AI-assisted coding
Writing down exactly what the software must do, agreed by people, before letting AI tools write the code from that plan.
Formal
A way of working with coding agents in which a written description of goals, behaviour, limits and acceptance checks is drafted and reviewed first, then split into tasks the agent carries out; the description stays the lasting source of truth and is updated before the code.
In plain English
Like agreeing the menu and guest numbers with the cook before a wedding - the kitchen can then work fast, because nobody is guessing what to serve or for how many.
In practice
At a software house building a pension fund's member portal, the product owner and developers agree a one-page description of password reset, including “links expire after 15 minutes”; the agent builds from it, and tests check that rule.
Why it matters
It puts people back in charge of what gets built and gives both the AI and the reviewers something clear to check against, including security needs agreed up front.