openspec-continue

Continue working on a change by creating the next artifact.

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. If no change name provided, prompt for selection

   Run openspec list --json to get available changes sorted by most recently modified. Then use the AskUserQuestion tool to let the user select which change to work on.

   Present the top 3-4 most recently modified changes as options, showing:

   • Change name
   • Schema (from schema field if present, otherwise "spec-driven")
   • Status (e.g., "0/5 tasks", "complete", "no tasks")
   • How recently it was modified (from lastModified field)

   Mark the most recently modified change as "(Recommended)" since it's likely what the user wants to continue.

   IMPORTANT: Do NOT guess or auto-select a change. Always let the user choose.

2. Check current status

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

   Parse the JSON to understand current state. The response includes:

   • schemaName: The workflow schema being used (e.g., "spec-driven")
   • artifacts: Array of artifacts with their status ("done", "ready", "blocked")
   • isComplete: Boolean indicating if all artifacts are complete

3. Act based on status:

   ---

   If all artifacts are complete (isComplete: true):

   • If the openspec-analyze skill is available, invoke it to check artifact consistency before suggesting next steps. If not available, skip this step.
   • Congratulate the user
   • Show final status including the schema used
   • Suggest: "All artifacts created! You can now implement this change or archive it."
   • STOP

   ---

   If artifacts are ready to create (status shows artifacts with status: "ready"):

   • Pick the FIRST artifact with status: "ready" from the status output
   • Get its instructions:

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

   • Parse the JSON. The key fields are:
     • 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
     • outputPath: Where to write the artifact
     • dependencies: Completed artifacts to read for context
     • locale: The language to write the artifact in (e.g., "Japanese (日本語)"). If present, you MUST write the artifact content in this language. Exception: spec files (specs/**/*.md) MUST always be written in English regardless of locale, because they use normative language (SHALL/MUST).
   • Create the artifact file:
     • Read any completed dependency files for context
     • Use template as the structure - fill in its sections
     • Apply context and rules as constraints when writing - but do NOT copy them into the file
     • Write to the output path specified in instructions
   • If the openspec-clarify skill is available, check the newly created artifact for ambiguities (vague language, missing scenarios, TBD markers). If found, invoke it to clarify before proceeding. If not available or no ambiguities, skip.
   • Show what was created and what's now unlocked
   • STOP after creating ONE artifact

   ---

   If no artifacts are ready (all blocked):

   • This shouldn't happen with a valid schema
   • Show status and suggest checking for issues

4. After creating an artifact, show progress

   openspec status --change "<name>"
   

Output

After each invocation, show:

• Which artifact was created
• Schema workflow being used
• Current progress (N/M complete)
• What artifacts are now unlocked
• Prompt: "Want to continue? Just ask me to continue or tell me what to do next."

Artifact Creation Guidelines

The artifact types and their purpose depend on the schema. Use the instruction field from the instructions output to understand what to create.

Common artifact patterns:

spec-driven schema (proposal → specs → design → tasks):

• proposal.md: Ask user about the change if not clear. Fill in Why, What Changes, Capabilities, Impact.
  • The Capabilities section is critical - each capability listed will need a spec file.
• specs//spec.md: Create one spec per capability listed in the proposal's Capabilities section (use the capability name, not the change name).
• design.md: Document technical decisions, architecture, and implementation approach.
• tasks.md: Break down implementation into checkboxed tasks.

For other schemas, follow the instruction field from the CLI output.

Guardrails

• Create ONE artifact per invocation
• Always read dependency artifacts before creating a new one
• Never skip artifacts or create out of order
• If context is unclear, ask the user before creating
• Verify the artifact file exists after writing before marking progress
• Use the schema's artifact sequence, don't assume specific artifact names
• 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