VibeSpec Score 35: Superlative Promises
VibeSpec Score 35: Superlative Promises
Score 35 marks requirements that claim to be “the best” or offer absolute guarantees. Superlatives make the commitment difficult to prove and can expose the team to legal or reputational trouble.
Example requirements
-
“This service will provide the best security in the industry.”
- Marketing interpretation: A bold statement to stand out from competitors.
- Legal interpretation: Could be challenged if a breach occurs.
- Fix: “The service will comply with industry-standard security certifications.”
-
“Our platform offers perfect reliability.”
- Marketing interpretation: Suggests zero downtime.
- Engineer interpretation: Impossible to guarantee under real-world conditions.
- Fix: “Our goal is 99.99% uptime backed by service-level monitoring.”
-
“The software will deliver unbeatable performance.”
- Marketing interpretation: Implies we surpass everyone else.
- Engineer interpretation: Needs measurable benchmarks to support the claim.
- Fix: “Benchmark at least 10% faster than the previous release on key workloads.”
How VibeSpec detects and explains
VibeSpec identifies words like “best,” “perfect,” or “unbeatable” and explains why such claims should be toned down or supported with hard evidence. It recommends focusing on concrete metrics rather than grandiose statements.
Why interpretations differ
Marketing might interpret these promises as aspirational language to attract customers. Legal counsel, however, could view them as binding commitments that invite lawsuits if unmet. VibeSpec surfaces this tension and suggests more cautious wording.
