Compare commits

...
Author SHA1 Message Date
openspec-release-bot[bot]andgithub-actions[bot] bc7ab26650 Version Packages (#1023)
Co-authored-by: github-actions[bot] <41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>
2026-06-01 21:23:33 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale aa16080d16 Add changeset for Mistral Vibe support and validator/completion fixes (#1154) 2026-06-01 21:14:14 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale 055957fbca clarify changeset release tracking (#1148) 2026-06-01 05:11:50 +00:00
Tabish BidiwaleandAlfred 9e78bcaa80 [codex] Document cross-platform path assertions (#1116)
* docs: document cross-platform path assertions

* docs: mention toPosixPath in path assertion guidance

* chore: remove changeset

---------

Co-authored-by: Alfred <alfred@Alfreds-Mac-mini.local>
2026-06-01 05:05:20 +00:00
e36463074d [codex] Add Mistral Vibe support with CI fix (#1144)
* feat: add mistral vibe support

Generated by Mistral Vibe.
Co-Authored-By: Mistral Vibe <vibe@mistral.ai>

* feat: add mistral vibe support

Generated by Mistral Vibe.
Co-Authored-By: Mistral Vibe <vibe@mistral.ai>

* chore: archive add-mistral-vibe-support change

Generated by Mistral Vibe.
Co-Authored-By: Mistral Vibe <vibe@mistral.ai>

* chore: sync delta specs from add-mistral-vibe-support change

Generated by Mistral Vibe.
Co-Authored-By: Mistral Vibe <vibe@mistral.ai>

* chore: fix archive directory date to match metadata

Generated by Mistral Vibe.
Co-Authored-By: Mistral Vibe <vibe@mistral.ai>

* fix: correct vibe detection paths and alphabetical ordering

- Remove detectionPaths from Mistral Vibe to prevent double-nested skills dir
- Fix lingma alphabetical position in tool IDs list

Generated by Mistral Vibe.
Co-Authored-By: Mistral Vibe <vibe@mistral.ai>

* chore: remove archived mistral vibe change files

Remove archive directory per PR review feedback to keep PR minimal

Generated by Mistral Vibe.
Co-Authored-By: Mistral Vibe <vibe@mistral.ai>

* chore: remove mistral vibe spec files per PR feedback

Remove new spec corpus (vibe-tool-config + Mistral Vibe scenario in ai-tool-paths)

Generated by Mistral Vibe.
Co-Authored-By: Mistral Vibe <vibe@mistral.ai>

* test: add Mistral Vibe detection regression test

Add focused regression test that proves Vibe initializes and detects
skills under .vibe/skills so the path semantics do not drift.

Generated by Mistral Vibe.
Co-Authored-By: Mistral Vibe <vibe@mistral.ai>

* test: tolerate workspace update help wrapping

---------

Co-authored-by: Thomas Betous <4435536+tbetous@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Mistral Vibe <vibe@mistral.ai>
Co-authored-by: tbetous <thomas.betous@doctolib.com>
2026-05-31 14:35:52 +00:00
9aded17af7 fix(validator): hint when SHALL/MUST appears only in requirement header (#1135)
When a change delta has a requirement whose body is missing SHALL/MUST but
whose header (the text after `### Requirement:`) already contains the
keyword, the validator emitted the generic error "must contain SHALL or
MUST". Authors then re-read the spec, see SHALL right there in the header,
and have no idea what the validator wants.

Per the OpenSpec conventions the keyword has to live on the requirement
body line (the line immediately after the header). When the keyword is
present in the header only, append guidance explaining exactly where to
move it. The fix is scoped to the two `validateChangeDeltaSpecs` call
sites (ADDED + MODIFIED) so behaviour for requirements that lack the
keyword everywhere stays unchanged.

Adds three vitest cases under `test/core/validation.test.ts`:
- ADDED block with header-only SHALL → enriched hint
- MODIFIED block with header-only MUST → enriched hint
- Neither header nor body contain SHALL/MUST → generic message preserved

Verified by reproducing the spec from #356, running
`openspec validate <change>` against the rebuilt CLI, and confirming the
new diagnostic guides the author to the fix. Reverting `validator.ts`
makes the two enriched-hint cases fail, so the tests guard the
regression.

Fixes #356

Co-authored-by: Pluviobyte <Pluviobyte@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Cursor <cursoragent@cursor.com>
Co-authored-by: Tabish Bidiwale <30385142+TabishB@users.noreply.github.com>
2026-05-31 08:03:50 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale 0c5f0c6c48 Improve context-store setup and cleanup UX (#1137)
* Improve context-store setup and cleanup UX

* Address CodeRabbit context-store feedback

* Canonicalize cleanup registry test assertion
2026-05-28 18:02:07 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale 21c1805d80 [codex] Polish beta context workspace flow (#1136)
* Polish beta context workspace flow

* Allow context-only initiative workspace open

* Add workspace beta compatibility review item
2026-05-28 15:49:13 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale 11b2690618 test: split slow workspace open CI case (#1134) 2026-05-28 06:54:51 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale fd92ccca74 [codex] Add context stores and initiative views (#1127)
* Document initiative-led workspace direction

* Add context stores and initiative change links

* Let workspaces open initiative views

* Add workspace root bundle artifacts

* Support legacy workspace roots in planning resolution

* Remove accidental workspace root bundle artifacts

* Bundle workspace reimplementation docs into roadmap

* Preserve workspace context store bindings

* Address review feedback for context store initiatives

* test: canonicalize context store path assertions

* Refine context store and workspace core boundaries

* Avoid initiative diagnostic regex backtracking
2026-05-27 08:06:02 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale e441287b1f test: normalize workspace change path assertion (#1117) 2026-05-23 05:45:18 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale 7fdb177158 [codex] Fix Windows workspace path CI failure (#1111)
* fix: handle canonical workspace paths

* docs: document path canonicalization pitfalls

* docs: scope canonicalization notes to tests

* docs: improve test agent guidance

* docs: shorten test agent guidance
2026-05-23 01:38:30 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale 79303b5210 Update recommended high-reasoning models (#1107) 2026-05-20 18:36:09 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale 8498042fe8 [codex] Add workspace change planning workflow (#1089)
* Propose workspace change planning

* Implement workspace setup skills phase

* Implement workspace skill updates

* Handle config profile workspace apply

* Implement workspace change creation phase

* Enrich planning context for workspace changes

* Update workflow skills for planning context

* Add workspace planning verification coverage

* Fix workspace update review issues

* Fix workspace skill drift comparison

* Clean up workspace change planning artifacts

* Archive workspace change planning

* Fix archived workspace planning spec purpose

* Address workspace planning review comments
2026-05-14 16:00:56 +00:00
Howard 053d8a59d5 docs(migration-guide): fix inconsistent /opsx:sync description (#1059)
Changed description from 'Preview/spec-merge without archiving' to 'Merge delta specs into main specs' to match commands.md and workflows.md
2026-05-07 02:20:51 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale b642398bf3 Fix Windows workspace launch arg expectation (#1057) 2026-05-06 04:33:20 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale ff506c347a Fix Windows workspace CI tests (#1056) 2026-05-06 04:15:18 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale 1cdf0410df [codex] Propose workspace open agent context (#1054)
* Propose workspace open agent context

