Ship features with rigor, clean handoffs, and predictable outcomes.
Features stall in the gaps between spec, build, and QA. FRAIM maps the full lifecycle, from spec and design through implementation, QA, review, and deploy, to structured jobs with security built into implementation and clean handoffs at every stage. The definition of done stays the same every time.
Large teams, unclear handoffs, uneven rigor.
Handoff loss
Context drops between spec, design, build, and QA, and rework follows.
Uneven rigor
Some features get a real design and review. Others slip through thin.
Security comes late
Security and compliance checks happen too late to be cheap to fix.
One rigorous lifecycle, with the artifact at every gate.
Select a stage to see the deliverable FRAIM produces. The same bar on every feature.
A feature specification with explicit acceptance criteria, then a technical design. The team builds against a shared definition of done, not an interpretation of it.
- Export respects the active filter and the caller's row-level permissions
- Each export writes an immutable audit entry with actor, scope, and time
- Exports over 100K rows stream without timing out
- PII columns are redacted unless the caller holds the export-PII role
Acceptance criteria are testable and fixed before design begins, so done means the same thing to everyone.
Implementation runs a security review between validate and regression. Critical and High findings route back before the feature can ship, so security is part of build, not an afterthought.
| Finding | Area | Severity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export bypasses row-level permission check | AuthZ | Critical | Routed back |
| PII redaction skipped on CSV path | Data | High | Routed back |
| Audit entry missing request IP | Logging | Medium | Fixed |
The feature cannot reach regression while a Critical or High finding is open; the gate is automatic.
Quality and review gates make done mean the same thing every time. The QA gate maps every acceptance criterion to a result, so coverage is visible, not assumed.
| Criterion | Tests | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Filter and permission scope honored | 4 | Pass |
| Immutable audit entry written | 3 | Pass |
| Large export streams under load | 2 | Pass |
| PII redaction by role | 4 | 1 failing |
The one failing case blocks sign-off; the release does not proceed on a partial pass.
Review, approval, deploy, and learn, with traceable handoffs throughout. The release checklist clears the same way every time, so deploys are routine, not events.
- Spec acceptance criteria all mapped to passing tests
- Security review clear, no open Critical or High findings
- Design and feature review signed off
- Rollback plan documented and rehearsed
- Monitoring and audit-log dashboards live before traffic
- Post-deploy retrospective scheduled
Every gate that produced the feature is referenced here, so the handoff to operations is complete.
From requirements to learning.
Define the feature
Specification with acceptance criteria.
Technical design
A reviewed design before build.
Implement
Build with a security review in the loop.
QA and validate
Quality assurance and validation gates.
Review and approve
Design and feature review, then sign-off.
Deploy and learn
Ship and capture the retrospective.
What changes for your team.
Make rigor the default.
One lifecycle, the same definition of done, on every feature your team ships.
Get started with FRAIM