openspec-propose— agent skill

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

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.

1. Create the change directory

   openspec new change "<name>"

This creates a scaffolded change at openspec/changes/<name>/ with .openspec.yaml.

1. Get the artifact build order

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

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

1. 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

• 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
• outputPath: Where to write the artifact
• dependencies: Completed artifacts to read for context
• Read any completed dependency files for context
• Create the artifact file using template as the structure
• Apply context and rules as constraints - but do NOT copy them into the file
• Show brief progress: "Created <artifact-id>"

b. Continue until all `applyRequires` artifacts are complete

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

c. If an artifact requires user input (unclear context):

• Use AskUserQuestion tool to clarify
• Then continue with creation

1. Show final status

   openspec status --change "<name>"

Output

After completing all artifacts, summarize:

• Change name and location
• List of artifacts created with brief descriptions
• What's ready: "All artifacts created! Ready for implementation."
• Prompt: "Run /opsx:apply or ask me to implement to start working on the tasks."

Artifact Creation Guidelines

• Follow the instruction field from openspec instructions for each artifact type
• The schema defines what each artifact should contain - follow it
• Read dependency artifacts for context before creating new ones
• Use template as the structure for your output file - fill in its sections
• IMPORTANT: context and rules are constraints for YOU, not content for the file
• Do NOT copy <context>, <rules>, <project_context> blocks into the artifact
• These guide what you write, but should never appear in the output

Guardrails

• Create ALL artifacts needed for implementation (as defined by schema's apply.requires)
• Always read dependency artifacts before creating a new one
• If context is critically unclear, ask the user - but prefer making reasonable decisions to keep momentum
• If a change with that name already exists, ask if user wants to continue it or create a new one
• Verify each artifact file exists after writing before proceeding to next