The nlspec Standard

An nlspec is a minimally spanning natural-language specification: a basis from which the whole software is constructible given the materials plus the rules of engagement. Spanning: every question a competent implementer could not settle alone is answered. Minimal: only those questions are answered; anything a capable reader can derive in context is elided.

Membership test. A decision belongs in the nlspec iff it is not derivable from what is already there. Detector: two capable readers would derive different answers, and the difference matters at a seam, claim, budget, or exclusion. If they would differ only in cell internals, leave it out.

Required contents