* Implement workspace open surface

* Address workspace open review feedback

* Archive workspace open agent context

* Fix workspace open Windows launcher args
2026-05-06 03:53:55 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale d5c824d4cd archive workspace create and register repos (#1052) 2026-05-06 02:30:11 +00:00
Tabish Bidiwale 849ae2a976 Fix Windows workspace path test expectations (#1055) 2026-05-06 01:54:12 +00:00
227 changed files with 29887 additions and 1661 deletions
+13 -11
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@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@ Follow the prompts to select version bump type and describe your changes.
## Workflow
1. **Add a changeset** — Run `pnpm changeset` locally before or after your PR
2. **Version PR** — CI opens/updates a "Version Packages" PR when changesets merge to main
3. **Release** — Merging the Version PR triggers npm publish and GitHub Release
1. **Choose the release path**: Maintainers decide whether a PR follows the normal release cadence or gets dedicated release tracking.
2. **Add dedicated release tracking**: When a maintainer asks for a changeset, run `pnpm changeset` locally before or after your PR.
3. **Version PR**: CI opens/updates a "Version Packages" PR when changesets merge to main.
4. **Release**: Merging the Version PR triggers npm publish and GitHub Release.
> **Note:** Contributors only need to run `pnpm changeset`. Versioning (`changeset version`) and publishing happen automatically in CI.
> **Note:** The default path is the normal release cadence. Add a changeset when a maintainer or release owner wants dedicated release notes and version tracking for the PR. Versioning (`changeset version`) and publishing happen automatically in CI.
## Template
@@ -54,22 +55,23 @@ Include only the sections relevant to your change.
| Type | When to use | Example |
|------|-------------|---------|
| `patch` | Bug fixes, small improvements | Fixed crash when config missing |
| `patch` | Release-tracked bug fixes, small improvements | Fixed crash when config missing |
| `minor` | New features, non-breaking additions | Added `--verbose` flag |
| `major` | Breaking changes, removed features | Renamed `init` to `setup` |
## When to Create a Changeset
**Create one for:**
- New features or commands
- Bug fixes that affect users
**Use dedicated release tracking for:**
- New features or commands selected for release
- Notable bug fixes or hotfixes requested by a maintainer/release owner
- Breaking changes or deprecations
- Performance improvements users would notice
- Performance improvements users would notice and that are planned for release
**Skip for:**
**Use the normal release cadence for:**
- Routine bug fixes that fit the normal release cadence
- Documentation-only changes
- Test additions/fixes
- Internal refactoring with no user impact
- Internal refactoring that preserves user behavior
- CI/tooling changes
## Writing Good Descriptions
-2
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@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
---
---
-11
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@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
---
"@fission-ai/openspec": minor
---
### New Features
- **Kimi CLI support** — OpenSpec can now initialize Kimi CLI as a supported skills-only tool using `.kimi/skills/`
### Other
- Added Kimi-specific docs and init coverage aligned with skill-based `/skill:openspec-*` usage
-7
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@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
---
"@fission-ai/openspec": minor
---
### New Features
- Include the sync workflow in the default core profile so new installs generate `/opsx:sync` skills and commands by default.
+27 -7
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@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ jobs:
run: git checkout -- flake.nix || true
validate-changesets:
name: Validate Changesets
name: Validate Release Tracking
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
if: github.event_name == 'pull_request' || github.event_name == 'merge_group'
steps:
@@ -251,27 +251,47 @@ jobs:
with:
fetch-depth: 0
- name: Determine release tracking
id: changed-changesets
run: |
changed_changesets="$(git diff --name-only --diff-filter=ACMRT origin/main...HEAD -- '.changeset/*.md' ':!.changeset/README.md')"
if [[ -n "$changed_changesets" ]]; then
echo "has_changesets=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
{
echo "files<<EOF"
echo "$changed_changesets"
echo "EOF"
} >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
else
echo "has_changesets=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
echo "This PR follows the normal release cadence; continuing with standard validation"
fi
- name: Setup pnpm
if: steps.changed-changesets.outputs.has_changesets == 'true'
uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
with:
version: 9
- name: Setup Node.js
if: steps.changed-changesets.outputs.has_changesets == 'true'
uses: actions/setup-node@v4
with:
node-version: '20'
cache: 'pnpm'
- name: Install dependencies
if: steps.changed-changesets.outputs.has_changesets == 'true'
run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
- name: Validate changesets
- name: Validate release-tracked changesets
if: steps.changed-changesets.outputs.has_changesets == 'true'
env:
CHANGESET_FILES: ${{ steps.changed-changesets.outputs.files }}
run: |
if command -v changeset &> /dev/null; then
pnpm exec changeset status --since=origin/main
else
echo "Changesets not configured, skipping validation"
fi
echo "Validating changed changesets:"
printf '%s\n' "$CHANGESET_FILES"
pnpm exec changeset status --since=origin/main
required-checks-pr:
name: All checks passed
+35
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@@ -1,5 +1,40 @@
# @fission-ai/openspec
## 1.4.0
### Minor Changes
- [#1003](https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec/pull/1003) [`342ed43`](https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec/commit/342ed43e694abba65a3ea275f94ba3b77df85da3) Thanks [@Miss-you](https://github.com/Miss-you)! - ### New Features
- **Kimi CLI support** — OpenSpec can now initialize Kimi CLI as a supported skills-only tool using `.kimi/skills/`
### Other
- Added Kimi-specific docs and init coverage aligned with skill-based `/skill:openspec-*` usage
- [#1154](https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec/pull/1154) [`aa16080`](https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec/commit/aa16080d16b70f7b26cebd465334b2e16c0e7a43) Thanks [@TabishB](https://github.com/TabishB)! - ### New Features
- **Mistral Vibe support** — OpenSpec can now initialize Mistral Vibe as a supported skills-only tool using `.vibe/skills/`
### Bug Fixes
- **Case-insensitive requirement headers** — Requirement headers are now parsed regardless of capitalization, so specs no longer fail to parse over header casing
- **Zsh completions on oh-my-zsh** — Fixed shell completion setup so tab completion installs correctly under oh-my-zsh's `compinit`
### Other
- **Clearer validation hints** — When a requirement has SHALL/MUST only in its header, `openspec validate` now points you to move the keyword onto the requirement body line instead of showing the generic error
- [#1030](https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec/pull/1030) [`485c97e`](https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec/commit/485c97e97d766e35dd16c02370baee2044abc4f4) Thanks [@TabishB](https://github.com/TabishB)! - ### New Features
- Include the sync workflow in the default core profile so new installs generate `/opsx:sync` skills and commands by default.
### Patch Changes
- [#1111](https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec/pull/1111) [`7fdb177`](https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec/commit/7fdb1771585b1688597d73dde5a8bc906084d0de) Thanks [@TabishB](https://github.com/TabishB)! - ### Fixed
- Preserve workspace planning detection when Windows short paths or symlink aliases resolve to a canonical workspace root.
## 1.3.1
### Patch Changes
+1 -1
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@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ openspec update
## Usage Notes
**Model selection**: OpenSpec works best with high-reasoning models. We recommend Opus 4.5 and GPT 5.2 for both planning and implementation.
**Model selection**: OpenSpec works best with high-reasoning models. We recommend Codex 5.5 and Opus 4.7 for both planning and implementation.
**Context hygiene**: OpenSpec benefits from a clean context window. Clear your context before starting implementation and maintain good context hygiene throughout your session.
-67
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@@ -1,67 +0,0 @@
# Workspace Reimplementation Start Here
This is the grep-friendly entry point for agents working on the workspace reimplementation.
Useful search terms:
```text
workspace reimplementation
workspace poc
workspace-poc
workspace reference guide
workspace roadmap
fresh agent
start here
```
## Start Here
Read these files in order:
1. `WORKSPACE_REIMPLEMENTATION_DIRECTION.md`
2. `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/README.md`
3. `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/POC_REFERENCE_GUIDE.md`
4. The proposal for the next implementation slice
The POC reference commit is:
```text
workspace-poc @ 79a45ac043f414e63d13e08b9da83b135cb20a39
```
Use the POC as research material. Do not merge it into an implementation branch. Do not preserve its architecture unless a slice proposal or design explicitly decides to do so.
## Implementation Order
Implement these flat OpenSpec changes in order:
1. `workspace-foundation`
2. `workspace-create-and-register-repos`
3. `workspace-open-agent-context`
4. `workspace-change-planning`
5. `workspace-apply-repo-slice`
6. `workspace-verify-and-archive`
`workspace-reimplementation-roadmap` is the continuity and reference container for the plan.
## Before Editing
For the slice you are about to implement, inspect the pinned POC commit using `POC_REFERENCE_GUIDE.md`, then write down:
```text
POC findings for <slice>:
User behavior to preserve:
- ...
Tests or examples worth translating:
- ...
Implementation shortcuts to avoid:
- ...
Open design questions:
- ...
```
Capture durable findings in the relevant OpenSpec artifact so future sessions do not depend on chat history.
+3 -1
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@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
#!/usr/bin/env node
import '../dist/cli/index.js';
import { runCli } from '../dist/cli/index.js';
runCli();
+285 -8
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@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@ The OpenSpec CLI (`openspec`) provides terminal commands for project setup, vali
| Category | Commands | Purpose |
|----------|----------|---------|
| **Setup** | `init`, `update` | Initialize and update OpenSpec in your project |
| **Workspaces (beta)** | `workspace setup`, `workspace list`, `workspace ls`, `workspace link`, `workspace relink`, `workspace doctor` | Set up planning across linked repos or folders |
| **Workspaces (beta)** | `workspace setup`, `workspace list`, `workspace ls`, `workspace link`, `workspace relink`, `workspace doctor`, `workspace update`, `workspace open` | Set up local views over linked repos or folders |
| **Shared context (beta)** | `context-store setup`, `context-store register`, `context-store unregister`, `context-store remove`, `context-store list`, `context-store doctor`, `initiative create`, `initiative show`, `initiative list` | Manage local context-store registrations and durable initiative context |
| **Browsing** | `list`, `view`, `show` | Explore changes and specs |
| **Validation** | `validate` | Check changes and specs for issues |
| **Lifecycle** | `archive` | Finalize completed changes |
| **Workflow** | `status`, `instructions`, `templates`, `schemas` | Artifact-driven workflow support |
| **Workflow** | `new change`, `set change`, `status`, `instructions`, `templates`, `schemas` | Artifact-driven workflow support |
| **Schemas** | `schema init`, `schema fork`, `schema validate`, `schema which` | Create and manage custom workflows |
| **Config** | `config` | View and modify settings |
| **Utility** | `feedback`, `completion` | Feedback and shell integration |
@@ -52,6 +53,17 @@ These commands support `--json` output for programmatic use by AI agents and scr
| `openspec workspace link` | Link a repo or folder | `--json` for structured link output |
| `openspec workspace relink` | Repair a linked path | `--json` for structured link output |
| `openspec workspace doctor` | Check one workspace | `--json` for structured status output |
| `openspec workspace update` | Refresh workspace-local guidance and agent skills | `--tools` selects agents; profile selects workflows |
| `openspec context-store setup <id>` | Create a local context store | `--json` with explicit inputs for structured setup output |
| `openspec context-store register <path>` | Register an existing context store | `--json` for structured registration output |
| `openspec context-store unregister <id>` | Forget a local context-store registration | `--json` for structured cleanup output |
| `openspec context-store remove <id>` | Delete a registered local context-store folder | `--yes --json` for non-interactive deletion |
| `openspec context-store list` | Browse registered context stores | `--json` for structured registrations |
| `openspec context-store doctor` | Check local store setup | `--json` for structured diagnostics |
| `openspec initiative list` | Browse shared initiatives | `--json` for structured initiative records |
| `openspec initiative show <id>` | Resolve an initiative | `--json` for canonical paths and metadata |
| `openspec new change <id>` | Create repo-local change scaffolding | `--json`, plus `--initiative` for shared coordination links |
| `openspec set change <id>` | Update checked-in change metadata | `--json`, plus `--initiative` for shared coordination links |
---
@@ -167,9 +179,9 @@ openspec update
## Workspace Commands
Workspace commands are under active development and are not ready for use yet. Do not build external automation, integrations, or long-lived workflows on top of this command surface; command behavior, state files, and JSON output can change at any point.
Workspace commands are in beta. The local-view model below is the current direction, but external automation, integrations, and long-lived workflows should still treat command behavior, state files, and JSON output as evolving.
Coordination workspaces are planning homes for work that spans multiple repos or folders. Workspace visibility is not change commitment: link the repos or folders OpenSpec should know about, then create changes when you are ready to plan specific work.
Coordination workspaces are machine-local views over linked repos or folders. Workspace visibility is not change commitment: link the repos or folders OpenSpec should know about, then create changes when you are ready to plan specific work.
### `openspec workspace setup`
@@ -186,6 +198,8 @@ openspec workspace setup [options]
| `--name <name>` | Workspace name. Names must be kebab-case |
| `--link <path>` | Link an existing repo or folder and infer the link name from the folder name |
| `--link <name>=<path>` | Link an existing repo or folder with an explicit link name |
| `--opener <id>` | Store a preferred opener during non-interactive setup: `codex-cli`, `claude`, `github-copilot`, or `editor` |
| `--tools <tools>` | Install workspace-local OpenSpec skills for agents. Use `all`, `none`, or comma-separated tool IDs |
| `--no-interactive` | Disable prompts; requires `--name` and at least one `--link` |
| `--json` | Output JSON; requires `--no-interactive` |
@@ -194,10 +208,14 @@ openspec workspace setup [options]
```bash
openspec workspace setup
openspec workspace setup --no-interactive --name platform --link /repos/api --link web=/repos/web
openspec workspace setup --no-interactive --name platform --link /repos/api --opener codex-cli
openspec workspace setup --no-interactive --name platform --link /repos/api --tools codex,claude
openspec workspace setup --no-interactive --json --name checkout --link /repos/platform/apps/checkout
```
Setup prints the workspace location, planning path, linked repos or folders, and a workspace check. It does not ask for a preferred agent or open the workspace.
Interactive setup asks for a preferred opener and can install workspace-local OpenSpec skills for selected agents. Non-interactive setup stores a preferred opener only when `--opener` is provided; otherwise `workspace open` prompts later in interactive terminals when a supported opener is available, or asks scripts to pass `--agent <tool>` or `--editor`.
Workspace skill installation is skills-only in this beta slice: even if global delivery is `commands` or `both`, workspace setup writes agent skill folders in the workspace root and does not create slash command files. The active global profile chooses which workflow skills are installed; `--tools` chooses which agents receive them. If `--tools` is omitted in non-interactive setup, no skills are installed and `workspace update --tools <ids>` can add them later.
### `openspec workspace list`
@@ -254,12 +272,224 @@ Check what one workspace can resolve on the current machine.
openspec workspace doctor [options]
```
Doctor shows the workspace location, planning path, linked repos or folders, missing paths, repo-local specs paths when present, and suggested fixes. It reports issues only; it does not repair them automatically.
Doctor shows the workspace location, linked repos or folders, missing paths, repo-local specs paths when present, and suggested fixes. JSON output also includes the workspace planning path for compatibility. It reports issues only; it does not repair them automatically.
Commands that need one workspace use the current workspace when run from inside a workspace folder or subdirectory. From elsewhere, pass `--workspace <name>`, select from the picker in an interactive terminal, or rely on the only known workspace when exactly one exists. In `--json` or `--no-interactive` mode, ambiguous selection fails with a structured status error and suggests `--workspace <name>`.
JSON responses use typed objects plus `status` arrays. Primary data lives in `workspace`, `workspaces`, or `link`; warnings and errors live in `status`.
### `openspec workspace update`
Refresh workspace-local OpenSpec guidance and agent skills.
```bash
openspec workspace update [name] [options]
```
**Options:**
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--workspace <name>` | Select a known workspace from the local registry |
| `--tools <tools>` | Select agents for workspace skills. Use `all`, `none`, or comma-separated tool IDs |
| `--json` | Output JSON |
| `--no-interactive` | Disable workspace picker prompts |
**Examples:**
```bash
openspec workspace update
openspec workspace update platform
openspec workspace update --workspace platform --tools codex,claude
openspec workspace update --workspace platform --tools none
```
`workspace update` refreshes the generated workspace guidance block and local open surface. For agent skills, it reuses the stored workspace skill agent selection when `--tools` is omitted. Passing `--tools` replaces that stored selection. It refreshes only OpenSpec-managed workflow skill directories in the workspace root, removes deselected managed workflow skills, and leaves linked repos and folders untouched.
Running `openspec update` from inside a workspace redirects to `openspec workspace update`; run `openspec update` inside repo-local projects when you want repo-owned tool files updated.
### `openspec workspace open`
Open a workspace working set through the stored preferred opener, a one-session agent override, or VS Code editor mode.
```bash
openspec workspace open [name] [options]
```
**Options:**
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--workspace <name>` | Alias for the positional workspace name |
| `--initiative <id>` | Open an initiative as a local workspace view. Accepts `<id>` or `<store>/<id>` |
| `--store <id>` | Registered context store id for `--initiative` |
| `--store-path <path>` | Existing local context store root for `--initiative` |
| `--agent <tool>` | One-session agent override: `codex-cli`, `claude`, or `github-copilot` |
| `--editor` | Open the maintained VS Code workspace file as a normal editor workspace |
| `--no-interactive` | Disable workspace and opener picker prompts |
**Examples:**
```bash
openspec workspace open
openspec workspace open platform
openspec workspace open platform --agent github-copilot
openspec workspace open --agent codex-cli
openspec workspace open --editor
openspec workspace open --initiative billing-launch --store platform
openspec workspace open --initiative platform/billing-launch
```
`workspace open` uses the current workspace when run inside one, auto-selects the only known workspace when run elsewhere, and asks the user to choose when multiple workspaces are known. `--agent` and `--editor` do not change the stored preferred opener. Passing both opener overrides is an error; choose either `--agent <tool>` or `--editor`.
When `--initiative` is used, OpenSpec prepares or selects a private local workspace view for that initiative. Registry-selected stores are stored by id; `--store-path` stores a runtime-local path selector because workspace views are private local state.
OpenSpec maintains `<workspace-name>.code-workspace` at the workspace root for VS Code editor and GitHub Copilot-in-VS-Code opens. That file is machine-local workspace view state.
The maintained VS Code workspace lists valid linked repos or folders first, then initiative context when attached, then the OpenSpec workspace files. VS Code displays those entries as a multi-root workspace.
Root workspace open makes linked repos or folders visible for exploration and context. Implementation edits should start only after an explicit user request and a normal OpenSpec implementation workflow.
---
## Shared Context Commands
Context stores and initiatives are beta coordination surfaces. A context store is a local registration for durable shared context, usually a Git-backed folder or clone. An initiative is shared coordination context inside a context store; repo-local changes can link to it without copying the shared plan into every repo.
### `openspec context-store setup`
Create and register a local context store. With no arguments in a terminal,
OpenSpec guides the user through setup. Agents and scripts should pass explicit
inputs and use `--json`.
```bash
openspec context-store setup [id] [options]
```
**Options:**
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--path <path>` | Context store folder path; defaults to OpenSpec's managed local data directory |
| `--init-git` | Initialize a Git repository in the context store |
| `--no-init-git` | Do not initialize a Git repository |
| `--json` | Output JSON |
When `--path` is omitted, setup creates the store under `getGlobalDataDir()/context-stores/<id>`: `$XDG_DATA_HOME/openspec/context-stores/<id>` when `XDG_DATA_HOME` is set, or `~/.local/share/openspec/context-stores/<id>` on Unix-style fallbacks. Pass `--path` when you want the store in a visible clone or team-specific folder.
Examples:
```bash
openspec context-store setup
openspec context-store setup team-context
openspec context-store setup team-context --path /repos/team-context --no-init-git
openspec context-store setup team-context --json --no-init-git
```
### `openspec context-store register`
Register an existing local context store folder.
```bash
openspec context-store register [path] [options]
```
**Options:**
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--id <id>` | Context store id; defaults to store metadata or folder name |
| `--json` | Output JSON |
### `openspec context-store unregister`
Forget a local context-store registration without deleting files.
```bash
openspec context-store unregister <id> [--json]
```
Use this when a store was moved, cloned somewhere else, or should no longer be
shown by OpenSpec on this machine.
### `openspec context-store remove`
Forget a local context-store registration and delete its local folder.
```bash
openspec context-store remove <id> [--yes] [--json]
```
`remove` shows the exact folder before deleting in an interactive terminal.
Agents, scripts, and JSON callers must pass `--yes` to confirm deletion.
OpenSpec refuses to delete a folder that does not contain matching
context-store metadata.
### `openspec context-store list`
List locally registered context stores.
```bash
openspec context-store list [--json]
openspec context-store ls [--json]
```
### `openspec context-store doctor`
Check local context-store registration, metadata, and Git presence.
```bash
openspec context-store doctor [id] [--json]
```
Doctor is diagnostic-only; it reports missing roots, metadata mismatches, and invalid local registry state without modifying the store.
### `openspec initiative create`
Create an initiative in a context store.
```bash
openspec initiative create <id> --title <title> --summary <summary> [options]
```
**Options:**
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--store <id>` | Context store id from the local registry |
| `--store-path <path>` | Existing local context store root |
| `--title <title>` | Initiative title |
| `--summary <summary>` | Initiative summary |
| `--json` | Output JSON |
### `openspec initiative list`
List initiatives. Without a selector, this searches all registered context stores and reports partial-read warnings in `status`.
```bash
openspec initiative list [options]
openspec initiative ls [options]
```
**Options:**
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--store <id>` | List one registered context store |
| `--store-path <path>` | List one existing local context store root |
| `--json` | Output JSON |
### `openspec initiative show`
Resolve an initiative and print its canonical location.
```bash
openspec initiative show <id> [options]
openspec initiative show <store>/<id> [options]
```
Without `--store`, OpenSpec searches registered context stores. If the same initiative id exists in multiple stores, pass `--store <id>` or use the `<store>/<id>` form.
---
## Browsing Commands
@@ -506,6 +736,53 @@ openspec archive update-ci-config --skip-specs
These commands support the artifact-driven OPSX workflow. They're useful for both humans checking progress and agents determining next steps.
### `openspec new change`
Create a repo-local change directory and optional checked-in metadata.
```bash
openspec new change <name> [options]
```
**Options:**
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--description <text>` | Description to add to `README.md` |
| `--goal <text>` | Workspace product goal to store with the change |
| `--areas <names>` | Comma-separated affected workspace link names |
| `--initiative <id>` | Link the repo-local change to an initiative |
| `--store <id>` | Context store id for `--initiative` |
| `--store-path <path>` | Existing local context store root for `--initiative` |
| `--schema <name>` | Workflow schema to use |
| `--json` | Output JSON |
Examples:
```bash
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --store platform
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative platform/billing-launch --json
```
### `openspec set change`
Update checked-in repo-local change metadata without recreating the change.
```bash
openspec set change <name> [options]
```
**Options:**
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--initiative <id>` | Link the repo-local change to an initiative |
| `--store <id>` | Context store id for `--initiative` |
| `--store-path <path>` | Existing local context store root for `--initiative` |
| `--json` | Output JSON |
`set change --initiative` is idempotent when the requested link already exists and refuses to replace a different existing initiative link.
### `openspec status`
Display artifact completion status for a change.
@@ -921,9 +1198,9 @@ openspec config profile core
- Keep current settings (exit)
If you keep current settings, no changes are written and no update prompt is shown.
If there are no config changes but the current project files are out of sync with your global profile/delivery, OpenSpec will show a warning and suggest running `openspec update`.
If there are no config changes but the current project or workspace files are out of sync with your global profile/delivery, OpenSpec will show a warning and suggest `openspec update` for repo-local projects or `openspec workspace update` for workspace-local guidance and skills.
Pressing `Ctrl+C` also cancels the flow cleanly (no stack trace) and exits with code `130`.
In the workflow checklist, `[x]` means the workflow is selected in global config. To apply those selections to project files, run `openspec update` (or choose `Apply changes to this project now?` when prompted inside a project).
In the workflow checklist, `[x]` means the workflow is selected in global config. To apply those selections to project files, run `openspec update` (or choose `Apply changes to this project now?` when prompted inside a project). From inside a workspace, use `openspec workspace update` to refresh workspace-local guidance and skills; this remains skills-only for generated agent workflow files and does not generate workspace slash commands.
**Interactive examples:**
+55 -31
View File
@@ -51,28 +51,29 @@ This separation is key. You can work on multiple changes in parallel without con
## Coordination Workspaces
Workspace support is under active development and is not ready for use yet. Do not build external automation, integrations, or long-lived workflows on top of workspace behavior; the commands, state files, and JSON output can change at any point.
Workspace support is in beta. The local-view model below is the current direction, but external automation, integrations, and long-lived workflows should still treat command behavior, state files, and JSON output as evolving.
The commands below provide the first setup flow for planning across linked repos or folders.
The commands below provide the first setup flow for opening local views over linked repos or folders.
Repo-local OpenSpec projects are the right default when one repo owns the planning, implementation, and archive flow. Some work spans several repos or folders. For that case, an OpenSpec coordination workspace is the durable planning home.
Repo-local OpenSpec projects are the right default when one repo owns the planning, implementation, and archive flow. Some work spans several repos or folders. For that case, an OpenSpec coordination workspace is a machine-local view that keeps linked paths, opener state, and agent setup together.
The workspace mental model is:
```text
workspace = where related cross-repo changes live
link = a stable name for a repo or folder the workspace can plan against
change = one feature, fix, project, or other planned piece of work
workspace = private local view over context stores, initiatives, repos, and folders
context store = durable shared context container
initiative = durable coordination context inside a context store
link = a stable name for a repo or folder the workspace can resolve locally
change = one planned piece of work; implementation belongs in the owning repo
```
A workspace has a different shape from a repo-local project:
```text
workspace-folder/
├── changes/ # Workspace-level planning
└── .openspec-workspace/
├── workspace.yaml # Shared workspace identity and link names
└── local.yaml # This machine's local paths
getGlobalDataDir()/workspaces/<workspace-name>/
├── workspace.yaml # Private local view record
├── AGENTS.md # Generated runtime guidance
└── <workspace-name>.code-workspace # Generated editor workspace file
```
Repo-local OpenSpec state keeps the existing shape:
@@ -84,28 +85,33 @@ repo-root/
└── changes/
```
That distinction matters. The workspace folder is a coordination surface for planning across linked repos or folders. Each repo's `openspec/` directory remains the home for repo-owned specs, repo-local changes, and implementation planning. Users do not need to run repo-local `openspec init` inside a workspace folder.
That distinction matters. The workspace folder is a local coordination surface for opening and inspecting linked repos or folders. Each repo's `openspec/` directory remains the home for repo-owned specs, repo-local changes, and implementation planning. Users do not need to run repo-local `openspec init` inside a workspace folder.
Stable link names are how workspace planning refers to repos and folders. The shared workspace state keeps names such as `api`, `web`, or `checkout`; each machine maps those names to its own local paths in `.openspec-workspace/local.yaml`.
Stable link names are how a workspace refers to repos and folders. The private workspace record keeps names such as `api`, `web`, or `checkout` and maps them to this runtime's local paths.
```yaml
# .openspec-workspace/workspace.yaml
# workspace.yaml
version: 1
name: platform
context: null
links:
api: {}
web: {}
```
```yaml
# .openspec-workspace/local.yaml
version: 1
paths:
api: /repos/api
web: /repos/web
```
OpenSpec-created workspaces exclude `.openspec-workspace/local.yaml` from portable collaboration state by default. `.openspec-workspace/workspace.yaml` remains portable because it stores the workspace name and stable link names, not one user's absolute checkout paths.
When a workspace opens an initiative, `context` records the selected context-store binding and initiative id. Registry-selected stores stay portable by id; path-selected stores intentionally preserve the runtime-local path because `workspace.yaml` is private local state.
```yaml
context:
kind: initiative
store:
id: platform
selector:
kind: registry
id: platform
initiative:
id: billing-launch
```
Linked paths can be full repos, folders inside a large monorepo, or other existing folders. They do not need repo-local `openspec/` state before they can participate in workspace planning. Later implementation, verify, or archive workflows may require more repo readiness, but planning visibility starts with the link.
@@ -127,13 +133,7 @@ getGlobalDataDir()/workspaces
That means `$XDG_DATA_HOME/openspec/workspaces` when `XDG_DATA_HOME` is set, `~/.local/share/openspec/workspaces` on Unix-style fallback, and `%LOCALAPPDATA%\openspec\workspaces` on native Windows fallback. Native Windows shells, PowerShell, and WSL2 each keep the path strings for the runtime running OpenSpec. This foundation does not translate between `D:\repo`, `/mnt/d/repo`, and UNC WSL paths.
OpenSpec also keeps a machine-local registry at:
```text
getGlobalDataDir()/workspaces/registry.yaml
```
The registry maps workspace names to workspace locations so later global commands can list or select known workspaces from anywhere. It is only an index. Each workspace folder remains authoritative for its own `.openspec-workspace/workspace.yaml` and `.openspec-workspace/local.yaml`, so stale registry records can be reported and repaired without redefining the workspace itself.
OpenSpec can still read older beta workspace roots as compatibility inputs, but managed workspaces now use the root `workspace.yaml` record above. The workspace folder remains authoritative for its own private local view.
Workspace visibility is not change commitment. Set up a workspace when OpenSpec should know which repos or folders are relevant; create a change later when you are ready to plan a feature, fix, project, or other piece of work.
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ openspec workspace setup
# Automation-friendly setup
openspec workspace setup --no-interactive --name platform --link /repos/api --link web=/repos/web
openspec workspace setup --no-interactive --name platform --link /repos/api --opener codex-cli
# See known workspaces from the local registry
openspec workspace list
@@ -158,9 +159,32 @@ openspec workspace relink api-service /new/path/to/api
# Check what this machine can resolve
openspec workspace doctor
openspec workspace doctor --workspace platform
# Refresh workspace-local guidance and agent skills
openspec workspace update
openspec workspace update --workspace platform --tools codex,claude
# Open the linked working set
openspec workspace open
openspec workspace open platform --agent github-copilot
openspec workspace open --editor
# Open an initiative as a local workspace view
openspec workspace open --initiative billing-launch --store platform
openspec workspace open --initiative billing-launch --store-path /repos/platform-context
```
`workspace setup` always creates the workspace in the standard workspace location, records it in the local registry, shows the workspace location, and requires at least one linked repo or folder. `workspace link` and `workspace relink` record existing folders only; they do not create, copy, move, initialize, or edit the linked repo or folder.
`workspace setup` always creates the workspace in the standard workspace location, records it in the local registry, shows the workspace location, and requires at least one linked repo or folder. Interactive setup asks for a preferred opener and can install OpenSpec skills for selected agents. Non-interactive setup stores one only when `--opener codex-cli`, `--opener claude`, `--opener github-copilot`, or `--opener editor` is provided.
Workspace skills are installed only in the workspace root. The active global profile selects which workflow skills are generated; `--tools` selects which agents receive them. Workspace setup and update do not create slash command files even when global delivery includes commands. Run `openspec workspace update` to refresh workspace-local guidance and add, refresh, or remove managed workspace-local skill directories without editing linked repos or folders.
OpenSpec also maintains root workspace open files: an OpenSpec-managed guidance block in `AGENTS.md` and a machine-local `<workspace-name>.code-workspace` file for VS Code and GitHub Copilot-in-VS-Code opens. A managed workspace is not a repo, so OpenSpec does not create a default workspace `.gitignore` or a default workspace-level `changes/` directory.
The maintained VS Code workspace lists valid linked repos or folders first, then initiative context when attached, then the OpenSpec workspace files. VS Code displays those entries as a multi-root workspace.
`workspace open` opens the linked working set with the stored preferred opener unless `--agent <tool>` or `--editor` is passed for that one session. Passing both opener overrides is an error. Root workspace open makes linked repos and folders visible for exploration and context; implementation starts after the user explicitly asks for implementation work.
`workspace link` and `workspace relink` record existing folders only; they do not create, copy, move, initialize, or edit the linked repo or folder. After a successful link or relink, OpenSpec refreshes the managed guidance and VS Code workspace file.
Workspace commands that need one workspace can run from anywhere with `--workspace <name>`. If you run them inside a workspace folder or subdirectory, OpenSpec uses that current workspace. If several known workspaces are available and you do not pass `--workspace <name>`, human commands show a picker; `--json` and `--no-interactive` fail with a structured status error instead of prompting.
+1 -1
View File
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ Command availability is profile-dependent:
| `/opsx:continue` | Create the next artifact (one at a time) |
| `/opsx:ff` | Fast-forward—create planning artifacts at once |
| `/opsx:verify` | Validate implementation matches specs |
| `/opsx:sync` | Preview/spec-merge without archiving |
| `/opsx:sync` | Merge delta specs into main specs |
| `/opsx:bulk-archive` | Archive multiple changes at once |
| `/opsx:onboard` | Guided end-to-end onboarding workflow |
+2 -1
View File
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ You can enable expanded workflows (`new`, `continue`, `ff`, `verify`, `bulk-arch
| Kimi CLI (`kimi`) | `.kimi/skills/openspec-*/SKILL.md` | Not generated (no command adapter; use skill-based `/skill:openspec-*` invocations) |
| Kiro (`kiro`) | `.kiro/skills/openspec-*/SKILL.md` | `.kiro/prompts/opsx-<id>.prompt.md` |
| Lingma (`lingma`) | `.lingma/skills/openspec-*/SKILL.md` | `.lingma/commands/opsx/<id>.md` |
| Mistral Vibe (`vibe`) | `.vibe/skills/openspec-*/SKILL.md` | Not generated (no command adapter; use skill-based `/openspec-*` invocations) |
| OpenCode (`opencode`) | `.opencode/skills/openspec-*/SKILL.md` | `.opencode/commands/opsx-<id>.md` |
| Pi (`pi`) | `.pi/skills/openspec-*/SKILL.md` | `.pi/prompts/opsx-<id>.md` |
| Qoder (`qoder`) | `.qoder/skills/openspec-*/SKILL.md` | `.qoder/commands/opsx/<id>.md` |
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ openspec init --tools none
openspec init --profile core
```
**Available tool IDs (`--tools`):** `amazon-q`, `antigravity`, `auggie`, `bob`, `claude`, `cline`, `codex`, `forgecode`, `codebuddy`, `continue`, `costrict`, `crush`, `cursor`, `factory`, `gemini`, `github-copilot`, `iflow`, `junie`, `kilocode`, `kimi`, `kiro`, `opencode`, `pi`, `qoder`, `lingma`, `qwen`, `roocode`, `trae`, `windsurf`
**Available tool IDs (`--tools`):** `amazon-q`, `antigravity`, `auggie`, `bob`, `claude`, `cline`, `codex`, `forgecode`, `codebuddy`, `continue`, `costrict`, `crush`, `cursor`, `factory`, `gemini`, `github-copilot`, `iflow`, `junie`, `kilocode`, `kimi`, `kiro`, `lingma`, `opencode`, `pi`, `qoder`, `qwen`, `roocode`, `trae`, `vibe`, `windsurf`
## Workflow-Dependent Installation
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
# OpenSpec CLI Playbook For Agents
Beta note: workspace and initiative flows are usable, but still small. Prefer
plain commands, clear paths, and short status reports.
## Start By Resolving Context
Use JSON when you need exact paths.
```bash
openspec context-store list --json
openspec initiative list --json
openspec initiative show <store>/<initiative> --json
openspec workspace doctor --json
```
When the user is working from an opened workspace, treat the workspace as the
local view. Use `workspace doctor --json` to read linked repos/folders and the
selected initiative. Do not assume the current directory is the repo that should
own implementation artifacts.
## Set Up Context Stores Non-Interactively
Humans can run `openspec context-store setup` and answer prompts. Agents should
pass the setup inputs explicitly.
```bash
openspec context-store setup team-context --no-init-git --json
openspec context-store setup team-context --path /path/to/team-context --init-git --json
```
Use `context-store unregister <id> --json` to forget a local registration while
leaving files alone. Use `context-store remove <id> --yes --json` only when the
user explicitly asks to delete the local context-store folder.
## Create Initiatives In Context Stores
Create shared coordination context in a context store.
```bash
openspec initiative create billing-launch --store team-context --title "Billing Launch" --summary "Get billing live without losing the plot."
```
Then edit the initiative files in the context store:
- `requirements.md`
- `design.md`
- `decisions.md`
- `questions.md`
- `tasks.md`
## Explore Or Propose From A Workspace
When the user asks to explore or draft work from a workspace:
1. Resolve the workspace with `openspec workspace doctor --json`.
2. Resolve the initiative with `openspec initiative show <store>/<initiative> --json`.
3. Inspect linked repos or folders and identify the likely owning repo.
4. If ownership is ambiguous, ask the user which linked repo should own the
repo-local OpenSpec change.
5. Run explore/propose workflow commands from the owning repo, not from the
workspace root.
The workspace is the cockpit for the conversation. It is not the durable home
for implementation plans.
## Create Changes From The Owning Repo
Repo-local changes belong in the repo that owns the work.
```bash
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative team-context/billing-launch
```
Run this command with the owning repo as the current working directory. Do not
ask the user to type it and do not run initiative-linked change creation from a
workspace root. If you only know the workspace, resolve linked repo paths first.
After creating a change, report the absolute paths of the created files and the
initiative link you used.
## Use Doctor Before Guessing
```bash
openspec workspace doctor --workspace billing-launch --json
openspec context-store doctor --json
```
## Do Not Promise Yet
- Automatic sync, pull, push, or conflict handling.
- Cloning repos.
- Creating branches, worktrees, or submodules.
- Workspace apply, verify, or archive.
- Progress dashboards.
- Enforced edit boundaries.
+76
View File
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
# Using OpenSpec With Your Coding Agent
Beta note: this is the smallest useful path. You do the local setup. Your agent
manages the OpenSpec work.
## 1. Create The Shared Place
```bash
openspec context-store setup
```
OpenSpec asks for the context store name, where to put it, and whether to
initialize Git. Press Enter for the managed local data directory unless you
want the store somewhere specific.
## 2. Ask Your Agent To Create The Initiative
> Create an OpenSpec initiative called `billing-launch` in `team-context`. Keep
> it short and useful.
## 3. Open Your Local Workbench
```bash
openspec workspace open
```
Select the initiative from the picker. OpenSpec creates a local workspace view
for it if you do not already have one. When creating a new view, it also asks
which local repos or folders to include.
The opened editor view shows linked repos and folders first, initiative context
when attached, and a small `OpenSpec workspace` folder last with `AGENTS.md`,
`workspace.yaml`, and the generated `.code-workspace` file.
Use `openspec workspace open --initiative team-context/billing-launch --editor`
when you want to skip the picker. Use `--agent codex-cli`, `--agent claude`, or
`--agent github-copilot` instead of `--editor` when you want to open an agent
directly.
## 4. Check The Local Context
Ask your agent to inspect the opened workspace before planning work:
> Check this OpenSpec workspace. Resolve the selected initiative, list the
> linked repos or folders, and tell me if anything important is missing before
> we explore the work.
If a repo or folder is missing, tell the agent which local path should be linked.
OpenSpec does not clone anything.
## 5. Explore Before Creating Artifacts
Use the workspace as the place where the conversation happens:
> Using initiative `team-context/billing-launch`, explore the work in this
> workspace. Read the initiative context and linked repo context first. Do not
> create a change yet; help me decide what should be proposed and where the
> OpenSpec artifacts should live.
## 6. Ask For A Draft When Ready
When exploration has converged, ask the agent to create the right artifact in
the right place:
> Create a draft repo-local OpenSpec proposal for the owning linked repo and
> link it to `team-context/billing-launch`. Resolve the workspace and initiative
> context yourself, run the needed OpenSpec commands from the correct repo, and
> report the files you created.
## Tiny Caveat Box
OpenSpec is not cloning, syncing, branching, or tracking progress dashboards in
this beta flow. It gives you shared initiative context, a local workspace view,
and repo-local plans tied back to the bigger mission. The workspace is where
you and the agent work together; durable plan artifacts should live in the
context store initiative or in the owning repo, not in the workspace root.
@@ -0,0 +1,266 @@
## Product Shape
`workspace open` should feel like opening a multi-root working set.
The user model is:
```text
workspace setup = create the planning home and choose the default opener
workspace links = the repos or folders OpenSpec can plan across
workspace open = open that linked working set
--agent = use a different agent for this one session
--editor = open the working set as an editor workspace
```
Repo or folder visibility supports exploration and planning. Opening a workspace gives the agent or editor access to linked paths, and implementation starts through an explicit later workflow.
## Command Surface
Supported v1 forms:
```bash
openspec workspace open
