ThumbGate Verification evidence
comparison | thumbgate vs speclock

# ThumbGate vs SpecLock

SpecLock starts from manually written constraints. ThumbGate starts from thumbs-up/down feedback and turns it into pre-action checks that block repeated mistakes.

👍 Thumbs up reinforces good behavior
👎 Thumbs down blocks repeated mistakes

## Why this page exists

- ThumbGate learns from thumbs-up and thumbs-down feedback without requiring a separate spec-writing workflow.
- SpecLock is strongest when a team already has strong specifications and wants enforcement tied to those documents.
- ThumbGate is strongest when the pain is repeated agent mistakes across Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Gemini, Amp, and OpenCode.

## The product difference in one sentence

SpecLock helps a team codify rules before the work begins. ThumbGate helps a team convert real thumbs-up/down feedback into live pre-action checks after the work reveals what actually breaks.

That means ThumbGate is better for fast-moving agent workflows where the problem is not writing more specs, but preventing the same mistake from happening again tomorrow.

## Choose ThumbGate when

- Your agent already repeats known mistakes and you need the block to happen before tool execution.
- You want one feedback loop that supports both reinforcement from thumbs up and prevention from thumbs down.
- You need proof assets, automation reports, and compatibility across multiple coding agents.

## Choose SpecLock when

- Your team already maintains strong PRDs or system specs and wants the model constrained against those artifacts.
- Your primary problem is uncontrolled file edits, not a missing feedback-to-enforcement loop.
- You are willing to invest in manual constraint authoring as part of the workflow.

## FAQ

Is ThumbGate trying to replace specs?

No. ThumbGate complements specs by capturing thumbs-up/down feedback from live agent behavior and enforcing the learned rules as pre-action checks.

What does ThumbGate do that SpecLock does not?

ThumbGate turns explicit feedback into searchable memory, auto-generated prevention rules, and runtime checks that block repeated mistakes before the next tool call executes.