Functional Specification (Functional Spec) Generator | A Proven AI Prompt for Documentation for product managers | Engify.ai
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# Functional Specification (Functional Spec) Generator

## Problem Context

Functional specifications communicate WHAT should be achieved from the user's perspective. They bridge the gap between product requirements and technical implementation by focusing on:
- **User-facing functionality**: What users can do, see, and experience
- **UI/UX specifications**: Layouts, interactions, user flows
- **Product requirements**: Features, behaviors, edge cases
- **Acceptance criteria**: How we know a feature is complete

Functional specs are typically created by PMs and designers, but engineers need them to understand what to build.

## Solution Pattern: Template Pattern + User Stories

This prompt uses a structured template with user stories to create comprehensive functional specifications.

## Prompt Template

Act as a Product Manager and UX Designer. I need to create a Functional Specification (Functional Spec) for [feature/product name].

Guide me through creating a comprehensive functional spec that communicates what should be achieved from the user perspective:

### 1. Overview
- **Feature/Product Name**: [Name]
- **Owner**: [PM/Designer name]
- **Date**: [Date]
- **Status**: [Draft/Review/Approved]
- **Related Documents**: [PRD, Design Doc links]
- **Target Users**: [Who will use this feature]

### 2. Problem Statement
- What user problem are we solving?
- Why is this important to users?
- What is the current user experience, and why is it problematic?
- What evidence do we have (user research, data, feedback)?

### 3. Goals & Success Metrics
- **User Goals**: What do users want to achieve?
- **Business Goals**: What business outcomes do we expect?
- **Success Metrics**: 
  - User engagement metrics
  - Conversion metrics
  - Satisfaction metrics
  - Target values and timelines

### 4. User Stories & Personas
- **Primary Persona**: [Who is the primary user?]
  - Demographics
  - Goals
  - Pain points
- **User Stories**: 
  - "As a [user type], I want [goal] so that [benefit]"
  - Prioritize: Must Have, Should Have, Could Have
- **User Flows**: [High-level user journey]

### 5. Functional Requirements
For each feature/functionality:

#### Feature: [Name]
- **Description**: What does this feature do?
- **User Actions**: What can users do?
- **System Behavior**: How does the system respond?
- **Edge Cases**: 
  - Empty states
  - Error states
  - Loading states
  - Offline behavior
- **Dependencies**: [Other features this depends on]

### 6. UI/UX Specifications
- **Layout**: [Screen layouts, component placement]
- **Visual Design**: 
  - Colors, typography, spacing
  - Design system components used
  - Responsive breakpoints
- **Interactions**: 
  - Click/tap behaviors
  - Hover states
  - Animations and transitions
  - Form validation and feedback
- **Accessibility**: 
  - Keyboard navigation
  - Screen reader support
  - Color contrast
  - ARIA labels

### 7. User Flows & Wireframes
- **Primary User Flow**: [Step-by-step user journey]
- **Alternative Flows**: [Different paths users might take]
- **Error Flows**: [What happens when things go wrong]
- **Wireframes/Mockups**: [Describe or reference design files]

### 8. Content Requirements
- **Copy**: [All text content, labels, messages]
- **Error Messages**: [User-friendly error messages]
- **Help Text**: [Tooltips, help content]
- **Localization**: [If applicable, language considerations]

### 9. Acceptance Criteria
For each user story/feature:
- **Given**: [Initial state]
- **When**: [User action]
- **Then**: [Expected outcome]
- **And**: [Additional validations]

### 10. Non-Functional Requirements
- **Performance**: [Page load times, response times]
- **Browser/Device Support**: [Supported browsers, devices]
- **Accessibility**: [WCAG compliance level]
- **Security**: [Data protection, privacy considerations]

### 11. Edge Cases & Error Handling
- **Empty States**: [What users see when there's no data]
- **Error States**: [How errors are displayed and handled]
- **Validation**: [Input validation rules and messages]
- **Offline Behavior**: [What works offline, what doesn't]

### 12. Analytics & Tracking
- **Events to Track**: [User actions to measure]
- **Metrics**: [Key metrics to monitor]
- **A/B Tests**: [If applicable, test variations]

### 13. Launch Plan
- **Rollout Strategy**: [Phased rollout, beta, full launch]
- **Feature Flags**: [Flags to control rollout]
- **Success Criteria**: [How we know launch was successful]

### 14. Open Questions
- Questions that need answers before implementation
- Design decisions needed
- User research needed

---

**Instructions:**
1. Focus on the USER perspective - what they see, do, and experience
2. Be specific about UI/UX details - layouts, interactions, states
3. Include user stories and acceptance criteria for clarity
4. Document all edge cases and error states
5. Use markdown formatting for readability
6. Reference design files, mockups, and prototypes where available

Once complete, format the functional spec as a clear, user-focused document that engineers and designers can use to build the feature.

---

*This prompt is part of the Engify.ai research-based prompt library. Functional specs focus on WHAT users experience, while design docs focus on HOW engineers implement it.*
Functional Specification (Functional Spec) Generator

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