Consolidate Spec Kit scripts into a single Bun/Node.js CLI to reduce maintenance overhead

[sanathusk]

Summary

• Replace duplicated Bash and PowerShell scripts with a single cross‑platform CLI implemented in Bun/Node.js to reduce drift, simplify maintenance, and ensure consistent behavior across Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Motivation

• The repo maintains parallel Bash and PowerShell variants for common tasks, increasing upkeep and risk of divergence.
• Shell differences around quoting, path handling, env, and exit codes create fragile workflows for contributors and CI.
• JSON/FS/process orchestration and richer UX (prompts, colors, structured logs) are more robust in JS than in shell.

Proposal

• Introduce a unified CLI package (e.g., “spec-kit”) in TypeScript targeting Bun and Node.js, exposing existing scripts as subcommands.
• Bun‑first for speed and DX, Node‑compatible for ubiquity in CI and contributor environments.

Scope (initial port)

• scripts/check-task-prerequisites.sh → spec-kit check.
• scripts/create-new-feature.sh → spec-kit feature create.
• scripts/get-feature-paths.sh → spec-kit feature paths.
• scripts/setup-plan.sh → spec-kit plan setup.
• scripts/update-claude-md.sh → spec-kit docs update.

Command mapping

Current script	Purpose	Proposed command
check-task-prerequisites.sh	Tooling/env validation	spec-kit check
create-new-feature.sh	Branch + spec bootstrap	spec-kit feature create
get-feature-paths.sh	Resolve spec paths	spec-kit feature paths
setup-plan.sh	Initialize planning artifacts	spec-kit plan setup
update-claude-md.sh	Sync/update docs	spec-kit docs update

Migration plan

1. MVP: implement spec-kit check and spec-kit feature create with parity outputs/exit codes.
2. Port remaining scripts and add E2E tests comparing against current shell behavior.
3. Deprecate shell scripts via thin shims delegating to spec-kit for one release.
4. Remove legacy scripts after one minor release with clear notes in README and releases.

Requested feedback

• Agreement on approach and package name, plus any additional scripts to include in the first wave.

[amondnet]

@sanathusk https://github.com/amondnet/spec-kit-sdk/tree/main/packages/scripts
I made this with similar thoughts, but now I'm focusing on extensions/plugins

[sanathusk]

@amondnet Do you plan to merge it or bring it into the this project or plan to keep it as a spearte spin off project? BYB great work!!

[AlbertoBasalo]

@sanathusk Just curious—did you use spec-kit itself to write the Bun port of the scripts?
It would be awesome to dogfood spec-kit by generating its own extensions.
That kind of self-improving would be a great showcase of its capabilities!
Anyway, huge thanks for pushing this forward! 🙌 Consolidating everything into a Bun/Node.js CLI is a brilliant move—it’s going to make spec-kit so much more maintainable and contributor-friendly. Really excited to see this evolve!

[localden]

I generally like this idea - cross-platform CLI that can do the things we need to do (maybe even part of specify). Although there will still be a question of distribution/integration - scripts are auditable, and with a binary you have a hard time telling what it might do. That being said, I do value the convenience it might bring. Will investigate.

[sanathusk]

@localden We will need no generate a binary, JS/ python scripts would be auditable similar to bash scripts.