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Agent skill

SPARC Development Methodology

by ruvnet in ruvnet/ruflo

Applies the SPARC method (specification, pseudocode, architecture, refinement, completion) with 17 specialized modes and multi-agent orchestration, from research to deployment.

MITAuto-check passedDevelopment

Install SPARC Development Methodology

skills CLI
$ npx skills add ruvnet/ruflo --skill sparc-methodology -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install ruvnet/ruflo sparc-methodology --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ruvnet/ruflo.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/sparc-methodology .claude/skills/sparc-methodology && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
sparc-methodology
GitHub stars
74k
Used in
2 other repos
Token cost
~829 tokens
SKILL.md length
174 words
Files
3 (incl. scripts)
Skills in repo
264
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Applies the SPARC method (specification, pseudocode, architecture, refinement, completion) with 17 specialized modes and multi-agent orchestration, from research to deployment.

  • Works in 4 steps: Check memory for existing patterns… → Use hierarchical topology for coordination → Store successful patterns after completion → …
  • Running a new feature through specification, design, test-first implementation and review
  • SKILL.md covers Purpose, When to Trigger, When to Skip and Commands, plus 3 more sections
  • Runs Shell scripts from its folder; calls npx

What it does

SPARC is a phased development method built on Claude Flow's multi-agent orchestration. The skill lays out phases that run from specification, where requirements, user stories, constraints and success metrics are defined, through architecture, where system structure, component interfaces, database schema and API contracts are planned, to a refinement phase that implements features test-first.

It describes 17 specialized modes covering work from initial research through deployment and monitoring, with named modes per phase, such as researcher, analyzer and memory-manager for specification and architect, designer and orchestrator for architecture. Its principles are specification before code, design before implementation, tests before features, review of everything and continuous documentation. The table of contents also lists activation methods, orchestration patterns and common workflows.

When your agent uses it

  • Running a new feature through specification, design, test-first implementation and review
  • Choosing which specialized agent mode fits a phase of development
  • Setting up test-driven development with several agents working in parallel

Example prompts

  • “Use SPARC to build a rate-limited notifications service, starting from the specification.”
  • “Which SPARC modes should handle the architecture phase for this API?”
  • “Run the refinement phase on the billing module with failing tests first.”

Requirements

  • Claude Flow for the multi-agent orchestration

Workflow steps

4 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.

  1. Check memory for existing patterns before starting
  2. Use hierarchical topology for coordination
  3. Store successful patterns after completion
  4. Document any new learnings

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 58e0ae7. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    Ships 2 files in scripts/ (Shell), which the agent can run.

    Shell commands in SKILL.md call:

    • npx

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md. Its commands use npx, which can reach the network depending on how they are called.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

SPARC Development Methodology loads about 829 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 118 tokens; SKILL.md has 174 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~118
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~829

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); the scripts in this folder are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from ruvnet/ruflo at commit 58e0ae7, republished under its MIT licence (© ruvnet). 174 words, ~829 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/sparc-methodology/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 2 other files; get the full folder from GitHub.
name
sparc-methodology
description
SPARC development workflow: Specification, Pseudocode, Architecture, Refinement, Completion. A structured approach for complex implementations that ensures thorough planning before coding. Use when: new feature implementation, complex implementations, architectural changes, system redesign, integration work, unclear requirements. Skip when: simple bug fixes, documentation updates, configuration changes, well-defined small tasks, routine maintenance.

Sparc Methodology Skill

Purpose

SPARC development workflow: Specification, Pseudocode, Architecture, Refinement, Completion. A structured approach for complex implementations that ensures thorough planning before coding.

When to Trigger

  • new feature implementation
  • complex implementations
  • architectural changes
  • system redesign
  • integration work
  • unclear requirements

When to Skip

  • simple bug fixes
  • documentation updates
  • configuration changes
  • well-defined small tasks
  • routine maintenance

Commands

Specification Phase

Define requirements, acceptance criteria, and constraints

bash
npx @claude-flow/cli hooks route --task "specification: [requirements]"

Example:

bash
npx @claude-flow/cli hooks route --task "specification: user authentication with OAuth2, MFA, and session management"
Pseudocode Phase

Write high-level pseudocode for the implementation

bash
npx @claude-flow/cli hooks route --task "pseudocode: [feature]"

Example:

bash
npx @claude-flow/cli hooks route --task "pseudocode: OAuth2 login flow with token refresh"
Architecture Phase

Design system structure, interfaces, and dependencies

bash
npx @claude-flow/cli hooks route --task "architecture: [design]"

Example:

bash
npx @claude-flow/cli hooks route --task "architecture: auth module with service layer, repository, and API endpoints"
Refinement Phase

