Templates
Free to copy, no sign-up. Each template comes with a worked example, and with what to do when the requirements change after it is signed.
Sign-off
Getting the requirements, each change to them, the result, and finally the project, accepted in writing on a named version.
-
Change control board (CCB): members, charter and process
What a change control board is, who sits on it, what it decides, a CCB charter template with an example, how a meeting runs, and CCB vs CAB vs product owner.
-
Change log template for project requirements
A change log template for project requirements: what to record, an example, change log vs change request log, and how to keep one in Excel, Confluence or Jira.
-
Change request template for software projects
A free change request template for software projects, with a filled-in example, a change request log, and the email that asks the client for a decision.
-
Requirements sign-off template
A free requirements sign-off template and email to copy: what to include, how to get a client to actually sign off, and what to do at the first change.
-
Change impact analysis
A change impact analysis template and a worked example for software: requirements, code, data, tests, cost and dates a change touches, and how to find them.
-
Decision log template
A decision log template to copy, a worked example, what to record, how to keep it, and decision log vs ADR, RAID log and change log — plus Excel and Confluence.
-
Project scope statement template
A project scope statement template for software projects, a filled-in example, in scope vs out of scope, and scope statement vs project charter, SOW and WBS.
-
Project sign-off template
A free project sign-off template and email, with an example, phase sign-off, a closure checklist, and what to do when the client won't sign off.
-
Test case template and examples
A free test case template to copy into a spreadsheet, with examples for a payment and a login page, positive and negative cases, and how to write test cases.
-
UAT test plan template
A free UAT test plan template with test case and script examples, entry and exit criteria, a UAT checklist, and who does UAT — plus UAT vs SIT and QA.
-
UAT sign-off template
A free UAT sign-off template and email to copy: what the document includes, the sign-off criteria, and how to tie acceptance to the version that was approved.
Requirements documents
The documents a software project is agreed and built from.
-
Functional specification template for software
A free functional specification (FSD) template for software, a filled-in example, functional requirement examples, and FSD vs BRD, PRD and technical spec.
-
Project charter template for software projects
A project charter template for software projects, a filled-in example, who writes and signs it, and project charter vs SOW, scope statement and project plan.
-
Requirements management plan template
A requirements management plan template for software projects: what it covers, a filled-in example, and how it differs from a scope management plan and an RTM.
-
Vision and scope document template
A vision and scope document template for software: business objectives, vision statement, scope by release, a filled-in example, and how it differs from a BRD.
-
Product requirements document (PRD) template
A free PRD template with a filled-in example, a prd.md version for Claude Code and other AI coding agents, and how a PRD differs from a BRD and a spec.
-
Technical specification template
A free technical specification template for software (a design doc or technical design document), with an example, an ADR template and how to write one.
-
Business requirements document (BRD) template
A free business requirements document (BRD) template for software projects, a filled-in example, business vs functional requirements, and BRD vs FRD, SRS, PRD.
-
Requirements traceability matrix (RTM): template and example
A free requirements traceability matrix template for Excel or Google Sheets, a filled-in example, forward and backward traceability, and RTMs in Jira and agile.
-
Software requirements specification (SRS) template
A free SRS template based on the IEEE 830 outline: what each section holds, example requirements, IEEE 830 vs ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148, and SRS vs PRD and FRS.
-
Statement of work template for software development
A free statement of work template for software projects, what a SOW should include, SOW vs scope of work vs MSA, and clauses for acceptance and changes.
Gathering and writing requirements
From the first questions to one requirement at a time: user stories, use cases, acceptance criteria, non-functional requirements, the definition of done, and specs for AI coding agents.
-
Spec-driven development example
A complete spec-driven development example: one feature's spec, plan, tasks and tests, then a change request, version 2 and what it touches, in three formats.
-
Acceptance criteria template: Given/When/Then examples
Free acceptance criteria templates (Given/When/Then and checklist), with examples for user stories and APIs, and how they differ from the definition of done.
-
Business rules vs requirements, with examples
Business rules vs requirements, with examples: rule types, and how a business rule differs from functional requirements, business logic and acceptance criteria.
-
Types of requirements, with examples
Types of requirements in software engineering with one example each: business, user, functional, non-functional, rules, constraints. Plus requirements vs specs.
-
User story template and examples
A free user story template with acceptance criteria, software examples, a Jira version, INVEST, splitting, and user story vs use case, epic and task.
-
EARS requirements: syntax and examples
EARS requirements syntax: the five patterns with examples, a template to copy, how to rewrite a requirement in EARS, EARS vs Gherkin, and EARS in Kiro.
-
Gherkin examples
Gherkin examples to copy: the keywords, a full feature file, Scenario Outline with Examples, data tables, Background, Rule, a template and best practices.
-
MoSCoW prioritization
MoSCoW prioritization explained: must, should, could and won't have, with a worked example, a template, the 60% rule, and MoSCoW vs RICE, Kano and WSJF.
-
Requirements review checklist
A requirements review checklist to copy, the characteristics of good requirements (IEEE 830, ISO 29148), a worked review, words to flag, and how to run it.
-
Definition of done: examples and a checklist
What a definition of done is, examples for software teams, a checklist to copy, and the definition of done vs acceptance criteria vs definition of ready.
-
Non-functional requirement examples
Non-functional requirements examples by type: performance, security, availability, usability, with a checklist, a template and how to make them testable.
-
Requirements gathering questions to ask
Requirements gathering questions to ask clients and stakeholders, by topic, with a first-meeting list, an interview template and how to run the interview.
-
Use case template and example
A free use case template with a filled-in example: actors, preconditions, main success scenario, alternative and exception flows, and use case vs user story.
-
Spec template for spec-driven development (spec.md)
A free spec.md template for spec-driven development with Claude Code, Cursor or Copilot: what goes in a spec, an example, and spec.md vs CLAUDE.md.