specificationsthat

Specificationsthat is a hypothetical framework proposed in discussions of requirements engineering. It describes a way to structure and relate specifications by explicitly capturing the 'that' clauses that express conditions, constraints, and acceptance criteria.

Core idea: treat each specification as a unit with fields such as id, title, description, criteria, and relationships to other specs. The 'that' relationship connects a specification to the clause or condition it asserts, enabling precise traceability.

Modeling: implement as a graph or ontology; use nodes for specs and edges labeled 'that' to represent dependencies and containment. Tools: graph databases, requirement management systems.

Applications: complex systems, software development, regulatory compliance, where explicit linking of requirements to clauses supports validation, change impact analysis, and audit trails.

Criticism and status: as a proposed concept, specificationsthat is not a formal standard; adoption depends on organization needs; potential challenges include inconsistent language in natural language requirements and overhead in maintaining many relationships.

See also: requirements engineering, traceability, formal specification.