GAIA-Template is an advanced, open-source project template designed to support Spec-Driven Development (SDD) using AI agents. It provides a robust operational structure, enforceable rules, and reusable workflows to guide the systematic generation of high-quality React applications backed by REST APIs.
This repository serves both as a reference implementation of the GAIA approach and as a practical starting point for AI-assisted software development projects.
The core of the template is an advanced AI-agent configuration located in the
.agent/ directory, which acts as the project's operational intelligence layer:
A curated set of enforceable directives that ensure quality, consistency, and governance across the project lifecycle, including:
- Operational philosophy and Definition of Done (DoD)
- Architectural and data model standards
- Backend and frontend security checklists
- Testing protocols and Git conventions
Specialized capabilities that extend the agent’s behavior, such as:
- Backend domain generation with FastAPI
- Premium frontend design and brand identity management
- Automated code reviews
- Integrations with Playwright
Automated processes that orchestrate common development activities, including:
- Technical discovery and planning (user stories, tickets, implementation plans)
- Error correction and fix cycles
- Security audits and artifact governance
This template implements the Spec-Driven Development (SDD) methodology with AI agents. The conceptual foundations, design rationale, and step-by-step guidance are formally described in the official open-access manual (in Spanish):
👉 Spec-Driven Development with GAIA: From Zero to Mastery
The manual is published in the University of Alicante Repository (RUA) and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
If you plan to build a project based on GAIA-Template, we strongly recommend creating a fork of this repository.
Forking the repository helps track adoption, supports the visibility of the project, and provides objective evidence of academic and industrial transfer. Forking is optional but encouraged whenever possible.
Optionally, you may also open an adoption report using the provided GitHub issue template if you wish to share how GAIA-Template is being used.
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Source code and templates: Apache License 2.0
See theLICENSEfile. -
Methodology and documentation: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), as published in the associated manual hosted in the University of Alicante Repository (RUA).
If you use this repository or the GAIA / Spec-Driven Development methodology in academic, educational, or industrial work, please cite:
Cachero, C. (2026). GAIA-Template: Spec-Driven Development for React and REST APIs.
GitHub repository. https://github.com/ccacheroc/GAIA-Template
For the full methodological description, please also cite the associated manual available through the University of Alicante Repository (RUA).
If you create derived works based on this template or methodology, please retain the copyright notices, license files, and a reference to this repository and/or the associated manual.