D.O.C.S. Methodology

The D.O.C.S. methodology ensures that AI-assisted development produces not just working code, but well-understood, maintainable software.

The Four Stages

D — Define

Establish clarity before writing any code.

What to define:

• The problem being solved
• Inputs and outputs
• Success criteria
• Constraints and requirements

Prompt pattern: "I need to build [X] that takes [inputs] and produces [outputs]. The key requirements are [list]. What questions do you have before we start?"

O — Outline

Create a plan before implementation.

What to outline:

• High-level approach
• Component breakdown
• Data flow
• Key decisions

Prompt pattern: "Let's outline the approach. What are the main components? What's the sequence of operations? What are the key decision points?"

C — Code

Implement with AI assistance.

How to code:

• Work incrementally
• Review as you go
• Ask for explanations
• Iterate on solutions

Prompt pattern: "Now let's implement [component]. Start with [specific part]. Explain your approach as you write."

S — Synthesize

Consolidate learning and documentation.

What to synthesize:

• Document what was built
• Capture design decisions
• Write tests
• Note future improvements

Prompt pattern: "Now let's document this. Summarize what we built, the key decisions we made, and any assumptions. Then generate appropriate tests."

Why D.O.C.S. Works

Each stage builds on the previous:

• Definition prevents building the wrong thing
• Outlining prevents architectural mistakes
• Coding with context produces better code
• Synthesizing ensures knowledge isn't lost