I worked as a computer programmer for some time, developing electronic design automation tools for (very busy) electrical engineers. One of the things that I learned to do was to pin them down carefully on the specs of the tool that they wanted me to write for them. They were very napkin-oriented. I think that any programmer or engineer learns how important specs are in order to avoid misunderstandings and missed expectations. Of course, the specs almost always change on the fly, but that, too, can be better dealt with.