Spec-Driven Development with Coding Agents
by DeepLearning.AI
Replace vibe coding with disciplined specs so your coding agent builds what you actually asked for.
Overview
Spec-Driven Development with Coding Agents is a beginner-friendly DeepLearning.AI short course created in partnership with JetBrains and taught by Developer Advocate Paul Everitt. Vibe coding is fast but often produces code that drifts from intent; this course teaches the disciplined alternative. Over 15 short video lessons you write a project "constitution" that pins down mission, tech stack, and roadmap, then run iterative plan-implement-validate loops so the coding agent's output stays anchored to a written specification. The workflow is applied to both greenfield and legacy codebases, and the final lessons show how to package the process into custom agent skills that carry across different agents and IDEs — preserving context between sessions and reducing the cognitive debt of long-running agent work.
At a Glance
- Topic
- Agentic
- Level
- Beginner
- Format
- Course
- Cost
- Freemium
- Duration
- ~1 hour, self-paced (15 short video lessons)
- Provider
- DeepLearning.AI
- Hands-on
- Yes — code/exercises
- Certificate
- Available
What You’ll Learn
- ✓The difference between vibe coding and spec-driven development, and when each fails
- ✓Write a project constitution defining mission, tech stack, and roadmap
- ✓Run a repeatable plan-implement-verify loop to keep agent output on spec
- ✓Apply spec-driven development to both new and legacy codebases
- ✓Package the workflow into portable custom agent skills that work across agents and IDEs
Highlights
- •Built with JetBrains, focused on real IDE-based coding-agent workflows
- •Hands-on: you write specs, plan features, implement, and validate on a sample project
- •Bridges spec-driven development and reusable agent skills
Who It’s For
Best For
- ✓Developers using AI coding agents who want more reliable, on-spec output
- ✓Engineers introducing coding agents into existing/legacy codebases
- ✓Teams standardizing an agentic development workflow
Prerequisites
- •Basic familiarity with a programming language
- •Some experience using LLM-based coding tools
FAQ
What is Spec-Driven Development with Coding Agents?
A DeepLearning.AI short course, built with JetBrains and taught by Paul Everitt, that teaches developers a spec-driven workflow for coding agents. Instead of vibe coding, you write a clear markdown specification and drive the agent through a repeatable plan-implement-verify loop.
Is Spec-Driven Development with Coding Agents free?
Spec-Driven Development with Coding Agents offers free content, with paid options for certificates or premium features.
What level is Spec-Driven Development with Coding Agents for?
Spec-Driven Development with Coding Agents is aimed at a beginner audience. Recommended background: Basic familiarity with a programming language, Some experience using LLM-based coding tools.
How long does Spec-Driven Development with Coding Agents take?
Expect roughly ~1 hour, self-paced (15 short video lessons). Most learners work through it at their own pace.
What will I learn from Spec-Driven Development with Coding Agents?
You'll learn: The difference between vibe coding and spec-driven development, and when each fails; Write a project constitution defining mission, tech stack, and roadmap; Run a repeatable plan-implement-verify loop to keep agent output on spec; Apply spec-driven development to both new and legacy codebases; Package the workflow into portable custom agent skills that work across agents and IDEs.