| 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. |
| allowed-tools | Bash(openspec:*) |
| license | MIT |
| compatibility | Requires openspec CLI. |
| metadata | {"author":"openspec","version":"1.0","generatedBy":"1.6.0"} |
Archive a completed change in the experimental workflow.
Store selection: If the user names a store (a store is a standalone OpenSpec repo registered on this machine) or the work lives in one, run openspec store list --json to discover registered store ids, then pass --store <id> on the commands that read or write specs and changes (new change, status, instructions, list, show, validate, archive, doctor, context). Other commands do not take the flag. Hints printed by commands already carry the flag; keep it on follow-ups. Without a store, commands act on the nearest local openspec/ root.
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 --store "<store-id>" (omit the store option for repo-local work) 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 --store "<store-id>" to check artifact completion.
Parse the JSON to understand:
schemaName: The workflow being used
planningHome, changeRoot, artifactPaths, and actionContext: path and scope context
artifacts: List of artifacts with their status (done or other)
If any artifacts are not done:
- Display warning listing incomplete artifacts
- Use AskUserQuestion tool to confirm user wants to proceed
- Proceed if user confirms
-
Check schema-resolved task completion status
Run openspec instructions apply --change "<name>" --json --store "<store-id>" and use its progress and tasks fields. Do not assume a tasks.md path or Markdown checkbox syntax; the active schema controls the task artifact and representation.
If the apply instructions report incomplete tasks:
- Display warning showing count of incomplete tasks
- Use AskUserQuestion tool to confirm user wants to proceed
- Proceed if user confirms
If the schema exposes no tasks: Proceed without a task-related warning.
-
Assess delta spec sync state
Use artifactPaths.specs.existingOutputPaths from status JSON to check for delta specs. If none exist, proceed without sync prompt. Resolve every delta and main-spec path from the selected store's status/root metadata; never substitute a repository-local openspec/specs path when a store is active.
Output On Success
## Archive Complete
**Change:** <change-name>
**Schema:** <schema-name>
**Archived to:** the archive path derived from `planningHome.changesDir`/YYYY-MM-DD-<name>/
**Specs:** ✓ Synced to main specs (or "No delta specs" or "Sync skipped")
All artifacts complete. All tasks complete.
Guardrails
- Always prompt for change selection if not provided
- Use artifact graph (openspec status --json) for completion checking
- Don't block archive on warnings - just inform and confirm
- Preserve .openspec.yaml when moving to archive (it moves with the directory)
- Show clear summary of what happened
- If sync is requested, use openspec-sync-specs approach (agent-driven)
- If delta specs exist, always run the sync assessment and show the combined summary before prompting