Methodology Frameworks
Independent interpretation
Each framework page below is ProductBuildersHQ's own interpretation of publicly described practices, adapted for AI-assisted spec authoring. None are affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the companies or practitioners named.
VisionSpec supports multiple product development methodologies through its profile system. Each profile provides customized templates and evaluation rubrics tailored to the methodology's artifacts and practices.
Available Frameworks
| Profile |
Methodology |
Best For |
| Big Tech Product |
AWS + Google + Stripe + Netflix + more (MRD start) |
New product lines with comprehensive practices |
| Big Tech Feature |
AWS + Google + Stripe + Netflix + more (OpportunitySpec start) |
Features with comprehensive practices |
| AWS Product |
Working Backwards (MRD start) |
New product lines, major initiatives |
| AWS Feature |
Working Backwards (OpportunitySpec start) |
Features on existing products |
| Google |
Design Docs + RFC |
Engineering-heavy, data-driven organizations |
| Stripe |
API-First |
Platform and API products |
| Shape Up |
Basecamp (Ryan Singer) |
Fixed time, variable scope, betting on pitches |
| Continuous Discovery |
Teresa Torres |
Weekly touchpoints, assumption testing |
| Lean Startup |
Build-Measure-Learn |
Early-stage validation |
| Design Thinking |
Stanford d.school |
Human-centered design |
| JTBD |
Jobs to be Done |
Understanding customer motivations |
Choosing a Framework
By Scope
| Scope |
Starting Document |
Recommended Profile |
| New product line |
MRD |
Big Tech Product, AWS Product, Lean Startup |
| New feature |
OpportunitySpec / OST |
Big Tech Feature, AWS Feature, Continuous Discovery |
| API/Platform feature |
OpportunitySpec |
Big Tech Feature, Stripe |
| Fixed-time project |
Pitch |
Shape Up |
| Continuous improvement |
OST |
Continuous Discovery |
| Experiment |
Hypothesis |
Lean Startup, Continuous Discovery |
By Company Stage
| Stage |
Recommended Profiles |
| Pre-PMF (0-1) |
Lean Startup, Continuous Discovery, Design Thinking, JTBD |
| Startup |
Lean Startup, Shape Up, Continuous Discovery |
| Growth |
Big Tech Product/Feature, Google, Stripe, Continuous Discovery |
| Enterprise |
Big Tech Product/Feature, Google, AWS Product, Stripe |
By Product Type
| Product Type |
Recommended Profiles |
| Consumer App |
Big Tech Product, Design Thinking, JTBD, AWS Product |
| B2B SaaS |
Big Tech Product, AWS Product, Google, Lean Startup |
| Platform/API |
Big Tech Feature, Stripe, Google |
| Internal Tools |
Google, Big Tech Feature |
| Hardware |
Design Thinking, JTBD |
By Team Culture
| Culture |
Recommended Profiles |
| Writing-heavy |
Big Tech Product, AWS Product, Stripe, Google |
| Engineering-led |
Big Tech Product/Feature, Google, Stripe |
| Design-led |
Design Thinking, JTBD, Continuous Discovery |
| Data-driven |
Big Tech Product/Feature, Google, Lean Startup |
| Customer-obsessed |
Big Tech Product, AWS Product, JTBD, Continuous Discovery |
| High autonomy |
Shape Up, Big Tech Product/Feature (Netflix/Spotify) |
| Research-integrated |
Continuous Discovery |
Using Profiles
List Available Profiles
Initialize Project with Profile
multispec init my-project --profile aws-one-way-door
Show Profile Details
multispec profiles show google
Export Profile for Customization
multispec profiles export stripe ./my-profiles/stripe-custom
Combining Frameworks
Profiles can be extended and combined. For example:
# multispec.yaml
profile: aws
extends:
- lean-startup # Add hypothesis validation
# Or create a custom profile
profile: ./profiles/my-hybrid.yaml
VisionSpec Document Mapping
Each framework maps its artifacts to VisionSpec's document types:
| VisionSpec |
Big Tech |
AWS |
Google |
Shape Up |
Discovery |
Lean |
Design |
JTBD |
| MRD |
MRD + OKRs |
Business Case |
OKR Doc |
— |
OST |
Hypothesis |
Empathy Map |
Job Statement |
| PRD |
PRD + API |
PRFAQ |
RFC |
Pitch |
Assumption Map |
MVP PRD |
Prototype Spec |
Outcome Reqs |
| UXD |
UXD + DX |
— |
Experiment |
— |
Experience Map |
Experiment |
Journey Map |
Job Map |
| TRD |
Design Doc |
Design Doc |
Design Doc |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Solution Arch |
| Narrative |
6-Pager |
6-Pager |
— |
— |
— |
Pivot Doc |
— |
— |
| Tracking |
— |
— |
— |
Scope/Hill |
Snapshot |
— |
— |
— |