Technical Requirements Template: Systems & Constraints
Last reviewed: February 15, 2025
Why Capture Technical Requirements Early
Technical requirements keep ambiguous ideas from slipping into development. They align product, engineering, and stakeholders on the constraints you must respect before deciding how to build.
Use this template in tandem with the technical specification template so the problem space and solution design stay in sync.
Template Outline
- System Overview — Describe scope, in/out of bounds, and success metrics.
- Interfaces & Integrations — Document contracts for internal and external APIs, including rate limits and auth.
- Data Requirements — Detail schemas, retention rules, and migration considerations.
- Operational Constraints — Note reliability targets, performance budgets, and observability expectations.
- Security & Compliance — Call out encryption needs, logging policies, and audit requirements.
- Dependencies & Risks — List upstream/downstream systems plus mitigations.
Tips for Fast Iteration
- Draft collaboratively. Co-edit with product and design to avoid rework later.
- Link to specs. Reference the technical spec example when teams ask for a concrete walkthrough.
- Version deliberately. Track approval dates and owners so changes stay auditable.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between technical requirements and specs?
Requirements describe the must-have behaviors, constraints, and integrations. Specs translate those requirements into a proposed solution design.
How often should requirements be updated?
Review them whenever scope changes, new dependencies appear, or acceptance criteria evolve—otherwise engineering will ship against outdated guardrails.
Do technical requirements need diagrams?
Include diagrams whenever they clarify data flow, interfaces, or security boundaries. Link back to the technical spec for deeper architecture context.
Related Topics
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