openspec

name	openspec
description	Spec-driven development with OpenSpec. Use when the user mentions OpenSpec, OPSX, spec-driven development, SDD, change proposals, delta specs, /opsx commands, or wants structured planning for features, migrations, refactors, or bug fixes.
metadata	{"category":"workflow-automation","pattern":"pipeline","owner":"engineering","status":"active","review_cycle_days":90,"benchmark_after_model_update":true,"outputs":["change-proposal","delta-spec","design","task-list","implementation-verification"]}
compatibility	Portable Agent Skills core; OpenSpec CLI is optional but preferred when installed.

OpenSpec

Use OpenSpec as the planning layer when work needs durable requirements, reviewable intent, or a multi-session implementation trail. Keep the repository's normal engineering rules active: start implementation with tests where applicable, work in small steps, and run the project's canonical checks.

Before You Start

1. Check whether the current repository already has an openspec/ directory or docs/openspec/.
2. Check whether the CLI is available with openspec --version.
3. If OpenSpec is missing and the user asked to adopt it, initialize it with the shared installer after confirming the target repository.
4. If OpenSpec is present, read the relevant openspec/specs/*/spec.md and active openspec/changes/<change>/ artifacts before proposing edits. If openspec/ is a symlink to docs/openspec/, keep using openspec/... paths for CLI compatibility while recognizing that the physical files live under docs/openspec/.
5. Treat OpenSpec artifacts as source files: update them with the same care as code, keep language precise, and include them in validation.

Shared Installer

This tooling repo exposes a portable installer through the shared ~/.agents symlink:

~/.agents/skills/openspec/scripts/install-openspec
~/.agents/skills/openspec/scripts/install-openspec /path/to/repo

The installer uses this placement policy:

• If the target repository already has docs/, create docs/openspec/ and a root openspec -> docs/openspec symlink so openspec CLI commands work from the repo root.
• If the target repository has thoughts/ but no docs/, create thoughts/openspec/ and a root openspec -> thoughts/openspec symlink.
• If the target repository does not have docs/ or thoughts/, create the normal root openspec/ directory.
• Do not move an existing real root openspec/ directory automatically; treat it as an existing installation.

Default Workflow

Use the core OPSX path for most changes:

1. Explore unclear requirements before creating artifacts.
2. Propose the change and generate planning artifacts.
3. Review and refine proposal.md, delta specs, design.md, and tasks.md.
4. Apply tasks one at a time, checking off completed items in tasks.md.
5. Verify implementation against the proposal, specs, design, and tasks.
6. Sync and archive the change when the implementation is complete.

If slash commands are available in the active tool, prefer:

• /opsx:explore for investigation before committing to a change.
• /opsx:propose <change> for the default proposal-to-tasks path.
• /opsx:apply <change> for implementation.
• /opsx:verify <change> when the expanded workflow is enabled.
• /opsx:sync <change> to merge delta specs into canonical specs when needed.
• /opsx:archive <change> to finalize completed work.

If the tool does not expose slash commands, perform the same workflow directly in files under openspec/changes/<change>/. In docs-first repositories, that path may resolve through the root symlink to docs/openspec/changes/<change>/.

CLI Use

Prefer CLI commands for repository state and validation when available:

openspec list
openspec list --specs
openspec show <change-or-spec>
openspec status <change>
openspec validate --all

Use --json for agent-readable output when the command supports it. Do not build long-lived automation on beta workspace commands unless the user explicitly asks for experimental workspace setup.

Artifact Standards

• Name change folders in kebab-case and avoid generic names like update or wip.
• Write requirements with SHALL statements and concrete scenarios.
• Keep scenarios in GIVEN, WHEN, THEN, and optional AND form.
• Keep tasks small enough to implement and verify independently.
• Update the design when implementation decisions change.
• Run OpenSpec validation and the repository's canonical validation before claiming completion.

Brownfield Repositories

OpenSpec works incrementally. Do not try to generate a full specification library upfront unless the user asks for a documentation pass. For mature codebases, create or update specs around the change being made, then let the spec library grow through real work.

Setup Guidance

When initializing OpenSpec, choose the smallest tool scope that matches the user's request:

~/.agents/skills/openspec/scripts/install-openspec
openspec update

After upgrading the CLI, run openspec update in initialized repositories so generated tool instructions stay current.