// Archive a completed change in the experimental workflow. Use when the user wants to finalize and archive a change after implementation is complete.
| name | openspec-archive-change |
| description | Archive a completed change in the experimental workflow. Use when the user wants to finalize and archive a change after implementation is complete. |
| license | MIT |
| compatibility | Requires openspec CLI. |
| metadata | {"author":"openspec","version":"1.0","generatedBy":"1.0.0"} |
Archive a completed change in the experimental workflow.
Input: Optionally specify a change name. If omitted, check if it can be inferred from conversation context. If vague or ambiguous you MUST prompt for available changes.
Steps
If no change name provided, prompt for selection
Run openspec list --json to get available changes. Use the AskUserQuestion tool to let the user select.
Show only active changes (not already archived). Include the schema used for each change if available.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT guess or auto-select a change. Always let the user choose.
Check artifact completion status
Run openspec status --change "<name>" --json to check artifact completion.
Parse the JSON to understand:
schemaName: The workflow being usedartifacts: List of artifacts with their status (done or other)If any artifacts are not done:
Check task completion status
Read the tasks file (typically tasks.md) to check for incomplete tasks.
Count tasks marked with - [ ] (incomplete) vs - [x] (complete).
If incomplete tasks found:
If no tasks file exists: Proceed without task-related warning.
Assess delta spec sync state
Check for delta specs at openspec/changes/<name>/specs/. If none exist, proceed without sync prompt.
If delta specs exist:
openspec/specs/<capability>/spec.mdPrompt options:
If user chooses sync, execute /opsx:sync logic (use the openspec-sync-specs skill). Proceed to archive regardless of choice.
Perform the archive
Create the archive directory if it doesn't exist:
mkdir -p openspec/changes/archive
Generate target name using current date: YYYY-MM-DD-<change-name>
Check if target already exists:
mv openspec/changes/<name> openspec/changes/archive/YYYY-MM-DD-<name>
Display summary
Show archive completion summary including:
Output On Success
## Archive Complete
**Change:** <change-name>
**Schema:** <schema-name>
**Archived to:** openspec/changes/archive/YYYY-MM-DD-<name>/
**Specs:** ✓ Synced to main specs (or "No delta specs" or "Sync skipped")
All artifacts complete. All tasks complete.
Guardrails
Implement tasks from an OpenSpec change. Use when the user wants to start implementing, continue implementation, or work through tasks.
Archive multiple completed changes at once. Use when archiving several parallel changes.
Continue working on an OpenSpec change by creating the next artifact. Use when the user wants to progress their change, create the next artifact, or continue their workflow.
Enter explore mode - a thinking partner for exploring ideas, investigating problems, and clarifying requirements. Use when the user wants to think through something before or during a change.
Fast-forward through OpenSpec artifact creation. Use when the user wants to quickly create all artifacts needed for implementation without stepping through each one individually.
Start a new OpenSpec change using the experimental artifact workflow. Use when the user wants to create a new feature, fix, or modification with a structured step-by-step approach.