# Spec Close

> Confirms a merged spec actually shipped - PR merged, steps ticked, docs reconciled - then archives it per the project's convention.

- Skill: `ainova-systems/spec-close` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add ainova-systems/spec-close`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/ainova-systems/spec-close/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: ainova-systems (https://skillmd.com/u/ainova-systems)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/ainova-systems/spec-close

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# Close a Spec

Post-merge bookkeeping: confirm a shipped spec is really done and retire it, so the queue and the docs reflect reality. Runs after the owner accepts and `git-merge-pr` lands the change. `spec-execute-next` invokes this in its reset for merged specs; it also runs standalone.

## Steps

1. Resolve the spec. Confirm it actually shipped: its PR is `MERGED` (`gh pr view <pr> --json state,mergedAt`) and the plan's `## Work steps` are fully ticked. Not merged or steps unticked - STOP and report; it is not done.
2. Ensure the docs reconciliation landed in the merged change (`spec-execute` Phase D): the feature doc reflects the new behavior, durable rules and decisions were extracted. If anything is missing, **apply it now** (via `spec-document`) - the feature doc is the durable record, the spec is not; never close on stale docs.
3. `autonomous` mode: set `status: completed` with the date. `supervised` mode: write nothing - fully ticked steps plus the merged PR already read as `completed` (`spec-discipline`).
4. Archive per the project convention (learn from shipped specs): keep the numbered folder (default), move to `specs/_archive/`, or delete the plan file if the project deletes shipped plans. Never lose the record silently.
5. Report: spec closed, where it was archived, the feature doc(s) it updated.

## Verify

- PR merged and work steps ticked confirmed; the durable feature doc carries the shipped behavior; autonomous - `status: completed` written.

## Scope / hand-off

- Merging the PR - `git-merge-pr` (owner accept first). Resuming an unfinished spec - `spec-continue`.

## Constraints
- Never close without a merged PR and fully-ticked work steps - that is the definition of done.
- The feature doc, not the spec, is the durable record; closing confirms the behavior moved there.