<!-- gz-competitor-radar: generated; registry=artifacts/reports/competitor-radar/registry.json; scan=artifacts/reports/competitor-radar/scans/2026-05.json; checksum=5e552dbae4ce8f9b -->

# Competitor Radar - 2026-05

> Generated from JSON. Do not edit this Markdown directly.

## Operating Posture

| Axis | Decision |
| --- | --- |
| Discovery | B+ - seeded registry plus active discovery; admit new candidates when evidence names a gzkit-relevant strength, rejection, or route. |
| Execution | B- - reports may suggest moves, then open grill/design discussion before any governance mutation. |
| Report structure | C - product snapshots plus strength-pattern mapping. |
| Scan mode | baseline |

## Product Snapshot Pass

| Product | Watch | Status | Trajectory | Delta | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| OpenSpec | primary | in-development, active public framework | rising | Added to primary watch after operator caught earlier omission. | [OpenSpec homepage](https://openspec.dev/) |
| GitHub Spec Kit | primary | active open-source toolkit | rising | Seeded as primary comparator; extension catalog makes trajectory worth monthly tracking. | [GitHub Spec Kit repository](https://github.com/github/spec-kit); [Spec Kit site](https://speckit.org/) |
| Kiro | primary | active product | rising | Seeded as primary UX comparator for requirements-design-tasks flow. | [Kiro homepage](https://kiro.dev/); [Kiro feature specs docs](https://kiro.dev/docs/specs/feature-specs/) |
| Tessl | secondary | active registry/framework product | steady | Seeded as context-package and spec-registry comparator. | [Tessl SDD registry tile](https://tessl.io/registry/tessl-labs/spec-driven-development); [Tessl SDD launch post](https://tessl.io/blog/tessl-launches-spec-driven-framework-and-registry) |
| Specmatic | primary | mature contract-driven development tool | steady | Seeded as executable-contract reference. | [Specmatic CDD docs](https://docs.specmatic.io/contract_driven_development) |
| BMAD Method | secondary | active open-source agentic agile framework | rising | Seeded as persona/workflow-packaging comparator. | [BMAD Method repository](https://github.com/bmad-code-org/BMAD-METHOD) |
| GSD | primary | active multi-runtime workflow system | rising | Promoted from missed comparator to primary watch. | [GSD repository](https://github.com/gsd-build/get-shit-done) |
| Superpowers | primary | active skills framework and methodology | rising | Promoted from missed comparator to primary watch. | [Superpowers repository](https://github.com/obra/superpowers); [Subagent-driven development skill](https://github.com/obra/superpowers/blob/main/skills/subagent-driven-development/SKILL.md) |
| Compound Engineering | secondary | active skill/workflow signal | watch | Added as compounding-loop comparator. | [ce-compound skill listing](https://eliteai.tools/agent-skills/cecompound) |
| Matt Pocock Skills | reference | active public skills corpus | rising | Added as skill-design and grill-dialogue reference. | [grill-me skill](https://github.com/mattpocock/skills/blob/main/skills/productivity/grill-me/SKILL.md) |
| Agent Skills | reference | active open skill packaging standard | mature | Added as reference standard after operator explicitly required following agentskills.io. | [Agent Skills home](https://agentskills.io/home); [Agent Skills specification](https://agentskills.io/specification) |
| Better Spec | secondary | active lightweight toolkit | watch | Added as low-friction bootstrap comparator. | [Better Spec homepage](https://better-spec.com/) |
| Specledger | secondary | active platform and CLI | rising | Added as platform/context-compounding comparator. | [Specledger homepage](https://specledger.io/); [Specledger Go package](https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/specledger/specledger) |
| OpenAPI | reference | mature specification ecosystem | mature | Seeded as durable spec-governance reference, not direct SDD product. | [OpenAPI specification](https://spec.openapis.org/oas/) |
| OpenTelemetry | reference | mature specification ecosystem | mature | Seeded as durable cross-vendor specification reference. | [OpenTelemetry specifications](https://opentelemetry.io/docs/specs/) |