openspec workspace open platform
openspec workspace open --agent codex
openspec workspace open platform --agent github-copilot
openspec workspace open --editor
```
The positional workspace name is the primary explicit selection surface for `open`. User-facing docs should prefer the positional form because a flag such as `--workspace <name>` repeats the noun.
For consistency with other workspace commands and scripts, `workspace open` may also support `--workspace <name>` as an alias for the positional name:
```bash
openspec workspace open platform
openspec workspace open --workspace platform
```
User-facing docs should prefer the positional form. If both are provided and they differ, OpenSpec should fail with a clear conflict error.
`--prepare-only` should not be included. The POC used it to build and print launch surfaces without starting the external tool, but that does not map cleanly to a user-facing intent.
`--json` should not be included in this slice. If a future integration needs a machine-readable resolved-open context, design that as a separate context/query surface instead of overloading the launching command.
`--change` should be deferred. Change-scoped open depends on workspace change planning and target semantics that this slice should not invent.
## Workspace Selection
Selection should follow this order:
1. If a positional workspace name is provided, open that known workspace.
2. Otherwise, if the command runs from inside a workspace, open the current workspace.
3. Otherwise, if exactly one workspace is known locally, open it.
4. Otherwise, if multiple workspaces are known and the terminal is interactive, present a picker.
5. Otherwise, fail with a clear message that names the known workspaces and asks the user to pass the workspace name.
This keeps the common cases direct while still supporting global use.
## Preferred Opener
Workspace setup should ask which opener the user wants by default. The answer is machine-local state because different machines may have different installed agents or editors.
`workspace open` uses the saved opener when no override is passed.
`--agent <tool>` is a one-session override that leaves the saved preference unchanged. Persisting a changed default should require an explicit preference/config action in a later slice if users need it.
This slice should not add global workspace opener config. OpenSpec already has a global config system, and workspace-level defaults can be added there later if repeated setup makes the local prompt feel noisy.
The local preference should be shaped so a future global default can fit underneath it with smooth migration. The intended precedence is:
```text
command override
-> workspace-local preferred opener
-> future global workspace default opener
-> interactive prompt or built-in fallback
```
In future config terms, that global default might look like `workspace.defaultOpener`; this slice documents the precedence for later implementation.
Store the preferred opener as a structured object in `.openspec-workspace/local.yaml`:
```yaml
preferred_opener:
kind: agent
id: codex
```
```yaml
preferred_opener:
kind: editor
id: vscode
```
Allowed initial values:
```text
kind: agent, id: codex
kind: agent, id: claude
kind: agent, id: github-copilot
kind: editor, id: vscode
```
The structure keeps the agent/editor distinction clear and leaves room for future opener variants without changing the local-state shape.
Interactive setup should show all supported opener choices, but it should order detected/available openers first. Unavailable choices should still be visible with a note such as `not found on PATH`.
Setup should prefer the plain editor option over an agent when a fallback default is needed for an interactive picker.
Non-interactive setup stores a preferred opener when the caller explicitly passes an opener option. Otherwise, it leaves opener selection for a later interactive `workspace open` prompt or a non-interactive error that explains how to choose an opener.
The setup-time flag should be:
```bash
openspec workspace setup --no-interactive --name platform --link /repo --opener codex
openspec workspace setup --no-interactive --name platform --link /repo --opener editor
```
`--opener <id>` sets the stored preference. It is different from `workspace open --agent <id>` and `workspace open --editor`, which are one-session runtime overrides.
Initial opener detection should stay simple and executable-based:
```text
VS Code editor: code
Codex: codex
Claude: claude
GitHub Copilot in VS Code: code
```
Keep initial detection scoped to executable availability in this slice.
Supported agent values for the initial open surface should be limited to tools with a real launch or attachment mechanism:
```text
claude
codex
github-copilot
```
Plain editor open should be represented by `--editor` with an explicit editor kind.
For this slice, `--editor` means VS Code editor. The `.code-workspace` format is VS Code-specific, so prompts and errors should call this `VS Code editor` rather than implying generic editor support.
`github-copilot` means the VS Code Copilot experience. It should open the maintained `.code-workspace` in VS Code because that is the product surface where this Copilot mode is available.
If OpenSpec later supports a Copilot CLI agent, it should use a distinct value such as `github-copilot-cli` and launch the CLI agent directly. VS Code Copilot and a CLI agent have different opener mechanics, so they should remain distinct opener values.
## Opener Availability
`workspace open` should fail with a clear error when the selected opener is unavailable on the current machine.
The selected opener remains required because it represents user intent, whether it came from local preference or a command-line override.
Errors should name the missing executable or unavailable opener and suggest a concrete next step. For editor-based open, the error should include the `.code-workspace` path so the user can open it manually if needed.
When no preferred opener is stored and no command-line override is provided, `workspace open` should prompt in interactive mode. In non-interactive mode, it should fail and tell the user to pass either an agent override or the editor option.
## Editor Open
`--editor` opens the workspace root plus every linked repo or folder with a valid local path.
For VS Code-style editor support, OpenSpec should create and maintain a `.code-workspace` file as part of the workspace setup/link/relink lifecycle. `workspace open` should launch against existing workspace state.
Expected local workspace shape:
```text
workspace-root/
changes/
<workspace-name>.code-workspace
.openspec-workspace/
workspace.yaml
local.yaml
```
The `.code-workspace` file should include the workspace root and each linked repo or folder with a valid local path. Because linked paths come from machine-local workspace state, OpenSpec-created workspaces should ignore the maintained `.code-workspace` file by default.
The ignore rule should target the specific maintained file and leave other `*.code-workspace` files available for user-authored tracking:
```text
<workspace-name>.code-workspace
```
This lets teams add a separate user-authored portable `.code-workspace` later if they have a shared relative-path layout.
`workspace setup`, `workspace link`, and `workspace relink` should all run the same open-surface sync after mutating workspace state. That sync owns:
- `AGENTS.md`
- `<workspace-name>.code-workspace`
- workspace ignore rules for machine-local files
Even when a command only changes local state, such as `workspace relink`, it should refresh the full openable workspace surface so user-facing files do not drift.
`--agent github-copilot` may use the same editor workspace mechanics, but it also needs Copilot prompt context. Plain `--editor` keeps a normal editor-workspace intent.
`--agent github-copilot` should still open VS Code. The distinction from `--editor` is intent: `--editor` opens the workspace as a normal editor workspace, while `--agent github-copilot` opens the same editor workspace for the user to work with the VS Code Copilot agent experience.
## Workspace Guidance
Workspace setup should install stable guidance in the workspace root, preferably `AGENTS.md`.
The guidance should explain durable workspace rules:
- the workspace root is the planning home
- `changes/` contains workspace-level planning
- linked repos and folders are available for exploration and planning
- visibility supports exploration and planning
- implementation edits start after the user explicitly asks for implementation work
The managed `AGENTS.md` text should stay short and durable, covering stable workspace guidance while runtime details remain discoverable from workspace state. A starting shape:
```markdown
# OpenSpec Workspace Guidance
This directory is an OpenSpec workspace for planning across linked repos or folders.
- Use `changes/` for workspace-level planning.
- Linked repos and folders are available for exploration and planning.
- Repo or folder visibility supports exploration and planning.
- Make implementation edits after the user explicitly asks for implementation work.
- Treat linked repos and folders as the implementation homes for their owned code.
- Use OpenSpec workspace commands instead of hand-editing `.openspec-workspace/*.yaml`.
```
`workspace open` is a launching feature. It should launch the selected opener against existing workspace files.
For Claude and Codex, `workspace open` may still need to pass workspace and linked directory arguments to the agent process at launch because those tools do not consume `.code-workspace` directly. If an opener requires an initial prompt argument, it should be minimal, such as `Open this OpenSpec workspace.`
Dynamic workspace facts should normally be discoverable from existing files:
- linked paths: `.openspec-workspace/local.yaml`
- stable link names: `.openspec-workspace/workspace.yaml`
- active workspace changes: `changes/`
- editor working set: `<workspace-name>.code-workspace`
Report a command file or prompt file path only when the file is actually written and used.
OpenSpec should own a marked workspace-guidance block inside `AGENTS.md`:
```markdown
<!-- OPENSPEC:WORKSPACE-GUIDANCE:START -->
# OpenSpec Workspace Guidance
...
<!-- OPENSPEC:WORKSPACE-GUIDANCE:END -->
```
`workspace setup`, `workspace link`, and `workspace relink` may rewrite that marked block during open-surface sync. Content outside the marked block should be preserved so users can keep their own workspace notes in the same file.
If `AGENTS.md` is missing, OpenSpec should recreate it. If `AGENTS.md` exists and the markers are absent, OpenSpec should append the managed block while preserving existing content.
## Linked Paths
Root workspace open should attach every linked repo or folder with a valid local path.
Broken links are skipped during workspace open. OpenSpec should surface clear status in human output, with `openspec workspace doctor` as the repair path.
Links with repo-local `openspec/` state absent remain valid for workspace open. Missing repo-local OpenSpec state can matter later for implementation readiness while still allowing visibility for exploration and planning.
## Safety Boundary
The opening prompt or editor guidance should say:
```text
Linked repos and folders are visible for exploration and planning.
Make implementation edits after the user explicitly asks for implementation work.
```
Prompt guidance is acceptable for this slice because apply/verify/archive sit outside the open surface. Later implementation workflows should enforce mode and scope through explicit context providers as well as prompt wording.
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
## Why
After a user creates a workspace and links repos or folders, they need to open that workspace with their preferred agent or editor and have the working set available immediately.
The workspace should provide repo and folder locations, link names, and the context that distinguishes planning from implementation.
## What Changes
Add the workspace-open experience:
```text
Open this workspace.
Use my preferred opener by default and honor explicit opener overrides.
The opener sees the workspace location, linked repos or folders, current changes, and relevant instructions.
```
Links are the planning context. The local registry serves as a workspace-discovery index for finding known workspaces on the current machine.
Expected user surface:
```bash
openspec workspace open
openspec workspace open platform
openspec workspace open --agent codex
openspec workspace open platform --agent github-copilot
openspec workspace open --editor
```
`workspace open` should open the current workspace when run from inside one, auto-select the only known workspace when run outside a workspace, and present an interactive picker when multiple known workspaces are available. Users can pass a workspace name as the positional argument when they want to choose explicitly.
Workspace setup should ask for and store a preferred opener in machine-local workspace state. `workspace open` uses that preference by default. `--agent <tool>` is a one-session override that leaves the saved preference unchanged.
`--editor` opens the workspace as an editor workspace. This is related to, but distinct from, `--agent github-copilot`: GitHub Copilot needs editor workspace support plus agent prompt context, while plain editor open should focus on opening the linked working set.
Workspace guidance should live in durable workspace files where possible:
- stable behavior belongs in workspace-level `AGENTS.md`
- opener-specific launch prompts stay minimal when required
- linked repos or folders are visible for exploration and planning before a change exists
This slice supports root workspace launching through the documented opener forms. Public preview (`--prepare-only`) and machine-readable context (`--json`) surfaces belong in a future context/query design if a clear user need appears.
This slice focuses on root workspace open behavior. Change-scoped sessions need the target model from workspace change planning before they can be specified cleanly.
Planning dependency:
- Depends on `workspace-create-and-register-repos`.
## Capabilities
### New Capabilities
- `workspace-open`: Opens a workspace through a preferred agent or VS Code editor with linked repos or folders available for exploration and planning.
### Modified Capabilities
- `workspace-foundation`: Extends machine-local workspace state and setup/link/relink behavior with a preferred opener and maintained openable workspace surface.
## Impact
- `openspec workspace open`
- Workspace setup preferred opener prompt and local preference storage.
- Workspace prompt, editor workspace, and agent-launch context.
- Generated or committed agent guidance for workspace mode.
- Tests for opening inside a workspace, auto-selecting one known workspace, picking among multiple known workspaces, opening by workspace name, one-session agent overrides, and editor open.
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: Workspace Preferred Opener State
OpenSpec SHALL store a workspace's preferred opener in machine-local workspace state when the user explicitly chooses one.
#### Scenario: Recording an interactive setup opener choice
- **WHEN** an interactive user chooses a preferred opener during `openspec workspace setup`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL record the opener in `.openspec-workspace/local.yaml`
- **AND** the stored value SHALL use a structured `preferred_opener` object with `kind` and `id`
#### Scenario: Recording a non-interactive setup opener choice
- **WHEN** a non-interactive user runs `openspec workspace setup --no-interactive --opener codex`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL record `preferred_opener.kind` as `agent`
- **AND** it SHALL record `preferred_opener.id` as `codex`
#### Scenario: Leaving opener unset during non-interactive setup
- **WHEN** a non-interactive user runs `openspec workspace setup --no-interactive` with opener selection omitted
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL leave the workspace preferred opener unset
- **AND** the unset state SHALL allow `workspace open` to prompt later
#### Scenario: Supported preferred opener values
- **WHEN** OpenSpec accepts a preferred opener value
- **THEN** it SHALL accept `codex`, `claude`, `github-copilot`, and `editor`
- **AND** it SHALL map `editor` to `kind: editor` and `id: vscode`
- **AND** it SHALL map agent values to `kind: agent` and the matching agent `id`
#### Scenario: Ordering setup opener choices
- **WHEN** interactive setup displays opener choices
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL show all supported openers
- **AND** it SHALL order openers with detected executables before unavailable openers
- **AND** unavailable openers SHALL remain visible with an availability note
### Requirement: Maintained Workspace Open Surface
OpenSpec SHALL maintain files that make a workspace directly openable after setup and link changes.
#### Scenario: Creating the open surface during setup
- **WHEN** `openspec workspace setup` creates a workspace
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL create or refresh `AGENTS.md`
- **AND** it SHALL create or refresh `<workspace-name>.code-workspace`
- **AND** it SHALL create or refresh workspace ignore rules for machine-local open files
#### Scenario: Refreshing the open surface after linking
- **WHEN** `openspec workspace link` succeeds
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL refresh `AGENTS.md`
- **AND** it SHALL refresh `<workspace-name>.code-workspace`
- **AND** it SHALL refresh workspace ignore rules for machine-local open files
#### Scenario: Refreshing the open surface after relinking
- **WHEN** `openspec workspace relink` succeeds
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL refresh `AGENTS.md`
- **AND** it SHALL refresh `<workspace-name>.code-workspace`
- **AND** it SHALL refresh workspace ignore rules for machine-local open files
#### Scenario: Building the VS Code workspace file
- **WHEN** OpenSpec refreshes `<workspace-name>.code-workspace`
- **THEN** the file SHALL include the workspace root
- **AND** the workspace root folder entry SHALL use the root path without a synthetic display name
- **AND** it SHALL include every linked repo or folder with a valid local path
- **AND** it SHALL omit linked repos or folders whose local paths are missing or invalid
#### Scenario: Ignoring the maintained VS Code workspace file
- **WHEN** OpenSpec refreshes workspace ignore rules
- **THEN** it SHALL ignore the specific maintained `<workspace-name>.code-workspace` file
- **AND** user-authored `*.code-workspace` files SHALL remain eligible for tracking
#### Scenario: Preserving user-authored AGENTS content
- **GIVEN** `AGENTS.md` contains content outside the OpenSpec workspace guidance markers
- **WHEN** OpenSpec refreshes workspace guidance
- **THEN** it SHALL replace only the marked OpenSpec workspace guidance block
- **AND** it SHALL preserve content outside the markers
#### Scenario: Appending AGENTS guidance when markers are missing
- **GIVEN** `AGENTS.md` exists and OpenSpec workspace guidance markers are absent
- **WHEN** OpenSpec refreshes workspace guidance
- **THEN** it SHALL append the marked OpenSpec workspace guidance block
- **AND** it SHALL preserve the existing file content
@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: Workspace Open Command
OpenSpec SHALL provide a `workspace open` command that opens an OpenSpec workspace working set through an agent or VS Code editor.
#### Scenario: Opening the current workspace
- **GIVEN** the command runs from inside an OpenSpec workspace
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL open that current workspace
- **AND** it SHALL use the selected opener for that workspace
#### Scenario: Opening a named workspace
- **GIVEN** a workspace named `platform` is known locally
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open platform`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL open the `platform` workspace
#### Scenario: Opening a named workspace with the selection flag
- **GIVEN** a workspace named `platform` is known locally
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open --workspace platform`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL open the `platform` workspace
#### Scenario: Conflicting workspace selectors
- **GIVEN** workspaces named `platform` and `checkout` are known locally
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open platform --workspace checkout`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL fail with a clear conflict error
- **AND** the error SHALL name both conflicting selectors
#### Scenario: Handling unsupported preview and JSON flags
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open` with `--prepare-only` or `--json`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL fail with a clear error that the root workspace open surface supports launching through a selected opener
- **AND** the error SHALL direct preview or machine-readable context needs to a future context/query surface
#### Scenario: Handling change-scoped open before workspace planning
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open --change <id>`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL fail with a clear error that this slice supports root workspace open
- **AND** the error SHALL direct change-scoped open behavior to future workspace change planning
### Requirement: Workspace Selection For Open
OpenSpec SHALL resolve the workspace to open using current workspace context, local registry state, and interactive selection.
#### Scenario: Current workspace wins
- **GIVEN** the command runs from a workspace folder or one of its subdirectories
- **AND** no workspace name is provided
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL open the current workspace
#### Scenario: Auto-selecting the only known workspace
- **GIVEN** the command runs outside a workspace
- **AND** exactly one workspace is known locally
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL open that known workspace directly
#### Scenario: Picking from multiple workspaces
- **GIVEN** the command runs outside a workspace
- **AND** multiple workspaces are known locally
- **AND** the terminal is interactive
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL present a picker with workspace names and locations
- **AND** it SHALL open the workspace the user selects
#### Scenario: Non-interactive ambiguous selection
- **GIVEN** the command runs outside a workspace
- **AND** multiple workspaces are known locally
- **AND** the terminal is non-interactive
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL fail with a clear message listing the known workspace names
- **AND** it SHALL ask the user to pass a workspace name
#### Scenario: No known workspace
- **GIVEN** the command runs outside a workspace
- **AND** no workspaces are known locally
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL fail with a clear message
- **AND** it SHALL suggest running `openspec workspace setup`
### Requirement: Opener Resolution
OpenSpec SHALL resolve the opener from command overrides, workspace-local preference, or an interactive prompt.
#### Scenario: Conflicting opener overrides
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open --agent codex --editor`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL fail with a clear conflict error naming `--agent` and `--editor`
- **AND** it SHALL avoid launching any opener
- **AND** it SHALL leave the stored preferred opener unchanged
#### Scenario: Using the stored preferred opener
- **GIVEN** the workspace has a machine-local preferred opener
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open` using default opener resolution
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL use the stored preferred opener
#### Scenario: Overriding with an agent for one session
- **GIVEN** the workspace has a stored preferred opener
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open --agent codex`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL use Codex for that open command
- **AND** it SHALL leave the stored preferred opener unchanged
#### Scenario: Overriding with VS Code editor for one session
- **GIVEN** the workspace has a stored preferred opener
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open --editor`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL open the workspace in VS Code editor mode
- **AND** it SHALL leave the stored preferred opener unchanged
#### Scenario: Prompting when no opener is stored
- **GIVEN** the workspace has no stored preferred opener
- **AND** the terminal is interactive
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open` using default opener resolution
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL prompt the user to choose an opener
- **AND** it SHALL only offer openers with detected executables
#### Scenario: Failing when no opener can be prompted
- **GIVEN** the workspace has no stored preferred opener
- **AND** the terminal is interactive
- **AND** no supported opener executable is available on `PATH`
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open` using default opener resolution
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL fail with a clear message that no supported opener is available
- **AND** it SHALL avoid prompting with unlaunchable choices
#### Scenario: Failing when no opener is stored in non-interactive mode
- **GIVEN** the workspace has no stored preferred opener
- **AND** the terminal is non-interactive
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open` using default opener resolution
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL fail with a clear message
- **AND** it SHALL ask the user to pass `--agent <tool>` or `--editor`
### Requirement: Opener Launch Behavior
OpenSpec SHALL launch the selected opener using existing workspace files and linked path state.
#### Scenario: Opening VS Code editor
- **GIVEN** the user selected the VS Code editor opener
- **WHEN** `code` is available on `PATH`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL open the workspace's maintained `.code-workspace` file with VS Code
#### Scenario: Opening GitHub Copilot in VS Code
- **GIVEN** the user selected `--agent github-copilot`
- **WHEN** `code` is available on `PATH`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL open the workspace's maintained `.code-workspace` file with VS Code
- **AND** it SHALL treat this as the VS Code Copilot experience
#### Scenario: Opening Codex
- **GIVEN** the user selected `--agent codex`
- **WHEN** `codex` is available on `PATH`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL launch Codex from the workspace root
- **AND** it SHALL attach every linked repo or folder with a valid local path using Codex's supported directory attachment mechanism
#### Scenario: Opening Claude
- **GIVEN** the user selected `--agent claude`
- **WHEN** `claude` is available on `PATH`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL launch Claude from the workspace root
- **AND** it SHALL attach every linked repo or folder with a valid local path using Claude's supported directory attachment mechanism
#### Scenario: Missing opener executable
- **GIVEN** the selected opener requires an executable that is not available on `PATH`
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL fail with a clear error naming the missing executable
- **AND** it SHALL keep the selected opener as the required opener
#### Scenario: Missing VS Code executable
- **GIVEN** the selected opener is VS Code editor or GitHub Copilot in VS Code
- **AND** `code` is not available on `PATH`
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace open`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL fail with a clear error naming `code`
- **AND** it SHALL include the maintained `.code-workspace` path so the user can open it manually
### Requirement: Linked Working Set Visibility
OpenSpec SHALL make linked repos and folders visible for workspace exploration and planning before change creation.
#### Scenario: Attaching valid linked paths
- **GIVEN** a workspace has linked repos or folders with valid local paths
- **WHEN** the user opens the workspace through an opener that supports linked directory attachment
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL include every valid linked path in the opened working set
- **AND** it SHALL support opening before a workspace change exists
#### Scenario: Skipping broken linked paths
- **GIVEN** a workspace has at least one linked path that is missing or not recorded locally
- **WHEN** the user opens the workspace
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL skip the broken linked path
- **AND** it SHALL report that the path was skipped with `openspec workspace doctor` as the repair path
- **AND** it SHALL continue opening the workspace when the selected opener itself is available
#### Scenario: Opening links with repo-local OpenSpec state absent
- **GIVEN** a linked repo or folder has a valid local path and repo-local `openspec/` state is absent
- **WHEN** the user opens the workspace
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL include that link when its local path is valid
- **AND** it SHALL treat missing repo-local OpenSpec state as an implementation-readiness concern for later workflows while continuing open
### Requirement: Workspace Open Guidance
OpenSpec SHALL use durable workspace guidance as the primary context source for root workspace open.
#### Scenario: Launching with existing workspace guidance
- **GIVEN** the workspace has OpenSpec-managed guidance in `AGENTS.md`
- **WHEN** the user opens the workspace
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL refresh the maintained `.code-workspace` from current linked path state
- **AND** it SHALL launch the selected opener against refreshed workspace files
- **AND** it SHALL use durable workspace files as the primary workspace-open artifact
#### Scenario: Minimal required launch prompt
- **GIVEN** an opener requires an initial prompt argument
- **WHEN** OpenSpec launches that opener
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL use a minimal prompt such as `Open this OpenSpec workspace.`
- **AND** durable workspace rules SHALL remain in workspace files
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
## 1. Preferred Opener State
- [x] 1.1 Add structured `preferred_opener` support to workspace local state parsing and serialization
- [x] 1.2 Support backward-compatible parsing for existing local workspace files while adding `preferred_opener`
- [x] 1.3 Validate supported opener values: `codex`, `claude`, `github-copilot`, and `editor`
- [x] 1.4 Map `editor` to `kind: editor, id: vscode`
- [x] 1.5 Map agent opener values to `kind: agent` with the matching `id`
- [x] 1.6 Add simple executable detection for `code`, `codex`, and `claude`
- [x] 1.7 Add unit tests for preferred opener parsing, serialization, and invalid opener values
## 2. Setup Opener Selection
- [x] 2.1 Add interactive setup prompt for the preferred opener
- [x] 2.2 Show all supported opener choices with detected openers ordered first
- [x] 2.3 Mark unavailable opener choices with a clear availability note
- [x] 2.4 Prefer the plain editor option for setup fallback selection when a fallback is needed
- [x] 2.5 Add `workspace setup --opener <id>` for non-interactive setup
- [x] 2.6 Store a preferred opener during non-interactive setup when `--opener` is provided
- [x] 2.7 Add tests for interactive opener selection and non-interactive `--opener`
- [x] 2.8 Add tests that non-interactive setup with omitted `--opener` leaves opener unset
## 3. Open Surface Sync
- [x] 3.1 Add a shared open-surface sync helper used by setup, link, and relink
- [x] 3.2 Create or refresh root `AGENTS.md` with an OpenSpec-managed workspace guidance block
- [x] 3.3 Preserve user-authored `AGENTS.md` content outside the managed block
- [x] 3.4 Append the managed block to unmarked existing `AGENTS.md` files
- [x] 3.5 Create or refresh `<workspace-name>.code-workspace` at the workspace root
- [x] 3.6 Include the workspace root and every linked repo or folder with a valid local path in the `.code-workspace`
- [x] 3.7 Omit linked repos or folders with missing or invalid local paths from the `.code-workspace`
- [x] 3.8 Refresh `.gitignore` with the specific maintained `<workspace-name>.code-workspace` entry
- [x] 3.9 Scope ignore updates to the maintained `<workspace-name>.code-workspace` file
- [x] 3.10 Add cross-platform tests for `.code-workspace` path construction and Windows-style paths where practical
## 4. Workspace Open Selection
- [x] 4.1 Add `openspec workspace open [name]`
- [x] 4.2 Support `openspec workspace open --workspace <name>` as an alias for the positional name
- [x] 4.3 Fail clearly when positional name and `--workspace` are both provided with different values
- [x] 4.4 Open the current workspace when run from a workspace folder or subdirectory
- [x] 4.5 Auto-select the only known workspace when run outside a workspace
- [x] 4.6 Present an interactive picker when multiple workspaces are known
- [x] 4.7 Report ambiguous workspace selection in non-interactive mode and list known workspace names
- [x] 4.8 Report unresolved workspace selection clearly and suggest `openspec workspace setup`
- [x] 4.9 Handle unsupported `--prepare-only`, `--json`, and `--change` flags with clear errors
- [x] 4.10 Add command integration tests for selection, conflict, unsupported flags, and no-workspace cases
## 5. Opener Resolution
- [x] 5.1 Resolve command-line opener overrides before workspace-local preferences
- [x] 5.2 Implement `workspace open --agent codex`
- [x] 5.3 Implement `workspace open --agent claude`
- [x] 5.4 Implement `workspace open --agent github-copilot`
- [x] 5.5 Implement `workspace open --editor`
- [x] 5.6 Keep the stored preferred opener unchanged for `--agent` and `--editor` overrides
- [x] 5.7 Prompt interactively to choose an opener when the opener preference is unset
- [x] 5.8 Report unset opener preference in non-interactive mode with override guidance
- [x] 5.9 Add tests for opener precedence, prompting, non-interactive failure, and unchanged preference behavior
## 6. Opener Launchers
- [x] 6.1 Launch VS Code editor by opening the maintained `.code-workspace` file with `code`
- [x] 6.2 Launch GitHub Copilot by opening the maintained `.code-workspace` file with VS Code
- [x] 6.3 Launch Codex from the workspace root with valid linked paths attached
- [x] 6.4 Launch Claude from the workspace root with valid linked paths attached
- [x] 6.5 Use a minimal launch prompt when an agent CLI requires an initial prompt argument
- [x] 6.6 Report skipped broken links with `openspec workspace doctor` as the repair path
- [x] 6.7 Fail clearly when the selected opener executable is unavailable
- [x] 6.8 Include the `.code-workspace` path in VS Code opener availability errors
- [x] 6.9 Keep the selected opener as required when launching
- [x] 6.10 Add unit tests for launcher command construction using test doubles for external tools
## 7. Documentation And Command Metadata
- [x] 7.1 Update workspace command help for setup `--opener`, open positional name, `--workspace`, `--agent`, and `--editor`
- [x] 7.2 Update command registry and shell completion metadata for the new workspace open surface
- [x] 7.3 Update workspace documentation to describe preferred openers, editor open, agent open, and `.code-workspace` behavior
- [x] 7.4 Document that `.code-workspace` is machine-local and ignored by default
- [x] 7.5 Document that root workspace open supports exploration and planning, with implementation started by explicit user request
## 8. Verification
- [x] 8.1 Run `node bin/openspec.js validate workspace-open-agent-context --strict`
- [x] 8.2 Run targeted workspace command tests
- [x] 8.3 Run targeted workspace foundation tests
- [x] 8.4 Run command-generation or launcher tests that cover Codex, Claude, GitHub Copilot, and VS Code editor paths
- [x] 8.5 Run cross-platform path-focused tests for workspace open surfaces
- [x] 8.6 Run the relevant TypeScript test suite
- [x] 8.7 Run `pnpm run build`
@@ -0,0 +1,242 @@
## Context
Workspace setup already creates a planning home, records linked repos or folders, stores a preferred opener, and maintains the root open surface. For workspace change planning to work in practice, the opened agent also needs OpenSpec workflow skills available from that workspace root.
Repo-local `openspec init` and `openspec update` already provide the user model for choosing agent surfaces and generating skills. Workspace setup should feel similar, but the installation target is the workspace root rather than any linked repo or folder.
The existing artifact workflow assumes a change lives under a repo-local `openspec/changes/<id>` path. Workspace planning needs the same workflow vocabulary, but the planning home may be a workspace root and the implementation homes may be linked repos or folders.
## Goals / Non-Goals
**Goals:**
- Install OpenSpec agent skills into the workspace root during workspace setup.
- Use the active global profile to select which workflow skills are installed in the workspace.
- Let users choose which agents receive skills with familiar `--tools` semantics.
- Persist workspace-local agent skill selection so update can refresh the same agents later.
- Let users refresh, add, or remove workspace-local skills later through `workspace update`.
- Detect and report workspace-local skill drift from the active global profile.
- Let `openspec config profile` offer to apply changed profile settings to the current workspace when run from inside a workspace.
- Redirect workspace users from repo-local `openspec update` to `openspec workspace update`.
- Add a built-in workspace planning schema for workspace-scoped changes.
- Create workspace changes under the workspace planning path.
- Represent affected areas without forcing implementation artifacts into linked repos.
- Give agents machine-readable planning context through status/instructions output.
- Preserve the workspace boundary: linked repos and folders remain untouched during setup/update.
**Non-Goals:**
- Generating slash commands as part of workspace setup.
- Honoring global `delivery: commands` by generating workspace command files.
- Installing skills into linked repos or folders.
- Adding workspace-local workflow profiles separate from global config.
- Solving workspace-scoped artifact path discovery in the first setup-skill step.
- Adding a separate artifact-context CLI command in the first version.
- Implementing workspace apply, verify, or archive semantics end to end.
- Changing repo-local `openspec init` or `openspec update` behavior.
## Decisions
### Use agent-skill language in workspace UX
Workspace setup should ask, "Which agents should get OpenSpec skills in this workspace?" rather than using the broader "AI tools" wording. The user-visible action is installing skills for coding agents, and the target is the workspace planning home.
Alternative considered: reuse the exact `init` wording. That would be familiar, but it hides the important distinction between opening a workspace and installing skills into it.
### Reuse the existing tool id model
The CLI should use the existing `--tools all|none|<ids>` grammar for non-interactive setup and update. Reusing the existing tool IDs avoids inventing a second naming system for the same configured agents.
Alternative considered: add `--agents`. That reads better in isolation, but it creates unnecessary parallel vocabulary next to `openspec init --tools`.
### Let profile choose workflows and tools choose agents
Workspace setup/update should use the active global profile to decide which OpenSpec workflow skills are installed. The profile answers "which actions are available?" while `--tools` answers "which agents get those actions?" Keeping those concerns separate preserves the existing profile model and avoids adding workspace-local workflow selection in this slice.
If global profile is `core`, workspace skills should include the core workflow set. If global profile is `custom`, workspace skills should include only the configured custom workflows. `--tools none` should still mean no agent skills are installed, regardless of profile.
Alternative considered: add a workspace-local profile file. That might be useful later for team-shared workspace defaults, but this slice already stores machine-local agent paths and should avoid introducing another config authority before the global profile behavior works.
### Preselect the preferred opener when possible
Interactive setup should preselect the preferred opener when that opener maps to a skill-capable agent. The user can accept the default, add more agents, or deselect it.
Alternative considered: install skills only for the preferred opener. That is simpler, but opener choice means "how should I open this workspace" while skill selection means "which agents should understand OpenSpec here."
### Persist selected workspace skill agents locally
Workspace setup should store the selected skill-capable agents in `.openspec-workspace/local.yaml` because agent paths and installed tool surfaces are machine-local. Workspace update should use that stored selection when the user does not pass `--tools` or make a new interactive selection.
Explicit `--tools` on workspace setup/update should replace the stored selection. `--tools none` should store an empty selection and remove only known OpenSpec-managed workspace skill directories.
The local state should also record enough last-applied information to support drift detection, such as the workflow IDs installed for each selected agent and the effective global profile/delivery at the time of the last successful sync. This is diagnostic state, not a second source of truth.
Alternative considered: infer selected agents by scanning `.codex/skills/`, `.claude/skills/`, and similar directories. Scanning is useful as a fallback, but persisted selection gives predictable update behavior and avoids treating unrelated user-authored files as OpenSpec-managed state.
### Keep non-interactive setup backward-compatible
`openspec workspace setup --no-interactive` should not require `--tools`. If `--tools` is omitted, setup should create the workspace and skip skill installation, preserving existing scripted workspace setup behavior. Human and JSON output should say that no workspace skills were installed and that `openspec workspace update --tools <ids>` can add them later.
`openspec workspace update --no-interactive` without `--tools` should refresh the stored workspace skill agent selection. If no selection is stored, it should complete without installing skills and report a clear no-op with guidance to pass `--tools`.
Alternative considered: require `--tools` whenever workspace setup/update is non-interactive. That mirrors repo-local init, but it would break existing workspace setup scripts that predate workspace-local skill installation.
### Generate workspace-local skills only
Workspace setup/update should generate skills under the workspace root, such as `.codex/skills/` or `.claude/skills/`. It should not generate slash commands in this slice because some command adapters resolve to global locations, and workspace setup should remain local and predictable.
When global delivery is `commands` or `both`, workspace setup/update should still generate only skills and report that workspace command generation is not part of this slice. This keeps profile workflow selection useful without making workspace setup perform global or repo-local command writes.
Alternative considered: mirror `init` exactly and generate both skills and commands. That risks surprising global writes and makes the setup boundary harder to explain.
### Add `workspace update` for skill refresh
`openspec workspace update` should refresh, add, or remove workspace-local OpenSpec skills after setup. It should resolve the current workspace when run from inside a workspace, and also support named and non-interactive forms.
Workspace update should compare the active global profile's workflow selection with the last applied workspace skill state. If they differ, update should add/remove only OpenSpec-managed workflow skill directories for the selected agents. Workspace doctor/list/status surfaces may report the drift as a warning, and `openspec config profile` no-op inside a workspace should use the same drift check for guidance.
Alternative considered: reuse `openspec update` from inside the workspace. That command currently means repo/project update, while workspace update needs workspace selection, workspace JSON/status behavior, and linked-repo safety rules.
### Make `config profile` workspace-aware
`openspec config profile` should remain a global configuration command. When it runs inside a repo-local OpenSpec project and the user chooses to apply changes, it should continue to run `openspec update`.
When it runs inside an OpenSpec workspace and the profile or delivery settings actually change, it should prompt to apply changes to the current workspace. If confirmed, it should run `openspec workspace update` for that workspace. If declined, it should explain that the global config changed and the user can run `openspec workspace update` later.
The preset shortcut `openspec config profile core` should keep its non-interactive character and not launch an apply prompt. When run from inside a workspace, it should save global config and print workspace-specific follow-up guidance to run `openspec workspace update`. When run inside a repo-local project, it should keep the existing repo-local guidance.
For this slice, automatic workspace context should come from the workspace planning home and its own subdirectories. Running a command from inside a linked repo or folder should keep that location's repo-local behavior unless the user explicitly selects the workspace with a workspace command option. This avoids surprising repo-local commands merely because the repo is registered as a workspace link.
If a directory is both inside a workspace planning home and inside a repo-local OpenSpec project, the nearest planning home should determine the apply prompt. This avoids applying a workspace profile change to a linked repo when the user is intentionally operating from the workspace planning home.
Alternative considered: make `openspec config profile` update all known workspaces. That would be convenient in small setups, but global config changes should not fan out into multiple planning homes without an explicit per-workspace action.
### Resolve a planning home before acting
Workflow commands should resolve whether the current change belongs to a repo-local planning home or a workspace planning home before computing paths. The resolver should identify the planning root, change root, linked areas when present, and whether implementation edits are allowed. Linked repos are not implicitly treated as workspace planning homes just because they are registered in a workspace; workspace-scoped behavior is selected from the workspace planning home or through explicit workspace selection.
Alternative considered: add workspace-specific command branches wherever paths are used. That would make the workspace model leak into every workflow and make generated skills more fragile.
### Store workspace changes in the workspace planning path
Workspace changes should live under the workspace planning path, initially `changes/<id>` at the workspace root. Creating the workspace change should capture shared intent once and may record affected areas, but it should not create repo-local `openspec/changes/<id>` directories in linked repos.
Alternative considered: materialize a repo-local change in every affected repo during workspace change creation. That was easy to reason about in the POC, but it commits too early and makes exploration look like implementation.
### Add a workspace planning schema
Workspace-scoped changes should use a built-in `workspace-planning` schema by default. This keeps the workflow verbs familiar while letting workspace changes have a structure that fits cross-area planning.
Initial artifact shape:
```text
changes/<id>/
.openspec.yaml # schema: workspace-planning
proposal.md # shared goal and scope
design.md # cross-area decisions
tasks.md # coordination tasks, optionally grouped by affected area
specs/
<area-or-repo>/
<capability>/spec.md
```
