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A specs-first approach to AI code porting
Geoffrey Huntley proposes using an agent loop to study a codebase’s tests and turn their behavior into written specifications. A separate pass then examines the implementation with those specifications as a guide, preserving links between the code and its intended behavior.
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Key takeaways
- Geoffrey Huntley proposes using an agent loop to study a codebase’s tests and turn their behavior into written specifications.
- A separate pass then examines the implementation with those specifications as a guide, preserving links between the code and its intended behavior.
- The approach offers a way to make requirements more explicit; it is not evidence that ordinary testing or human oversight can be discarded.
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When asking an AI agent to port software from one programming language to another, it can be tempting to start with the source code. Geoffrey Huntley suggests a different first step: make the tests explain what the software is supposed to do.
In his proposed workflow, an agent loop studies the test files and compresses their behavior into Markdown specifications. Those specifications should cite the implementation they describe. A separate loop then examines the source code, using the written specs as its guide. 8
The value of that sequence is clarity. Tests often encode expectations in a form that is difficult to carry directly into a new language. A written specification can give the porting work a more explicit behavioral reference—and citations make it easier to trace a requirement back to the code.
But a specification distilled from tests is still an interpretation of those tests, not proof that every edge case or product requirement has been captured. Huntley’s post describes a workflow for cross-language porting; it does not establish that the resulting specifications replace the test suite or that the port will be correct without further checks. 8
Keep the agent’s permissions separate from the plan
There is another practical distinction: deciding what an agent should do is not the same as deciding what it is allowed to change. Cline’s documentation describes Plan mode as a place to explore a codebase and work out an approach, while Act mode is used to carry out the plan. 2 Its project README says file edits and terminal commands require approval unless auto-approval is enabled.
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That makes a specs-first process easier to review: an agent can help surface intended behavior and outline a port before implementation begins. But teams still need to decide when edits are permitted and how to verify the result. The specification can guide the work; it cannot, by itself, guarantee correctness or govern the tools doing it.
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What is the short answer to "A specs-first approach to AI code porting"?
Geoffrey Huntley proposes using an agent loop to study a codebase’s tests and turn their behavior into written specifications.
What are the key points to validate first?
Geoffrey Huntley proposes using an agent loop to study a codebase’s tests and turn their behavior into written specifications. A separate pass then examines the implementation with those specifications as a guide, preserving links between the code and its intended behavior.
What should I do next in practice?
The approach offers a way to make requirements more explicit; it is not evidence that ordinary testing or human oversight can be discarded.