## Strength Pattern Pass

| Pattern | Competitor evidence | gzkit destinations | Witness |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Operator-first spec front door | OpenSpec, GitHub Spec Kit, Kiro, Better Spec | ADR-pool.operator-first-spec-workspace, ADR-pool.change-isolation-workspace, ADR-pool.pre-planning-interview | Change workspace JSON plus ADR/OBPI promotion receipt. |
| Spec delta intent review | OpenSpec, Specledger, GitHub Spec Kit | ADR-pool.spec-delta-markers, ADR-pool.workflow-specification | Delta markers with changed/unchanged/source/witness fields. |
| Workflow as validated data | GitHub Spec Kit, GSD, BMAD Method | ADR-pool.workflow-specification, ADR-pool.harness-agnostic-plan-capture | Workflow schema validation and ledger event coverage. |
| Task wave execution | Kiro, GSD, Superpowers | ADR-pool.wave-dependency-execution, ADR-pool.obpi-pipeline-dispatch-attestation | Wave dependency graph, lock receipts, sync barrier receipts. |
| Typed review receipts | Superpowers, Compound Engineering, BMAD Method | ADR-pool.review-receipt-taxonomy, ADR-pool.skill-feedback-loop | Spec-compliance, code-quality, security, overbuild, and integration decision receipts. |
| Portable context packages | Tessl, GSD, BMAD Method, Agent Skills | ADR-pool.context-package-registry, ADR-pool.skill-control-surface-contract, ADR-pool.content-injection-scanning | Package manifest, provenance, injection scan, and sync receipts. |
| Bugfix spec routing | GitHub Spec Kit, Kiro, GSD | ADR-pool.bugfix-spec-routing, ADR-pool.spec-delta-markers | Observed/expected/unchanged behavior record with GHI linkage. |
| Executable contracts | Specmatic, OpenAPI, OpenTelemetry | ADR-pool.contract-surface-mechanical-defenses, ADR-pool.tdd-receipt-stream | Contract proof receipts for CLI, API, schema, ledger, and skill surfaces. |
| Compounding feedback | Compound Engineering, Specledger, Matt Pocock Skills | ADR-pool.skill-feedback-loop, ADR-pool.solved-problem-pattern-corpus, ADR-pool.cross-session-search | Human-reviewed lesson events and governed pattern corpus entries. |
| Content and prompt injection defense | GSD, Agent Skills ecosystem | ADR-pool.content-injection-scanning, ADR-pool.agentic-security-review | Deterministic scan result before loading or syncing external content. |

## Suggested gzkit Moves

| ID | Move | Route | Destination | Recommendation | Witness | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MOVE-001 | Make external-strength absorption a recurring foundation doctrine candidate | existing-pool-adr | ADR-pool.external-strength-absorption-doctrine | Keep as pool for now; monthly reports should cite it as the doctrine home for borrowed workflow pressure. | Monthly report checksum plus evidence URLs; future promotion adds schema/validator/ledger witness for comparator intake. | pending-grill |
| MOVE-002 | Build an operator-first spec workspace without lightening governance | existing-pool-adr | ADR-pool.operator-first-spec-workspace | Promote later as feature work only after the radar grill confirms exact workflow and witness requirements. | Workspace JSON with proposal/design/tasks/spec-delta fields and ADR/OBPI routing receipts. | pending-grill |
| MOVE-003 | Add bugfix-spec routing for observed/expected/unchanged behavior | existing-pool-adr | ADR-pool.bugfix-spec-routing | Keep as feature-pool candidate; require explicit unchanged-behavior witness and GHI linkage. | Bugfix spec JSON or Markdown frontmatter with observed, expected, unchanged, tests, route facts, and linked GHI. | pending-grill |
| MOVE-004 | Turn two-stage review into typed gzkit receipts | existing-pool-adr | ADR-pool.review-receipt-taxonomy | Treat as foundation-or-feature candidate during design; the taxonomy affects proof semantics, while CLI/reporting is feature work. | Receipt types for spec-compliance, code-quality, security, performance, overbuild, and integration decision. | pending-grill |
| MOVE-005 | Create governed context-package registry semantics | existing-pool-adr | ADR-pool.context-package-registry | Keep as feature-pool candidate tied to skill-control-surface contract and content-injection scanning. | Context package manifest with source URL, version/ref, checksum, scan status, allowed consumers, and sync receipts. | pending-grill |
| MOVE-006 | Make monthly competitor radar a generated report artifact | discussion-only | artifacts/reports/competitor-radar | Land this skill and report artifact now; schedule monthly scans after validation. | Portable skill scripts validate registry, scan JSON, and generated Markdown byte-for-byte. | accepted-in-this-pass |

## Grill Queue

### MOVE-001: Make external-strength absorption a recurring foundation doctrine candidate

This move protects gzkit's identity: borrow mechanisms only when they become ledger/receipt/validator/attestation surfaces.

| Question | Recommended answer | Recorded answer | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Are we copying a product or absorbing a mechanism? | Absorbing mechanisms only: front-door clarity, compounding feedback, and contract proof. |  | pending |
| Which gzkit invariant must not weaken? | Ledger-of-truth beats agent-trust; reports cannot mutate governance without design approval. |  | pending |

