How to set up JetBrains Junie for SpecDD

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This guide shows you how to set up JetBrains Junie for spec-driven development.

The dedicated Junie integration packages the shared SpecDD skills for Junie’s skills directory. The documented install paths are global copy, project-local copy, GitHub CLI, and universal Agent Skills.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

JetBrains Junie available
Git, for cloning the plugin repository
GitHub CLI, if you use the gh skill install path
the SpecDD CLI, if you use universal Agent Skills
a project initialized with SpecDD

Steps

1. Initialize SpecDD in the project

From the selected content root:

specdd init

Confirm that the project contains:

AGENTS.md
.specdd/
  bootstrap.md
  bootstrap.project.md

2. Install Junie skills globally

Source and install details: github.com/specdd/plugin-junie

Install the dedicated Junie plugin skills into Junie’s user skills directory:

git clone https://github.com/specdd/plugin-junie.git /tmp/specdd-plugin-junie
mkdir -p ~/.junie/skills
cp -R /tmp/specdd-plugin-junie/skills/* ~/.junie/skills/

Use a global install when you want Junie to use SpecDD skills across multiple projects.

3. Install project-locally instead

For a project-local install, copy the skills into:

.junie/skills/

Use a project-local install when you want the skills version to travel with a specific repository or team setup.

4. Use GitHub CLI instead

The SpecDD tools reference also documents GitHub CLI as an alternative for Junie.

Use gh skill install with Junie as the target agent and user scope:

gh skill install specdd/plugin-junie specdd-orient --agent junie --scope user

Replace specdd-orient with another SpecDD skill ID when you want to install a different skill.

5. Use universal Agent Skills instead

Universal Agent Skills are another documented alternative for Junie.

Install project-local Agent Skills:

specdd agentskills deploy

Install into another project directory:

specdd agentskills deploy path/to/project

Install user-level Agent Skills:

specdd agentskills deploy --user

For manual installation, clone the universal Agent Skills package and copy the specdd-* skill directories into the skills directory your Junie setup reads.

6. Open the SpecDD project

Open the folder that contains .specdd/bootstrap.md and the root .sdd file.

If you also use the JetBrains .sdd editor plugin, it can provide syntax highlighting, structural validation, path completion, document links, and create-file quick fixes while you write specs.

7. Verify Junie can use SpecDD

Use:

Orient in this SpecDD project.

Then ask about a real spec:

Explain the Itinerary spec.

Junie should describe local SpecDD context before planning or implementation.

Common mistakes

Copying the wrong folder instead of the contents of the plugin skills directory.
Installing globally when the agent client is configured to read project-local skills only.
Installing through multiple paths without checking which skills Junie loads.
Opening a nested module instead of the selected content root.
Confusing the JetBrains editor plugin for .sdd files with the Junie agent skills.

How to verify the result

Junie is ready for SpecDD when:

the SpecDD skills are present in ~/.junie/skills, .junie/skills, or the Agent Skills directory Junie reads
the project contains .specdd/bootstrap.md
orientation identifies the active SpecDD context
plans name relevant specs, authority, constraints, and checks

Tools

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