💡 How do you handle specification drift?

[copyleftdev]

One of the challenges with spec-first development is keeping the specification in sync with the implementation.

The Problem

As code evolves, specs can become stale. You end up with:

• Specs that say one thing, code that does another
• Lost trust in documentation
• Back to "the code is the documentation"

Possible Solutions

1. Generate code from specs — The spec IS the source of truth
2. Generate specs from code — Introspection-based docs
3. Contract testing — Fail CI if spec and code diverge
4. Schema registries — Versioned, validated schemas

Questions

• How do you keep specs and code aligned in your projects?
• Do you treat the spec as the source of truth, or the code?
• What tools have you found helpful?

Share your experience! 👇