openspec-apply-change-55ba73— agent skill

Implement tasks from an OpenSpec change.

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

1. Select the change

If a name is provided, use it. Otherwise:

• Infer from conversation context if the user mentioned a change
• Auto-select if only one active change exists
• If ambiguous, run openspec list --json to get available changes and use the AskUserQuestion tool to let the user select

Always announce: "Using change: <name>" and how to override (e.g., /opsx:apply <other>).

1. Check status to understand the schema

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

Parse the JSON to understand:

• schemaName: The workflow being used (e.g., "spec-driven")
• planningHome, changeRoot, and actionContext: planning scope and edit constraints
• Which artifact contains the tasks (typically "tasks" for spec-driven, check status for others)

1. Get apply instructions

   openspec instructions apply --change "<name>" --json

This returns:

• contextFiles: artifact ID -> array of concrete file paths (varies by schema - could be proposal/specs/design/tasks or spec/tests/implementation/docs)
• Progress (total, complete, remaining)
• Task list with status
• Dynamic instruction based on current state

Handle states:

• If state: "blocked" (missing artifacts): show message, suggest using openspec-continue-change
• If state: "all_done": congratulate, suggest archive
• Otherwise: proceed to implementation

Workspace guard: If status JSON reports actionContext.mode: "workspace-planning" and allowedEditRoots is empty, explain that full workspace apply is not supported in this slice. Treat linked repos and folders as read-only context, ask the user to select an affected area through an explicit implementation workflow, and STOP before editing files.

1. Read context files

Read every file path listed under contextFiles from the apply instructions output. The files depend on the schema being used:

• spec-driven: proposal, specs, design, tasks
• Other schemas: follow the contextFiles from CLI output

1. Show current progress

Display:

• Schema being used
• Progress: "N/M tasks complete"
• Remaining tasks overview
• Dynamic instruction from CLI

1. Implement tasks (loop until done or blocked)

For each pending task:

• Show which task is being worked on
• Make the code changes required
• Keep changes minimal and focused
• Mark task complete in the tasks file: - [ ] → - [x]
• Continue to next task

Pause if:

• Task is unclear → ask for clarification
• Implementation reveals a design issue → suggest updating artifacts
• Error or blocker encountered → report and wait for guidance
• User interrupts

1. On completion or pause, show status

Display:

• Tasks completed this session
• Overall progress: "N/M tasks complete"
• If all done: suggest archive
• If paused: explain why and wait for guidance

Output During Implementation

## Implementing: <change-name> (schema: <schema-name>)

Working on task 3/7: <task description>
[...implementation happening...]
✓ Task complete

Working on task 4/7: <task description>
[...implementation happening...]
✓ Task complete

Output On Completion

## Implementation Complete

**Change:** <change-name>
**Schema:** <schema-name>
**Progress:** 7/7 tasks complete ✓

### Completed This Session
- [x] Task 1
- [x] Task 2
...

All tasks complete! Ready to archive this change.

Output On Pause (Issue Encountered)

## Implementation Paused

**Change:** <change-name>
**Schema:** <schema-name>
**Progress:** 4/7 tasks complete

### Issue Encountered
<description of the issue>

**Options:**
1. <option 1>
2. <option 2>
3. Other approach

What would you like to do?

Guardrails

• Keep going through tasks until done or blocked
• Always read context files before starting (from the apply instructions output)
• If task is ambiguous, pause and ask before implementing
• If implementation reveals issues, pause and suggest artifact updates
• Keep code changes minimal and scoped to each task
• Update task checkbox immediately after completing each task
• Pause on errors, blockers, or unclear requirements - don't guess
• Use contextFiles from CLI output, don't assume specific file names

Fluid Workflow Integration

This skill supports the "actions on a change" model:

• Can be invoked anytime: Before all artifacts are done (if tasks exist), after partial implementation, interleaved with other actions
• Allows artifact updates: If implementation reveals design issues, suggest updating artifacts - not phase-locked, work fluidly