Speclint
PaidAbout Speclint
Speclint is an open-source spec linter that scores user stories and requirements on a 0-100 scale across 5 dimensions: Measurable Outcomes (20pts), Testable Criteria (25pts), Constraints (20pts), No Vague Verbs (20pts), and Verification Steps (15pts).
The scoring is fully deterministic — pure regex pattern matching, no LLM involved. AI is only used for the optional rewrite feature, which rewrites failing specs to pass all checks. Available as: CLI (npx speclint lint), GitHub Action, MCP Server (3 tools), and REST API.
Free tier: 5 lints/day. Paid plans start at $9/mo for unlimited linting and rewrites. Open source (MIT).
Built for teams shipping to AI coding agents — if your spec scores below 70, the agent will hallucinate. Fix the spec first.
How to Use
Run npx speclint lint in your terminal, paste a user story, and get a 0-100 score instantly. Or add the GitHub Action to score specs on every PR. Or connect the MCP Server to Claude, Cursor, or any AI coding agent — it auto-lints specs before the agent writes code.
Key Features
- Deterministic 0-100 scoring across 5 dimensions
- CLI, GitHub Action, and MCP Server
- AI-powered spec rewrite to fix failing specs
- Agent-ready threshold scoring (70+)
- Open source (MIT) with paid tiers
Use Cases
- Score user stories before handing them to AI coding agents
- Add spec quality gates to CI/CD pipelines
- Rewrite vague requirements into agent-ready specs
- Audit backlog quality across a sprint
Key Features
Pros & Cons
- Fully deterministic scoring eliminates variability and ensures reliability
- Specifically optimized for specs used with AI coding agents, addressing hallucination risks
- Multiple deployment formats (CLI, GitHub Action, MCP Server, REST API) for flexible integration
- Open-source core allows customization and self-hosting
- Affordable paid plans starting at $9/month for unlimited usage
- Quick feedback loop with regex-based checks for high efficiency
- Free tier restricted to only 5 lints per day, limiting heavy users
- Regex-only scoring may overlook semantic nuances in complex specs
- AI rewrite feature introduces potential costs and non-determinism
- Pricing details listed as 'contact' despite mentioned $9/mo plans, creating uncertainty
- Primarily focused on spec linting, lacking broader requirements management features
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