Iterate on the design based on feedback

bash
npx @claude-flow/cli hooks route --task "refinement: [feedback]"

Example:

bash
npx @claude-flow/cli hooks route --task "refinement: add rate limiting and brute force protection"
Completion Phase

Finalize implementation with tests and documentation

bash
npx @claude-flow/cli hooks route --task "completion: [final checks]"

Example:

bash
npx @claude-flow/cli hooks route --task "completion: verify all tests pass, update API docs, security review"
SPARC Coordinator

Spawn SPARC coordinator agent

bash
npx @claude-flow/cli agent spawn --type sparc-coord --name sparc-lead

Scripts

ScriptPathDescription
sparc-init.agents/scripts/sparc-init.shInitialize SPARC workflow for a new feature
sparc-review.agents/scripts/sparc-review.shRun SPARC phase review checklist

References

DocumentPathDescription
SPARC Overviewdocs/sparc.mdComplete SPARC methodology guide
Phase Templatesdocs/sparc-templates.mdTemplates for each SPARC phase

Best Practices

  1. Check memory for existing patterns before starting
  2. Use hierarchical topology for coordination
  3. Store successful patterns after completion
  4. Document any new learnings

© ruvnet, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

SKILL.md and 2 other files (scripts) in .agents/skills/sparc-methodology of ruvnet/ruflo.

  • SKILL.md
  • scripts/sparc-init.sh
  • scripts/sparc-review.sh

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 58e0ae7

Used in 2 other repositories

We found 2 copies of this SKILL.md (exact, near-identical or edited) in other folders, from 2 other GitHub owners. This page covers the copy in ruvnet/ruflo, which our catalogue first saw on October 7, 2026.

Compare with similar skills

SPARC Development Methodology next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

SPARC Development Methodology compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
SPARC Development Methodology this skillruvnet/ruflo74k2 repos~829Automated safety check: PassMIT
Tbdjlevy/strif131—~3.5kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Bulletproof Workflowartemiimillier/bulletproof153—~3.5kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Architect Before Implementingcursor/plugins10k8 repos~1.4kAutomated safety check: PassNone
PRP PlanWirasm/prp2.3k—~4kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Conductor Track Managementwshobson/agents40k9 repos~420Automated safety check: PassMIT

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Categories

Questions about SPARC Development Methodology

What does SPARC Development Methodology do?

Applies the SPARC method (specification, pseudocode, architecture, refinement, completion) with 17 specialized modes and multi-agent orchestration, from research to deployment. SPARC is a phased development method built on Claude Flow's multi-agent orchestration. The skill lays out phases that run from specification, where requirements, user stories, constraints and success metrics are defined, through architecture, where system structure, component interfaces, database schema and API contracts are planned, to a refinement phase that implements features test-first.

When should I use SPARC Development Methodology?

SPARC Development Methodology fits situations like: running a new feature through specification, design, test-first implementation and review; choosing which specialized agent mode fits a phase of development; setting up test-driven development with several agents working in parallel.

How do I install SPARC Development Methodology in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add ruvnet/ruflo --skill sparc-methodology -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (.agents/skills/sparc-methodology in ruvnet/ruflo) into .claude/skills/sparc-methodology in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install SPARC Development Methodology in Codex?

Run `npx skills add ruvnet/ruflo --skill sparc-methodology -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (.agents/skills/sparc-methodology in ruvnet/ruflo) into .agents/skills/sparc-methodology in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use SPARC Development Methodology in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add ruvnet/ruflo --skill sparc-methodology -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/sparc-methodology, .gemini/skills/sparc-methodology, .github/skills/sparc-methodology and .opencode/skills/sparc-methodology in your project.

What does SPARC Development Methodology need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, SPARC Development Methodology needs a shell for the scripts in its folder and the command-line tools its instructions call (npx). Our summary lists: Claude Flow for the multi-agent orchestration.

Does SPARC Development Methodology access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Its commands use npx, which can reach the network depending on how they are called. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is SPARC Development Methodology safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. The check reads SKILL.md only: the scripts in the folder are not scanned, so read them before running anything.

What licence does SPARC Development Methodology use?

SPARC Development Methodology is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does SPARC Development Methodology use?

About 829 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 3.3k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to SPARC Development Methodology?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with SPARC Development Methodology: Tbd (jlevy/strif, 131 stars), Bulletproof Workflow (artemiimillier/bulletproof, 153 stars), Architect Before Implementing (cursor/plugins, 10k stars) and PRP Plan (Wirasm/prp, 2.3k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains SPARC Development Methodology?

ruvnet (a GitHub user) maintains it in ruvnet/ruflo, which has 74,159 GitHub stars. The repository holds 264 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 9, 2026.

Source: ruvnet/ruflo on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.