### MOVE-002: Build an operator-first spec workspace without lightening governance

Competitors are better at the first 10 minutes. gzkit should make entry smoother while preserving heavier downstream gates.

| Question | Recommended answer | Recorded answer | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What is the smallest front-door improvement that still leaves a receipt trail? | A generated change workspace with spec delta, unchanged behavior, evidence, destination route, and suggested OBPI split. |  | pending |
| What would make this unsafe? | Treating the workspace as source-of-truth instead of an intake artifact routed to ADR/OBPI/ledger surfaces. |  | pending |

### MOVE-003: Add bugfix-spec routing for observed/expected/unchanged behavior

Bugfix UX is a competitor strength because it captures intent cheaply. gzkit can make that safer with routing thresholds and witnesses.

| Question | Recommended answer | Recorded answer | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Should bugfix specs ever bypass ADR/OBPI ceremony? | Only when defect-fix routing thresholds mechanically allow direct fix; otherwise route to OBPI. |  | pending |
| What field blocks behavior laundering? | UNCHANGED behavior, backed by tests or explicit waivers. |  | pending |

### MOVE-004: Turn two-stage review into typed gzkit receipts

Superpowers' two-stage review is strong, but gzkit's stronger version is not 'review happened'; it is typed, queryable review evidence.

| Question | Recommended answer | Recorded answer | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Is this foundation or feature? | Split: foundation for review-proof semantics, feature for emit/list/validate commands. |  | pending |
| Which review types must exist first? | Spec compliance, code quality, security sensitivity, overbuild, and integration decision. |  | pending |

### MOVE-005: Create governed context-package registry semantics

Competitors are packaging reusable context. gzkit should do the same only when provenance, scan, and consumer controls are first-class.

| Question | Recommended answer | Recorded answer | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What cannot be trusted from a context package by default? | Instructions, examples, hidden scripts, and transitive references; all require provenance and scan evidence. |  | pending |
| What is the first safe package shape? | Skill-compatible package with manifest, references, scripts, checksum, and allowed-tool declaration. |  | pending |

### MOVE-006: Make monthly competitor radar a generated report artifact

The report itself is the first improvement loop: a governed input to future design discussions, not a one-off chat artifact.

| Question | Recommended answer | Recorded answer | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Who authors the report? | The agent authors it from evidence and grill answers; the operator only answers forcing-function questions. | The agent authors it from evidence and grill answers; the operator does not edit JSON or Markdown. | answered |

## Operator Decisions

| ID | Decision | Source | Recorded |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DISCOVERY-BPLUS | B+ - seeded registry plus active discovery because we do not know what we do not know. | operator grill answer | 2026-05-07 |
| EXECUTION-BMINUS | B- - report with suggested moves, then design discussion to modify recommendations before governance mutation. | operator grill answer | 2026-05-07 |
| REPORT-C | C - report includes both product snapshots and strength-pattern mapping. | operator grill answer | 2026-05-07 |
| JSON-GOVERNS-MD | Markdown is governed by JSON for key fields; Python may accompany the skill to enforce projection. | operator correction | 2026-05-07 |
| SKILL-PORTABILITY | Scripts stay portable with the skill; deterministic execution assets belong under the skill package. | operator correction | 2026-05-07 |
| ARTIFACTS-REPORTS | The competitor radar report lives under artifacts/reports. | operator correction | 2026-05-07 |
| AGENT-AUTHORS-REPORT | The operator authors nothing; the report is agent-authored from evidence JSON and grill answers. | operator correction | 2026-05-07 |

## Discovery Candidates

| Candidate | Evidence | Recommended action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OpenSpec | Operator noted it was missed; official site confirms broad SDD positioning. | Promoted directly into primary registry watch. |
| GSD | Operator noted it was missed; repository confirms multi-runtime workflow and context-rot positioning. | Promoted directly into primary registry watch. |
| Superpowers | Operator noted it was missed; repository and subagent-driven skill confirm two-stage review pattern. | Promoted directly into primary registry watch. |
| Spec Kitty | Search surfaced an active GitHub project as Spec Kit expansion/fork. | Hold as discovery candidate for June scan; do not add to primary registry until evidence names a distinct gzkit-relevant strength. |

## Routed Follow-up

| Target | Action | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| gz-competitor-radar skill | Create portable skill package with registry, scan, render, and validation scripts. | implemented |
| monthly automation | Schedule monthly scan after the skill validates and mirrors sync. | scheduled as monthly-competitor-radar |
| future design discussion | Use the Grill Queue to accept, modify, or reject suggested moves before ADR/GHI mutation. | pending-operator-session |

_Source checksum: `5e552dbae4ce8f9b`._