The first schema should stay intentionally close to the normal OpenSpec artifact shape: proposal, specs, design, and tasks. Area-specific requirements live under `specs/` and area-specific work can be represented as sections in `tasks.md`. This slice does not introduce another area manifest beside those normal planning artifacts.
Alternative considered: reuse `spec-driven` unchanged and make all workspace differences implicit in status output. That hides the fact that workspace planning needs different instructions for organizing requirements and tasks by affected area.
Alternative considered: create separate workspace workflow skills instead of a schema. That would duplicate workflow guidance and make workspace mode feel like a different product.
### Support nested workspace spec paths in the schema
The `workspace-planning` schema should define its specs artifact so nested workspace paths are first-class, not accidental. The intended output pattern is `specs/**/*.md`, and the schema instructions should explicitly describe `specs/<area-or-repo>/<capability>/spec.md` as the default convention for area-specific requirements.
Status and instructions output should preserve the concrete nested paths it discovers. Repo-local spec sync, archive, and validation paths that assume `specs/<capability>/spec.md` should not treat workspace-scoped specs as repo-local capability specs until a later explicit implementation, sync, or archive workflow selects an affected area and defines the destination.
### Use affected areas, not targets or repo slices
The planning model should call ownership or implementation boundaries "affected areas." Affected areas can start with registered workspace link names, but the language should leave room for folders, packages, services, apps, or docs sites. Delivery breakdown remains a separate concept and should not be called an area.
Alternative considered: keep "targets" because it maps to the old POC flag. That term is implementation-first and encourages users to choose repos before the plan is clear.
### Make status JSON the agent context contract
`openspec status --change <id> --json` should become the primary source of machine-readable action context. It should include the planning home, change root, concrete artifact paths, affected areas, next steps, and constraints such as allowed edit roots when implementation is later in scope.
Alternative considered: create a separate context command immediately. Status is already used by generated workflow skills, so enriching it first gives agents a single place to look.
### Keep generated skills path-agnostic
Generated workflow skills should ask OpenSpec where artifacts live instead of embedding repo-local paths such as `openspec/changes/<name>`. The standard skill pattern should be:
```text
1. Run `openspec status --change "<name>" --json`.
2. Use the returned planning home, artifacts, next steps, and action context.
3. Run `openspec instructions <artifact> --change "<name>" --json` before writing an artifact.
4. Write to the resolved path returned by the CLI.
```
This keeps the same skill usable in repo-local and workspace-scoped changes. If status/instructions output later becomes too crowded, a separate context command can be introduced in a future change without changing the high-level skill rule.
Alternative considered: add a new `openspec context` command now. That may become useful, but it adds a new surface before we have proven that enriched status/instructions are insufficient.
### Guard unsupported workspace workflow actions
The global profile may select workflows whose workspace-scoped behavior is not implemented in this slice, such as full workspace apply, verify, or archive. Generated workspace-local skills for those workflows should be safe: they should inspect status/instructions, explain the unsupported workspace action, and avoid editing linked repos unless a later explicit implementation workflow supplies an allowed edit root.
This keeps the workspace skill set aligned with the user's profile while preventing repo-local fallbacks from pretending to implement workspace semantics.
Alternative considered: filter unsupported workflows out of workspace skill generation. That would avoid unsupported commands, but it would make the workspace skill set silently diverge from the user's profile and make drift harder to explain.
### Redirect repo update from workspace roots
`openspec update` should remain the repo/project update command. When it is run from an OpenSpec workspace planning home, it should not try to treat the workspace as a repo-local project. It should fail or redirect with clear guidance to run `openspec workspace update`.
Alternative considered: make `openspec update` polymorphic and perform workspace update inside workspaces. That would be convenient, but it blurs the repo/project versus workspace boundary this change is trying to make explicit.
### Update docs, help, and completions
The CLI help, command registry/completions, and user docs should include `openspec workspace update`, its `--tools` behavior, the global-profile relationship, and the skills-only workspace delivery rule.
Alternative considered: document this only after implementation. Because profile/update behavior is easy to confuse with repo-local update, the docs and help updates are part of the user-facing feature.
### Treat manual acceptance and UX review as phase gates
Each phase should produce a user-testable increment, even when most of the work is internal. The phase is not done until a user can exercise the named behavior through the CLI, inspect the resulting output or files, and understand what changed.
Each implementation phase should include a manual acceptance pass in addition to automated tests. The manual pass should exercise the real CLI flow, inspect the generated files or output, and confirm linked repos or folders stay untouched where that is part of the contract.
Each phase should also include a lightweight UX review of prompts, command forms, human output, JSON output, artifact paths, and next-step guidance. Any confusing UX found during review should be fixed in the same phase or recorded as an intentional follow-up before the phase is considered done.
Alternative considered: keep manual review only in the final verification phase. That would catch end-to-end issues late, but workspace planning is mostly workflow and agent-facing UX, so each phase needs its own human check while the behavior is still fresh.
### Reduce self-validation bias with evidence-based review
Implementation should define acceptance evidence before marking tasks done. For each phase, the implementer should capture the exact manual commands or interaction path, expected observations, and actual observations. A task is not complete merely because the implementer believes the code matches the design.
When practical, a separate reviewer or fresh agent context should run the manual acceptance checklist and UX review using only the change artifacts, CLI output, and observed filesystem state. If a separate reviewer is not available, the implementer should rerun the checklist from a clean temporary workspace and record the evidence in the change notes or final implementation summary.
Alternative considered: rely on automated tests plus the implementer's final review. Automated tests are necessary, but this change is workflow-heavy and agent-facing, so independent evidence is more useful than confidence alone.
## Deferred Direction
The earlier product notes pointed at a richer workspace model than this slice ships. Keep that direction as follow-up material, not competing current scope.
- Full workspace apply should select or confirm one work focus before implementation. The first work focus should be an affected area with an allowed edit root; later work may add an optional delivery phase when a large change needs sequencing. Until that model exists, workspace apply/verify/archive skills remain guarded.
- Workspace verify and archive should wait for a clear model of partial area completion, final whole-change completion, and how workspace-scoped specs become repo-local canonical specs.
- Scoped plan files may eventually attach at the change, phase, affected-area, or work-focus level. This slice intentionally keeps the first workspace schema close to normal OpenSpec artifacts: proposal, specs, design, and tasks.
- Affected areas can start as registered workspace link names, but future flows may refine or derive them from planning artifacts. That derivation should avoid reintroducing target-first or repo-slice language.
- Workflow skills may later separate generic OpenSpec workflow semantics from agent-specific affordances such as asking questions, tracking todos, or delegating work. This slice only makes generated workflow skills path-agnostic.
- OpenSpec may need a named exploratory-notes convention for preserving unsettled thinking before it is promoted into proposal, design, specs, or tasks. This cleanup keeps the current change folder focused on standard artifacts.
## Risks / Trade-offs
- Skill generation logic may drift from `init/update` → share the same template generation and tool validation helpers where practical.
- Removing unselected skills could remove user-modified files → remove only known OpenSpec-managed workflow skill directories by explicit workflow list.
- `--tools` is less precise than `--agents` in workspace UX → keep `--tools` for CLI consistency, but use "agents" in prompts and human output.
- Global delivery can say `commands` while workspace update remains skills-only → report this explicitly so users know command generation is deferred, not silently broken.
- `config profile` may run from a linked repo inside an opened workspace → resolve the current planning home carefully and apply only to that home.
- Stored workspace skill state can become stale or hand-edited → treat it as diagnostic machine-local state and always reconcile managed files from the active global profile during update.
- Profile-selected workflows may not yet have full workspace semantics → generated skills must guard unsupported actions and avoid repo-local fallbacks.
- Existing generated skills still contain repo-local path assumptions → handle that as a later artifact-context step after workspace-local skills can be installed.
- Status JSON may become too broad → keep fields plain and action-oriented, such as `planningHome`, `artifacts`, `affectedAreas`, `nextSteps`, and `actionContext`.
- Affected area discovery may be ambiguous → start with explicit registered workspace links and allow later refinement instead of parsing free-form Markdown headings as the only source of truth.
- A new schema can drift from repo-local workflow expectations → keep artifact IDs plain and make status/instructions carry the schema-specific paths.
- Skill instructions may lag behind CLI behavior → audit source workflow templates for hardcoded repo-local paths and replace them with the path-agnostic status/instructions pattern.
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## Why
Once repos are visible and the agent has workspace context, the user should be able to plan a cross-repo change without creating repo-local artifacts before implementation starts.
The user goal is:
```text
Explore the product goal across repos.
Decide the scope.
Create one workspace-level proposal that identifies the affected areas.
```
Planning should be the commitment point. Repo visibility alone should remain lightweight.
## What Changes
Add workspace-level change planning:
- install and refresh OpenSpec agent skills from the workspace root so agents can operate from the planning home
- use the active global workflow profile to decide which workflow skills are installed in the workspace
- keep `--tools` focused on which agents receive those workspace-local skills
- add a workspace-specific planning schema for workspace changes
- create a workspace change from the coordination root
- capture the product goal once
- identify affected areas by registered workspace link name where applicable
- let the agent explore before committing to affected areas or delivery slices
- keep the workspace as the planning source of truth
- update workflow skill instructions to use CLI-reported artifact paths instead of hardcoded repo-local paths
This slice should avoid creating repo-local artifacts as a side effect of planning. Repo-local artifacts should not be created merely because a workspace change exists.
Workspace setup and update may write agent skill files into the workspace root, such as `.codex/skills/` or `.claude/skills/`, because those files make the workspace planning home usable by agents. That setup work must not write OpenSpec artifacts or agent skill files into linked repos or folders.
Interactive setup should ask which agents should get OpenSpec skills in the workspace, preselecting the preferred opener when that opener supports skills. Workspace update should let users refresh or change those installed agent skills later, including when run from inside the workspace.
Workspace setup and update should treat the global profile as the workflow selection source. For this slice, workspace setup and update are skills-only even when global delivery is `commands` or `both`; command generation for workspaces is deferred.
`openspec config profile` should remain global, but when it runs from inside an OpenSpec workspace and changes the global profile or delivery settings, it should offer to apply the new workflow selection to the current workspace by running `openspec workspace update`.
Workspace-local skill selection should be machine-local state: setup records which agents received skills, update refreshes that stored selection by default, and explicit `--tools` changes the stored selection. OpenSpec should detect when workspace-local skills drift from the current global profile and give clear update guidance.
Selected profile workflows that are not yet fully implemented for workspace-scoped changes should still be safe. Generated skills and CLI guidance must guard unsupported workspace actions instead of falling back to repo-local behavior or editing linked repos implicitly.
Workspace help, docs, and completions should make the distinction legible: `openspec update` remains repo/project sync, while `openspec workspace update` syncs workspace-local agent skills.
Planning dependency:
- Depends on `workspace-open-agent-context`.
## Capabilities
### New Capabilities
- `workspace-change-planning`: Creates and manages workspace-level proposals for cross-repo goals.
### Modified Capabilities
- `workspace-links`: Adds workspace setup/update behavior for workspace-local agent skill installation.
- `cli-config`: Makes `openspec config profile` aware of workspace roots and able to apply global profile changes to the current workspace.
- `change-creation`: Adds workspace-aware change creation semantics and affected area identification.
- `cli-artifact-workflow`: Enriches workflow status and instructions so agents can discover planning context and artifact paths without hardcoded repo-local assumptions.
- `artifact-graph`: Adds a built-in workspace planning schema for workspace-scoped changes.
- `schema-resolution`: Ensures workspace-scoped change creation and workflow commands can resolve the workspace planning schema.
- `openspec-conventions`: Defines the relationship between workspace-level planning and repo-local implementation work.
## Impact
- Workspace change creation.
- Workspace-specific planning schema and templates.
- Affected area metadata and validation.
- Workspace setup and update behavior for installing or refreshing agent skills in the workspace root.
- Global profile integration for workspace-local skill workflow selection.
- Workspace-aware `openspec config profile` apply prompt behavior.
- Workspace-local agent skill selection state and drift detection.
- Guarded workflow guidance for profile workflows whose workspace behavior is not implemented in this slice.
- Docs, help, and completions for workspace skill update behavior.
- Agent instructions for proposing cross-repo changes without hardcoded change paths.
- Tests that registered repos are visible before change creation and that creating a change does not imply repo-local artifact creation.
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## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: Workspace planning schema
The artifact graph SHALL provide a built-in workspace planning schema for workspace-scoped changes.
#### Scenario: Built-in workspace planning schema is available
- **WHEN** schemas are resolved from package built-ins
- **THEN** a schema named `workspace-planning` SHALL be available
- **AND** it SHALL describe the artifact structure for workspace-scoped planning
#### Scenario: Workspace planning schema artifacts
- **WHEN** the `workspace-planning` schema is loaded
- **THEN** it SHALL include the normal planning artifacts for a shared proposal, workspace-scoped specs, cross-area design, and coordination tasks
- **AND** it SHALL not require an additional area manifest outside those normal planning artifacts
#### Scenario: Workspace planning schema supports nested specs
- **WHEN** the `workspace-planning` schema defines its specs artifact
- **THEN** the specs artifact SHALL resolve workspace-scoped spec files under `specs/**/*.md`
- **AND** schema guidance SHALL describe `specs/<area-or-repo>/<capability>/spec.md` as the default convention for area-specific requirements
#### Scenario: Workspace planning schema templates
- **WHEN** artifact instructions are requested for the `workspace-planning` schema
- **THEN** the schema SHALL provide templates that guide agents to write workspace-level planning content
- **AND** those templates SHALL avoid instructing agents to create repo-local implementation artifacts
- **AND** specs instructions SHALL support organizing area-specific requirements under workspace-scoped `specs/` paths
#### Scenario: Workspace nested spec paths stay workspace-scoped
- **GIVEN** a workspace change has spec files under `specs/<area-or-repo>/<capability>/spec.md`
- **WHEN** OpenSpec reports status or artifact instructions for the workspace change
- **THEN** it SHALL preserve the concrete nested workspace spec paths
- **AND** it SHALL not treat those files as repo-local specs to sync or archive without an explicit affected-area implementation context
#### Scenario: Workspace planning apply readiness
- **WHEN** the `workspace-planning` schema defines apply readiness
- **THEN** it SHALL require coordination tasks before implementation begins
- **AND** the apply guidance SHALL direct agents to select an affected area before making implementation edits
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## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: Workspace-aware change creation
Change creation SHALL support both repo-local and workspace planning homes.
#### Scenario: Creating a change from a workspace root
- **GIVEN** the command runs from an OpenSpec workspace root
- **WHEN** the user creates a new change
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL create the change under the workspace planning path
- **AND** it SHALL not create the change under a linked repo's `openspec/changes/` directory
- **AND** it SHALL use the `workspace-planning` schema when no explicit schema is provided
#### Scenario: Creating a change from inside a workspace
- **GIVEN** the command runs from a subdirectory of an OpenSpec workspace planning home
- **WHEN** the user creates a new change
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL resolve the current workspace as the planning home
- **AND** it SHALL create the change under that workspace's planning path
- **AND** it SHALL use the `workspace-planning` schema when no explicit schema is provided
#### Scenario: Creating a change from inside a linked repo
- **GIVEN** a repo or folder is registered as a workspace link
- **AND** the command runs from inside that linked repo or folder rather than from the workspace planning home
- **WHEN** the user creates a new change without explicitly selecting a workspace
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL preserve repo-local change creation behavior for that location
- **AND** it SHALL not create a workspace-scoped change merely because the location is registered as a workspace link
#### Scenario: Preserving repo-local change creation
- **GIVEN** the command runs outside an OpenSpec workspace
- **WHEN** the user creates a new change in a repo-local OpenSpec project
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL continue to create the change under `openspec/changes/`
#### Scenario: Rejecting invalid workspace affected areas
- **GIVEN** a workspace change creation request includes affected area names
- **WHEN** one or more names are not registered workspace links
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL reject those invalid affected areas
- **AND** it SHALL list the valid workspace link names
#### Scenario: Creating without affected areas
- **GIVEN** the user is still exploring scope
- **WHEN** the user creates a workspace change without affected areas
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL create the workspace change
- **AND** it SHALL allow affected areas to be identified later
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## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: Status JSON provides planning context
The status command SHALL provide machine-readable planning context for repo-local and workspace changes.
#### Scenario: Reporting planning home
- **WHEN** a user runs `openspec status --change <id> --json`
- **THEN** the output SHALL identify whether the change is repo-local or workspace-scoped
- **AND** it SHALL include the planning home root and change root
#### Scenario: Reporting concrete artifact paths
- **WHEN** a user runs `openspec status --change <id> --json`
- **THEN** the output SHALL include concrete paths for existing artifacts
- **AND** agents SHALL be able to read those paths without assuming `openspec/changes/<id>/`
- **AND** workspace-scoped nested spec paths SHALL be reported without flattening the area or capability path
#### Scenario: Reporting workspace affected areas
- **GIVEN** the change is workspace-scoped
- **WHEN** a user runs `openspec status --change <id> --json`
- **THEN** the output SHALL include known affected areas
- **AND** it SHALL indicate when affected areas remain unresolved without requiring an additional area manifest artifact
#### Scenario: Reporting next steps
- **WHEN** a user runs `openspec status --change <id> --json`
- **THEN** the output SHALL include next step guidance for agents
- **AND** the guidance SHALL use plain action language
### Requirement: Status JSON action context
The status command SHALL expose action context that lets agents act without hardcoded filesystem assumptions.
#### Scenario: Planning action context
- **WHEN** a workspace change is still in planning
- **THEN** status JSON SHALL identify the planning artifacts agents may read or update
- **AND** it SHALL indicate that linked repos and folders are context for exploration
#### Scenario: Implementation action context
- **WHEN** a workspace change has a selected affected area for implementation
- **THEN** status JSON SHALL include the allowed edit root for that area
- **AND** it SHALL avoid authorizing edits outside that selected area
#### Scenario: Repo-local action context
- **GIVEN** the change is repo-local
- **WHEN** a user runs `openspec status --change <id> --json`
- **THEN** status JSON SHALL preserve existing artifact status behavior
- **AND** it SHALL report a repo-local planning home for agents that use action context
### Requirement: Instructions use resolved planning paths
Artifact and apply instructions SHALL use resolved planning paths rather than hardcoded repo-local change paths.
#### Scenario: Workspace artifact instructions
- **GIVEN** the change is workspace-scoped
- **WHEN** a user runs `openspec instructions <artifact> --change <id> --json`
- **THEN** instruction output SHALL point to the artifact path under the workspace change root
- **AND** it SHALL not instruct the agent to write under a linked repo unless an explicit implementation context allows it
#### Scenario: Repo-local artifact instructions
- **GIVEN** the change is repo-local
- **WHEN** a user runs `openspec instructions <artifact> --change <id> --json`
- **THEN** instruction output SHALL preserve existing repo-local paths
### Requirement: Workflow skills use CLI artifact context
Generated workflow skills SHALL use OpenSpec CLI output as the source of truth for artifact locations.
#### Scenario: Skills inspect status before artifact work
- **WHEN** a generated workflow skill needs to inspect or create artifacts for a change
- **THEN** it SHALL instruct the agent to run `openspec status --change <id> --json`
- **AND** it SHALL use returned planning context and artifact paths rather than assuming a repo-local change path
#### Scenario: Skills use instructions before writing artifacts
- **WHEN** a generated workflow skill is about to create or update an artifact
- **THEN** it SHALL instruct the agent to run `openspec instructions <artifact> --change <id> --json`
- **AND** it SHALL write to the resolved artifact path returned by the command
#### Scenario: Skills avoid hardcoded repo-local paths
- **WHEN** generated workflow skills describe artifact locations
- **THEN** they SHALL avoid hardcoded examples that require changes to live under `openspec/changes/<id>/`
- **AND** any examples SHALL defer to CLI-reported paths for repo-local and workspace-scoped changes
#### Scenario: Skills guard unsupported workspace workflows
- **GIVEN** a generated workflow skill is selected by the global profile
- **AND** the workflow does not yet have full workspace-scoped behavior in this slice
- **WHEN** the skill is used for a workspace-scoped change
- **THEN** it SHALL tell the agent that the workspace action is not supported yet
- **AND** it SHALL not instruct the agent to fall back to repo-local paths or edit linked repos without an explicit allowed edit root
### Requirement: Workspace schema instructions
Workflow commands SHALL use the workspace planning schema instructions for workspace-scoped changes that use that schema.
#### Scenario: Workspace planning artifact order
- **GIVEN** a workspace-scoped change uses schema `workspace-planning`
- **WHEN** a user runs `openspec status --change <id> --json`
- **THEN** the artifact list SHALL reflect the workspace planning schema
- **AND** it SHALL include the normal proposal, specs, design, and tasks artifacts
#### Scenario: Workspace specs instructions
- **GIVEN** a workspace-scoped change uses schema `workspace-planning`
- **WHEN** a user requests instructions for the specs artifact
- **THEN** instruction output SHALL guide the agent to organize area-specific requirements under workspace-scoped `specs/` paths
- **AND** it SHALL not require all affected areas to be finalized before planning can continue
- **AND** it SHALL not instruct the agent to create repo-local spec files while the change is still in workspace planning
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: Config profile applies to current workspace
The `openspec config profile` command SHALL remain global while offering an explicit workspace apply path when run from inside an OpenSpec workspace.
#### Scenario: Config profile run inside a workspace
- **GIVEN** the command runs from inside an OpenSpec workspace
- **WHEN** the user changes profile or delivery settings with interactive `openspec config profile`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL save the global config changes
- **AND** it SHALL prompt: `Apply changes to this workspace now?`
#### Scenario: User confirms workspace apply
- **GIVEN** `openspec config profile` changed global profile or delivery settings inside a workspace
- **WHEN** the user confirms the workspace apply prompt
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL run `openspec workspace update` for the current workspace
- **AND** it SHALL not run repo-local `openspec update` unless the current planning home is repo-local
#### Scenario: User declines workspace apply
- **GIVEN** `openspec config profile` changed global profile or delivery settings inside a workspace
- **WHEN** the user declines the workspace apply prompt
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL explain that global config was updated
- **AND** it SHALL tell the user to run `openspec workspace update` later to apply the profile to workspace-local skills
- **AND** it SHALL not modify workspace skill files
#### Scenario: No-op inside workspace
- **GIVEN** the command runs from inside an OpenSpec workspace
- **WHEN** `openspec config profile` exits with no effective config changes
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL not prompt to apply changes
- **AND** it SHALL warn if workspace-local skills are out of sync with the current global profile
- **AND** the warning SHALL suggest `openspec workspace update`
#### Scenario: Core preset shortcut inside a workspace
- **GIVEN** the command runs from inside an OpenSpec workspace
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec config profile core`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL save the global config change without prompting to apply immediately
- **AND** it SHALL tell the user to run `openspec workspace update` to apply the profile to workspace-local skills
#### Scenario: Core preset shortcut inside a repo project
- **GIVEN** the command runs from inside a repo-local OpenSpec project
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec config profile core`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL preserve existing repo-local shortcut behavior
- **AND** it SHALL tell the user to run `openspec update` to apply the profile to project files
#### Scenario: Workspace planning home wins over linked repo project
- **GIVEN** the command runs in a path under a workspace planning home where a repo-local OpenSpec project could also be detected
- **WHEN** OpenSpec decides which apply prompt to show
- **THEN** the nearest current planning home SHALL determine whether to offer `openspec workspace update` or repo-local `openspec update`
- **AND** OpenSpec SHALL not apply profile changes to a linked repo when the current planning home is the workspace
#### Scenario: Linked repo keeps repo-local profile behavior
- **GIVEN** a repo-local OpenSpec project is registered as a workspace link
- **AND** the command runs from inside that linked repo rather than from the workspace planning home
- **WHEN** OpenSpec decides which apply prompt or guidance to show
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL preserve repo-local `openspec update` behavior for that repo
- **AND** it SHALL not offer `openspec workspace update` unless the workspace is explicitly selected
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: Repo update redirects from workspace planning homes
The repo-local `openspec update` command SHALL not silently treat a workspace planning home as a repo-local OpenSpec project.
#### Scenario: Running update from a workspace root
- **GIVEN** the command runs from an OpenSpec workspace root
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec update`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL not generate repo-local project files in the workspace root
- **AND** it SHALL tell the user to run `openspec workspace update`
#### Scenario: Running update from inside a workspace planning directory
- **GIVEN** the command runs from a subdirectory of an OpenSpec workspace planning home
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec update`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL not run repo-local update behavior
- **AND** it SHALL tell the user to run `openspec workspace update`
#### Scenario: Running update from a repo-local project
- **GIVEN** the command runs from inside a repo-local OpenSpec project
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec update`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL preserve existing repo-local update behavior
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: Workspace planning vocabulary
OpenSpec conventions SHALL distinguish workspace planning concepts using user-facing product language.
#### Scenario: Naming affected areas
- **WHEN** documentation or generated guidance refers to repos, folders, packages, services, apps, or docs sites touched by a workspace change
- **THEN** it SHALL call them affected areas
- **AND** it SHALL avoid using "target repo" or "repo slice" as the primary user-facing term
#### Scenario: Naming delivery slices
- **WHEN** documentation or generated guidance refers to delivery increments inside a larger change
- **THEN** it SHALL call them slices or phases only when delivery sequencing is the subject
- **AND** it SHALL not use slice as a synonym for repo, folder, or affected area
### Requirement: Workspace planning and implementation boundary
OpenSpec conventions SHALL distinguish workspace-level planning from repo-local implementation ownership.
#### Scenario: Workspace as shared planning home
- **WHEN** a change spans linked repos or folders
- **THEN** conventions SHALL describe the workspace as the shared planning home
- **AND** repo-local implementation homes SHALL retain ownership of their code and canonical behavior
#### Scenario: Avoiding materialization-first language
- **WHEN** documentation explains workspace change creation
- **THEN** it SHALL describe the user outcome in terms of shared planning and affected areas
- **AND** it SHALL avoid making users understand implementation terms such as materialization before they can plan
#### Scenario: Preserving familiar workflow verbs
- **WHEN** workspace guidance describes OpenSpec workflows
- **THEN** it SHALL keep the familiar verbs explore, propose, apply, verify, and archive
- **AND** it SHALL explain that workspace context changes paths, scope, and allowed edit roots rather than creating a separate workflow family
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: Workspace planning schema resolution
Schema resolution SHALL support the built-in workspace planning schema.
#### Scenario: Listing workspace planning schema
- **WHEN** a user runs `openspec schemas`
- **THEN** the output SHALL include `workspace-planning`
- **AND** it SHALL identify it as a package-provided schema unless overridden by a higher-precedence schema
#### Scenario: Resolving workspace planning schema by name
- **WHEN** a workflow command requests schema `workspace-planning`
- **THEN** schema resolution SHALL resolve it using the normal project, user, then package precedence order
#### Scenario: Workspace default schema for new changes
- **GIVEN** the command creates a change in a workspace planning home
- **AND** the user did not pass an explicit `--schema`
- **WHEN** OpenSpec resolves the schema for the new change
- **THEN** it SHALL use `workspace-planning` as the default schema
#### Scenario: Explicit schema override for workspace change
- **GIVEN** the command creates a change in a workspace planning home
- **WHEN** the user passes an explicit `--schema <name>`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL use the explicitly requested schema
- **AND** it SHALL validate that schema using normal schema resolution
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: Workspace change planning home
OpenSpec SHALL support workspace-level changes whose shared plan lives in the workspace planning home.
#### Scenario: Creating a workspace change
- **GIVEN** the command runs from an OpenSpec workspace
- **WHEN** the user creates a change for workspace planning
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL create the change under the workspace planning path
- **AND** it SHALL treat the workspace as the planning home for that change
- **AND** it SHALL use the workspace planning schema when no explicit schema is provided
#### Scenario: Workspace planning artifact structure
- **GIVEN** a workspace change uses the workspace planning schema
- **WHEN** OpenSpec reports or creates planning artifacts for that change
- **THEN** it SHALL use workspace-level artifacts for proposal, specs, cross-area design, and coordination tasks
- **AND** those artifacts SHALL live under the workspace change root
- **AND** it SHALL not require an additional area manifest outside those normal planning artifacts
#### Scenario: Capturing the shared goal once
- **WHEN** a workspace change is proposed
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL capture the product goal at the workspace change level
- **AND** it SHALL avoid requiring separate repo-local proposals before the affected areas are understood
#### Scenario: Preserving linked repos during change creation
- **WHEN** OpenSpec creates a workspace-level change
- **THEN** it SHALL not create repo-local OpenSpec change directories inside linked repos or folders
- **AND** it SHALL not edit implementation files in linked repos or folders
### Requirement: Workspace affected areas
OpenSpec SHALL represent ownership or implementation boundaries in a workspace change as affected areas.
#### Scenario: Using registered workspace links as areas
- **GIVEN** a workspace has linked repos or folders
- **WHEN** a workspace change identifies affected areas by registered link name
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL validate those area names against the workspace links
- **AND** it SHALL report invalid area names clearly
#### Scenario: Planning before all areas are known
- **WHEN** a user is still exploring a workspace change
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL allow the shared plan to exist before all affected areas are finalized
- **AND** it SHALL keep unresolved affected area questions visible in the normal planning artifacts and status output
#### Scenario: Organizing requirements by area
- **GIVEN** a workspace change has requirements owned by one or more affected areas
- **WHEN** OpenSpec reports or creates workspace-scoped specs
- **THEN** it SHALL allow area-specific requirements to be organized under `specs/<area-or-repo>/<capability>/spec.md`
- **AND** it SHALL not require separate area folders outside the normal `specs/` artifact tree
- **AND** it SHALL preserve the area-or-repo path segment as workspace planning context rather than flattening it into a repo-local capability name
#### Scenario: Separating areas from delivery slices
- **WHEN** a workspace change reports affected areas
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL distinguish affected areas from delivery slices or phases
- **AND** it SHALL not require users to define delivery slices for a small cross-area change
### Requirement: Workspace planning source of truth
OpenSpec SHALL keep the workspace change plan as the source of truth until implementation begins for a selected affected area.
#### Scenario: Exploring before implementation
- **WHEN** an agent explores a workspace change
- **THEN** it SHALL use workspace-level planning artifacts as the shared planning source
- **AND** it SHALL treat linked repos and folders as available context rather than committed implementation targets
#### Scenario: Deferring repo-local implementation
- **WHEN** repo-local implementation work is needed for a workspace change
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL require an explicit implementation workflow with a selected affected area
- **AND** it SHALL expose the allowed edit root for that selected area before implementation edits begin
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: Workspace setup installs agent skills
OpenSpec SHALL let users install OpenSpec agent skills into a workspace during workspace setup.
#### Scenario: Prompting for workspace agent skills
- **WHEN** interactive workspace setup reaches agent skill installation
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL ask which agents should get OpenSpec skills in this workspace
- **AND** the prompt SHALL use agent-skill language rather than "AI tools" language
#### Scenario: Preselecting the preferred opener
- **GIVEN** the user selected a preferred opener that supports OpenSpec skill generation
- **WHEN** interactive workspace setup asks which agents should get skills
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL preselect the matching agent
- **AND** the user SHALL be able to select additional agents or deselect the preselected agent
#### Scenario: Installing selected workspace skills
- **WHEN** workspace setup completes with one or more selected agents
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL generate or refresh OpenSpec skill files under the workspace root for each selected agent
- **AND** it SHALL report which agents received skills
- **AND** it SHALL store the selected agents in workspace-local machine state
#### Scenario: Installing profile-selected workflows
- **GIVEN** global config resolves to a workflow profile
- **WHEN** workspace setup installs agent skills
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL install workspace-local skills for the workflows selected by that profile
- **AND** it SHALL treat `--tools` as agent selection, not workflow selection
- **AND** it SHALL record the last applied workflow IDs for drift detection
#### Scenario: Installing skills only during setup
- **WHEN** workspace setup installs agent skills
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL generate skill files only
- **AND** it SHALL not generate slash command files or global command files as part of workspace setup
#### Scenario: Ignoring command delivery for workspace setup
- **GIVEN** global config delivery is `commands` or `both`
- **WHEN** workspace setup installs agent skills
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL still generate workspace-local skills only
- **AND** it SHALL report that workspace command generation is not part of this slice
#### Scenario: Preserving linked repos during skill installation
- **WHEN** workspace setup installs agent skills
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL leave linked repos and folders unchanged
- **AND** generated skills SHALL be scoped to the workspace planning home
#### Scenario: Non-interactive setup tool selection
- **WHEN** non-interactive workspace setup receives `--tools all`, `--tools none`, or `--tools <ids>`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL use the selected tool set for workspace agent skill installation
- **AND** it SHALL validate tool IDs using the same supported tool IDs as skill generation for repo initialization
#### Scenario: Non-interactive setup without tool selection
- **WHEN** non-interactive workspace setup omits `--tools`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL create the workspace without installing agent skills
- **AND** it SHALL report that no workspace skills were installed
- **AND** it SHALL tell the user to run `openspec workspace update --tools <ids>` to install skills later
#### Scenario: Reporting setup skills in JSON output
- **WHEN** non-interactive workspace setup installs agent skills with JSON output enabled
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL include generated, refreshed, skipped, or failed skill installation results in machine-readable output
### Requirement: Workspace update manages agent skills
OpenSpec SHALL provide a workspace update flow for refreshing agent skills after setup.
#### Scenario: Updating the current workspace
- **GIVEN** the command runs from inside an OpenSpec workspace
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace update`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL update that current workspace
#### Scenario: Updating a named workspace
- **GIVEN** a workspace named `platform` is known locally
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace update platform`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL update the `platform` workspace
#### Scenario: Updating a workspace selected by flag
- **GIVEN** a workspace named `platform` is known locally
- **WHEN** the user runs `openspec workspace update --workspace platform`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL update the `platform` workspace
#### Scenario: Updating selected workspace skills
- **WHEN** workspace update completes with selected agents
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL refresh OpenSpec skills for selected agents
- **AND** it SHALL add skills for newly selected agents
- **AND** it SHALL remove OpenSpec-managed workflow skill directories for agents that are no longer selected
- **AND** it SHALL update the stored workspace-local selected agent list
#### Scenario: Updating profile-selected workflows
- **GIVEN** global config resolves to a workflow profile
- **WHEN** workspace update refreshes workspace-local skills
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL sync the workspace-local skill workflow set to the workflows selected by that profile
- **AND** deselected workflow skill directories SHALL be removed only when they are known OpenSpec-managed workflow skill directories
- **AND** it SHALL update the last applied workflow IDs used for drift detection
#### Scenario: Ignoring command delivery for workspace update
- **GIVEN** global config delivery is `commands` or `both`
- **WHEN** workspace update refreshes workspace-local skills
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL still update workspace-local skills only
- **AND** it SHALL not generate slash command files or global command files
#### Scenario: Removing only managed skill directories
- **WHEN** workspace update removes skills for an unselected agent
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL remove only known OpenSpec-managed workflow skill directories
- **AND** it SHALL preserve unrelated files in the agent directory
#### Scenario: Updating stored agent selection by flag
- **WHEN** workspace update receives `--tools <ids>` or `--tools none`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL replace the stored workspace-local selected agent list with that selection
- **AND** future workspace updates without `--tools` SHALL use the stored selection
#### Scenario: Non-interactive update tool selection
- **WHEN** workspace update receives `--tools all`, `--tools none`, or `--tools <ids>`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL update workspace agent skills using that selected tool set
- **AND** it SHALL avoid prompting for agent selection
#### Scenario: Non-interactive update without tool selection
- **GIVEN** workspace-local selected agents are stored
- **WHEN** non-interactive workspace update omits `--tools`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL refresh the stored selected agents using the active global profile
- **AND** it SHALL avoid prompting for agent selection
#### Scenario: Non-interactive update without stored selection
- **GIVEN** no workspace-local selected agents are stored
- **WHEN** non-interactive workspace update omits `--tools`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL complete without installing agent skills
- **AND** it SHALL report a no-op with guidance to pass `--tools`
#### Scenario: Reporting workspace skill drift
- **GIVEN** workspace-local skill state records last applied workflow IDs
- **AND** the active global profile resolves to a different workflow set
- **WHEN** OpenSpec reports workspace skill state
- **THEN** it SHALL report that workspace-local skills are out of sync with the global profile
- **AND** it SHALL suggest `openspec workspace update`
#### Scenario: Reporting clean workspace skill sync
- **GIVEN** workspace-local skill state matches the active global profile and selected agents
- **WHEN** OpenSpec reports workspace skill state
- **THEN** it SHALL not report profile drift
#### Scenario: Reporting workspace skill update results
- **WHEN** workspace update changes agent skill state
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL report which agents were refreshed, added, removed, skipped, or failed
#### Scenario: Reporting workspace update results in JSON output
- **WHEN** workspace update runs with JSON output enabled
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL include refreshed, added, removed, skipped, or failed skill results in machine-readable output
### Requirement: Workspace skill update surface is documented
OpenSpec SHALL expose workspace skill setup/update behavior in user-facing command surfaces.
