Install Implement Spec
Pick your agent. Every command is ready to paste.
npx skills add mattpocock/skills --skill implement-specThe open skills CLI detects your agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and 70+ more) and installs to the right folder. Add -g to install globally.
01
Install it
Run the command above, or upload the folder in Claude.
02
Ask naturally
Describe the task. Your agent loads implement-spec when the request matches its description.
03
Name it if needed
If it does not trigger, say “use the implement-spec skill”. In Codex, type $implement-spec.
The skill itself
SKILL.md
You have been provided a spec. This spec should have tickets associated with it, describing how to implement the spec.
The issue tracker should have been provided to you. If not, tell the user to run /setup-matt-pocock-skills.
The goal is the entire spec implemented on a single integration branch, with every ticket resolved the way the issue tracker closes work.
The tickets are not a list of steps. They are a task graph with blocking relationships between them. This means there is always a frontier of tickets which are ready to be grabbed.
Start every subagent with a fresh context window.
Communication to and from subagents should be sparse. Communicate primarily through context pointers: to the spec, tickets, research notes, and previous commits. Don't duplicate information already available via pointers.
Implementer subagents should be run in the background where possible for maximum concurrency.
Steps
Read the spec and tickets to understand the task graph.
(optional) Use an exploration subagent to conduct any exploration required by the tickets - relevant codebase files or external documentation. Ensure the exploration subagent can save files - it should save its markdown notes in a directory outside the repo, accessible by all future subagents. This lets implementer subagents focus on implementation rather than exploration.
Create the integration branch. If the issue tracker closes work through PRs, or the user asks for one, open a draft PR after the first merge in step 5 (a branch with no commits ahead of main can't open one), marked as closing the spec and tickets.
Use a fresh implementer subagent for each ticket, each in its own worktree on its own branch. Each implementer subagent:
- confirms its worktree is based on the integration branch before starting, and resets onto it if not;
- calls the Skill tool with
tddto build the ticket; - merges the integration branch tip into its own branch before reporting done
Once an implementer subagent completes, merge its work to the integration branch with a merger subagent.
If this changes the frontier of available tickets, kick off more implementer subagents to work on the new tickets. This allows for maximum concurrency.
Once all tickets are complete, call the Skill tool with
code-reviewon the integration branch. Fix all issues raised by the code review in a single fresh implementer subagent.If a draft PR exists, mark it ready for review. Otherwise, resolve each ticket the way the issue tracker closes work, and report the integration branch.
Clean up all implementer subagent worktrees.
Tips for Implement Spec
- • Start a fresh session after installing so your agent picks up the new skill.
- • It is part of a pack with 39 skills. Install only the ones you need with --skill to keep triggers precise.
- • If two skills overlap, mention the one you want by name.
Questions about Implement Spec
What does the Implement Spec skill do?
Implement the result of /to-spec and /to-tickets in code.
How do I install Implement Spec?
Run "npx skills add mattpocock/skills --skill implement-spec" in your project. The skills CLI installs it for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and 70+ other agents. In Claude on the web, upload the skill folder as a ZIP under Customize > Skills.
Does Implement Spec work in Cursor and Codex?
Yes. Implement Spec uses the open SKILL.md format, so it works in Claude Code, Claude, Cursor, OpenAI Codex, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and other agents that support agent skills.
Is Implement Spec free?
Implement Spec is open source on GitHub under the MIT license. It is free to install; check the license before commercial use.
Who made Implement Spec?
Implement Spec is published by Matt Pocock in the mattpocock/skills repository, together with 38 other skills.




