The brunch npm package name was previously used by a different project, a web app build tool: https://github.com/brunch/brunch From version 5.0.0 onwards, it is used by a new, entirely new project, an AI-guided spec elicitation tool: https://github.com/hashintel/brunch The two projects are completely unrelated. 4.0.2 is the latest and last version of the web app build tool.

The new project is under development and is immature. We do not yet recommend using it. It starts at version 5.0.0 to avoid confusion with the old project, rather than because of its maturity.

Brunch

Brunch is an AI-guided spec elicitation tool that turns a rough project idea into a structured specification through a multi-phase interview. It runs locally, keeps workspace state in a project-scoped SQLite database, and opens a browser UI for working through grounding, design, requirements, and acceptance criteria.

Run Brunch

Brunch requires Node 22+ and an Anthropic API key.

Create a .env file in the project directory where you want to use Brunch:

echo "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-..." > .env

Then launch it in that directory:

npx brunch

Brunch will create or reuse the local .brunch/ workspace for that project, start the web UI, and open it in your browser.

If you prefer a global install:

npm install -g brunch
brunch

Environment Variables

| Variable | Required | Description | |---|---|---| | ANTHROPIC_API_KEY | Yes | Anthropic API key | | ANTHROPIC_MODEL | No | Interviewer model override | | OBSERVER_MODEL | No | Observer model override | | BRUNCH_PORT | No | Port for the local web server |

Help

npx brunch --help

For Contributors

Development setup, architecture notes, fixture workflows, release steps, and internal planning docs live in CONTRIBUTING.md.