Openspec Workflow

OpenSpec Workflow - Specification-Driven Development

OpenSpec ensures AI agents build what was planned, not what they invented.

Directory Structure

project/
└── openspec/
    ├── specs/           # Source of truth (what IS built)
    ├── changes/         # Proposals & WIP (what SHOULD change)
    ├── ideas/           # Quick-capture for later
    └── project.md       # Project conventions

The Three-Stage Workflow

Stage 1: Proposal

Create a change proposal before implementing anything significant.

openspec/changes/add-feature-x/
├── proposal.md     # What and why
├── tasks.md        # Numbered implementation steps
├── design.md       # Technical approach
└── specs/          # Delta specs (what will change)

Stage 2: Implementation

Work through tasks.md sequentially. Keep specs in sync with code.

Stage 3: Archive

When complete: openspec archive <change-id> Specs merge to source of truth. Change moves to archive.

CLI Commands

# List all changes
openspec list

# Show specific change details
openspec show <change-id>

# Validate a change
openspec validate <change-id> --strict

# Archive completed change
openspec archive <change-id> --yes

# List specs
openspec spec list --long

Creating a Proposal

proposal.md format:

# Feature Name

## Summary
One paragraph: what this change does.

## Motivation
Why we need this. What problem it solves.

## Scope
- What's included
- What's explicitly NOT included

## Dependencies
- Other changes this depends on
- External requirements

tasks.md format:

# Implementation Tasks

## Phase 1: Foundation
- [ ] Task 1.1: Description
- [ ] Task 1.2: Description

## Phase 2: Core Implementation
- [ ] Task 2.1: Description
...

Rules

1. Proposal before code - For anything non-trivial, write proposal.md first
2. Tasks are sequential - Complete in order unless explicitly parallel
3. Validate before archive - openspec validate --strict must pass
4. Specs are truth - Code follows specs, not vice versa
5. Ideas are cheap - Capture in ideas/ freely, promote to changes/ when ready

When to Use OpenSpec

YES - Use OpenSpec for:

• New features (more than a few files)
• Architectural changes
• Multi-step implementations
• Anything that needs review

NO - Skip OpenSpec for:

• Bug fixes (unless complex)
• Typo corrections
• Single-file changes
• Exploratory work

Integration with megg

OpenSpec tracks WHAT gets built. megg tracks WHY decisions were made.

Use both:

• OpenSpec for implementation specs
• megg for decision rationale and context

Validation Checklist

Before marking a change complete:

• All tasks.md items checked
• openspec validate --strict passes
• Tests pass
• Build succeeds
• Specs match implementation