#### Scenario: Workspace update appears in help
- **WHEN** a user runs `openspec workspace --help`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL list `workspace update`
- **AND** it SHALL describe it as refreshing workspace-local agent skills
#### Scenario: Workspace update options appear in help
- **WHEN** a user runs `openspec workspace update --help`
- **THEN** OpenSpec SHALL document workspace selection options
- **AND** it SHALL document `--tools all|none|<ids>`
- **AND** it SHALL state that global profile selects workflows and `--tools` selects agents
#### Scenario: Workspace update appears in completions
- **WHEN** shell completions are generated
- **THEN** the workspace command registry SHALL include `workspace update`
- **AND** it SHALL include relevant options such as `--workspace`, `--tools`, `--json`, and `--no-interactive`
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
## Phase 1: Workspace Setup Skills
User-testable outcome: A user can run workspace setup, choose which agents get the active profile's OpenSpec skills, and verify the selected skills are generated in the workspace root only.
- [x] 1.1 Add an interactive workspace setup step named "Install agent skills" that asks which agents should get OpenSpec skills in this workspace.
- [x] 1.2 Preselect the preferred opener when that opener supports skills, while allowing users to choose different or additional agents.
- [x] 1.3 Support non-interactive agent selection with the existing `--tools all|none|<ids>` style.
- [x] 1.4 Validate workspace setup tool IDs using the same supported skill-generation tool set as repo initialization.
- [x] 1.5 Resolve the active global profile and use it to choose which workflow skills workspace setup installs.
- [x] 1.6 Ensure `openspec workspace setup` generates or refreshes OpenSpec agent skills in the workspace root for the selected agents.
- [x] 1.7 Keep setup-time skill generation scoped to the workspace planning home; do not write skills or OpenSpec artifacts into linked repos or folders during workspace setup.
- [x] 1.8 Keep workspace setup skill generation skills-only for this slice; do not generate slash commands or global command files even when global delivery includes commands.
- [x] 1.9 Define how setup reports generated, refreshed, skipped, failed, and skills-only delivery work in human and JSON output.
- [x] 1.10 Store the selected workspace skill agents and last-applied workflow IDs in workspace-local machine state.
- [x] 1.11 Preserve non-interactive setup compatibility when `--tools` is omitted by skipping skill installation with clear guidance.
- [x] 1.12 Manually run workspace setup in interactive and non-interactive modes and verify the selected profile workflows land only in the workspace root.
- [x] 1.13 Review the setup UX: prompt wording, defaults, skip path, profile/delivery messaging, success output, and JSON output are clear before moving on.
## Phase 2: Workspace Skill Updates
User-testable outcome: A user can change the global profile, run workspace update in an existing workspace, and see workspace-local skills refresh to the selected workflows with clear human and JSON output.
- [x] 2.1 Add a workspace update flow that refreshes, adds, or removes OpenSpec agent skills in an existing workspace.
- [x] 2.2 Let `openspec workspace update` resolve the current workspace when run from inside a workspace.
- [x] 2.3 Support named and selected-workspace update forms such as `openspec workspace update platform` and `openspec workspace update --workspace platform`.
- [x] 2.4 Support non-interactive update forms such as `openspec workspace update platform --tools codex,claude`.
- [x] 2.5 Remove only known OpenSpec-managed workflow skill directories for agents that are no longer selected.
- [x] 2.6 Sync workspace-local workflow skill directories to the current global profile selection.
- [x] 2.7 Keep workspace update skills-only for this slice; do not generate slash commands or global command files even when global delivery includes commands.
- [x] 2.8 Define how update reports refreshed, added, removed, skipped, failed, and skills-only delivery work in human and JSON output.
- [x] 2.9 Use stored selected agents when workspace update runs without `--tools`, and update that stored selection when `--tools` is passed.
- [x] 2.10 Detect workspace-local skill drift from the active global profile and report `openspec workspace update` guidance.
- [x] 2.11 Manually run workspace update for refresh, add, remove, no-op, omitted-`--tools`, and profile-change cases and verify linked repos remain unchanged.
- [x] 2.12 Review the update UX: command forms, current-workspace detection, profile/delivery messaging, drift messaging, removal messaging, and JSON output are understandable.
## Phase 3: Config Profile Workspace Apply
User-testable outcome: A user can run `openspec config profile` inside a workspace and choose whether to apply the changed global profile to that workspace now.
- [x] 3.1 Detect when `openspec config profile` runs from inside an OpenSpec workspace.
- [x] 3.2 After an actual profile or delivery change inside a workspace, prompt to apply changes to the current workspace now.
- [x] 3.3 When confirmed, run `openspec workspace update` for the current workspace instead of repo-local `openspec update`.
- [x] 3.4 When declined, report that global config changed and that `openspec workspace update` applies it later.
- [x] 3.5 Preserve existing repo-local `openspec config profile` apply behavior outside workspaces.
- [x] 3.6 Keep `openspec config profile core` non-interactive, but print workspace-specific `openspec workspace update` guidance when run inside a workspace.
- [x] 3.7 Warn on no-op config profile inside a workspace when workspace-local skills drift from the active global profile.
- [x] 3.8 Manually run `openspec config profile` inside a workspace for confirm, decline, no-op, drift-warning, and `core` preset paths.
- [x] 3.9 Review the config-profile UX: prompt wording, project/workspace distinction, no-op behavior, preset guidance, and follow-up guidance are clear.
## Phase 4: Workspace Change Creation
User-testable outcome: A user can create a workspace-level change from the coordination root, inspect its workspace planning artifacts, and confirm linked repos were not edited.
- [x] 4.1 Add a built-in `workspace-planning` schema and templates that keep the normal proposal/specs/design/tasks artifact shape.
- [x] 4.2 Define the workspace-planning specs artifact with nested `specs/**/*.md` output support and instructions for `specs/<area-or-repo>/<capability>/spec.md`.
- [x] 4.3 Add workspace-aware change creation from the workspace coordination root.
- [x] 4.4 Default workspace-scoped change creation to the `workspace-planning` schema.
- [x] 4.5 Store workspace-level changes under the workspace planning path rather than under linked repos or folders.
- [x] 4.6 Capture the product goal once at the workspace change level.
- [x] 4.7 Record or validate affected area names through workspace-scoped specs or task sections using registered workspace link names where applicable.
- [x] 4.8 Ensure creating a workspace change does not create repo-local OpenSpec artifacts or edit linked repos.
- [x] 4.9 Preserve repo-local change creation behavior outside workspaces.
- [x] 4.10 Manually create a workspace change from a coordination root and verify the generated artifacts, workspace-scoped specs/tasks, affected areas, and untouched linked repos.
- [x] 4.11 Review the change creation UX: goal capture, affected-area identification, artifact paths, and next-step guidance feel clear.
## Phase 5: Planning Home And Agent Context
User-testable outcome: A user can run status and instructions for repo-local and workspace changes and see the resolved planning home, artifact paths, affected areas, constraints, and next steps.
- [x] 5.1 Introduce a shared planning-home resolver that identifies repo-local versus workspace planning homes.
- [x] 5.2 Enrich `openspec status --change <id> --json` with planning home, change root, relevant artifact paths, affected areas, next steps, and action context.
- [x] 5.3 Enrich `openspec instructions <artifact> --change <id> --json` with resolved artifact paths for repo-local and workspace-scoped changes.
- [x] 5.4 Keep workspace-level planning as the source of truth until an explicit implementation workflow selects an affected area.
- [x] 5.5 Preserve nested workspace spec paths in status and instructions output without flattening them into repo-local capability paths.
- [x] 5.6 Manually run status and instructions for both repo-local and workspace-scoped changes and verify paths and action context are correct.
- [x] 5.7 Review the planning-context UX: human output, JSON field names, and next-step guidance are easy for users and agents to follow.
## Phase 6: Workflow Skill Instructions
User-testable outcome: A user can inspect regenerated workflow skills and verify they are path-agnostic and tell agents to use CLI-reported artifact paths.
- [x] 6.1 Update generated workflow skill templates to run `openspec status --change <id> --json` before artifact work and trust returned planning context.
- [x] 6.2 Update generated workflow skill templates to run `openspec instructions <artifact> --change <id> --json` before writing artifacts and use the resolved output path.
- [x] 6.3 Audit source workflow templates for hardcoded `openspec/changes/<name>` assumptions and replace them with CLI-reported path guidance.
- [x] 6.4 Keep a separate artifact-context command out of this slice unless enriched status/instructions prove insufficient during implementation.
- [x] 6.5 Manually regenerate or inspect installed workflow skills and verify they follow CLI-reported artifact paths in a workspace change.
- [x] 6.6 Guard profile-selected workflow skills whose workspace behavior is not implemented yet so they do not fall back to repo-local paths or edit linked repos.
- [x] 6.7 Review the agent-instruction UX: instructions are concise, path-agnostic, safe for unsupported workspace workflows, and practical for both repo-local and workspace planning.
## Phase 7: Verification
User-testable outcome: A user or reviewer can run the full manual checklist from a clean workspace and compare expected versus actual evidence for every earlier phase.
- [x] 7.1 Add tests that workspace setup installs skills in the workspace root and leaves linked repos unchanged.
- [x] 7.2 Add tests that workspace update refreshes, adds, and removes only managed workspace skill directories.
- [x] 7.3 Add tests that workspace setup/update use the current global profile for workflow skill selection while keeping workspace delivery skills-only.
- [x] 7.4 Add tests that `openspec config profile` inside a workspace can apply changes through `openspec workspace update`.
- [x] 7.5 Add tests for stored workspace skill agent selection, omitted-`--tools` behavior, and profile drift reporting.
- [x] 7.6 Add tests that `openspec update` from a workspace planning home redirects to `openspec workspace update`.
- [x] 7.7 Add tests that unsupported workspace workflow skills are guarded and do not instruct repo-local fallback edits.
- [x] 7.8 Add tests that registered repos are visible before change creation.
- [x] 7.9 Add tests that workspace change creation does not imply repo-local artifact creation.
- [x] 7.10 Add tests that the workspace-planning schema resolves nested `specs/<area-or-repo>/<capability>/spec.md` files as workspace-scoped specs.
- [x] 7.11 Add cross-platform path tests for workspace-root skill paths and workspace change paths.
- [x] 7.12 Update CLI docs, command help, and shell completion coverage for `workspace update`, `--tools`, profile behavior, and workspace skills-only delivery.
- [x] 7.13 Run `openspec validate workspace-change-planning --strict`.
- [x] 7.14 Run the full manual acceptance checklist across setup, update, config profile, change creation, planning context, and workflow skills before marking the change complete.
- [x] 7.15 Complete a final UX review across the whole workflow and record any follow-up fixes or intentional deferrals.
- [x] 7.16 Before implementation sign-off, record the manual commands or interaction paths, expected observations, and actual observations for each phase.
- [x] 7.17 Have a separate reviewer or fresh agent context rerun the manual acceptance and UX checklist when available; otherwise rerun it from a clean temporary workspace and report the evidence.
## Verification Evidence
Completion evidence was recorded on 2026-05-14.
Automated checks:
```bash
pnpm run build
pnpm vitest run test/commands/workspace.test.ts test/commands/artifact-workflow.test.ts test/core/workspace/skills.test.ts test/core/planning-home.test.ts test/core/templates/skill-templates-parity.test.ts
node dist/cli/index.js validate workspace-change-planning --strict
git diff --check
```
Clean workspace rerun covered non-interactive workspace setup, workspace doctor, config profile update guidance, workspace update redirection, workspace change creation with `--areas api,web`, status/instructions JSON for nested workspace specs, linked repo cleanliness, and guarded unsupported workflow skills.
Observed results:
- Build, targeted tests, strict validation, and whitespace checks passed.
- Workspace setup/update generated skills only in the workspace root and left linked repos untouched.
- Workspace change creation used schema `workspace-planning`, reported affected areas `api` and `web`, preserved nested `specs/api/login/spec.md`, and kept `actionContext.allowedEditRoots` empty during planning.
- Generated workflow skills used CLI-reported paths and workspace guards rather than hardcoded `openspec/changes/<name>` paths.
- Fresh-agent rerun was not available; the clean temporary workspace rerun served as the fallback independent acceptance pass.
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
schema: spec-driven
created: 2026-05-14
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
## Why
Status: deferred by the context-store-and-initiatives direction. Generated
workspace guidance remains important, but the durable handoff should be designed
around initiatives linked to repo-local OpenSpec changes, not around a
workspace-owned cross-repo planning home.
The remaining sections preserve the original workspace-agent-guidance direction
for later reference. This work is still expected to matter after initiatives and
initiative-linked repo-local changes exist; it is not the immediate next focus.
OpenSpec workspaces let users create a planning home and link repos or folders
for cross-area exploration. After setup, the next user expectation is simple:
> I opened the workspace with my agent. The agent should understand where it is,
> what it can safely inspect, and how to help me turn a product goal into a
> workspace proposal.
Today that handoff is too thin. Workspace-local skills are installed, and the
CLI can create workspace-scoped changes, but agents still mostly behave like
they are in a normal repo-local OpenSpec project. They do not have a clear
workspace-native starting model before change creation.
That creates avoidable confusion:
- linked repos or folders may look like implementation targets instead of
read-only planning context
- agents may not know which registered link names are valid affected areas
- users may feel pressured to know every affected area before planning starts
- the product goal can be lost between workspace exploration and change
creation
- workspace planning can feel like a separate mode instead of normal OpenSpec
stretched across linked areas
The principle this change should reinforce is:
> Workspace visibility is not change commitment.
Linked repos and folders are available for exploration. Creating a workspace
change captures a planning commitment. Implementation edits still require an
explicit implementation workflow with an allowed edit root.
## Goal
Make workspace-local planning skills give agents a small, reliable operating
model for starting workspace proposals.
An agent opened in a workspace should be able to:
1. recognize that it is operating from a workspace planning home
2. inspect registered workspace links as planning context
3. keep linked repos and folders read-only during planning
4. derive a concise workspace change name and product goal from the user request
5. pass known affected areas only when they match registered workspace link names
6. continue even when affected areas are unresolved, keeping those questions
visible in the normal planning artifacts
This should feel to the user like the ordinary OpenSpec proposal flow, just with
workspace-aware context and safety.
## Starting Scope
Start with the smallest useful surface:
- workspace-local generated skill guidance
- change-starting workflows used from a workspace planning home
- the relationship between user product goals, registered link names, and
workspace change metadata
- guardrails that keep planning separate from implementation edits
The first implementation should prefer clear agent guidance over new workflow
machinery. If the existing CLI already exposes enough workspace context, the
skills should use it. If it does not, we should identify the missing context
explicitly before adding heavier behavior.
## Non-Goals
This change does not need to solve the full workspace lifecycle.
Out of scope for this slice:
- workspace apply semantics
- workspace verify or archive semantics
- branch or worktree orchestration
- creating repo-local changes for each affected area
- shared/team coordination repo behavior
- canonical shared-contract ownership flows
- forcing users to finalize all affected areas before creating a proposal
## Questions To Work Through
- What exact workspace context should an agent read before creating a change?
- Is the existing workspace/status/doctor output enough, or do we need a clearer
pre-change context command?
- How should generated skills decide when an affected area is confident enough
to pass as `--areas`?
- Should `--goal` be workspace-only metadata, or should repo-local behavior be
documented too?
- Where should unresolved affected-area questions appear so users and agents
continue from the same source of truth?
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
## Why
Status: deferred by the context-store-and-initiatives direction. The principle
that apply means implementation is still useful, but the durable handoff should
be designed around initiatives linked to repo-local OpenSpec changes, not around
a workspace-owned cross-repo plan. Do not implement this as a first-class
workspace lifecycle command until that linkage exists.
The remaining sections preserve the original workspace apply direction for
later reference. This work is still expected to matter after initiatives and
initiative-linked repo-local changes exist; it is not the immediate next focus.
After a workspace proposal exists, users need a practical way to implement one repo slice at a time.
In the proper workspace model, apply means implementation:
@@ -1,47 +0,0 @@
## Why
Once repos are visible and the agent has workspace context, the user should be able to plan a cross-repo change without immediately materializing repo-local artifacts.
The user goal is:
```text
Explore the product goal across repos.
Decide the scope.
Create one workspace-level proposal that identifies the repo slices.
```
Planning should be the commitment point. Repo visibility alone should remain lightweight.
## What Changes
Add workspace-level change planning:
- create a workspace change from the coordination root
- capture the product goal once
- identify target repos by registered alias
- let the agent explore before committing to implementation slices
- keep the workspace as the planning source of truth
This slice should avoid rebuilding the POC's materialization-first behavior. Repo-local artifacts should not be created merely because a workspace change exists.
Planning dependency:
- Depends on `workspace-open-agent-context`.
## Capabilities
### New Capabilities
- `workspace-change-planning`: Creates and manages workspace-level proposals for cross-repo goals.
### Modified Capabilities
- `change-creation`: Adds workspace-aware change creation semantics and target repo selection.
- `openspec-conventions`: Defines the relationship between workspace-level planning and repo-local implementation work.
## Impact
- Workspace change creation.
- Target repo metadata and validation.
- Agent instructions for proposing cross-repo changes.
- Tests that registered repos are visible before change creation and that creating a change does not imply repo-local materialization.
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
## Why
After a user creates a workspace and links repos or folders, they need to open that workspace with an agent and have the agent understand the working set immediately.
The user should not need to explain where every repo lives, which aliases matter, or whether they are currently planning versus implementing. The workspace should provide that context.
## What Changes
Add the workspace-open experience:
```text
Open this workspace with my agent.
The agent sees the workspace location, linked repos or folders, current changes, and relevant instructions.
```
Links are the planning context. The local registry is only a workspace-discovery index for finding known workspaces on the current machine.
The launch context should separate stable guidance from dynamic runtime scope:
- stable behavior belongs in workspace-level agent guidance where possible
- dynamic scope belongs in the launch prompt or equivalent runtime context
- linked repos or folders should be visible even when no change is active
- change-scoped sessions should include the selected change and target repo context
Planning dependency:
- Depends on `workspace-create-and-register-repos`.
## Capabilities
### New Capabilities
- `workspace-agent-context`: Opens a workspace session with enough dynamic context for an agent to reason across linked repos or folders.
### Modified Capabilities
- `context-injection`: Extends context construction to include workspace location, workspace links, active workspace changes, and selected change scope.
## Impact
- `openspec workspace open`
- Workspace prompt and agent-launch context.
- Generated or committed agent guidance for workspace mode.
- Tests for opening outside a workspace, opening a workspace by name, and opening change-scoped workspace sessions.
@@ -2,10 +2,40 @@
Date: 2026-04-30
Fresh-agent entry point: read `WORKSPACE_REIMPLEMENTATION_START_HERE.md` first, then return to this document for the full product direction.
## Status
This document is historical product direction from the workspace POC follow-up.
It remains useful for preserved workspace setup, link, open, update, doctor, and
agent-visibility decisions.
It no longer defines the durable coordination model. The current authority is
`openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/direction.md`, which locks
this boundary:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
Superseded here: workspace as the durable planning home, workspace-level
planning artifacts as the canonical shared cross-repo plan, and workspace
apply/verify/archive as the next first-class lifecycle commands.
Deferred here: apply, verify, archive, branch/worktree orchestration,
cross-repo validation, dependency graph enforcement, and governance flows until
initiative-linked repo-local changes exist.
Fresh-agent entry point: read `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/START_HERE.md` first, then return to this document for the full product direction.
This document captures the intended direction for reimplementing OpenSpec workspace support from scratch, based on what we learned from the workspace POC.
The sections below are historical POC follow-up direction. Use them for lessons
and preserved local-view behavior only. Do not treat later workspace lifecycle
sections as active implementation guidance.
The reimplementation should be ordered around the path a real user takes through OpenSpec:
```text
@@ -443,14 +473,16 @@ Do not start with:
Those may matter later, but they should not define the first reimplementation path.
## Product Shape
## Historical Product Shape
The workspace should feel like OpenSpec's normal workflow stretched across multiple repos, not a second product with its own lifecycle.
This was the older workspace product shape. It is preserved here so POC lessons
remain understandable, but it is superseded by the context-store-and-initiatives
direction for durable coordination.
The durable product model is:
The historical durable product model was:
```text
workspace = durable planning home
workspace = planning home
links = repos or folders visible for planning
proposal = scoped planning commitment
repo slice = one affected repo or folder in the plan
@@ -458,7 +490,16 @@ branch/worktree = implementation checkout
/apply = implement one selected repo slice
```
Keep the user journey simple:
The current durable product model is:
```text
context store = synced shared truth
initiative = durable coordination object
workspace = local opened view
repo change = repo-owned implementation plan
```
The historical user journey was:
```text
Open the workspace.
@@ -2,9 +2,16 @@
This guide is for a fresh agent starting a new session with no prior context about the workspace POC.
Root entry point: `WORKSPACE_REIMPLEMENTATION_START_HERE.md`.
Root entry point: `START_HERE.md`.
The goal is not to continue the POC. The goal is to use it as research material before reimplementing workspace support cleanly from the current base.
The goal is not to continue the POC. The goal is to use it as research material
before preserving or replacing specific behavior from the current base.
Current product authority lives in
`openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/`. Under that direction,
workspace setup/open/update/doctor behavior remains useful local-view
infrastructure. Workspace-level apply, verify, and archive research is deferred
until initiative-linked repo-local changes exist.
## Reference Point
@@ -2,9 +2,38 @@
This change is the continuity layer for reimplementing workspace support across multiple sessions and branches.
Root entry point for fresh agents: `WORKSPACE_REIMPLEMENTATION_START_HERE.md`.
## Current Status
The user journey we are implementing is:
This roadmap is historical and has been reframed by
`openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/`. Fresh agents should use
the initiative direction as product authority and this roadmap as reference for
POC lessons and preserved local-view behavior.
Keep:
- workspace setup, link, relink, list, open, update, and doctor
- linked repos and folders as local planning context
- workspace-local skills as local agent guidance
- the POC as research material only
Supersede:
- workspace as the durable shared planning home
- workspace-level planning artifacts as the canonical cross-repo plan
- workspace change planning as the long-term source of truth
Defer:
- workspace apply, verify, and archive as first-class lifecycle commands
- branch/worktree orchestration, strong cross-repo validation, and dependency
graph enforcement
Do not pick up the next unfinished flat sibling change from this roadmap unless
a later initiative-linked repo-change design explicitly reactivates it.
Root entry point for fresh agents: `START_HERE.md`.
The user journey this historical roadmap was implementing is:
```text
create workspace
@@ -21,22 +50,23 @@ The POC branch is reference material only:
workspace-poc @ 79a45ac043f414e63d13e08b9da83b135cb20a39
```
Use it to understand behavior, tests, and lessons learned. Do not merge it or preserve its architecture by default. The full source direction document from that branch is copied at the repository root as `WORKSPACE_REIMPLEMENTATION_DIRECTION.md`.
Use it to understand behavior, tests, and lessons learned. Do not merge it or preserve its architecture by default. The full source direction document from that branch is captured in `HISTORICAL_DIRECTION.md`.
Fresh agents should read `POC_REFERENCE_GUIDE.md` before implementing any slice. That guide explains how to inspect the pinned POC commit, which files to read for each slice, and what findings to bring back into the OpenSpec artifacts.
## Change Order
## Historical Change Order
Implement the flat sibling changes in this order:
The original flat sibling changes were:
1. `workspace-foundation`
2. `workspace-create-and-register-repos`
3. `workspace-open-agent-context`
4. `workspace-change-planning`
5. `workspace-apply-repo-slice`
6. `workspace-verify-and-archive`
5. `workspace-agent-guidance`
6. `workspace-apply-repo-slice`
7. `workspace-verify-and-archive`
OpenSpec currently discovers active changes as immediate directories under `openspec/changes/`, and change names are kebab-case identifiers. Keep these changes as flat siblings until formal change-stacking metadata is available.
OpenSpec currently discovers active changes as immediate directories under `openspec/changes/`, and change names are kebab-case identifiers. These changes remain useful reference artifacts, but they are no longer a direct implementation queue.
## Dependency Notes
@@ -46,24 +76,30 @@ OpenSpec currently discovers active changes as immediate directories under `open
`workspace-open-agent-context` gives the agent the workspace location, linked repos or folders, active changes, and selected change scope.
`workspace-change-planning` creates the workspace-level planning commitment and identifies target repo slices.
`workspace-change-planning` created the beta workspace-level planning commitment and identified target repo slices. Under the initiative direction, this model is legacy or transitional rather than the durable shared plan.
`workspace-apply-repo-slice` treats apply as implementation of one selected repo slice, not materialization of workspace planning files.
`workspace-agent-guidance` makes workspace-local workflow skills use the planning model deliberately: inspect linked context, seed workspace changes with goal and known affected areas, and preserve linked repos as read-only planning context until apply selects an edit root.
`workspace-verify-and-archive` makes cross-repo progress visible and separates partial repo completion from final workspace completion.
`workspace-apply-repo-slice` is deferred until initiative-linked repo-local changes define the implementation handoff.
`workspace-verify-and-archive` is deferred until initiative status and linked repo-local change lifecycle exist.
## Session Handoff Prompt
Use this prompt at the start of future implementation sessions:
```text
Continue the workspace reimplementation roadmap. Read
openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/README.md and
openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/POC_REFERENCE_GUIDE.md
first, then pick up the next unfinished flat sibling change in order. Use
workspace-poc at 79a45ac043f414e63d13e08b9da83b135cb20a39 as reference
material only. Preserve intended behavior, but reimplement cleanly from the
current base. Before editing, summarize the POC findings for the slice.
Continue the context-store-and-initiatives direction. Read
openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/direction.md and
openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/roadmap.md first. Use
openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/START_HERE.md,
openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/README.md,
openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/HISTORICAL_DIRECTION.md,
openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/POC_REFERENCE_GUIDE.md, and
workspace-poc at 79a45ac043f414e63d13e08b9da83b135cb20a39 as historical
reference material only. Preserve useful local-view workspace behavior, but do
not implement workspace apply, verify, or archive until initiative-linked
repo-local changes exist.
```
## Branching Guidance
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
# Workspace Reimplementation Start Here
This is the grep-friendly historical entry point for agents working on the
workspace reimplementation.
## Current Status
The original workspace lifecycle roadmap has been reframed by the context store
and initiatives direction. Fresh agents should treat this document and the POC
materials as reference for preserved local-view infrastructure, not as the next
implementation queue.
Current product authority lives in:
1. `openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/direction.md`
2. `openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/roadmap.md`
The locked boundary is:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
Useful search terms:
```text
workspace reimplementation
workspace poc
workspace-poc
workspace reference guide
workspace roadmap
fresh agent
start here
```
## Start Here
Read these files in order:
1. `openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/direction.md`
2. `openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/roadmap.md`
3. `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/HISTORICAL_DIRECTION.md`
4. `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/README.md`
5. `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/POC_REFERENCE_GUIDE.md`
The POC reference commit is:
```text
workspace-poc @ 79a45ac043f414e63d13e08b9da83b135cb20a39
```
Use the POC as research material. Do not merge it into an implementation branch.
Do not preserve its architecture unless a later initiative or repo-local change
design explicitly decides to do so.
## Historical Implementation Order
The original flat OpenSpec order was:
1. `workspace-foundation`
2. `workspace-create-and-register-repos`
3. `workspace-open-agent-context`
4. `workspace-change-planning`
5. `workspace-agent-guidance`
6. `workspace-apply-repo-slice`
7. `workspace-verify-and-archive`
Current disposition:
- Keep setup, link, relink, list, open, update, and doctor as beta local-view
infrastructure.
- Treat workspace planning as legacy or transitional behavior, not the durable
cross-repo source of truth.
- Do not implement `workspace-apply-repo-slice` or
`workspace-verify-and-archive` as first-class workspace lifecycle commands
until initiative-linked repo-local changes exist.
- Use `workspace-reimplementation-roadmap` as continuity and reference, not as
the active shipping sequence.
## Before Editing
For the slice you are about to implement, inspect the pinned POC commit using `POC_REFERENCE_GUIDE.md`, then write down:
```text
POC findings for <slice>:
User behavior to preserve:
- ...
Tests or examples worth translating:
- ...
Implementation shortcuts to avoid:
- ...
Open design questions:
- ...
```
Capture durable findings in the relevant initiative, context-store, or
repo-local OpenSpec artifact so future sessions do not depend on chat history.
@@ -2,6 +2,13 @@
Workspace support needs to be reimplemented as a user-facing workflow, not carried forward as a direct port of the proof of concept.
Status: this roadmap is now historical reference. The active product direction is
the context-store-and-initiatives initiative, where initiatives coordinate
durable cross-repo work, workspaces open local views, and repo-local changes own
implementation. Keep workspace setup/open/update/doctor infrastructure, but do
not treat workspace apply, verify, or archive as the next shipping sequence
until initiative-linked repo-local changes exist.
A user should be able to say they have a multi-repo product goal, create a workspace, add the relevant repos, open that workspace with an agent, plan the change, implement one repo slice at a time, verify it, and archive it. The POC branch captured useful behavior and discovery, but its implementation should remain reference material rather than the base architecture.
This roadmap also needs to survive multiple sessions and branches. Current OpenSpec change discovery treats active changes as flat immediate directories under `openspec/changes/`, and change names are kebab-case identifiers rather than nested paths. This change is therefore a flat planning container with sibling proposal changes instead of nested child changes.
@@ -20,6 +27,7 @@ Add a lightweight roadmap for reimplementing workspace support as a stack of fla
- `workspace-create-and-register-repos`
- `workspace-open-agent-context`
- `workspace-change-planning`
- `workspace-agent-guidance`
- `workspace-apply-repo-slice`
- `workspace-verify-and-archive`
@@ -32,6 +40,7 @@ workspace-foundation
-> workspace-create-and-register-repos
-> workspace-open-agent-context
-> workspace-change-planning
-> workspace-agent-guidance
-> workspace-apply-repo-slice
-> workspace-verify-and-archive
```
@@ -49,5 +58,5 @@ workspace-foundation
## Impact
- Planning only in this PR.
- Future changes will affect workspace metadata, workspace CLI flows, agent context construction, workspace change planning, repo-slice application, verification, and archive behavior.
- Future changes will affect workspace metadata, workspace CLI flows, agent context construction, workspace change planning, workspace-local agent guidance, repo-slice application, verification, and archive behavior.
- No runtime behavior changes are introduced by this roadmap proposal.
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
## Why
Status: deferred by the context-store-and-initiatives direction. Per-repo
progress visibility remains important, but verify/archive should be redesigned
around initiative status and linked repo-local OpenSpec changes, not around
workspace-owned final archive state. Do not implement this as a first-class
workspace lifecycle command until that linkage exists.
The remaining sections preserve the original workspace verify/archive direction
for later reference. This work is still expected to matter after initiatives and
initiative-linked repo-local changes exist; it is not the immediate next focus.
Users need to know whether a cross-repo workspace change is complete without flattening all repo progress into one ambiguous done state.
The desired lifecycle is:
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
version: 1
id: context-store-and-initiatives
title: Context Store And Initiatives Direction
status: exploring
summary: >
Define the direction for a synced context store, mounted collections,
initiatives, local workspaces, and repo-local changes.
owners: []
artifacts:
readme: README.md
direction: direction.md
roadmap: roadmap.md
tasks: tasks.md
decisions: decisions.md
questions: questions.md
work_items: work-items/
linked_changes:
- change: workspace-reimplementation-roadmap
relationship: informs
- change: workspace-agent-guidance
relationship: reframes
- change: workspace-apply-repo-slice
relationship: reframes
- change: workspace-verify-and-archive
relationship: reframes
links: []
metadata: {}
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
# Context Store And Initiatives
This initiative is the source of product intent for context stores,
collections, initiatives, workspaces, and repo-local changes.
Start here before continuing workspace or initiative work.
## Reading Order
1. `direction.md` explains the product model and principles.
2. `roadmap.md` lists the ordered roadmap.
3. `tasks.md` shows initiative-wide progress.
4. `decisions.md` records accepted decisions.
5. `questions.md` tracks unresolved questions.
6. `work-items/<id>/` contains execution notes for one roadmap item.
## Boundary
Initiative artifacts carry product intent and roadmap decisions. OpenSpec specs
describe the current behavioral contract behind the code.
Do not rewrite specs for future intent until behavior changes with an
implementation slice.
The current product boundary is:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
# Context Store And Initiatives Decisions
## 2026-05-20: Track Roadmap Execution Inside The Initiative
Decision: Track initiative roadmap implementation inside
`openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/` rather than creating an
OpenSpec change for each roadmap item.
Why: The initiative is the durable coordination object for this work. Repo-local
OpenSpec changes should be reserved for implementation slices owned by a repo or
team. Roadmap-item tracking belongs with the initiative until a task needs a
repo-owned implementation plan.
Implications:
- Use `tasks.md` as the initiative-wide progress dashboard.
- Use `work-items/<nn-slug>/` for detailed execution notes on one roadmap item.
- Link repo-local OpenSpec changes back to the initiative later when
implementation moves into a repo-owned slice.
## 2026-05-20: Lock Workspace-To-Initiative Product Boundary
Decision: Workspaces are local working views, not durable shared planning
objects. Durable coordination belongs to context stores and initiatives. Repo
local changes own implementation.
Implications:
- Preserve workspace setup, link, relink, list, open, update, and doctor as
beta local-view infrastructure.
- Treat workspace-planning behavior as beta or transitional compatibility.
- Defer workspace apply, verify, and archive until initiative-linked repo-local
changes exist.
## 2026-05-21: Leave Specs Alone Until Behavior Changes
Decision: Do not use the initial direction lock to rewrite OpenSpec specs.
Specs should describe the current behavioral contract behind the code. The
initiative artifacts should carry product intent, roadmap decisions, and future
direction until a later implementation change deliberately updates behavior and
its specs together.
Implications:
- Initial Item 1 cleanup should focus on initiative docs, historical roadmap
artifacts, active proposal disposition, and user-facing docs.
- Existing workspace-planning specs and schemas may continue to describe current
implemented behavior.
- Future changes to specs should happen with the behavior they govern.
## 2026-05-21: Keep Deferred Workspace Changes As Reference Placeholders
Decision: Keep the active workspace changes for agent guidance, repo-slice
apply, verify/archive, and the reimplementation roadmap as deferred reference
placeholders.
Why: These areas are still expected to matter after context stores, initiatives,
and initiative-linked repo-local changes exist. Archiving or deleting them now
would lose useful research and continuity.
Implications:
- Do not pick them up as the immediate next implementation focus.
- Treat their current proposals as historical/deferred direction.
- Revisit and reframe them after initiative-linked repo-local changes define the
durable handoff model.
## 2026-05-21: Generated Workspace Guidance Routes Work By Ownership
Decision: Generated workspace guidance should describe workspaces as local
working views and route durable work to the owning artifact: initiatives own
cross-team or cross-repo intent, repo-local OpenSpec changes own implementation
plans, and linked repos or folders own their implementation.
Why: The initiative direction supersedes the older model where a workspace-level
`changes/` tree owned the canonical shared cross-repo plan. New agent guidance
should not reinforce that old model.
Implications:
- Remove guidance that tells agents to use workspace-level `changes/` as the
planning home for coordinated work.
- Keep legacy or beta workspace-planning files readable as compatibility
context when present.
- Update generated workspace guidance before broad user-facing docs or specs.
- Leave specs untouched until the corresponding behavior intentionally changes.
## 2026-05-21: Workspace Action Context Is Local Compatibility Context
Decision: Workspace-planning action context should no longer describe
workspace-level artifacts as the source of truth. It should report
`sourceOfTruth: "workspace-local"` and describe workspace-local planning
artifacts as compatibility context for the current local view.
Why: Workspace-planning artifacts can still exist in the beta workflow, but the
initiative direction assigns durable coordination to initiatives and
implementation planning to repo-local changes.
Implications:
- Keep `actionContext.mode: "workspace-planning"` for compatibility.
- Keep `allowedEditRoots: []` until an explicit edit root is selected.
- Keep linked repos and folders as context, not implicit edit roots.
- Route durable coordination to initiatives when initiative context exists.
## 2026-05-21: Reorder Roadmap Around Agent-First Initiative Handoff
Decision: Treat initiatives as an agent-first workflow. Users should be able to
prompt an agent with intent like "using initiative X, explore Y and create a
proposal"; OpenSpec should provide small CLI primitives the agent can compose.
Why: The practical UX is not a human manually typing every coordination command.
Agents need reliable structured answers about where canonical initiative context
lives and how repo-local changes reference it. Local paths come from workspace
state, not from an initiative command.
Implications:
- Promote minimal context-store setup, registration, listing, and doctoring
before workspace initiative opening.
- Add `initiative show --json` before broader progress/status concepts.
- Connect repo-local changes with checked-in initiative metadata, not checked-in
snapshots of initiative prose.
- Do not add `initiative resolve`; workspace local-view state owns local path
mapping.
- Teach workspace opening about initiatives after show and repo-change linkage
semantics exist.
## 2026-05-26: Workspace Initiative Opening Uses Generated Runtime Files
Decision: Treat workspace initiative opening as a private local view record plus
generated runtime files. The workspace does not contain the work. It remembers
how this runtime opens the work.
Why: Initiative context is shared truth in the context store, repo-local changes
own implementation, and agent/editor affordances need to exist in the runtime
where the agent actually runs. Persisting generated files as workspace truth
would blur local view state with shared coordination and create stale or
privacy-sensitive artifacts.
Implications:
- Persist only tiny private local view choices: selected store, selected
initiative, selected local links, opener, and selected tools.
- Preserve the selected context-store selector inside the private workspace
record, so a runtime-local `--store-path` open can be reopened without writing
machine-local paths into checked-in repo metadata.
- Generate agent guidance, skills, launch prompts, and editor workspace files as
runtime support when opening or preparing a view.
- Open existing local paths only; do not clone, branch, create worktrees, use
submodules, or infer local repos in Item 10.
- Treat generated runtime files as disposable and regenerable.
- Allow context-only initiative open; linked repos are optional local view
choices.
- Keep edit boundaries advisory in Item 10 until enforcement is designed.
## 2026-05-26: Workspace Storage Is Keyed By Workspace Name
Decision: Store private workspace views under
`getGlobalDataDir()/workspaces/<workspace-name>/`. The workspace name is the
local identity. The selected context store and initiative, if any, live inside
one durable private `workspace.yaml` record.
Why: Workspaces are generic local views, not initiative-owned directories. A
user may want a custom workspace with linked repos and folders but no initiative,
or multiple personal workspaces over the same initiative. Keying storage by
store and initiative would overfit the filesystem layout to one workflow.
Implications:
- Keep initiative references optional inside `workspace.yaml`.
- Store initiative context with an explicit context-store binding rather than a
flat store id, because workspace state may need to remember a registry selector
or a runtime-local path selector.
- Generate `AGENTS.md`, opener workspace files, and tool-specific skills at the
managed workspace root.
- Keep `workspace.yaml` as the only view file for Item 10; do not add a separate
machine-readable view file.
- Do not introduce a separate generated-output directory for Item 10.
- If the user opens an initiative without a workspace name, derive a friendly
default workspace name from the initiative id when that is unambiguous.
- On workspace-name collisions or multiple workspaces pointing at the same
initiative, ask the human to choose or require an explicit workspace name in
non-interactive mode.
## 2026-05-26: Item 10 Workspace Open UX Decisions
Decision: Close the remaining Item 10 product decisions around runtime identity,
JSON output, Codex Desktop, edit boundaries, and implementation scope.
Implications:
- Use `getGlobalDataDir()` as the cross-platform runtime-local boundary. Do not
