The Intent File Specification defines a vendor-neutral format — a single declarative
YAML file (*.intent) per project — that describes a whole application one altitude above
the models a conforming generator produces from it: its entities, relations, workflows,
forms, reports, permissions, integrations and seed data.
The Intent File never emits application code. It stops at the model layer; a conforming generator deterministically turns it into the platform's model artefacts, and those into a complete running application.
This repository is the normative home of the specification. A rendered, navigable version — with the DSL reference, worked examples and the Intent-Driven Development manifesto — is published at intentfile.org (source: intentfile.github.io).
| Version | Status |
|---|---|
| 1.0 | superseded |
| 1.1 | superseded - added aggregates, checks: kind: guard, posts, the notify block (attach: print, forEach), pattern and header-mediated dependsOn (proposal) |
| 1.2 | current - adds lifecycle stages + report scope + status names, locksWithMaster, generates prompted input and computed lines, defaultValue row seeding, print-template row filtering (proposal), the scope boundary and the authoring assistant's honesty rule (proposal), and aligns document numbering with deployed practice |
versions/ the specification, one file per version - the newest version file is normative (currently versions/1.2.md)
proposals/ proposals for specification changes, discussed before they are specified
examples/ complete example .intent files
The specification evolves in the open — every change is a pull request against this repository:
- Editorial fixes (typos, wording, clearer examples): open a PR directly.
- Specification changes (new constructs, changed semantics): start with an
issue or a
document under
proposals/, then a PR once the direction is agreed.
See CONTRIBUTING.md for the full flow and the ground rules (vendor-neutrality above all), and GOVERNANCE.md for how decisions are made. Participation is covered by the Code of Conduct.