Install
openclaw skills install gsd-clawSpec-driven development with built-in verification for substantial projects. Use when user wants to plan a project, scope a feature, build something with structure, or says "GSD mode", "let's plan", "scope out", "spec-driven". Workflow is Discuss → Plan → Execute → Verify. Based on glittercowboy's GSD system (MIT license). NOT for quick questions or simple tasks.
openclaw skills install gsd-clawA spec-driven development system adapted for OpenClaw. Transforms vague ideas into verified, working implementations through structured workflows.
Based on: glittercowboy/get-shit-done
Original Author: Lex Christopherson (@glittercowboy)
License: MIT
Trigger this skill when user says:
NOT for: Quick questions, simple tasks, chat conversations.
From the original GSD:
"The complexity is in the system, not in your workflow."
Principles:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1. DISCUSS Capture decisions before planning │
│ 2. PLAN Research → Create verified specs │
│ 3. EXECUTE Work through tasks with deviation rules │
│ 4. VERIFY Confirm deliverables actually work │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Purpose: Capture user's vision BEFORE any planning.
Process:
{project}/.gsd/CONTEXT.mdOutput Structure:
# Context: [Project/Phase Name]
## Decisions (Locked)
- [User decision 1]
- [User decision 2]
## Agent Discretion (Freedom Areas)
- [Area where agent can choose approach]
## Deferred Ideas (Out of Scope)
- [Not doing this now]
Rule: Never assume. Always ask.
Purpose: Create executable task specs with built-in verification.
Spawn sub-agent to investigate:
Save to: {project}/.gsd/RESEARCH.md
Each plan = 2-3 tasks maximum (context efficiency).
Task XML Structure:
<task type="auto">
<name>Task N: Action-oriented name</name>
<files>src/path/file.ts, src/other/file.ts</files>
<action>
What to do, what to avoid and WHY.
Be specific. No guessing.
</action>
<verify>Command or check to prove completion</verify>
<done>Measurable acceptance criteria</done>
</task>
Task Types:
type="auto" — Agent executes autonomouslytype="checkpoint:verify" — User must verifytype="checkpoint:decision" — User must chooseBefore execution, verify plans against:
Save plans to: {project}/.gsd/plans/{phase}-{N}-PLAN.md
Purpose: Work through tasks with deviation handling.
Apply automatically — track for summary:
| Rule | Trigger | Action | Permission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bug | Broken behavior, errors, security issues | Fix → verify → track | Auto |
| Missing Critical | Missing validation, auth, error handling | Add → verify → track | Auto |
| Blocking | Prevents completion (missing deps, wrong types) | Fix blocker → track | Auto |
| Architectural | New table, schema change, breaking API | STOP → ask user | Ask |
Rule 4 (Architectural) Format:
⚠️ Architectural Decision Needed
Current task: [task name]
Discovery: [what prompted this]
Proposed change: [modification]
Why needed: [rationale]
Alternatives: [other approaches]
Proceed? (yes / different approach / defer)
For multi-task execution, spawn sub-agents:
After each task:
Purpose: Confirm deliverables actually work.
Walk user through testable deliverables:
If all pass: Mark phase complete.
If issues: Don't debug manually — create fix plan and re-execute.
{project}/
└── .gsd/
├── PROJECT.md # Vision, always loaded
├── STATE.md # Current position, decisions, blockers
├── REQUIREMENTS.md # Scoped v1/v2 requirements
├── ROADMAP.md # Phases and progress
├── CONTEXT.md # User decisions from discuss phase
├── RESEARCH.md # Domain research (optional)
└── plans/
├── 01-01-PLAN.md # Phase 1, Plan 1
├── 01-01-SUMMARY.md # Execution results
└── ...
Templates: Copy from assets/ directory when initializing project files.
For small tasks that don't need full planning:
Trigger: "Quick: [task description]"
Process:
When to use:
# Project State
## Current Position
Phase: [N]
Plan: [N of M]
Status: [planning | executing | verifying | blocked]
## Decisions Made
- [Decision 1] — [rationale]
- [Decision 2] — [rationale]
## Blockers
- [Blocker if any]
## Deviations Applied
- [Rule N] [Description] — [resolution]
Update STATE.md after each significant action.
From original GSD:
❌ Enterprise theater
❌ Vague tasks
<!-- BAD -->
<task>
<name>Add authentication</name>
<action>Implement auth</action>
<verify>???</verify>
</task>
❌ Filler language
✅ Direct, imperative, technical
Original GSD → OpenClaw Version
| GSD | OpenClaw |
|---|---|
/gsd:command slash commands | Natural language triggers |
| Claude Code Task() spawning | sessions_spawn sub-agents |
.claude/ directory | {project}/.gsd/ directory |
| Bash scripts | PowerShell/cross-platform |
| git commit protocol | Optional, user preference |
Preserved Core:
User: "Let's plan the ORO website SEO overhaul"
Agent (DISCUSS):
Starting GSD workflow for: ORO Website SEO Overhaul
Before planning, I need to understand your vision.
1. What's the primary goal?
a) Rank higher for specific keywords
b) Improve technical SEO scores
c) Both
d) Something else
2. Any pages that are highest priority?
3. Budget constraints for tools/services?
4. Timeline expectations?
After discussion → creates CONTEXT.md
Agent (PLAN):
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
GSD ► PLANNING: ORO SEO Overhaul
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Spawning research sub-agent...
[Research complete]
Creating plans...
- Plan 1: Technical SEO fixes (3 tasks)
- Plan 2: Content optimization (2 tasks)
- Plan 3: Performance improvements (3 tasks)
Verifying plans against requirements...
✓ All checks passed
Ready to execute?
This skill is adapted from Get Shit Done (GSD) by Lex Christopherson (@glittercowboy).
Thank you Lex for creating an incredibly effective system for building things with AI.