add path translation or a separate runtime id in Item 10.
- Keep `workspace open --json` as a machine-facing receipt for the same open
operation. It should return useful generated paths, selected context, opened
roots, skipped roots, opener, launch status, and warnings.
- Do not add `--prepare-only` for Item 10.
- For Codex Desktop, open the generated workspace root as the project and expose
attached initiative and repo/folder paths through generated guidance and
`workspace open --json` output.
- Emit advisory edit boundaries only; do not enforce write restrictions.
- Continue to open known existing local paths only. Do not clone, branch, create
worktrees, use submodules, or infer local repos in Item 10.
@@ -0,0 +1,447 @@
# Context Store And Initiatives Direction
This document captures the suggested direction from the workspace/initiative
discussion. The main shift is that "workspace" should not be the durable shared
planning object. The durable shared object is a synced context store, and
initiatives are one opinionated collection inside it.
## Core Model
```text
Context Store
= synced shared content container
Collection
= mounted content system inside a store
Initiatives
= first major collection for cross-team implementation context
Workspace
= local working view over context stores and repos
Change
= repo/team-owned implementation plan
```
The clean rule:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
## Locked Product Boundary
The workspace-to-initiative pivot is now the product boundary for future
coordination work:
- A workspace is a regenerable, machine-local working view. It maps context
stores, initiatives, projects, repos, and folders to paths the current user can
open.
- A context store is the durable synced container for shared files.
- An initiative is the durable coordination object for cross-team or cross-repo
implementation context.
- A repo-local change remains the implementation plan owned by the repo or team
doing the work.
This supersedes the older model where a workspace-level `changes/` tree owned
the canonical shared plan for cross-repo work. Existing workspace-planning
behavior can remain as beta or legacy infrastructure, but it should not steer
new lifecycle design.
Workspace roadmap disposition:
- Keep setup, link, relink, list, open, update, and doctor.
- Keep linked repos and folders visible for exploration before a change exists.
- Keep workspace-local agent guidance as local view setup, refreshed by
`workspace update`.
- Defer workspace apply, verify, and archive until initiatives can link to
repo-owned OpenSpec changes.
- Defer branch/worktree orchestration, multi-repo apply, strong cross-repo
validation, and dependency graph enforcement.
## Agent-First UX
The primary user experience for initiatives is expected to be agent-driven:
```text
Using initiative billing-launch, explore the API work and create a proposal.
```
The user should not need to know every command. OpenSpec should expose small,
structured CLI primitives that an agent can use to:
- find the intended initiative across registered context stores
- read canonical initiative files from the context store
- create or link a repo-local OpenSpec change
- use workspace state for local repo and folder views
- respect edit boundaries instead of treating every opened folder as editable
The CLI is therefore the agent's tool surface, not the whole user workflow.
Prefer explicit, machine-readable commands such as `initiative show --json`,
`new change --initiative ...`, and workspace local-view commands over broad
interactive flows as the first slice.
Canonical initiative context should stay in the context store. Repo-local
changes should reference the initiative rather than checking in copied snapshots
of initiative prose. If an agent needs a compact context pack, OpenSpec can
generate that as command output from the live initiative context.
## Context Store
A context store is the shared/synced folder of files. It is content-agnostic.
It should not know what an initiative is.
Example:
```text
acme-context/
initiatives/
decisions/
api-catalog/
playbooks/
```
The first backend should be Git:
```text
create/update/delete files
-> commit
-> push
-> other users pull
-> local views update
```
But the application should talk to a store abstraction, not directly to Git, so
the backend can later become a cloud database.
## Backend
A backend provides persistence and sync for a context store.
Examples:
- `git` backend: local clone, pull, commit, push, watch
- `cloud` backend: database records, subscriptions, hosted sync
- `memory` backend: tests and local prototypes
The backend should expose generic file/object operations:
```text
read
write
delete
list
sync
watch
```
It should not contain initiative-specific behavior.
## Collections
A collection is a mounted content system inside a context store. It is
plugin-like, but "collection" is the user-facing term.
Each collection owns:
- a folder namespace
- a content model
- templates
- validation/rules
- optional agent guidance
- optional UI views
Example:
```text
context-store/
initiatives/ # Initiative collection
decisions/ # Decision collection
api-catalog/ # API catalog collection
```
Core should enforce that a collection only writes inside its mount.
## Initiative Collection
The initiative collection is the first enterprise-oriented collection.
An initiative is shared, agent-consumable implementation context for a
coordinated outcome. It can span teams, repos, services, APIs, contracts, and
capabilities.
Default shape:
```text
initiatives/
launch-billing-flow/
initiative.yaml
requirements.md
design.md
contracts/
decisions.md
questions.md
tasks.md
```
This describes the runtime initiative collection shape in context stores. This
roadmap folder may still contain legacy `.initiative.yaml` progress metadata
while the initiative itself is being used to manage the migration; that legacy
tracker is not the model new context-store initiatives should copy.
The default structure should be opinionated for the enterprise design
partnership, but the collection system should allow other structures later.
## Initiative Responsibilities
Initiatives should own implementation-relevant shared context:
- product/program intent
- accepted requirements
- high-level technical coordination
- capability and ownership maps
- API/event/schema contracts
- dependency assumptions
- decisions and open questions
- workspace-readable context for repo-local implementation work
Initiatives should not try to become all of Jira or Confluence. The focused
positioning is:
```text
OpenSpec stores agreed implementation context.
Jira tracks work.
Confluence stores broad prose.
GitHub/GitLab store code.
```
## Initiative And Change Scope
An initiative can span one or many OpenSpec changes.
Those changes may live:
- in the same repo as the initiative
- in different repos
- in multiple context stores or OpenSpec roots later
The initiative stores shared coordination context. Workspace views can associate
that context with local repos and repo-owned changes without making the
initiative store machine-local checkout links.
This keeps grouping separate from storage:
```text
Initiative = shared grouping/context
Change = execution artifact
Workspace = local opened view of initiative + repos
```
## Workspace
A workspace is a local working view, not the source of truth.
It can map context stores and project identifiers to local paths, configure an
opener, and launch coding agents with the right folders visible.
A workspace can open an initiative by resolving:
- the initiative's context store
- locally selected repo-local changes
- local checkout paths for participating repos
The durable workspace record should stay tiny and private. It records this
runtime's local view choices, not generated agent files or shared initiative
content.
```text
getGlobalDataDir()/workspaces/<workspace-name>/
workspace.yaml
```
The workspace name is the local identity. The workspace record can optionally
store a selected context store and initiative, plus stable link names to local
paths and opener preferences. Initiative references are data inside the record,
not path segments.
Opening a workspace materializes opener-specific runtime files at the managed
workspace root. Those files can contain generated agent guidance, skills,
and editor workspace files. Machine-readable context is returned by JSON command
output. These are regenerated local support, not source of truth.
```text
private local view record
-> generated runtime files
-> opener-specific launch
-> initiative context + selected local repos/folders
```
Workspaces should be regenerable and runtime-specific. They should not be the
canonical home for initiative content, checked-in collaboration state, branches,
worktrees, clones, or implementation progress.
## Repo Changes
Repo-local changes remain the team-owned implementation plan.
An engineering team should be able to pull relevant initiative context into a
repo and create a linked OpenSpec change.
Example:
```text
repo/
openspec/
changes/
add-billing-api/
.openspec.yaml
proposal.md
design.md
specs/
tasks.md
```
The local change should reference the initiative in metadata, for example:
```yaml
initiative:
store: platform
id: billing-launch
```
This metadata is durable repo context and should be checked in. It should not
contain machine-local paths. Agents should read the initiative's canonical files
from the registered context store when they need the shared context.
## Relationship Between Concepts
```text
Context Store
contains Collections
Collection
defines structure/rules for a mounted folder
Initiative Collection
defines initiatives/
Initiative
coordinates one shared outcome
Workspace
opens local views of context stores and repos
Repo Change
implements one team's/repo's part of an initiative
```
End-to-end flow:
```text
Product/program/architect creates initiative
-> initiative syncs through context store
-> engineers open local workspace
-> repo team pulls relevant initiative context
-> repo team creates linked OpenSpec change
-> repo team implements locally
-> workspace view surfaces local progress alongside initiative context
```
## Local API Direction
The app should use dependency injection:
```ts
const store = createStore({
id: "acme-context",
backend: gitBackend({
remote: "git@github.com:acme/context.git",
localPath: "~/.openspec/stores/acme-context",
autoSync: true,
}),
collections: [
initiativeCollection({ mount: "initiatives" }),
],
});
```
Usage:
```ts
const initiatives = store.collection("initiatives");
await initiatives.create({ id: "launch-billing-flow" });
await initiatives.update("launch-billing-flow", patch);
await store.sync();
```
Important separation:
```text
Git backend knows Git.
Store knows sync/lifecycle/events.
Collection knows content structure.
Initiative collection knows initiatives.
```
## UI Direction
The UI should be content-agnostic at the core:
- browse folders/files
- edit Markdown/YAML
- preview content
- search
- show diffs/history
- sync status
Collections can add richer views:
- initiative status view
- contract table
- owner/dependency graph
- linked repo-change view
The UI should work no matter which collections are mounted.
## Open Questions
- What is the first concrete context store command surface?
- Should stores be called `context`, `store`, or something more product-facing?
- Where should enterprise context stores live by default: customer GitHub,
OpenSpec-managed Git, or later hosted cloud?
- How do non-technical users edit Git-backed content without feeling Git?
- What is the minimum viable auto-sync behavior before conflict handling gets
painful?
- How does an initiative contract graduate into a canonical owner repo contract?
- How should linked repo changes report status back into an initiative without
becoming Jira?
- How should monorepos map capabilities, folders, and repo-local changes?
- What should the first repo-change linking command be called?
- Which initiative progress/status signals are useful after linked changes
exist?
## Suggested Next Direction
After the initial store, collection, and initiative create/list foundations,
build the next slices in this order:
1. Reconcile the Initiative MVP around create/list, validation, templates, and
explicit deferral of read/update/delete policy.
2. Add minimal context-store UX for setup, registration, listing, and doctoring.
3. Add agent-first initiative discovery with `initiative show --json` and
registered-store lookup.
4. Add repo-local change metadata and an agent-friendly create/link flow for
`--initiative`.
5. Reject standalone `initiative resolve`; local path mapping belongs to
workspaces, not initiative commands.
6. Let workspaces open initiative-aware local views once show/link semantics
exist.
7. Add local-to-initiative escalation UX.
8. Harden team-shared coordination, sync, conflict guidance, and progress
status after real usage shapes those needs.
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
# Context Store And Initiatives Questions
## Open
- Should the user-facing command vocabulary say `context`, `store`, or
something more product-facing?
- What migration or compatibility path should existing workspace-planning
changes get once initiatives exist?
- How should linked repo changes report progress back into an initiative without
becoming a Jira clone?
- How should monorepos map capabilities, folders, and repo-local changes?
- Should OpenSpec support configurable change homes across context stores and
local OpenSpec repos, and what ownership rules keep that model safe?
## Resolved
- Workspaces should not be the durable shared planning object.
- Initiative roadmap implementation should be tracked inside the initiative
until repo-owned implementation changes are needed.
- The first concrete context store command surface is `context-store setup`,
`context-store register`, `context-store list`/`ls`, and
`context-store doctor`. Sync, push/pull, remotes, and conflict handling are
future work.
@@ -0,0 +1,759 @@
# Context Store And Initiatives Roadmap
This roadmap turns the direction in `direction.md` into shippable chunks.
The product decision underneath every step is:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
## Current Beta Priority
The manual beta pass should pull first-run friction forward. Work in this order
before investing in deeper schema or lifecycle machinery:
1. Finish the manual beta reality pass enough to keep the next slices grounded.
2. Item 12, context-store first-run and cleanup UX: interactive no-argument setup,
target-path safety, and a supported unregister/remove path.
3. Item 13, agent handoff output and delivery polish: "Next for your agent" blocks,
direct JSON paths, and baseline OpenSpec guidance even when workflow
entrypoints are commands-oriented.
4. Item 14, workspaces beta guide split: make user docs match the interactive
setup path and keep exact flags in the agent playbook.
5. Item 15, context store project roots and schema-led initiatives: sparse initiative
creation and store-local schemas.
Escalation UX, team-sharing hardening, and initiative-hosted target-bound
changes remain important, but they should wait until the first-run path feels
boring in the good way.
Before workspaces become public/stable, run Item 19 as a late beta cleanup pass
so beta compatibility code is reviewed intentionally instead of treated as a
permanent contract.
## 1. Lock The Direction
Goal: make the workspace-to-initiative pivot explicit so future workspace work
does not keep implementing the older "workspace owns the plan" model.
Ship:
- Record that workspaces are local working views, not durable shared planning
objects.
- Record that initiatives are the durable coordination object for cross-team or
cross-repo work.
- Mark the current workspace apply, verify, and archive direction as deferred or
superseded until initiative-linked repo changes exist.
- Keep the already-built workspace setup, link, open, update, and doctor
behavior as useful beta infrastructure.
Done when:
- Fresh agents can tell which workspace ideas still apply and which ones should
not steer implementation.
Locked disposition:
- Keep workspace setup, link, relink, list, open, update, and doctor as beta
local-view infrastructure.
- Keep "workspace visibility is not change commitment" as a safety rule for
linked repos and folders.
- Supersede "workspace is the durable planning home" with "initiatives are the
durable coordination object."
- Supersede workspace-level planning artifacts as the canonical shared
cross-repo plan.
- Defer workspace apply, verify, and archive as first-class lifecycle commands
until initiative-linked repo-local changes exist.
- Defer branch/worktree orchestration, strong cross-repo validation, dependency
graph enforcement, and shared contract governance.
Fresh-agent rule:
- Start from `openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/direction.md`
for product authority.
- Treat `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/HISTORICAL_DIRECTION.md` and
`openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/` as historical reference
material for preserved local-view behavior and POC lessons.
- Do not pick up `workspace-apply-repo-slice` or
`workspace-verify-and-archive` as the next implementation slice unless a later
initiative-linked repo-change design explicitly reactivates them.
## 2. Stabilize Workspace As Local View
Goal: keep workspaces useful without making them the source of truth.
Ship:
- Workspace guidance that routes durable coordination to initiatives,
implementation planning to repo-local changes, and linked repos or folders to
local context until an edit root is selected.
- Workspace-open behavior that launches the local planning view with linked
folders visible.
- Workspace doctor/status output that explains local path mappings, unresolved
links, installed agent skills, and repair steps.
- Clear docs that `workspace update` refreshes local agent guidance and does not
modify linked repos.
Done when:
- A user can set up a workspace, link repos, open an agent, and understand that
the workspace is a local view over context, not the canonical shared plan.
## 3. Add Context Store Foundation
Goal: create the generic local context-store foundation that can later hold
initiatives and other shared context collections. Sync/watch behavior remains a
future hardening slice.
Ship:
- A context store abstraction with generic local operations: read, write,
delete, and list.
- A first Git-shaped backend model that can point at a local store root.
- A test/memory backend for fast tests and prototypes.
- A store configuration model that does not contain initiative-specific logic.
Done when:
- OpenSpec can create and manipulate files inside a local context store without
the core store layer knowing what those files mean. Pull, push, watch,
remote creation, and conflict handling are tracked as future sync work.
## 4. Add Collection Foundation
Goal: let product-specific content systems live inside a context store without
hardcoding every future concept into the store layer.
Ship:
- A collection interface with a mounted folder namespace.
- Rules that keep a collection's writes inside its mount.
- Basic collection validation and template hooks.
- A way for collections to expose optional agent guidance or UI metadata later.
Done when:
- The context store can host a mounted `initiatives/` collection while staying
generic enough for future collections like decisions, API catalogs, or
playbooks.
## 5. Ship Initiative MVP
Goal: give coordinated work a durable, shared, agent-consumable home.
Ship:
- Initiative creation and listing.
- A default initiative file shape:
```text
initiatives/<id>/
initiative.yaml
requirements.md
design.md
decisions.md
questions.md
tasks.md
```
- Templates for product intent, accepted requirements, design decisions, open
questions, and coordination tasks.
- Validation for required initiative metadata.
- Explicit deferral of full read/show, update, and delete policy until the
agent-first discovery and lifecycle needs are clearer.
Done when:
- A user or agent can create and list initiatives as shared planning objects
before any repo has committed to implementation details.
## 6. Add Minimal Context Store UX
Goal: make shared initiative storage usable before repo handoff or workspace
opening depends on it.
Ship:
- `context-store setup <id>` for creating a local Git-backed store folder with
portable store metadata and local registration.
- `context-store register <path>` for registering an existing clone or folder,
defaulting the store id from the repo or folder name.
- `context-store list` and `context-store doctor` for local visibility and
non-mutating diagnostics.
- `initiative list` defaulting to all registered stores, with `--store` as a
filter and `--store-path` as an escape hatch.
- Minimal human output and JSON output suitable for agents.
Done when:
- A single developer or teammate can create or register a shared context store,
list initiatives across registered stores, and diagnose missing or broken
local store setup without learning the internal registry layout.
## 7. Add Agent-First Initiative Discovery
Goal: let an agent resolve the initiative the user named and read canonical
initiative context from the source of truth.
Ship:
- `initiative show <id>` that searches registered stores by default.
- Ambiguity handling when the same initiative id exists in multiple stores.
- JSON output with canonical initiative metadata, store identity, initiative
root path, and metadata path.
- Human output focused on identity and available files, not work progress.
Done when:
- An agent can answer, "Which initiative did the user mean, where is the
canonical context, and where is the initiative metadata?"
## 8. Connect Repo-Local Changes To Initiatives
Goal: split shared coordination from repo-owned implementation plans cleanly.
Discussion points to confirm before implementation:
- Should the create/link flow explicitly report where the change lives, which
initiative it references, and the next suggested command?
- Should `--initiative <id>` search registered stores by default, or should it
require `--store` when more than one store is registered?
- What should the command do when the initiative exists but the current repo has
no obvious ownership match?
Ship:
- Repo-local change metadata that can reference an initiative by store id and
initiative id.
- An agent-friendly create or link flow such as
`new change <id> --initiative <store>/<initiative>`.
- Guidance that repo-local changes remain responsible for implementation,
validation, and archive.
- No checked-in `initiative.md` snapshot by default; agents read canonical
initiative files live from the context store.
Done when:
- One initiative can coordinate several repo-local changes without copying the
shared plan into every repo, storing machine-local links in the initiative, or
making the initiative own implementation artifacts.
## 9. Reject Initiative Resolve
Decision: do not add `openspec initiative resolve`, now or later.
Rationale:
- `initiative show` already resolves canonical shared initiative context.
- A workspace is the local view over repos, folders, context stores, and
initiatives.
- Repo-local changes already carry durable initiative links in checked-in
`.openspec.yaml` metadata.
- Repo-local status already reports work progress.
- A standalone resolve command would either duplicate workspace local-view state
or produce weak output when no workspace is present.
Do not ship:
- `openspec initiative resolve <id>`
- all-workspace or all-repo scans for initiative availability
- explicit path scanning as an initiative command
- Git remote matching for initiative participation
- repo ownership inference
- cloning, branch creation, or worktree creation as part of initiative
resolution
- initiative backlinks
- local availability or progress dashboards under the initiative command
Done when:
- Future agents can see that "initiative resolve" is intentionally rejected and
should not be revived under another command name.
## Proposed Discussion Point: Add Initiative Next / Agent Handoff UX
Status: candidate work item, not locked into the numbered roadmap yet.
Question to confirm:
- Should this become a roadmap item before "Let Workspaces Open Initiatives"?
Goal: give agents and users a small "what now?" command after initiative
discovery from the current repo or workspace, without turning it into a
dashboard or progress/status surface.
Possible shape:
```bash
openspec initiative next billing-launch --json
```
Possible JSON answer:
```json
{
"initiative": "billing-launch",
"next_action": "create_repo_change",
"reason": "initiative found, no linked local change exists for this repo",
"suggested_command": "openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch"
}
```
Discussion points to confirm before implementation:
- Is `initiative next` the right command name, or should this guidance belong
inside workspace initiative opening or repo-local status?
- Should it return exactly one suggested next action, or a ranked set of options?
- Should it ever inspect work progress, or stay limited to handoff/readiness?
- How should it behave when no stores are registered, the initiative is
ambiguous, or the local repo is unrelated?
Done when, if accepted:
- An agent can answer "what should I do next for this initiative from here?"
without guessing across `show`, workspace state, and repo-local
change metadata.
## 10. Let Workspaces Open Initiatives
Goal: connect durable initiative context to this runtime's local working view
after initiative show and repo-change linkage exist.
Locked direction:
- A workspace does not contain the work. It remembers how this runtime opens the
work.
- Persist only tiny private local view choices.
- Generate opener-specific runtime files on open.
- Attach initiative context and selected existing local repos or folders.
- Do not clone, branch, create worktrees, use submodules, or infer local repos in
this slice.
- Context-only open is valid.
Product decision status:
- No remaining Item 10 product decisions are open. Implementation may still
uncover mechanical details, but the intended UX shape is locked.
Command UX decision:
- Use `openspec workspace open --initiative <initiative>`.
- Support `<store>/<initiative>` and `<initiative> --store <store>`.
- Support `openspec workspace open <workspace-name> --initiative <initiative>`
when the user wants to choose the local workspace identity explicitly.
- If only `<initiative>` is provided, proceed when exactly one registered
context store has that initiative id.
- On ambiguity, list exact matches and require an explicit store selector.
- On no exact match, show likely matches when available and suggest `openspec
initiative list`; do not silently open a fuzzy match.
- If the user omits a workspace name, derive a friendly default from the
initiative id when that is unambiguous; otherwise require the user to pick an
explicit workspace name.
Open target decision:
- Open the initiative directory by default, not the whole context store.
- Generated guidance and JSON output should still report the context store root
and that broader context is available.
- A later explicit option may open the whole context store, but broad store
scope is not the Item 10 default.
Local view record decision:
- Use one private local view record for initiative-aware local views.
- Store initiative-view state in the root `workspace.yaml` file.
- The record stores selected context-store binding, initiative, local links,
opener, and selected tools. The binding may preserve a registry selector or a
runtime-local path selector.
- The context binding is optional, so a workspace can also be a custom local view
with linked folders and no initiative.
Workspace storage decision:
- Store each private workspace view under
`getGlobalDataDir()/workspaces/<workspace-name>/`.
- The workspace name is the local identity. Selected store and initiative, if
any, are data inside the private record rather than path segments.
- Use one durable `workspace.yaml` at the workspace root.
- Generate `AGENTS.md`, opener workspace files, and tool-specific skills at the
workspace root.
- Do not introduce a separate generated-output directory for Item 10.
Runtime identity decision:
- Use `getGlobalDataDir()` as the cross-platform runtime-local boundary.
- Local paths are valid only in the runtime that wrote the private
`workspace.yaml`.
- Do not add path translation or a separate `<runtime-id>` path segment in Item
10.
Prepare/JSON decision:
- Keep `workspace open --json` as a machine-facing receipt for the same open
operation.
- Do not add `--prepare-only` for Item 10.
- JSON should return useful generated paths, selected context, opened roots,
skipped roots, opener, launch status, and warnings rather than a bare success
response.
Codex Desktop decision:
- Open the generated workspace root as the Codex Desktop project.
- Expose attached initiative and linked repo/folder paths through generated
guidance and `workspace open --json` output.
- Defer Desktop multi-root automation until there is a clearer Desktop contract.
Edit-boundary decision:
- Emit advisory boundaries only.
- Label initiative/context-store files as shared coordination context and linked
repos/folders as local implementation context when selected.
- Do not enforce write restrictions in Item 10.
Ship:
- Private local view state that can remember the selected context store,
selected initiative, selected local links, opener, and selected tools for this
runtime.
- `workspace open` support for generating opener-specific runtime files and
opening initiative context plus locally resolved linked repos/folders.
- Agent guidance and machine-readable `workspace open --json` output that
explain the current initiative, opened roots, skipped roots, local paths, and
advisory edit boundaries.
- Workspace-name reuse behavior that avoids silently repointing an existing
workspace to a different initiative.
- Open-time warnings that skip missing linked repos/folders while failing when
the selected initiative or context store cannot be resolved.
- Continued support for custom non-initiative workspaces as first-class local
views.
- Doctor guidance for missing context stores, missing linked repos/folders, and
stale local view records.
Done when:
- A teammate can open the same initiative in their runtime while using their own
local paths and selected repo subset.
- Generated runtime files are clearly derived and can be regenerated without
losing the user's local view choices.
## 11. Manual Beta Reality Pass
Status: proposed immediate beta-learning item.
Goal: manually run what exists and use the friction to update initiative notes
before designing more surface area.
Ship:
- A fresh-user walkthrough of context-store setup, initiative creation,
workspace opening, repo linking, doctor output, and repo-local linked change
creation.
- Notes on what felt clear, what felt odd, where prompts were missing, and where
docs pushed too many flags onto the user.
- A short disposition that separates docs-only fixes from follow-on
implementation slices.
Done when:
- The initiative contains concrete notes from trying the current beta flow by
hand.
- The next implementation or docs slice is grounded in observed friction rather
than guessed workflow shape.
## 12. Context Store First-Run And Cleanup UX
Goal: make context-store setup and cleanup feel like a normal local workflow,
without adding sync, remote, or governance automation.
Work item:
`work-items/12-context-store-first-run-and-cleanup-ux/`
Ship:
- Interactive no-argument `context-store setup` for terminal users.
- Deterministic non-interactive and JSON behavior when required setup choices
are missing.
- Target-path safety output for managed defaults, explicit paths, existing Git
repos, and non-empty directories.
- A supported local cleanup path for unregistering or removing a context store
without hand-editing the registry.
- Setup output that explains local registry state and Git state, including
uncommitted shared-store files after `--init-git`.
Done when:
- A fresh user can set up or clean up a local context store without knowing
hidden registry paths, environment variables, or manual file edits.
## 13. Agent Handoff Output And Delivery Polish
Goal: make existing command output and delivery choices enough for a fresh
agent to continue safely, before adding any broader `initiative next` command.
Work item:
`work-items/13-agent-handoff-output-and-delivery-polish/`
Ship:
- "Next for your agent" handoff guidance in the command outputs where first-run
flow otherwise depends on pasted beta knowledge.
- JSON output with direct created artifact paths where agents need to write
files, while preserving existing relative fields for compatibility.
- Clear delivery wording that separates baseline OpenSpec guidance from
workflow entrypoints such as skills or slash commands.
- Warnings when a selected tool cannot receive workflow slash commands.
Done when:
- A coding agent can continue from setup or initiative creation output without
guessing command names, reconstructing writable paths, or losing baseline
OpenSpec guidance because the user chose commands-oriented delivery.
## 14. Workspaces Beta Guide Split
Status: proposed immediate beta-learning item.
Goal: make the beta docs reflect the intended division of labor:
```text
Users make local choices.
Agents run OpenSpec work commands.
```
Ship:
- A user-facing guide that prefers interactive terminal setup for local choices
such as context-store location, opener, and local repo paths.
- An agent-facing CLI playbook that keeps explicit commands, JSON output,
current-directory rules, and caveats.
- A clear rule for which flags are normal user-facing escape hatches and which
are mostly agent-facing precision.
Done when:
- A new user can get to a working beta setup without reading a flag-heavy CLI
tutorial.
- A coding agent can still find the exact commands needed to create initiatives,
link repo-local changes, and inspect state safely.
## 15. Context Store Project Roots And Schema-Led Initiatives
Goal: let context stores behave like OpenSpec roots for shared planning config
and schemas, while keeping implementation changes repo-owned by default.
Work item:
`work-items/15-context-store-project-roots-and-schema-led-initiatives/`
Product decision to confirm:
- A context store can have `openspec/config.yaml` and `openspec/schemas/` like a
repo after `openspec init`.
- That project-like shape is for shared context configuration and initiative
schemas. It must not silently make the context store an implementation repo.
- `initiative create` should create a sparse shell and let reviewed initiative
artifacts grow through schema-led status/instructions.
Ship:
- Context-store setup that creates or supports store-local OpenSpec config.
- A default initiative schema for high-level requirements and design artifacts.
- Sparse initiative creation: `initiative.yaml` plus a short `brief.md`, with no
`TBD` placeholders and no default `tasks.md`.
- Initiative artifact status and instructions output rooted in the initiative
directory.
- Guardrails so `openspec new change` does not accidentally create executable
repo-local changes inside a context store just because the store has an
`openspec/` directory.
- Compatibility for existing six-file MVP initiatives.
Done when:
- A context store can resolve store-local initiative schemas.
- Agents can iteratively create initiative requirements and design artifacts
from CLI instructions.
- Existing MVP initiatives continue to list and show.
- Docs stop presenting initiative creation as "fill every markdown file now."
## 16. Add Escalation UX
Goal: let users start locally and upgrade only when coordination is actually
needed.
Work item:
`work-items/16-add-escalation-ux/`
Ship:
- Explore/propose guidance that starts in the current repo by default.
- A recommendation path when work spans multiple owned areas:
```text
This appears to span multiple owned areas.
OpenSpec can upgrade it into a coordinated initiative and carry the current
planning context forward.
```
- Carry-forward behavior for the current change name, product goal, notes,
inferred areas, and relevant questions.
- Clear prompts that ask about concrete affected areas rather than abstract
storage models.
Done when:
- Coordinated planning feels like a continuation of local planning, not a
workflow restart.
## 17. Harden Team-Shared Coordination
Goal: make initiatives practical for teams without turning setup into an admin
ceremony.
Work item:
`work-items/17-harden-team-shared-coordination/`
Ship:
- A recommended Git-backed shared context store pattern.
- Lightweight teammate onboarding:
```text
Clone the context store.
Run openspec workspace doctor.
Open the initiative with your agent.
```
- Repair flows for local path mappings.
- Sync status and conflict guidance.
- Clear separation between committed initiative state and machine-local
workspace state.
Done when:
- Several teammates can share the same initiative while each keeps their own
local checkout layout.
## 18. Explore Initiative-Hosted Target-Bound Change Artifacts
Goal: decide whether shared initiative artifacts can graduate into executable
OpenSpec changes only after they are bound to a target repo or spec root,
without blurring initiative coordination, repo ownership, and workspace
local-view boundaries.
Work item:
`work-items/18-explore-initiative-hosted-target-bound-change-artifacts/`
Discussion points to confirm before exploration:
- Should "change home" stay internal resolver language, with user-facing
phrasing like "where should this plan live?" and "editable target"?
- What is the difference between initiative work items, briefs, target-bound
changes, and repo-local changes?
- What portable target metadata is required before an initiative-hosted artifact
can be considered implementation-ready?
- Should shared target-bound changes require explicit opt-in, or can
initiative/store policy select them?
- What user/team scenario would justify an initiative-hosted target-bound change
instead of a repo-local linked change?
Ship:
- Audit commands, templates, validation, archive, apply, completion, and docs
for repo-local `openspec/changes/` assumptions.
- Define the concepts of artifact home, implementation target, allowed edit
roots, and action context.
- Decide how initiative-hosted target-bound changes bind to repo specs,
implementation roots, branches, validation, archive, and sync/conflict
behavior.
- Define agent-readable JSON output for work target, artifact home,
implementation target, initiative link, edit boundaries, unsupported
lifecycle commands, and next commands.
- Record compatibility behavior for existing repo-local and workspace-local
changes.
- Recommend whether this should become an implementation slice, remain deferred,
start as initiative work items only, or be limited to specific schemas or
workflows first.
Done when:
- The initiative has a concrete recommendation, opt-in/config examples, affected
command list, and go/no-go criteria for implementation.
## 19. Review Workspace Beta Compatibility Before Public Release
Goal: decide which workspace beta compatibility behavior should survive into the
public workspace contract, and remove or migrate the rest while workspaces are
still unpublished.
Work item:
`work-items/19-review-workspace-beta-compatibility-before-public-release/`
Why this is late:
- Workspaces are still beta and not public/stable yet.
- We do not need to preserve every intermediate beta file shape forever.
- Early cleanup risks churn while first-run UX and initiative behavior are still
changing.
- The right compatibility contract is easier to define after manual beta usage
shows which local workspace artifacts real users have actually created.
Ship:
- Inventory workspace compatibility code, including legacy split state readers,
registry fallbacks, `codex` to `codex-cli` aliases, generated `.gitignore`
cleanup, and empty compatibility shims.
- Classify each path as public contract, beta migration, test-only shim, or
removable dead weight.
- Remove beta-only shims that only support unpublished intermediate workspace
shapes.
- Define any migration behavior worth keeping for people who tried the beta.
- Update docs, tests, generated guidance, and release notes so the public
workspace compatibility promise is explicit.
Done when:
- The workspace compatibility surface is intentionally small.
- Public docs do not imply support for beta-only workspace internals.
- Any remaining migration code has a clear owner, reason, and removal policy.
## Later, Not First
These are important, but should wait until the initiative model has real usage:
- Workspace apply, verify, and archive as first-class lifecycle commands.
- Branch or worktree orchestration.
- Strong cross-repo validation.
- Dependency graph enforcement.
- Shared contract ownership workflows.
- Sponsor/driver governance flows.
- Initiative progress/status dashboards.
- Cloud-hosted context stores.
## Suggested Shipping Sequence
1. Lock the direction and defer old workspace lifecycle slices.
2. Stabilize workspace as local view and agent launcher.
3. Add context store foundation.
4. Add collection foundation.
5. Ship initiative MVP.
6. Add minimal context-store UX.
7. Add agent-first initiative discovery.
8. Link repo-local changes to initiatives.
9. Keep initiative resolve rejected; use workspace local-view mapping instead.
10. Let workspaces open initiatives.
11. Manual beta reality pass.
12. Context store first-run and cleanup UX.
13. Agent handoff output and delivery polish.
14. Workspaces beta guide split.
15. Context store project roots and schema-led initiatives.
16. Add local-to-initiative escalation UX.
17. Harden team-shared coordination.
18. Explore initiative-hosted target-bound change artifacts.
19. Review workspace beta compatibility before public release.
Pending discussion: optionally add initiative next / agent handoff UX before or
alongside the handoff polish work.
@@ -0,0 +1,308 @@
# Context Store And Initiatives Tasks
This tracks roadmap execution for the initiative. Roadmap items live in
`roadmap.md`; detailed working notes live under `work-items/`.
## Current Beta Priority
After the manual beta pass, prioritize the things a fresh user hits while
getting started before deeper model work:
1. Finish Item 11 observations enough to keep implementation grounded.
2. Item 12: no-argument context-store setup, path safety, and
cleanup.
3. Item 13: "Next for your agent" output, direct JSON paths,
and baseline guidance/delivery polish.
4. Item 14: update the beta guide so it matches the improved first-run flow.
5. Item 15: context-store project roots and sparse schema-led
initiatives.
6. Items 16-18: leave escalation, team hardening, and initiative-hosted
target-bound changes until after the onboarding path feels sane.
7. Item 19: review beta workspace compatibility near the end, before workspace
behavior becomes public/stable.
## 1. Lock The Direction
Work item: `work-items/01-lock-the-direction/`
- [x] Record the workspace-to-initiative product boundary in initiative docs.
- [x] Mark the old workspace reimplementation roadmap as historical reference.
- [x] Defer workspace apply, verify, and archive until initiative-linked repo
changes exist.
- [x] Complete a non-spec direction pass so roadmap, work items, docs, and
active change artifacts point to the initiative as product intent.
- [x] Decide whether user-facing workspace docs need any change now; default to
no unless they misrepresent current behavior.
- [x] Decide how to handle active no-task workspace changes after the
disposition pass.
- [x] Record final evidence and remaining risks for Item 1.
## 2. Stabilize Workspace As Local View
Work item: `work-items/02-stabilize-workspace-as-local-view/`
- [x] Re-anchor generated workspace guidance in the initiative direction.
- [x] Decide that generated guidance should stop recommending workspace-level
`changes/` as the planning home for coordinated work.
- [x] Decide that `workspace update` should refresh generated workspace
guidance for existing workspaces.
- [x] Decide that workspace-planning action context should treat beta workspace
artifacts as local compatibility context.
- [x] Decide to defer doctor installed-skill summaries and only update stale
`workspace update` wording for now.
- [x] Define exact local-view behavior to preserve.
- [x] Review current workspace setup, link, relink, list, open, update, and
doctor behavior against that definition.
- [x] Identify any product wording or guidance gaps left after Item 1.
## 3. Add Context Store Foundation
Work item: `work-items/03-add-context-store-foundation/`
- [x] Define the initial store/backend data model.
- [x] Decide that the first slice is core API only, with no CLI surface yet.
- [x] Decide that the first backend is Git/local checkout config only.
- [x] Decide where context store roots, local registry YAML, and portable store
metadata YAML live.
- [x] Implement context-store foundation helpers and tests.
## 4. Add Collection Foundation
Work item: `work-items/04-add-collection-foundation/`
- [x] Define collection mount rules.
- [x] Decide validation/template hooks stay inert extension fields for this
slice.
- [x] Prove `initiatives/` can mount without store-specific logic.
## 5. Ship Initiative MVP
Work item: `work-items/05-ship-initiative-mvp/`
- [x] Define initiative file shape and validation.
- [x] Add templates for requirements, design, decisions, questions, and tasks.
- [x] Implement create/list mounted collection operations and CLI adapter.
- [x] Decide full read/show, update, and delete policy should move to later
agent-first discovery and lifecycle work.
## 6. Add Minimal Context Store UX
Work item: `work-items/06-add-minimal-context-store-ux/`
- [x] Create Item 6 work-item tracking notes.
- [x] Define high-level `context-store setup`, `register`, `list`, and `doctor`
UX direction.
- [x] Decide exact checked-in store metadata and machine-local registry
behavior.
- [x] Decide setup/register/list/doctor human behavior and responsibility split.
- [x] Decide `initiative list` partial-success behavior across registered
stores.
- [x] Decide final Item 6 edge cases: id inference, non-empty setup folders,
registry conflicts, empty states, JSON exit behavior, and static completions.
- [x] Update `initiative list` to default across registered stores, with
`--store` as a filter and `--store-path` as an escape hatch.
- [x] Add focused tests and verification for context-store CLI behavior.
## 7. Add Agent-First Initiative Discovery
- [x] Define `initiative show <id>` human and JSON output.
- [x] Search registered stores by default and handle ambiguous initiative ids.
- [x] Return canonical initiative metadata, store identity, root path, and
metadata path for agent reads.
- [x] Keep work-progress status out of this command.
## 8. Connect Repo-Local Changes To Initiatives
Work item: `work-items/08-connect-repo-local-changes-to-initiatives/`
- [x] Decide that the initiative link lives in repo-local `.openspec.yaml`.
- [x] Add repo-local initiative metadata.
- [x] Add an agent-friendly create or link flow for repo-local changes.
- [x] Decide command naming for `--initiative` linking on new change creation.
- [x] Confirm whether create/link output should report where the change lives,
which initiative it references, and the next suggested command.
- [x] Confirm whether `--initiative <id>` searches registered stores by default
or requires explicit store selection in multi-store setups.
- [x] Keep canonical initiative context in the context store; do not add a
checked-in `initiative.md` snapshot by default.
## 9. Reject Initiative Resolve
Work item: `work-items/09-add-initiative-resolve/`
- [x] Pressure-test whether a standalone `initiative resolve` command is needed.
- [x] Decide not to add `openspec initiative resolve`, now or later.
- [x] Keep canonical initiative discovery in `initiative show`.
- [x] Keep local path mapping in workspace behavior.
- [x] Keep implementation progress in repo-local status.
- [x] Reject all-repo scans, all-workspace scans, explicit path scanning as an
initiative command, Git remote matching, cloning, worktree creation, and
initiative backlinks.
## Proposed Discussion: Initiative Next / Agent Handoff UX
Work item draft:
`work-items/proposed-initiative-next-agent-handoff-ux/`
- [ ] Decide whether to add this as a numbered roadmap item between Item 9 and
Item 10.
- [ ] Decide whether the surface is `initiative next`, workspace initiative
