }
}

3. Restart Claude Desktop for the changes to take effect