openspec-propose

Propose a new change - create the change and generate all artifacts in one step.

I'll create a change with artifacts:

• proposal.md (what & why)
• design.md (how)
• tasks.md (implementation steps)

When ready to implement, run /opsx:apply

---

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: The user's request should include a change name (kebab-case) OR a description of what they want to build.

Steps

1. If no clear input provided, ask what they want to build

   Use the AskUserQuestion tool (open-ended, no preset options) to ask:

   "What change do you want to work on? Describe what you want to build or fix."

   From their description, derive a kebab-case name (e.g., "add user authentication" → add-user-auth).

   IMPORTANT: Do NOT proceed without understanding what the user wants to build.

2. Create the change directory

   openspec new change "<name>" --store "<store-id>"
   

   This creates a scaffolded change in the planning home resolved by the CLI with .openspec.yaml.

3. Get the artifact build order

   openspec status --change "<name>" --json --store "<store-id>"
   

   Parse the JSON to get:

   • applyRequires: array of artifact IDs needed before implementation (e.g., ["tasks"])
   • artifacts: list of all artifacts with their status and dependencies
   • planningHome, changeRoot, artifactPaths, and actionContext: path and scope context. Use these instead of assuming repo-local paths.

4. Create artifacts in sequence until apply-ready

   Use the TodoWrite tool to track progress through the artifacts.

   Loop through artifacts in dependency order (artifacts with no pending dependencies first):

   a. For each artifact that is ready (dependencies satisfied):

   • Get instructions:

     openspec instructions <artifact-id> --change "<name>" --json --store "<store-id>"
     

   • The instructions JSON includes:
     • context: Project background (constraints for you - do NOT include in output)
     • rules: Artifact-specific rules (constraints for you - do NOT include in output)
     • template: The structure to use for your output file
     • instruction: Schema-specific guidance for this artifact type
     • resolvedOutputPath: Resolved path or pattern to write the artifact
     • dependencies: Completed artifacts to read for context
   • Read any completed dependency files for context
   • Before writing any concrete target, normalize changeRoot and the target, then verify the relative path from changeRoot to the target is neither absolute nor starts with ..; reject absolute or traversal paths that escape changeRoot. Apply this check to both concrete resolvedOutputPath values and paths derived from glob patterns.
   • If resolvedOutputPath is a concrete file, create it using template as the structure
   • If resolvedOutputPath is a glob/pattern, never write to the pattern. Resolve an existing concrete path from artifactPaths.<artifact-id>.existingOutputPaths, or derive and confirm the required concrete path from the artifact instruction and pattern under changeRoot; re-run status after writing
   • Apply context and rules as constraints - but do NOT copy them into the file
   • Show brief progress: "Created "

   b. Continue until all applyRequires artifacts are complete

   • After creating each artifact, re-run openspec status --change "<name>" --json --store "<store-id>"
   • Check if every artifact ID in applyRequires has status: "done" in the artifacts array
   • Stop when all applyRequires artifacts are done