opening, or repo-local status guidance.
- [ ] Decide whether it suggests one next action or multiple ranked options.
- [ ] Decide that progress/status stays out of scope, unless we explicitly want
this command to grow into a broader status surface.
## 10. Let Workspaces Open Initiatives
- [x] Create Item 10 work-item tracking notes.
- [x] Lock the command UX for opening an initiative as a local workspace view.
- [x] Define the private local view record for selected context store,
initiative, local links, opener, and selected tools.
- [x] Decide the private local view record storage namespace and keying.
- [x] Decide the default open target: initiative directory versus full context
store.
- [x] Decide where generated runtime files live and how they are regenerated.
- [x] Define runtime identity rules for macOS, Codespaces, WSL, SSH, and
containers without path translation.
- [x] Decide the prepare/JSON surface for agents and desktop integrations.
- [x] Decide the Codex Desktop behavior for generated workspace roots and attached
paths.
- [x] Define advisory edit-boundary output for Item 10.
- [x] Confirm this slice opens known local paths only and does not create
clones, branches, worktrees, or submodules.
## 11. Manual Beta Reality Pass
Work item: `work-items/11-manual-beta-reality-pass/`
- [ ] Manually run the current context-store, initiative, workspace, and
repo-local change flows from a fresh user's point of view.
- [ ] Capture notes on confusing commands, missing prompts, unclear output, and
places where the docs over-explain or under-explain.
- [ ] Update initiative notes as observations come in.
- [ ] Decide which findings should become implementation slices versus docs-only
fixes.
## 12. Context Store First-Run And Cleanup UX
Work item: `work-items/12-context-store-first-run-and-cleanup-ux/`
- [x] Decide and implement interactive no-argument `context-store setup`.
- [x] Define target-path safety behavior for managed defaults, explicit paths,
Git repos, and non-empty directories.
- [x] Add local cleanup support for unregistering or removing a context store.
- [x] Make setup and cleanup output report the agreed human-facing summary and
exact JSON state without workflow `next_commands`.
- [x] Update docs and tests for first-run setup and cleanup behavior.
## 13. Agent Handoff Output And Delivery Polish
Work item: `work-items/13-agent-handoff-output-and-delivery-polish/`
- [ ] Decide which commands should print "Next for your agent" handoff guidance.
- [ ] Add direct created-path JSON fields where agents currently have to
reconstruct artifact paths.
- [ ] Clarify commands-oriented delivery so workflow slash commands are separate
from baseline OpenSpec guidance.
- [ ] Warn when a selected tool cannot receive workflow slash commands.
- [ ] Update docs, generated agent guidance, and tests for the polished handoff
and delivery output.
## 14. Workspaces Beta Guide Split
Work item: `work-items/14-workspaces-beta-guide-split/`
- [ ] Update the user-facing guide to prefer interactive terminal setup for
local choices.
- [ ] Move initiative creation, initiative editing, and repo-local change
creation into "ask your coding agent" guidance.
- [ ] Keep explicit flags, JSON output, cwd rules, and caveats in the
agent-facing CLI playbook.
- [ ] Decide which flags remain useful in user docs as escape hatches for
ambiguity.
- [ ] Record any interactive prompt gaps found while writing the guide.
## 15. Context Store Project Roots And Schema-Led Initiatives
Work item:
`work-items/15-context-store-project-roots-and-schema-led-initiatives/`
- [x] Create Item 15 work-item tracking notes.
- [ ] Update initiative direction language so context stores are OpenSpec-aware
shared project roots, not only cross-team/cross-repo coordination folders.
- [ ] Decide the minimal context-store OpenSpec structure:
`.openspec-store/store.yaml`, `openspec/config.yaml`,
`openspec/schemas/`, and collection mounts.
- [ ] Decide the store-local config shape for initiative collection defaults,
including whether to use `collections.initiatives.schema`.
- [ ] Decide how context-store setup creates, preserves, or repairs
store-local `openspec/config.yaml`.
- [ ] Define the built-in high-level initiative schema and its initial
artifacts.
- [ ] Decide whether `initiative create` creates only `initiative.yaml`, or
`initiative.yaml` plus one schema-selected seed artifact such as `brief.md`.
- [ ] Replace eager six-file initiative scaffolding with sparse iterative
creation.
- [ ] Add initiative artifact status/instructions behavior rooted at the
initiative directory.
- [ ] Reuse project-local schema resolution with the context-store root as the
project root for initiative commands.
- [ ] Decide whether schema CLI commands need `--store` or `--store-path`
selectors.
- [ ] Guard planning-home resolution so context stores with `openspec/config.yaml`
do not accidentally make the store an implementation repo.
- [ ] Preserve existing six-file beta initiatives as readable valid
initiatives.
- [ ] Update docs, generated agent guidance, and tests for the project-like
context-store model.
## 16. Add Escalation UX
Work item: `work-items/16-add-escalation-ux/`
- [ ] Define local-to-initiative recommendation triggers.
- [ ] Carry current planning context into a new initiative.
- [ ] Keep prompts grounded in affected areas.
## 17. Harden Team-Shared Coordination
Work item: `work-items/17-harden-team-shared-coordination/`
- [ ] Document recommended Git-backed store setup.
- [ ] Define teammate onboarding and repair flows.
- [ ] Add sync status and conflict guidance.
## 18. Explore Initiative-Hosted Target-Bound Change Artifacts
Work item: `work-items/18-explore-initiative-hosted-target-bound-change-artifacts/`
- [ ] Confirm "change home" stays internal language and user-facing wording is
closer to "where should this plan live?"
- [ ] Define user-facing naming for initiative work items, briefs,
target-bound changes, artifact homes, and editable targets.
- [ ] Decide whether initiative-hosted artifacts can graduate into executable
changes, and which target metadata is required first.
- [ ] Decide the configuration or opt-in surface for repo-local versus
initiative-hosted artifacts.
- [ ] Define how `openspec new change` selects and reports the artifact home,
implementation target, initiative link, and action context.
- [ ] Decide how initiative-hosted target-bound changes bind to repo specs,
implementation roots, validation, archive, and sync behavior.
- [ ] Record compatibility behavior for existing repo-local and
workspace-local changes.
- [ ] Identify follow-on implementation slices and risks.
## 19. Review Workspace Beta Compatibility Before Public Release
Work item:
`work-items/19-review-workspace-beta-compatibility-before-public-release/`
- [ ] Inventory workspace beta compatibility code and tests.
- [ ] Decide which beta-only compatibility paths should be removed before
public release.
- [ ] Decide which compatibility paths need explicit migration behavior or
release notes.
- [ ] Remove low-value shims that only support unpublished beta workspace
shapes.
- [ ] Update docs, tests, and agent guidance to match the chosen public
workspace compatibility contract.
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
# Work Item 01 Evidence
## 2026-05-20 Initial Direction Lock
Completed before this work item folder was created:
- Added locked disposition to `roadmap.md`.
- Added locked product boundary to `direction.md`.
- Marked `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/START_HERE.md` as historical reference.
- Marked `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/HISTORICAL_DIRECTION.md` as historical reference.
- Marked `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/` as historical
reference.
- Marked `workspace-apply-repo-slice` and `workspace-verify-and-archive` as
deferred until initiative-linked repo-local changes exist.
Research findings:
- Current workspace setup, link, relink, list, open, update, and doctor behavior
is useful beta local-view infrastructure and should be preserved.
- Live specs describe current workspace-planning behavior. They should not be
rewritten during the initial direction lock; initiative artifacts should carry
future product intent until behavior changes.
- Existing runtime behavior should remain intact until initiatives and linked
repo-local changes can replace workspace-level planning.
Verification:
- `git diff --check` passed after the initial direction-lock edits.
- `openspec validate workspace-reimplementation-roadmap --no-interactive`,
`openspec validate workspace-apply-repo-slice --no-interactive`, and
`openspec validate workspace-verify-and-archive --no-interactive` failed
because those existing active changes have no spec deltas. That predates the
disposition wording and is tracked as an active-change cleanup question.
## 2026-05-21 Initiative Entry Point
Added `README.md` as the initiative entry point and linked it from
`.initiative.yaml`.
The README explains:
- this initiative is the source of product intent
- the reading order for direction, roadmap, tasks, decisions, questions, and
work items
- specs remain the current behavioral contract behind the code
- specs should not be rewritten for future intent until behavior changes
Updated `work-items/01-lock-the-direction/tasks.md` to mark the initiative
source-of-intent review complete.
## 2026-05-21 Historical Workspace Roadmap Review
Reviewed the historical workspace reimplementation entry points:
- `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/START_HERE.md`
- `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/HISTORICAL_DIRECTION.md`
- `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/README.md`
- `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/proposal.md`
- `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/POC_REFERENCE_GUIDE.md`
Added a guard near the top of
`openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/HISTORICAL_DIRECTION.md` stating
that the remaining sections are historical POC follow-up direction and should
not be treated as active implementation guidance.
The roadmap README and handoff prompt already direct agents to the initiative
direction first and warn not to continue the old flat sibling queue unless a
later initiative-linked repo-change design reactivates it.
## 2026-05-21 Active Workspace Proposal Review
Reviewed active workspace proposal artifacts:
- `workspace-reimplementation-roadmap`
- `workspace-agent-guidance`
- `workspace-apply-repo-slice`
- `workspace-verify-and-archive`
Added small notes to `workspace-apply-repo-slice` and
`workspace-verify-and-archive` clarifying that the remaining proposal sections
are preserved for later reference, not discarded, and should become relevant
again after initiatives and initiative-linked repo-local changes exist.
Left `workspace-agent-guidance` untouched because it already has unrelated
worktree edits and should be handled as a separate active-change disposition
decision.
## 2026-05-21 User-Facing Docs Decision
Decision: Do not update `docs/cli.md` as part of the initial direction lock
unless it misrepresents current user-facing behavior.
Reasoning:
- The direction lock is for contributors and agents deciding what to build next.
- User-facing docs should describe current CLI behavior, not future initiative
intent.
- Initiatives do not have a CLI surface yet, so announcing the pivot in user
docs would draw attention to an internal product direction before users can act
on it.
Revisit user-facing docs when initiative or context-store commands exist, or if
current docs promise unavailable workspace apply, verify, or archive behavior.
Verification:
- `git diff --check` passed.
- No files under `openspec/specs/` or `schemas/workspace-planning/` were
modified in this pass.
## 2026-05-21 Active Change Disposition
Decision: Keep the active workspace changes as deferred reference placeholders.
Rationale:
- Workspace agent guidance, apply, verify, and archive are still expected to
matter after initiative infrastructure exists.
- The immediate focus should be context stores, initiatives, and
initiative-linked repo-local changes.
- Keeping the proposals preserves research and continuity without making them
the next implementation queue.
Follow-up:
- Revisit the deferred workspace changes after initiative-linked repo-local
changes define the durable handoff model.
## Final Item 1 State
Item 1 is complete.
What is locked:
- Initiative artifacts are the source of product intent for context stores,
collections, initiatives, workspaces, and repo-local changes.
- Specs and schemas remain the current behavioral contract and were not edited
for future intent.
- Historical workspace roadmap artifacts remain available as reference, not as
the active shipping queue.
- Deferred workspace changes remain active reference placeholders because their
domains are expected to matter after initiative infrastructure exists.
- User-facing docs were intentionally left unchanged unless they misrepresent
current behavior.
Remaining risks:
- `openspec list` still shows deferred workspace changes as active no-task
changes. This is intentional for now but may remain visually noisy.
- `workspace-agent-guidance` has unrelated worktree edits and should be handled
carefully before any future commit or archive decision.
- Future agents still need to read the initiative README first; the historical
workspace docs are safer now, but still contain useful old lifecycle details
deeper in the file.
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
# Work Item 01: Lock The Direction
## Goal
Make the workspace-to-initiative pivot explicit enough that future agents and
contributors do not continue implementing the older "workspace owns the plan"
model.
The locked model is:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
## Direction
This work item is a non-spec direction pass, not a runtime removal.
Specs should continue to describe the current behavioral contract behind the
code. Product intent, roadmap decisions, and future direction should live in the
initiative artifacts until a later implementation change intentionally updates
behavior and its specs together.
Keep:
- workspace setup, link, relink, list, open, update, and doctor
- linked repos and folders as local planning context
- workspace-local skills as local agent guidance
- "workspace visibility is not change commitment"
Mark as transitional:
- workspace-level `changes/` planning
- `workspace-planning` schema
- workspace-scoped status/instructions compatibility
Defer:
- workspace apply, verify, and archive as first-class lifecycle commands
- branch/worktree orchestration
- strong cross-repo validation
- dependency graph enforcement
Supersede:
- workspace as the durable shared planning home
- workspace-level planning artifacts as the canonical cross-repo plan
- workspace change planning as the long-term source of truth
## Files To Review Now
- `openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/*.md`
- `openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/work-items/**/*.md`
- `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/START_HERE.md`
- `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/HISTORICAL_DIRECTION.md`
- `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/*`
- active `openspec/changes/workspace-*` proposals
- `docs/cli.md`
## Files To Leave Alone For Now
- `openspec/specs/**/*.md`
- `schemas/workspace-planning/**`
Those files should change only when we intentionally change behavior or create a
repo-owned implementation change that updates the relevant behavioral contract.
## Non-Goals
- Do not remove current workspace-planning runtime behavior.
- Do not delete the `workspace-planning` schema.
- Do not add CLI deprecation warnings until the initiative replacement exists.
- Do not implement context stores in this work item.
- Do not edit OpenSpec specs as part of the initial direction lock.
## Done When
- Initiative artifacts clearly carry the product intent and roadmap decisions.
- Historical workspace roadmap artifacts no longer read as the active shipping
queue.
- User-facing docs describe current workspaces as local views where that does
not contradict current behavior.
- Existing workspace-planning behavior is clearly treated as current behavior,
not the future product model, in initiative and roadmap artifacts.
- Workspace apply, verify, and archive are clearly deferred.
- Fresh agents can identify the initiative direction as the source of truth.
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
# Work Item 01 Tasks
## Tracking Setup
- [x] Create initiative-level `tasks.md`, `decisions.md`, and `questions.md`.
- [x] Create `work-items/01-lock-the-direction/`.
- [x] Record why roadmap implementation is tracked inside the initiative instead
of creating a new OpenSpec change.
## Direction Lock Already Captured
- [x] Add locked disposition to `roadmap.md`.
- [x] Add locked product boundary to `direction.md`.
- [x] Mark `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/START_HERE.md` as historical reference.
- [x] Mark `openspec/changes/workspace-reimplementation-roadmap/HISTORICAL_DIRECTION.md` as historical reference.
- [x] Mark `workspace-reimplementation-roadmap` as historical reference.
- [x] Mark `workspace-apply-repo-slice` as deferred.
- [x] Mark `workspace-verify-and-archive` as deferred.
## Non-Spec Direction Pass
- [x] Keep OpenSpec specs unchanged until behavior changes.
- [x] Review initiative artifacts for a clear source-of-intent story.
- [x] Review historical workspace roadmap artifacts for any remaining language
that tells agents to continue the old shipping queue.
- [x] Review active workspace proposal artifacts for any remaining language that
presents workspace apply, verify, or archive as next.
- [x] Decide whether user-facing docs need changes now; default to no unless
they misrepresent current behavior.
- [x] Record a decision that specs remain current behavioral contracts, while
initiative docs carry future product intent.
## Active Change Disposition
- [x] Decide whether `workspace-agent-guidance` should be reframed, closed, or
kept as a local-view guidance item.
- [x] Decide whether no-task deferred workspace changes should stay active,
move to archive, or be represented only by initiative work items.
## Verification
- [x] Run `git diff --check`.
- [x] Confirm no OpenSpec specs were modified in this pass.
- [x] Record evidence in `evidence.md`.
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
# Stabilize Workspace As Local View Evidence
## Direction Evidence
`direction.md` says the durable shared object is a synced context store, with
initiatives as the first major collection. It defines workspaces as local
working views over context stores and repos, and repo changes as repo/team-owned
implementation plans.
The locked product boundary supersedes the older model where a workspace-level
`changes/` tree owned the canonical shared cross-repo plan. Existing
workspace-planning behavior can remain as beta or legacy infrastructure, but it
should not steer new lifecycle design.
## Subagent Research
Implementation research found that workspace setup, link, relink, list, open,
update, and doctor already mostly behave like local-view infrastructure:
- shared link names live in workspace state
- machine-local paths and opener/skill state live in local state
- `workspace open` launches linked folders as a local working set
- linked repos are treated as context for workspace-planning commands
- `workspace update` refreshes workspace-local skills and leaves linked repos
untouched
Guidance research found that the generated `AGENTS.md` block is the most
important mismatch because it still frames the workspace as planning across
linked repos and says to use `changes/` for workspace-level planning.
Test research found strong current coverage for setup/list/doctor, link/relink,
open, update, artifact placement, and workspace-planning guards. The targeted
workspace/artifact test slice passed, as did the skill-template parity test.
## Main Risk
If generated workspace guidance continues to recommend workspace-level
`changes/`, agents may treat the workspace as the durable shared planning
object even though the initiative direction assigns durable coordination to
initiatives and implementation planning to repo-local changes.
## Implementation Evidence
The first implementation slice updates the generated workspace `AGENTS.md`
guidance and makes `workspace update` refresh the workspace-local open surface.
It also updates workspace-planning action context so beta workspace artifacts are
reported as `workspace-local` compatibility context instead of the source of
truth.
Doctor/status review found that local path mappings, unresolved links, repair
steps, malformed local state, missing local state, repo specs paths, and skill
drift warnings are already covered. Normal installed-skill summaries are
deferred for now; the current slice only updates stale `workspace update`
wording so it matches the guidance refresh behavior.
Verification:
- `pnpm run build`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/commands/workspace.test.ts test/commands/artifact-workflow.test.ts test/core/workspace/foundation.test.ts`
- `pnpm run lint`
- `git diff --check`
## Closeout Evidence
Live docs no longer describe workspaces as durable planning homes or as the
canonical place for cross-repo planning. Historical and deferred workspace
artifacts remain as reference material, with active deferred proposals labeled
so they do not steer the next implementation slice.
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
# Stabilize Workspace As Local View
## Status
Complete for the current local-view stabilization slice. Remaining workspace
planning/apply/verify/archive behavior stays deferred until initiative-linked
repo-local changes exist.
## Source Of Truth
Start from `../direction.md`.
The relevant model is:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
## Goal
Keep workspace setup, link, relink, list, open, update, and doctor useful while
making it clear that a workspace is a regenerable machine-local view, not the
durable coordination object.
## Agreed Guidance Direction
Generated workspace guidance should route agents by ownership:
- Use the workspace to open the local view of coordinated work.
- Use initiatives for durable cross-team or cross-repo intent, decisions,
requirements, and coordination context.
- Use repo-local OpenSpec changes for implementation plans owned by a repo or
team.
- Use linked repos and folders to inspect context, understand ownership, and
make edits in the place that owns the work.
- Keep workspace-local files focused on local paths, opener state, agent setup,
and other machine-specific view state.
- Use OpenSpec workspace commands instead of hand-editing
`.openspec-workspace/*.yaml`.
- If a workspace contains legacy or beta workspace-level planning files, treat
them as compatibility context unless the user explicitly asks to use that beta
flow.
## Guidance To Stop Reinforcing
Do not tell agents to use workspace-level `changes/` as the planning home for
coordinated work. That reinforces the superseded model where a workspace-level
`changes/` tree owned the canonical shared cross-repo plan.
Existing workspace-planning behavior may remain as beta or legacy
infrastructure, but it should not steer new lifecycle design.
## Likely Repo Slice
- Reword generated workspace guidance in
`src/core/workspace/open-surface.ts`.
- Update focused guidance tests.
- Make `workspace update` refresh the guidance block for existing workspaces.
- Keep specs untouched until a behavior change intentionally updates them.
## Closeout
Implemented:
- generated workspace guidance now routes work by ownership
- `workspace update` refreshes workspace-local guidance/open-surface files and
managed agent skills
- workspace-planning action context treats beta workspace artifacts as
`workspace-local` compatibility context
- live docs describe workspaces as local views instead of durable planning homes
Deferred:
- normal doctor installed-skill inventory
- workspace apply, verify, and archive
- initiative-linked repo-local change orchestration
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
# Stabilize Workspace As Local View Tasks
- [x] Research current workspace runtime, guidance, and test coverage.
- [x] Re-anchor guidance direction in `direction.md`.
- [x] Decide that generated guidance should route durable coordination to
initiatives and implementation planning to repo-local changes.
- [x] Decide that generated guidance should stop recommending workspace-level
`changes/` as the planning home.
- [x] Decide that `workspace update` refreshes the generated guidance block
for existing workspaces.
- [x] Update workspace-planning action context so beta workspace artifacts are
compatibility context, not the source of truth.
- [x] Decide to defer normal doctor skill summaries until users need an
installed-skill inventory.
- [x] Update `workspace update` wording to include workspace-local guidance and
agent skills.
- [x] Define the minimal doctor/status improvement for local paths, unresolved
links, and installed agent skills.
- [x] Identify the focused code/test files for the implementation slice.
- [x] Run the targeted workspace and artifact workflow test slice before
landing implementation.
- [x] Close out live docs wording that still framed workspaces as durable
planning homes.
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
# Add Context Store Foundation Evidence
## Research Summary
Existing OpenSpec patterns point toward a small explicit foundation:
- Global data uses XDG/platform locations from `getGlobalDataDir()`.
- Workspace registries are machine-local convenience indexes under global data.
- Workspace portable state uses versioned YAML and strict Zod validation.
- Existing read/write helpers validate state before writing and use
`FileSystemUtils.writeFile()` to create parent directories.
- Schema/backend-style code favors small explicit adapters and registries over
heavy framework abstractions.
## Decisions
- The first context-store backend is Git/local checkout config only.
- OpenSpec records where the local checkout lives; it does not decide where real
team stores are cloned by default.
- The local registry is not source of truth. It is a machine-local index.
- Store-root metadata is portable source-of-identity for the synced store.
- Initiatives and collections are later consumers, not part of the store
foundation.
- A thin facade should hide raw registry/metadata writes before initiative CLI
wiring.
## Implementation Evidence
- `src/core/context-store/registry.ts` registers Git/local context stores,
lists local registry entries, and resolves registered stores with metadata id
validation.
- `src/core/context-store/index.ts` exports the facade.
- `test/core/context-store/registry.test.ts` covers registration, registry
merge/update, metadata mismatch rejection, listing, resolution, missing or
mismatched metadata, and initiative collection mounting from a resolved root.
## Verification
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/core/context-store/foundation.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/core/context-store/registry.test.ts`
- `pnpm run build`
- `pnpm run lint`
- `git diff --check`
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
# Add Context Store Foundation
## Status
Registration/resolution facade implemented.
## Source Of Truth
Start from `../direction.md`.
The relevant model is:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
## Goal
Add the smallest core foundation for context stores without making the store
layer know about initiatives, collections, workspaces, or repo-local changes.
## Locked Direction
- Support one backend for the first slice: a Git/local checkout backend.
- Treat the actual context store root as a user-chosen local Git checkout or
synced folder.
- Do not hide real team context stores under XDG data by default.
- Store the machine-local registry under global data:
`$XDG_DATA_HOME/openspec/context-stores/registry.yaml`.
- Store portable context-store identity inside the store root:
`<store-root>/.openspec-store/store.yaml`.
- Start with backend identity/config, strict validation, path helpers, and
registry/metadata read-write helpers.
- Add a thin registration/resolution facade before initiative CLI wiring so
callers do not manipulate raw registry and metadata YAML directly.
- Do not reimplement the TypeScript or Node filesystem APIs as the public store
interface.
- Do not add initiative, collection, workspace-open, sync, pull, push, or CLI
behavior in this slice.
## Initial Shape
Machine-local registry:
```yaml
version: 1
stores:
acme-context:
backend:
type: git
local_path: /Users/me/repos/acme-context
remote: git@github.com:acme/context.git
branch: main
```
Portable metadata in the store root:
```yaml
version: 1
id: acme-context
```
## Likely Repo Slice
- Add `src/core/context-store/foundation.ts`.
- Add `src/core/context-store/registry.ts`.
- Add `src/core/context-store/index.ts`.
- Export the core context-store foundation from `src/core/index.ts`.
- Add focused tests under `test/core/context-store/`.
- Keep specs untouched until a behavior/API contract is deliberately surfaced.
## Implemented Facade Slice
- Added `registerContextStore(...)`.
- Added `listRegisteredContextStores(...)`.
- Added `resolveRegisteredContextStore(...)`.
- Registration writes portable store metadata when missing, validates existing
metadata when present, and merges/updates the machine-local registry.
- Resolution validates that the registry id matches the store-root metadata id.
- No Git clone, pull, push, sync, workspace state, collection manifest, or CLI
behavior was added.
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
# Add Context Store Foundation Tasks
- [x] Research existing config, registry, file-system, and schema/backend
patterns.
- [x] Decide to start with Git/local backend identity only, not a generic file
API.
- [x] Decide that real context store roots are user-chosen Git checkouts or
synced folders.
- [x] Decide that the local registry lives under global data and portable store
metadata lives inside the store root.
- [x] Add context-store foundation types, path helpers, parse/serialize, and
read/write helpers.
- [x] Add focused tests for validation, paths, registry roundtrip, metadata
roundtrip, and Git/local backend path resolution.
- [x] Run targeted verification.
- [x] Decide registration/resolution facade should precede initiative CLI.
- [x] Add context-store registration/list/resolve facade and tests.
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
# Add Collection Foundation Evidence
## Research Summary
Subagent and local review converged on the same direction:
- Item 4 should define the boundary between store identity and product-specific
content meaning.
- The collection layer should own mounted namespaces and logical path fences.
- The context-store layer should stay content-agnostic.
- Initiative CRUD and initiative file shape belong to Item 5.
- A runtime injected registry is enough for now; persisted manifests and dynamic
plugins are premature.
- A thin registration facade should hide metadata and local registry writes, but
Item 4 should not depend on that facade.
## Clean-Code Notes
- Use module boundaries and mounted objects to carry context.
- Prefer `validateMount`, `parseCollectionPath`, `createCollectionRegistry`,
and `mountCollections` inside the collection module.
- Avoid public helper names that stack every concept together, such as
`validateContextStoreCollectionRelativePath`.
- Keep path resolution pure and lexical until a future write-capable layer
deliberately handles symlinks, canonical parent paths, and backend behavior.
- Keep persisted YAML shape below the public setup surface. Runtime/public
handles should use camelCase fields such as `storeRoot`; persisted backend
state can continue to use `local_path`.
## Chosen Pattern
Use a two-step pattern:
```ts
const store = await registerContextStore({
id: "acme-context",
backend: gitLocalBackend({
localPath: "/Users/me/repos/acme-context",
remote: "git@github.com:acme/context.git",
branch: "main",
}),
});
const collections = createCollectionRegistry([
{ id: "initiatives", mount: "initiatives" },
]);
const mounted = mountCollections({
storeRoot: store.storeRoot,
collections,
});
```
For Item 4 itself, `mountCollections({ storeRoot, collections })` is the
canonical API. One-call setup facades, store lifecycle objects, builder DSLs,
and initiative-specific setup presets are deferred.
## Implementation Evidence
- `src/core/collections/runtime.ts` defines runtime collection
definitions, registries, mounted collection contexts, logical path parsing,
and mount/path resolution.
- `src/core/collections/index.ts` exports the collection module, and
`src/core/index.ts` re-exports it for core consumers.
- `test/core/collections/runtime.test.ts` covers mount and id validation,
logical path parsing, duplicate id/mount rejection, Windows-style roots,
`createHandle(context)`, no filesystem creation, and generic `initiatives/`
mounting.
## Verification
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/core/collections/runtime.test.ts`
- `pnpm run build`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/core/collections/runtime.test.ts test/core/context-store/foundation.test.ts test/core/planning-home.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/utils/file-system.test.ts`
- `pnpm run lint`
- `git diff --check`
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
# Add Collection Foundation
## Status
First implementation slice implemented.
## Source Of Truth
Start from `../../direction.md`.
The relevant model is:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
## Goal
Add the smallest collection foundation that lets product-specific content
systems mount inside a context store without making the context-store layer know
what those systems mean.
## Locked Direction So Far
- Treat Item 4 as a mount/path foundation, not a collection runtime.
- Keep collection composition runtime-only and dependency-injected.
- Keep context-store registration separate from runtime collection mounting.
- Use a future thin registration facade for metadata/registry setup instead of
showing raw registry or metadata state writes in public examples.
- Do not add a persisted collection manifest yet.
- Do not add CLI behavior yet.
- Do not add generic `read`, `write`, `list`, or `delete` helpers.
- Do not add initiative file shape, initiative CRUD, or initiative validation
yet.
- Prove `initiatives/` can mount through generic collection definitions, not
through initiative-specific context-store logic.
## Naming Direction
Use the module/object boundary to carry context instead of growing helper names.
Use a focused generic module such as `src/core/collections/runtime.ts` with
short names:
```ts
validateCollectionId(id);
validateMount(mount);
parseCollectionPath(input);
createCollectionRegistry(...);
mountCollections(...);
```
Prefer mounted objects for context-aware operations:
```ts
const mounted = collections.require("initiatives");
mounted.resolvePath("launch-billing-flow/initiative.yaml");
mounted.toStorePath("launch-billing-flow/initiative.yaml");
```
Avoid names like `validateContextStoreCollectionRelativePath`. They indicate
that too much context has leaked into a standalone helper name.
## Minimal API Shape
The first slice should stay close to this:
```ts
interface CollectionDefinition<THandle = unknown> {
id: string;
mount: string;
metadata?: CollectionMetadata;
hooks?: CollectionHooks;
createHandle?: (context: MountedCollectionContext) => THandle;
}
interface MountedCollectionContext {
storeRoot: string;
collectionId: string;
mount: string;
mountRoot: string;
resolvePath(relativePath?: string): string;
toStorePath(relativePath?: string): string;
}
interface MountedCollection<THandle = unknown> {
collectionId: string;
mount: string;
mountRoot: string;
context: MountedCollectionContext;
handle: THandle | undefined;
}
```
Use `id` on definitions, but `collectionId` on mounted handles and contexts so
domain object IDs such as initiative IDs do not collide with collection type IDs.
## Setup And Mounting Pattern
Use two separate layers:
1. A context-store registration facade for setup.
2. A pure runtime collection mounting API for Item 4.
Registration should hide persisted YAML details:
```ts
const store = await registerContextStore({
id: "acme-context",
backend: gitLocalBackend({
localPath: "/Users/me/repos/acme-context",
remote: "git@github.com:acme/context.git",
branch: "main",
}),
});
```
The registration facade can call lower-level helpers such as backend config
normalization, metadata writes, and local registry writes internally. Public
examples should not call raw `writeContextStoreMetadataState(...)`,
`writeContextStoreRegistryState(...)`, or expose persisted snake_case backend
state such as `local_path`.
Item 4 mounting should stay independent of registration and accept only the
authority it needs:
```ts
const collections = createCollectionRegistry([
{ id: "initiatives", mount: "initiatives" },
]);
const mounted = mountCollections({
storeRoot: store.storeRoot,
collections,
});
mounted.require("initiatives").resolvePath(
"launch-billing-flow/initiative.yaml"
);
```
Prefer `mountCollections({ storeRoot, collections })` as the canonical first
API. Passing a whole store handle can wait until there is a real need.
## Path Direction
- Mount names are single-segment kebab-case folder names such as `initiatives`,
`decisions`, or `api-catalog`.
- Collection-relative paths are logical portable paths inside a mount.
- The path resolver is lexical only. It proves that a logical path belongs under
a collection mount; it does not claim to be a filesystem security sandbox.
- Future write-capable helpers must revisit symlink and canonical parent-path
handling before touching disk.
Reject:
- empty mounts
- `.`
- `..`
- hidden/reserved mounts such as `.openspec-store`
- absolute paths
- Windows drive paths
- UNC paths
- NUL bytes
- traversal segments
- sibling-prefix escapes
## Deferred
- Store-level collection config files.
- Dynamic plugin loading.
- One-call `setupContextStore({ id, backend, collections })` APIs.
- `createStore(...).setup()` lifecycle APIs.
- Builder-style setup DSLs.
- Initiative-specific setup presets in the generic context-store layer.
- Template override search paths.
- Rich validation execution.
- Agent guidance generation.
- Workspace integration.
- Git sync, commits, pull, push, watch, or conflict behavior.
## Implemented Slice
- Added a pure runtime collection module at
`src/core/collections/runtime.ts`.
- Exported the module through `src/core/collections/index.ts` and
`src/core/index.ts`.
- Added focused tests under `test/core/collections/runtime.test.ts`.
- Proved a generic `{ id: "initiatives", mount: "initiatives" }` definition can
mount and resolve paths without initiative-specific store logic.
- Kept validation/template hooks as inert extension fields for now; rich hook
execution remains deferred.
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
# Add Collection Foundation Tasks
- [x] Research what Item 4 needs to decide.
- [x] Compare collection model options.
- [x] Run clean-code and design-pattern review.
- [x] Decide to keep Item 4 as a runtime mount/path foundation.
- [x] Decide to avoid long context-stacked helper names.
- [x] Decide to separate context-store registration from runtime collection
mounting.
- [x] Define exact collection mount and path rules.
- [x] Define the minimal runtime registry and mounted collection API.
- [x] Implement collection foundation helpers and tests.
- [x] Prove `initiatives/` can mount without store-specific initiative logic.
- [x] Run targeted verification.
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
# Ship Initiative MVP Evidence
## Research Summary
- Initiative code should live in `src/core/collections/initiatives/`, outside
`src/core/context-store/`.
- Initiative APIs should consume a mounted `initiatives` collection from Item 4
rather than raw context-store roots.
- The first coding slice should lock metadata and templates before mounted
create/list operations.
- Visible `initiative.yaml` is preferred for the new shared initiative model.
- `links.yaml` should not exist in the initiative MVP. Repo-change wiring is a
workspace/local coordination concern to revisit later.
- Read/show, update, and delete have extra policy risk, so create/list should
come before broader lifecycle behavior.
- The first mounted operation slice should do create/list only. A full
`readInitiative` API is deferred until the return shape is clearer.
## Decisions
- Use `src/core/collections/initiatives/` for initiative-domain code.
- Do not put initiative semantics into `src/core/context-store/`.
- Add `initiative.yaml` strict parse/serialize helpers.
- Generate Markdown files up front, but do not validate Markdown content beyond
existence/templates in the first pass.
- Defer workspace opening, repo resolution, status dashboards, sync, linked
change lifecycle, `links.yaml`, `contracts/`, and CLI behavior.
- Detect initiatives by valid `initiative.yaml`: missing means ignore, invalid
means fail loudly, and the YAML `id` must match the folder name.
## Suggested First Coding Slice
Add:
- `src/core/collections/initiatives/schema.ts`
- `src/core/collections/initiatives/templates.ts`
- `src/core/collections/initiatives/operations.ts`
- `src/core/collections/initiatives/index.ts`
- focused tests under `test/core/collections/initiatives/`
Cover:
- constants for initiative file names
- `validateInitiativeId`
- strict `initiative.yaml` parse/serialize
- create/list operations through a mounted `initiatives` collection
- template builders for `requirements.md`, `design.md`, `decisions.md`,
`questions.md`, and `tasks.md`
- tests for valid and invalid metadata, invalid IDs, unknown YAML fields,
required `created`, and generated template names/content shape
## Implementation Evidence
- `src/core/collections/initiatives/schema.ts` defines initiative constants,
strict persisted `initiative.yaml` parsing/serialization, required
`created`, bounded JSON-like metadata, statuses, and portable kebab-case
initiative IDs.
- `src/core/collections/initiatives/templates.ts` defines deterministic default
Markdown file builders for requirements, design, decisions, questions, and
tasks.
- `src/core/collections/initiatives/index.ts` exports the initiative
schema/template surface inside the initiative module only.
- `src/core/collections/initiatives/operations.ts` creates MVP initiative
folders and lists initiative states using the valid-`initiative.yaml`
detection rule.
- `src/core/collections/index.ts` exports the initiative module now that it has
a mounted operation API.
- `test/core/collections/initiatives/schema.test.ts` covers file constants,
no `links.yaml`, ID validation, strict YAML behavior, required `created`,
default owners/metadata, metadata validation, and serialization round trips.
- `test/core/collections/initiatives/templates.test.ts` covers generated
Markdown file names, deterministic ordering, trailing newlines, and expected
section headings.
- `test/core/collections/initiatives/operations.test.ts` covers create, list,
duplicate protection, cleanup on partial write failure, missing
`initiative.yaml` ignored, invalid `initiative.yaml` failure, and folder/id
mismatch failure.
- `src/core/context-store/registry.ts` was added as the next integration
enabler before CLI wiring.
- `src/commands/initiative.ts` adds `openspec initiative create/list` as a thin
CLI adapter over the context-store facade and mounted initiatives collection.
- `src/cli/index.ts` registers the initiative command.
- `src/core/completions/command-registry.ts` registers static completion
metadata for `initiative create/list/ls`.
- `test/commands/initiative.test.ts` covers JSON create, `--store-path` list,
human output, selector errors, duplicate create errors, and completion
registry entries.
## Verification
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/core/collections/initiatives/schema.test.ts test/core/collections/initiatives/templates.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/core/collections/initiatives/operations.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/core/collections/initiatives/schema.test.ts test/core/collections/initiatives/templates.test.ts test/core/collections/initiatives/operations.test.ts test/core/collections/runtime.test.ts test/core/context-store/foundation.test.ts test/core/planning-home.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/commands/initiative.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/core/context-store/registry.test.ts test/core/collections/initiatives/operations.test.ts test/core/collections/initiatives/schema.test.ts test/core/collections/initiatives/templates.test.ts test/core/collections/runtime.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/commands/workspace.test.ts`
- `pnpm run build`
- `pnpm run lint`
- `git diff --check`
@@ -0,0 +1,236 @@
# Ship Initiative MVP
## Status
Create/list operation and CLI adapter slices complete. Full read/show, update,
and delete policy is deferred to later agent-first discovery and lifecycle
work.
## Source Of Truth
Start from `../../direction.md`.
The relevant model is:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
## Goal
Give coordinated work a durable, shared, agent-consumable home inside an
`initiatives/` collection.
## Roadmap Shape
Default initiative shape:
```text
initiatives/<id>/
initiative.yaml
requirements.md
design.md
decisions.md
questions.md
tasks.md
```
Direction also leaves room for later `contracts/` content:
```text
initiatives/<id>/
contracts/
```
## Initial Boundaries
- Initiative code should live outside `src/core/context-store/`.
- Context-store core should not know initiative semantics.
- Initiative APIs should consume a mounted `initiatives` collection from Item 4.
- Repo-local OpenSpec changes remain the implementation artifacts; initiatives
coordinate intent, decisions, questions, and tasks.
- Do not implement workspace opening, repo resolution, status dashboards, sync,
or linked change lifecycle in this item.
## Locked Direction So Far
- Put initiative code under `src/core/collections/initiatives/`.
- Export initiatives from `src/core/index.ts` only after a real API exists.
- Use visible `initiative.yaml`, not hidden `.initiative.yaml`, for the runtime
context-store initiative model. Existing roadmap folders may still carry
legacy `.initiative.yaml` progress metadata until that tracker is migrated or
retired.
- Use strict YAML parsing and validation, following the existing foundation
patterns.
- Do not create `links.yaml` in the initiative MVP. Repo-change wiring belongs
to workspace/local coordination work later.
- Keep Markdown validation light; generate useful structure but do not validate
prose content yet.
- Start implementation with initiative schema and template helpers before
mounted collection operations.
- For the first mounted operation slice, add create and list only. Avoid a
broad `readInitiative` API until the shape of "full initiative" is clearer.
- Treat a child folder as an initiative only when it contains a valid
`initiative.yaml`. Missing `initiative.yaml` means "not an initiative";
invalid `initiative.yaml` means broken shared state and should fail loudly.
## Deferred From Item 5
- Full initiative show/read behavior belongs in agent-first initiative discovery
once the return shape is clearer.
- Metadata update and guarded delete belong in later lifecycle work after
create/list usage has shaped the policy.
## Initial `initiative.yaml`
Recommended shape:
```yaml
version: 1
id: launch-billing-flow
title: Launch Billing Flow
summary: >
Coordinate the billing launch across product, API, and client surfaces.
status: exploring
created: "2026-05-21"
owners: []
metadata: {}
```
Required:
- `version`
- `id`
- `title`
- `summary`
- `status`
- `created`
Defaulted or optional:
- `owners`
- `metadata`
Initial statuses:
- `exploring`
- `active`
- `complete`
- `archived`
## Initial Markdown Templates
Create these files up front:
- `requirements.md`: product intent, accepted requirements, out of scope.
- `design.md`: context, approach, affected areas, dependencies, risks.
- `decisions.md`: accepted decisions with date/title/decision/why/implications.
- `questions.md`: open and resolved questions.
- `tasks.md`: coordination tasks only, not repo implementation tasks.
