SpecPi

Pi, beside
your code.

Set the scope. Use the tools you need. Improve what gets in the way.

Get SpecPi ChatInstall SpecPi

Your Pi setup. Your choice of model.

SpecPi Chat in VS Code: an open file beside the chat panel discussing a focused change.
SpecPi Chat in VS Code: an open file beside the chat panel discussing a focused change.
SpecPi Chat · Example workspace

Set the scope.
Keep the work focused.

SpecPi's own extensions do two things: track a task's scope and help you improve the harness from problems you choose to address.

How scope works

The rest comes from eight pinned packages. Your Pi setup and choice of model stay yours.

Install SpecPi

npm install --global specpi@latest
specpi plan
specpi install
specpi doctor

Node.js 22.19+ · npm · Git · existing Pi on PATH
Tested with Pi 1.0.0. Review the plan, confirm, then restart Pi. Install turns on Pi's codemode tool; put -codemode in defaultTools to keep it off.

Updating or installing only the core?

Run specpi update after updating the npm package. Use --skip-package-install for scope and the improvement loop alone on a fresh install. Normal updates remove unchanged pi-lens entries added by SpecPi; independent or modified entries and downloaded files remain. The skip flag preserves the old base. Restart Pi and Chat connections to unload Lens.

Setup and updates

Human control

You choose which improvements to make.

Small, reversible changes

Keep each change focused and easy to review.

Local improvement records

Collection is disabled by default. Records stay on your machine.

Tools for the rest.

Eight packages, installed through Pi at the versions below. Each keeps its own tools, commands, and configuration.

Confirmed install/update sets up Chromium with Node, not Bun. Use --skip-browser-install to skip setup; specpi doctor checks real QA readiness offline. OS libraries require manual installation. Browser QA is not general-browser feature parity; BetterWright remains optional/manual. Pi Goal X supports Pi ≥0.83.0 and <2.0.0.

SpecPi Chat 0.19.0

Add it to VS Code.

Attach files, review approvals, and switch between conversations. Follow delegated agents, goals, and usage from the package base.

Download SpecPi Chat 0.19.0
See delegated agent activity in Chat
SpecPi Chat showing individual delegated agent results and a live activity panel in an example conversation. SpecPi Chat showing individual delegated agent results and a live activity panel in an example conversation.

Delegation helps on some task shapes and hurts on others. See what the evidence shows.

  1. 01
    Set up Pi and SpecPi.

    Follow the install above and confirm Pi runs in a terminal. Connect a provider there, or let Chat open that terminal for you in step 03.

  2. 02
    Install SpecPi Chat.

    In VS Code 1.96+, run Extensions: Install from VSIX… and choose the downloaded file.

  3. 03
    Open SpecPi. Connect Pi.

    Open a trusted project, select SpecPi in the Activity Bar, then choose Connect Pi.

Improving the Pi harness

Changes to the instructions, tools and workflows around Pi. You choose what changes; verification is required before an item can close.

Pi harness improvement: observe and qualify a recurring gap; select one change with human authorization; modify the Pi harness; run checks and validation; retire only with evidence; review later outcomes. Failed checks return to Modify. New work requires a new human selection. Pi harness improvement: observe and qualify a recurring gap; select one change with human authorization; modify the Pi harness; run checks and validation; retire only with evidence; review later outcomes. Failed checks return to Modify. New work requires a new human selection.
Evidence collection is opt-in and local. Read the workflow

The 0.21 base

A fresh start for SpecPi.

The old custom tools, extra commands, themes, and shell profiles are removed. Scope, the improvement loop, and Chat remain, with the eight packages above handling the supporting tools.

Updates back up managed files and preserve unrelated settings. Restart Pi and Chat connections after updating.

Read the migration guide