Defer `contracts/`, `README.md`, milestones, dependency graphs, external issue
links, workspace path mappings, status dashboards, `links.yaml`, and Markdown
content validation.
## Likely Repo Slice
- Add `src/core/collections/initiatives/schema.ts`.
- Add `src/core/collections/initiatives/templates.ts`.
- Add `src/core/collections/initiatives/index.ts`.
- Add focused tests under `test/core/collections/initiatives/`.
- Add types, constants, ID validation, strict `initiative.yaml`
parse/serialize helpers, and default template builders.
- Add create/list mounted collection operations after schema and templates are
locked.
- Keep context-store collection APIs unchanged unless a real integration gap is
found.
## Implemented Slice
- Added `src/core/collections/initiatives/schema.ts`.
- Added `src/core/collections/initiatives/templates.ts`.
- Added `src/core/collections/initiatives/index.ts`.
- Added focused tests under `test/core/collections/initiatives/`.
- Exported initiatives through `src/core/collections/index.ts` now that a
mounted operation API exists.
- Kept `links.yaml` out of the initiative MVP file contract.
## Operation Slice Direction
- Add `src/core/collections/initiatives/operations.ts`.
- Export initiatives through `src/core/collections/index.ts` now that a mounted
operation API exists.
- `createInitiative` should create exactly the MVP file shape:
`initiative.yaml`, `requirements.md`, `design.md`, `decisions.md`,
`questions.md`, and `tasks.md`.
- `createInitiative` should generate `created` through an injectable date
provider, fail if the initiative folder already exists, and clean up a
partially created folder on write failure.
- `listInitiatives` should inspect immediate child directories under the
mounted `initiatives` collection, ignore folders without `initiative.yaml`,
parse and validate folders with `initiative.yaml`, require
`initiative.yaml.id` to match the folder name, and return initiative states
sorted by id.
## Implemented Operation Slice
- Added `src/core/collections/initiatives/operations.ts`.
- Added `createInitiative` for creating the MVP folder shape through a mounted
`initiatives` collection.
- Added `listInitiatives` using the valid-`initiative.yaml` detection rule.
- Exported initiatives through `src/core/collections/index.ts`.
- Added focused operation tests under
`test/core/collections/initiatives/operations.test.ts`.
## Next Integration Enabler
Before adding `openspec initiative create/list`, add a context-store
registration/resolution facade so CLI code can resolve a named store and mount
the initiatives collection without exposing raw registry or metadata YAML.
## CLI Adapter Direction
Add the first initiative CLI surface as a thin adapter over the mounted
collection operations:
```bash
openspec initiative create <id> --store <store-id> --title <title> --summary <summary>
openspec initiative create <id> --store-path <path> --title <title> --summary <summary>
openspec initiative list --store <store-id>
openspec initiative list --store-path <path>
```
Use `initiative create/list` as a deliberate noun namespace, similar to
`workspace` and `schema`, even though newer OpenSpec conventions generally
prefer verb-first top-level commands. The stricter alternative would spread
initiative behavior across `new initiative` and global `list` flags, which is a
larger surface for this slice because initiative commands must resolve a
context store.
Keep store selection explicit in the first CLI slice. Require either
`--store <id>` or `--store-path <path>`, reject both together, and do not add
current-directory discovery, single-store auto-selection, an interactive picker,
a global default store, or workspace selected-store state yet.
Because shell completions are manually registered, adding the runtime command
also requires adding `initiative create/list/ls` to `COMMAND_REGISTRY`. Keep
completion support static for now: command names and flags only, with no dynamic
store-id or initiative-id completion.
## Implemented CLI Adapter Slice
- Added `src/commands/initiative.ts`.
- Registered `openspec initiative create` and `openspec initiative list` from
the top-level CLI.
- Added `openspec initiative ls` as an alias for list.
- Required explicit context-store selection through `--store <id>` or
`--store-path <path>`.
- Rejected conflicting `--store` and `--store-path` selectors.
- Returned workspace-style JSON payloads with a top-level `status` diagnostics
array.
- Added static shell completion metadata for `initiative create/list/ls`.
- Added focused command tests under `test/commands/initiative.test.ts`.
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
# Ship Initiative MVP Tasks
- [x] Create Item 5 work-item tracking notes.
- [x] Research initiative shape, API, module placement, and first slice.
- [x] Decide where initiative code lives.
- [x] Decide required `initiative.yaml` metadata.
- [x] Decide no initiative `links.yaml` in the MVP.
- [x] Decide first coding slice starts with initiative schema/templates before operations.
- [x] Add initiative schema helpers and tests.
- [x] Add default initiative templates.
- [x] Run targeted verification for schema/templates.
- [x] Decide create/list-only operation slice.
- [x] Add create/list mounted initiative operations and tests.
- [x] Run targeted verification for operations.
- [x] Research initiative CLI adapter gaps.
- [x] Decide explicit context-store selection for first CLI slice.
- [x] Document noun-command and manual-completion tradeoffs.
- [x] Add `openspec initiative create/list` CLI adapter.
- [x] Register static shell completions for initiative commands.
- [x] Add focused CLI tests for create/list, selection errors, and completions.
- [x] Run targeted verification for the initiative CLI adapter.
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
# Add Minimal Context Store UX Evidence
## Conversation Decisions
- The next roadmap step should not jump straight to repo-local change linking
or workspace initiative opening.
- Teams first need a simple way to create or register the shared context store
that holds initiatives.
- The workflow is agent-first: the user prompts an agent, and the agent uses CLI
primitives to discover stores and initiatives.
- `context-store` should be the top-level command namespace for now. It is more
explicit for agents than `store`, and `store` can remain shorthand in scoped
flags such as `initiative list --store <id>`.
- A store can start as a local Git-backed folder. OpenSpec can help create the
folder, write metadata, register it locally, and optionally initialize Git.
- When setup does not receive `--path`, it should create or use `./<id>`. This
keeps the real shared store visible and avoids hiding it under global data.
- Using the current directory should require explicit `--path .`.
- If a user registers an existing folder or clone, the default store id can be
the repo or folder name.
- Portable `.openspec-store/store.yaml` metadata should be checked in and should
not include local paths.
- `.openspec-store/store.yaml` is the identity file itself, not a bundle beside
another checked-in metadata file. It should contain only `version` and `id`
for now.
- Future backend, sync, collection, permission, or policy config should not be
added to `store.yaml` by default.
- The local registry maps store ids to local paths on one machine.
- Remote-url clone/setup sugar is useful but can wait.
- `initiative list` should list all registered stores by default; `--store`
should filter.
- Interactive setup should prompt for Git initialization and default to yes
when no explicit Git flag is provided.
- Non-interactive, JSON, `--init-git`, and `--no-init-git` setup should not
prompt.
- `context-store register` should be idempotent for the same id/path and fail
for the same id with a different path until a future explicit replacement
option exists.
- `context-store list` should stay a simple registry index and should not show
health warnings.
- `context-store doctor` owns health diagnostics. The first slice should check
registry/path/metadata and cheap Git repository presence, not dirty state,
branch, remote, sync, pull/push, or conflicts.
- `initiative list` should allow partial success in all-store mode: show
initiatives from readable stores and print one small warning pointing to
`context-store doctor` when other registered stores cannot be read.
- Filtered `initiative list --store` and explicit `--store-path` should fail
directly when the selected store cannot be read.
- Partial success should exit 0 with warning diagnostics in JSON. Total failure
should exit nonzero.
- Register id inference should use the repo/folder name as-is with normal
context-store id validation. Do not add normalization in this slice.
- Setup should reject non-empty folders without context-store metadata for now.
- Registry conflicts should fail when the same id points at a different path or
the same path is already registered under a different id.
- Empty states should stay simple: no stores registered for `context-store list`
and `doctor`; no initiatives found because no stores are registered for
`initiative list`.
- Static shell completion metadata is now part of the shipped command surface;
dynamic store-id and initiative-id completions remain deferred.
## Risks To Check Before Implementation
- Existing command naming conventions may prefer verb-first flows, while
context-store commands are naturally noun namespaced.
- Shell completions are manually registered; keep future command additions in
`src/core/completions/command-registry.ts` with focused registry tests.
- Human output should match existing compact CLI output patterns.
- JSON output should be stable enough for agents without over-modeling future
sync or remote behavior.
## Implementation Evidence
- `src/commands/context-store.ts` adds the `context-store` command namespace
with setup, register, list, and doctor subcommands.
- `src/cli/index.ts` registers the context-store command.
- `src/commands/context-store.ts` keeps strict CLI setup/register policy in the
command layer while reusing context-store foundation helpers.
- `src/commands/initiative.ts` now lets `initiative list` search all registered
stores by default, keeps `--store` as a filter, preserves `--store-path`, and
reports all-store partial success with warning diagnostics.
- `src/core/completions/command-registry.ts` registers static completion
metadata for the context-store command surface.
- `test/commands/context-store.test.ts` covers setup, register, list, doctor,
conflict handling, non-empty setup rejection, and interactive Git init.
- `test/commands/initiative.test.ts` covers all-store initiative listing,
compact human output, empty registered-store state, partial success, and all
unreadable stores.
## Verification
- `pnpm run build`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/commands/context-store.test.ts test/commands/initiative.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/core/context-store/foundation.test.ts
test/core/context-store/registry.test.ts
test/core/collections/initiatives/operations.test.ts`
- `pnpm run lint`
@@ -0,0 +1,333 @@
# Add Minimal Context Store UX
## Status
Minimal context-store CLI and all-store initiative listing implemented.
## Source Of Truth
Start from `../../direction.md`.
The current roadmap order is:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
This item exists because agent-first initiative workflows need a usable shared
store before repo-local handoff and workspace opening can feel coherent.
## Goal
Let a user or agent create, register, list, and diagnose local context stores
without knowing the internal registry layout.
## Agent-First Framing
The expected user prompt is closer to:
```text
Using initiative billing-launch, explore the API work and create a proposal.
```
Before an agent can do that, it needs to answer:
- Which context stores are registered locally?
- Which store contains the named initiative?
- Is the registered store path valid?
- Is store metadata present and consistent?
- If no store exists yet, how should one be created?
This work item should provide those primitives. It should not implement
repo-local initiative linking, initiative resolution, workspace opening, or
progress/status dashboards.
## Locked Direction So Far
- Keep the user-facing term `store` for now; naming polish is deferred.
- Use `context-store` as the top-level CLI namespace for this slice. It is more
explicit for agents and avoids overloading a broad top-level `store` command.
Keep `store` as shorthand only when the context is already scoped, such as
`initiative list --store <id>`.
- `context-store setup <id>` should create or use a local folder, write portable
store metadata, register the local path, and optionally initialize Git.
- When `--path` is omitted, `context-store setup <id>` should default to
`./<id>`.
- Using the current directory should be explicit with `--path .`; setup should
not silently turn the current repo into a context store.
- The actual shared context store should be visible on disk, not hidden under
XDG/global data. XDG/global data is only for the machine-local registry.
- `context-store register <path>` should register an existing clone or folder.
- Registration means "this folder already exists on my machine; remember it as
a known context store." It should not create the folder, initialize Git, pull,
push, commit, or create remotes.
- Default the store id from the repo or folder name when metadata is missing.
- Portable store metadata is exactly `.openspec-store/store.yaml`. It should be
checked into the context-store repo and contain only portable identity for
now:
```yaml
version: 1
id: team-context
```
- Do not put backend config, local paths, remote URLs, collection config, sync
policy, or permissions in `store.yaml`.
- If future collection/store config is needed, add a separate explicit file
rather than expanding the identity file by default.
- Machine-local registry state should stay outside the checked-in store and map
store ids to local paths.
- Registration should not pull, push, commit, or create remote repositories.
- Remote-url registration or clone sugar can come later.
- `initiative list` should default to all registered stores. `--store` should
filter to one store, and `--store-path` should remain an explicit escape
hatch.
- Human output should stay compact and avoid a `Status` column for now.
## Suggested Command Shape
```bash
openspec context-store setup <id> [--path <path>] [--init-git|--no-init-git] [--json]
openspec context-store register <path> [--id <id>] [--json]
openspec context-store list [--json]
openspec context-store doctor [id] [--json]
openspec initiative list [--store <id>] [--store-path <path>] [--json]
```
## Command Behavior
### `context-store setup`
`context-store setup <id>` creates or uses a visible local store root and
registers it on the current machine.
Locked behavior:
- Default path is `./<id>` when `--path` is omitted.
- Current-directory setup is allowed only with explicit `--path .`.
- Missing folders are created.
- Existing folders are allowed when metadata is missing or matches the requested
id.
- Non-empty folders without context-store metadata are not supported for setup
in this slice.
- Existing metadata with a different id fails.
- File paths fail.
- `.openspec-store/store.yaml` is written when missing.
- The store is registered in the machine-local registry.
- Interactive TTY mode prompts for Git initialization when neither
`--init-git` nor `--no-init-git` is provided; the default answer is yes.
- `--json`, non-TTY execution, `--init-git`, and `--no-init-git` do not prompt.
- Git is initialized only when the prompt answer is yes or `--init-git` is
passed.
- Setup does not commit, push, pull, create remotes, or create hosted repos.
- If a user wants to initialize an existing non-empty folder, fail with a clear
message and suggest filing the use case or using `context-store register` for
an existing context store.
Suggested human output:
```text
Context store setup complete
ID: team-context
Location: /Users/me/work/team-context
Metadata: /Users/me/work/team-context/.openspec-store/store.yaml
Registry: /Users/me/.local/share/openspec/context-stores/registry.yaml
Git: initialized
```
### `context-store register`
`context-store register <path>` records an existing local folder or clone as a
known context store on the current machine.
Locked behavior:
- Path must already exist and be a directory.
- If `.openspec-store/store.yaml` exists, use its id.
- `--id` may confirm the metadata id but cannot conflict with it.
- If metadata is missing, infer the id from the folder or repo name unless
`--id` is passed.
- Inference uses the folder or repo name as-is and then applies normal context
store id validation. Do not do clever normalization in this slice.
- Missing metadata is written.
- The machine-local registry is updated.
- Same id and same path is an idempotent success.
- Same id and different path fails for now; a future `--replace` can make
replacement explicit.
- Same path already registered under a different id fails for now.
- Register does not create the folder, initialize Git, pull, push, commit,
create remotes, or clone.
Suggested human output:
```text
Context store registered
ID: team-context
Location: /Users/me/src/team-context
Metadata: /Users/me/src/team-context/.openspec-store/store.yaml
Registry: /Users/me/.local/share/openspec/context-stores/registry.yaml
```
### `context-store list`
`context-store list` is an index view of the local registry.
Locked behavior:
- Reads the local registry.
- Shows registered id and location only.
- Sorts by store id.
- Does not check metadata, path health, Git, sync, remote, dirty state, or
conflicts.
- Does not mutate anything.
- Prints no health warnings; health belongs to `context-store doctor`.
Suggested human output:
```text
OpenSpec context stores (2)
ID Location
platform /Users/me/src/platform-context
team-context /Users/me/src/team-context
```
Empty output:
```text
No context stores registered.
Next:
openspec context-store setup team-context
openspec context-store register /path/to/context-store
```
### `context-store doctor`
`context-store doctor [id]` is the non-mutating health and repair surface.
Locked behavior:
- Checks all registered stores by default.
- Checks one store when `id` is passed.
- Checks registry presence, path existence, directory shape, metadata presence,
metadata parsing, and metadata id matching.
- Includes a cheap Git repository presence check.
- Does not check dirty state, branch, remote, sync, pull/push, or conflicts in
this slice.
- Does not mutate anything.
Empty output:
```text
No context stores registered.
```
Suggested human output:
```text
Context store doctor
team-context
Location: /Users/me/src/team-context
Metadata: ok
Git: repository detected
Issues: none
```
### `initiative list`
`initiative list` becomes the agent-friendly discovery command across
registered stores.
Locked behavior:
- Without `--store` or `--store-path`, list initiatives from all readable
registered stores.
- If no context stores are registered, print a concise empty message.
- Sort by store id, then initiative id.
- Do not show a `Status` column in human output.
- Do not print detailed health diagnostics.
- If some stores cannot be read, still show initiatives from readable stores
and print one small warning that points to `context-store doctor`.
- If all registered stores are unreadable, print a concise failure/empty message
and point to `context-store doctor`.
- With `--store <id>`, filter to one registered store.
- With `--store-path <path>`, list from that explicit store path.
- Filtered `--store` or `--store-path` mode fails directly if that store cannot
be read, because there are no fallback stores.
Suggested all-store output:
```text
OpenSpec initiatives (3 across 2 stores)
ID Store Title
billing-launch platform Billing Launch
docs-refresh platform Docs Refresh
api-cleanup team API Cleanup
Some registered context stores could not be read.
Run: openspec context-store doctor
```
No registered stores output:
```text
No initiatives found because no context stores are registered.
```
Suggested filtered output:
```text
OpenSpec initiatives in platform (2)
ID Title
billing-launch Billing Launch
docs-refresh Docs Refresh
Location: /Users/me/src/platform-context
```
## Boundaries
Do not implement in this item:
- initiative `show`
- repo-local change metadata
- `new change --initiative`
- initiative local resolution
- workspace initiative opening
- sync, pull, push, remote repository creation, or conflict handling
## Remaining Decisions
None before implementation. JSON shapes can follow the existing command pattern:
top-level result objects plus a `status` diagnostics array. Partial success
returns exit code 0 with warning diagnostics; total failure returns nonzero.
## Implemented Slice
- Added `openspec context-store setup/register/list/doctor`.
- Registered the `context-store` command from the top-level CLI.
- Initially kept shell completion metadata out of scope; static metadata was
added later with the shipped command surface.
- Implemented strict CLI registration policy without changing the permissive
lower-level registry facade.
- Added setup behavior for default `./<id>`, explicit `--path .`, interactive
Git init prompt, non-interactive/JSON no-prompt behavior, non-empty directory
rejection, and metadata writing.
- Added register behavior for existing folders, id inference from folder name,
metadata writing, id/path conflict rejection, and registry updates.
- Added list behavior as a registry index only.
- Added doctor behavior for registry/path/metadata health and cheap Git
presence.
- Updated `initiative list` so no selector lists across registered stores,
`--store` filters, `--store-path` remains an escape hatch, human output is
compact, and all-store partial success returns warning diagnostics.
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
# Add Minimal Context Store UX Tasks
- [x] Create Item 6 work-item tracking notes.
- [x] Capture agent-first setup and discovery direction.
- [x] Decide `context-store` is the first CLI namespace.
- [x] Decide setup defaults to `./<id>` when `--path` is omitted.
- [x] Decide current-directory setup requires explicit `--path .`.
- [x] Record that checked-in store metadata stays minimal.
- [x] Decide checked-in store metadata is exactly `.openspec-store/store.yaml`
and contains portable identity only.
- [x] Record that machine-local registry state stays outside the store.
- [x] Record that `initiative list` should default across registered stores.
- [x] Decide setup interactive and non-interactive behavior.
- [x] Decide register behavior.
- [x] Decide context-store list is registry index only.
- [x] Decide doctor owns health checks.
- [x] Decide initiative list partial-success behavior.
- [x] Decide JSON and exit behavior for partial success and total failure.
- [x] Decide id inference uses folder/repo name as-is with normal validation.
- [x] Decide setup rejects non-empty folders without context-store metadata.
- [x] Decide registry path/id conflicts fail for now.
- [x] Decide empty states for list, doctor, and initiative list.
- [x] Initially defer completion metadata; later add static metadata with the
rest of the shipped command surface.
- [x] Finalize exact JSON payload fields for setup, register, list, doctor, and
all-store initiative list.
- [x] Implement `context-store setup/register/list/doctor`.
- [x] Update `initiative list` all-store behavior and output.
- [x] Add focused tests and verification evidence.
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
# Add Agent-First Initiative Discovery Evidence
## Conversation Decisions
- `initiative show <id>` should be a locator/discovery command for agents.
- The command should answer which initiative the user meant, where the
canonical context lives, and where the initiative metadata is.
- The command should not concatenate markdown, summarize initiative contents,
compute work progress, resolve local repos, list linked changes, or open a
workspace.
- Default lookup should search all registered context stores.
- `--store <id>` should disambiguate or filter to one registered store.
- `--store-path <path>` should remain the explicit local-path escape hatch.
- Duplicate initiative ids across stores should fail with an ambiguity error.
- Default all-store lookup should fail when any registered store is unreadable,
because uniqueness is unknowable.
- Explicit `--store` and `--store-path` lookup should only care about the
selected store.
- `initiative.status` should be omitted from the v1 output projection.
- `owners` should be omitted from the v1 output projection.
- Arbitrary `metadata` should be omitted from the v1 output projection.
- `version` and `created` should stay in the v1 initiative projection.
- `files` should be omitted from v1.
- `initiative.metadata_path` should point to the validated `initiative.yaml`.
- `initiative.root` is enough for an agent to inspect the folder with normal
filesystem tools.
- Top-level `matches` should be omitted. Ambiguity and incomplete-lookup
candidates should live under the diagnostic that needs them, for example
`status[0].details.matches`.
- `context_store.source` should be omitted from `initiative show` v1 because it
is selector provenance, not context-store identity.
- A top-level `resolution` field is not needed in v1.
- Existing `initiative create/list` output can keep `context_store.source` for
now; this item should not refactor old output shapes.
- `readInitiative` should return `null` when the exact initiative is absent and
throw when `initiative.yaml` exists but is invalid or has the wrong id.
- In default all-store lookup, any unreadable registered store should make the
primary error `initiative_lookup_incomplete`, even when readable stores have
partial matches.
- If `initiatives/<id>/initiative.yaml` exists but is invalid or has the wrong
id, `initiative show` should fail as broken initiative state instead of
treating that store as not found.
- Human output should be a compact locator view on success: title, id, summary,
context store, location, and canonical filenames.
- Human ambiguity and incomplete-lookup errors should show matching or partial
matching stores inline, then point to the next command.
- Static shell completion metadata should ship for `initiative show`.
- Dynamic completions for store ids and initiative ids should remain deferred.
## Research Notes
- Current initiative create/list output spreads the full parsed
`initiative.yaml` state, which is useful for MVP but too broad for the first
`show` contract.
- A focused per-initiative read operation is preferred over implementing `show`
through `listInitiatives`, because exact lookup should not fail due to an
unrelated malformed initiative folder.
- Other initiative files are schema/config dependent and should not be
hardcoded into `show`.
- Keeping candidates inside diagnostic details follows the same general shape as
GraphQL-style responses: successful data stays clean, while error-specific
context travels with the error.
- If selector provenance is needed later, add a separate explicit field such as
`resolution` rather than putting provenance inside `context_store`.
- Human output should stay compact: title, id, summary, context store,
location, and metadata path.
## Implementation Evidence
- `src/core/collections/initiatives/operations.ts` adds `readInitiative` for
exact initiative lookup.
- `src/commands/initiative.ts` adds `initiative show <id>` with all-store
default lookup, `--store`, `--store-path`, JSON output, compact human output,
ambiguity diagnostics, and incomplete-lookup diagnostics.
- `src/core/completions/command-registry.ts` adds static completion metadata for
`initiative show`.
- `test/core/collections/initiatives/operations.test.ts` covers exact read,
absent initiatives, invalid exact initiatives, id mismatches, and unrelated
invalid folders.
- `test/commands/initiative.test.ts` covers `initiative show` success,
`--store-path`, human output, ambiguity, incomplete lookup, not found,
invalid exact initiative state, no `context_store.source`, no `files`, no
top-level `matches`, and static completions.
## Verification
- `pnpm run build`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/core/collections/initiatives/operations.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/commands/initiative.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run test/commands/context-store.test.ts
test/commands/initiative.test.ts test/core/context-store/foundation.test.ts
test/core/context-store/registry.test.ts
test/core/collections/initiatives/operations.test.ts`
- `pnpm run lint`
- `git diff --check`
- Markdown line-length check for the initiative roadmap, task tracker, and Item
7 work-item notes.
@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
# Add Agent-First Initiative Discovery
## Status
Implementation complete; verification in progress.
## Source Of Truth
Start from `../../direction.md`.
This item exists because the expected workflow is agent-first:
```text
Using initiative billing-launch, explore the API work and create a proposal.
```
Before repo-local linking, local resolution, or workspace opening can work, the
agent needs a small command that answers:
- Which initiative did the user mean?
- Which context store contains the canonical initiative?
- Where is the initiative metadata, and what root should the agent inspect?
## Goal
Add agent-first initiative discovery without turning `show` into a reader,
progress dashboard, repo resolver, or workspace launcher.
## Locked Direction So Far
- `initiative show <id>` is a locator/discovery command.
- It should return identity, context-store location, initiative location, and
the initiative metadata path.
- It should not concatenate markdown, summarize file contents, compute progress,
resolve repos, list linked changes, or open workspaces.
- Default lookup searches all locally registered context stores.
- `--store <id>` filters to one registered store.
- `--store-path <path>` remains the explicit local-path escape hatch.
- Duplicate initiative ids across stores are ambiguous. The command should not
auto-pick a match.
- In default all-store lookup, unreadable stores make the lookup incomplete.
The command should fail rather than silently returning a possibly false
unique match.
- Explicit `--store` and `--store-path` modes only consider the selected store.
## Output Contract Direction
The first JSON contract should be a resolver/read-pointer projection, not a
full serialization of `initiative.yaml`.
Suggested success shape:
```json
{
"context_store": {
"id": "platform",
"root": "/path/to/platform-context"
},
"initiative": {
"version": 1,
"id": "billing-launch",
"title": "Billing Launch",
"summary": "Coordinate billing launch work.",
"created": "2026-05-21",
"root": "/path/to/platform-context/initiatives/billing-launch",
"store_path": "initiatives/billing-launch",
"metadata_path": "/path/to/platform-context/initiatives/billing-launch/initiative.yaml"
},
"status": []
}
```
Locked field decisions:
- Keep `initiative.version`.
- Keep `initiative.created`.
- Keep `initiative.id`, `title`, `summary`, `root`, `store_path`, and
`metadata_path`.
- Keep `context_store.id` and `root`.
- Omit `context_store.source` from `initiative show` v1. It is selector
provenance, not context-store identity. Existing create/list output can remain
unchanged for now.
- Omit a top-level `resolution` field from v1.
- Omit `initiative.status` from the v1 projection.
- Omit `initiative.owners` from the v1 projection.
- Omit arbitrary `initiative.metadata` from the v1 projection.
- Omit a `files` list from the v1 projection.
- Omit top-level `matches`.
- Put ambiguity and incomplete-lookup candidates under the relevant diagnostic
entry, such as `status[0].details.matches`.
- Keep top-level `status` as command diagnostics only, not initiative work
progress.
## Still To Decide
- Nothing for the minimal v1 slice.
## Human Output Direction
Success output should stay locator-focused:
```text
OpenSpec initiative: Billing Launch
ID: billing-launch
Summary: Coordinate billing launch work.
Context store: platform
Location: /path/to/platform-context/initiatives/billing-launch
Files:
Metadata: /path/to/platform-context/initiatives/billing-launch/initiative.yaml
```
Error output should stay plain:
- Not found: say the initiative was not found in registered context stores and
suggest `openspec initiative list`.
- Ambiguous: show matching stores and paths, then suggest
`openspec initiative show <id> --store <store>`.
- Incomplete lookup: say some context stores could not be read, include partial
matches when present, then suggest `openspec context-store doctor`.
## File Listing Direction
`initiative show` should not list initiative folder contents in v1.
Only `initiative.yaml` is required to identify and validate the initiative. All
other files are schema/config dependent and may differ across teams. Once the
command has resolved `initiative.root`, agents can use normal filesystem tools
to inspect the folder. Later schema-aware views can expose important files
without hardcoding today's default template filenames.
## Completion Direction
Add static shell completion metadata for:
```text
initiative show <id> --store <id> --store-path <path> --json
```
Do not add dynamic completions for registered store ids or initiative ids in
this slice.
## Core Read Operation Direction
Add a focused `readInitiative` operation for exact lookup.
Behavior:
- Return `null` when the initiative folder or `initiative.yaml` is absent.
- Throw when `initiative.yaml` exists but is invalid.
- Throw when the parsed `initiative.yaml` id does not match the folder id.
- Do not scan unrelated initiative folders.
## Lookup Error Precedence
For default all-store lookup, any unreadable registered store makes lookup
incomplete.
If one or more readable stores contain the initiative and one or more other
stores cannot be read, the primary error should still be
`initiative_lookup_incomplete`, not success or ambiguity. Include any readable
partial matches under the diagnostic details.
Explicit `--store` and `--store-path` modes are scoped to the selected store and
do not check unrelated registered stores.
Invalid exact initiative folders are broken shared state, not "not found".
If `initiatives/<id>/initiative.yaml` exists but is invalid or has a mismatched
id, `initiative show` should fail with an invalid-initiative diagnostic. In
default all-store lookup, unreadable stores still take precedence as
`initiative_lookup_incomplete` because the full candidate set is unknowable.
## Explicitly Out Of Scope
- Top-level `openspec show` integration.
- Markdown content bundles or generated context packs.
- Checked-in initiative snapshots in repo-local changes.
- Repo-local change linking.
- Local repo/workspace resolution.
- Workspace opening.
- Git sync status, dirty state, remotes, pull, push, or conflicts.
- Initiative progress or status dashboards.
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
# Add Agent-First Initiative Discovery Tasks
- [x] Create Item 7 work-item tracking notes.
- [x] Decide `initiative show <id>` is a locator/discovery command.
- [x] Decide default lookup searches all registered context stores.
- [x] Decide `--store` and `--store-path` remain the narrowing selectors.
- [x] Decide duplicate initiative ids are ambiguity errors.
- [x] Decide unreadable stores make default all-store lookup incomplete.
- [x] Decide the v1 projection omits `initiative.status`, `owners`, and
arbitrary `metadata`.
- [x] Decide the v1 projection keeps `initiative.version` and `created`.
- [x] Decide v1 omits `files` and only returns initiative root plus metadata
path.
- [x] Decide ambiguity and incomplete-lookup candidates live under diagnostic
details, not top-level `matches`.
- [x] Decide exact human output direction for success and error states.
- [x] Decide `initiative show` omits `context_store.source`.
- [x] Decide `initiative show` omits a top-level `resolution` field.
- [x] Decide static completion metadata ships with Item 7.
- [x] Decide `readInitiative` returns `null` for absent and throws for invalid.
- [x] Decide incomplete lookup takes precedence over success or ambiguity in
default all-store mode.
- [x] Decide invalid exact initiative folders are errors, not not-found.
- [x] Implement a focused per-initiative read operation.
- [x] Implement `initiative show`.
- [x] Register static completion metadata for `initiative show`.
- [x] Add focused tests and verification evidence.
@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
# Connect Repo-Local Changes To Initiatives Evidence
## Decision 1: Initiative Link Location
The initiative link should live in the repo-local change `.openspec.yaml`.
Example:
```yaml
schema: spec-driven
created: 2026-05-22
initiative:
store: platform
id: billing-launch
```
This keeps repo implementation ownership in the repo while preserving a durable
reference to canonical initiative context.
The link should not include local paths, copied initiative prose, or backlinks
inside the initiative store.
## Research Notes
- `createChange()` already writes `.openspec.yaml` for every change.
- `ChangeMetadataSchema` currently allows schema, created, goal, and
affected-area fields. Item 8 can extend that schema with `initiative`.
- Archive moves the whole change directory, so the initiative link will move
with archived changes.
- Apply, validate, and archive should not require context-store availability in
this slice.
## Decision 2: Create Command Shape
Initiative-linked creation should use `openspec new change` with `--initiative`.
Supported first-slice forms:
```bash
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --json
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative platform/billing-launch --json
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --store platform --json
```
This keeps the operation repo-owned. The initiative is a reference on the
change, not the actor that creates or owns the change.
The first slice should also add `--json` to `new change` so agents can capture
the created change path, metadata path, and initiative reference.
## Decision 3: Initiative Lookup Behavior
Bare `--initiative <id>` should reuse `initiative show` lookup semantics.
It searches all registered context stores and succeeds only when the lookup is
complete and exactly one readable store contains the initiative.
Explicit store selectors narrow lookup:
```bash
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative platform/billing-launch
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --store platform
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --store-path ./context
```
`--store-path` validates the explicit path and reads its store id, but does not
auto-register the store. Metadata still stores only the portable store id and
initiative id.
Repo-local metadata should not be written until initiative lookup is complete
and unambiguous.
## Decision 4: Repo-Local Only For V1
Item 8 should support initiative links only on repo-local changes.
If `openspec new change <id> --initiative ...` runs from a workspace planning
home, v1 should refuse and tell the user to run the command from the repo that
owns the implementation plan.
Existing workspace-planning changes remain compatibility behavior and should not
gain initiative linkage in this slice.
This preserves the boundary that initiatives coordinate shared context,
repo-local changes own implementation plans, and workspaces open local views.
## Decision 5: No Repo Ownership Matching In V1
Item 8 should not verify that the current repo is named by, owned by, or inferred
from the initiative.
Creating a repo-local change with an initiative link records participation in the
initiative. It does not prove ownership, repo impact, or coverage of an
initiative area.
Repo ownership matching can be revisited after initiative resolution or explicit
initiative metadata has a real repo/area model.
## Decision 6: JSON And Human Output
Create output should stay factual and minimal.
Human output should confirm:
- the created change id and location
- the schema
- the initiative link `{ store, id }`
JSON output should include:
```json
{
"change": {
"id": "add-billing-api",
"path": "/repo/openspec/changes/add-billing-api",
"metadataPath": "/repo/openspec/changes/add-billing-api/.openspec.yaml",
"schema": "spec-driven"
},
"initiative": {
"store": "platform",
"id": "billing-launch"
}
}
```
The output should not include `next` or other suggested workflow actions. API
responses should report operation results or errors; choosing the next action is
the agent's responsibility and depends on broader context.
## Decision 7: Existing Change Recovery
Item 8 should include a friendly recovery command for existing repo-local
changes:
```bash
openspec set change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --json
openspec set change add-billing-api --initiative platform/billing-launch --json
openspec set change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --store platform --json
openspec set change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --store-path ../context --json
```
This command is a validated setter for checked-in repo-local change metadata. In
Item 8, the only supported settable field is the initiative link, and the only
file it may mutate is `openspec/changes/<id>/.openspec.yaml`.
The command should not edit proposal, design, tasks, specs, or initiative-store
files. It should not store local paths or write backlinks into the initiative.
If the requested initiative link already exists, the command should succeed as
an idempotent no-op. If a different initiative link already exists, the command
should fail without writing. Replacement, relink, unlink, and dry-run behavior
are deferred.
Rationale:
- Agents can forget to link a change during creation, so a first-class recovery
path is useful.
- `set change` matches the actual side effect: writing validated change metadata
to `.openspec.yaml`.
- Keeping the command scoped to `.openspec.yaml` avoids creating a broad change
editing surface.
- `openspec change ...` is currently deprecated, `edit` implies opening an
editor, and `update` already means refreshing local OpenSpec tooling or
guidance.
## Decision 8: Status And Instructions Visibility
Status and instructions should surface that the repo-local change is linked to
an initiative, but should not display or resolve the initiative itself.
Human status output should show the stored initiative reference, and JSON status
output should include the stored initiative `{ store, id }`. Instructions output
should include a concise factual note that the change is linked to the
initiative.
Status and instructions should not read, summarize, validate, or resolve the
initiative from the context store in v1. Missing or unavailable context stores
should not make repo-local status or instructions fail.
This keeps the relationship visible during ordinary repo-local workflows while
preserving the boundary that initiative lookup and context reading belong to
initiative-specific commands.
## Latest Open-Decision Notes
Date: 2026-05-23.
All decisions for Item 8 are now confirmed for implementation.
Implementation should keep the first slice small:
- The light release should test whether initiative-linked repo-local changes are
useful before adding gating, ownership inference, or broader workflow
integration.
- Standalone `initiative resolve` was later rejected; workspace local-view state
owns local path mapping.
- Source provenance, history/export, contract maps, and target-bound
initiative-hosted changes remain useful future discussion points, but should
not block this initial slice.
## Implementation Evidence
Date: 2026-05-23.
Implemented:
- `openspec new change <id> --initiative ...` for repo-local changes, with
`--json`, `--store`, and `--store-path` support.
- `openspec set change <id> --initiative ...` for existing repo-local changes.
- Portable checked-in metadata under `initiative: { store, id }`.
- Status and instructions visibility from stored metadata only.
- Workspace refusal, lookup-failure no-write behavior, same-link idempotency,
and different-link conflict protection.
Verification:
```bash
pnpm run build
```
Result: passed.
```bash
pnpm exec eslint src/commands/workflow/new-change.ts src/commands/workflow/set-change.ts src/commands/workflow/initiative-link.ts src/commands/workflow/instructions.ts src/commands/workflow/status.ts src/commands/workflow/shared.ts src/commands/initiative.ts src/core/artifact-graph/types.ts src/core/artifact-graph/instruction-loader.ts src/utils/change-utils.ts src/cli/index.ts
```
Result: passed.
```bash
pnpm exec vitest run test/utils/change-metadata.test.ts test/commands/change-initiative-link.test.ts
```
Result: passed, 39 tests.
```bash
pnpm exec vitest run test/commands/artifact-workflow.test.ts test/commands/initiative.test.ts test/core/artifact-graph/instruction-loader.test.ts
```
Result: passed, 110 tests.
@@ -0,0 +1,279 @@
# Connect Repo-Local Changes To Initiatives
## Status
Implemented. The original decision text below is preserved as design record;
current completion evidence lives in `tasks.md` and `evidence.md`.
## Source Of Truth
Start from `../../direction.md` and the Item 8 roadmap entry.
The relevant boundary is:
```text
Initiatives coordinate shared context.
Repo-local changes own implementation plans.
Workspaces open local views.
```
## Goal
Let an agent create or link a repo-local OpenSpec change to a shared
initiative without copying initiative prose, storing machine-local paths, or
making the initiative own repo implementation artifacts.
Example user prompt:
```text
Using initiative billing-launch, create a proposal for API work.
```
## Decisions
### 1. Initiative Link Location
Decision: Store the initiative link in the repo-local change `.openspec.yaml`.
Suggested metadata shape:
```yaml
schema: spec-driven
created: 2026-05-22
initiative:
store: platform
id: billing-launch
```
Rules:
- Store only the context store id and initiative id.
- Do not store local context-store paths.
- Do not store local repo paths.
- Do not create a checked-in `initiative.md` snapshot by default.
- Do not write backlinks into the initiative.
Rationale:
- `.openspec.yaml` is already the per-change machine-readable metadata file.
- The link is durable repo context and should be checked in with the change.
- The canonical initiative context remains in the context store.
- The metadata stays portable across teammates and machines.
### 2. Create Command Shape
Decision: Add initiative linking to the repo-local change creation command with
`--initiative`.
Supported first-slice forms:
```bash
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --json
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative platform/billing-launch --json
openspec new change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --store platform --json
```
Rules:
- The command starts from `new change` because the change is repo-owned.
- `--initiative` modifies repo-local change creation; it does not make the
initiative create or own the change.
- `--json` should be added to `new change` for agent-readable handoff output.
- A separate initiative-owned create command is not part of the first slice.
Rationale:
- The expected user flow is agent-first: "using initiative X, create a proposal
for repo work."
- Agents need one normal repo-local create command that can also write the
initiative reference.
- Keeping the verb rooted in `new change` preserves the boundary that changes
implement repo-owned slices.
### 3. Initiative Lookup Behavior
Decision: Reuse `initiative show` lookup semantics for `--initiative`.
Rules:
- Bare `--initiative <id>` searches all registered context stores.
- Bare lookup succeeds only when exactly one readable registered store contains
the initiative id.
- Duplicate initiative ids across stores fail as ambiguous.
- Any unreadable registered store makes bare lookup incomplete and fails before
writing change metadata.
- `--initiative <store>/<id>` selects one registered store by id.
- `--initiative <id> --store <store>` also selects one registered store by id.
- `--initiative <id> --store-path <path>` validates the explicit local context
store path, reads its store id, and writes only `{ store, id }` to metadata.
- `--store-path` does not auto-register the context store.
- Do not write repo-local initiative metadata until lookup is complete and
unambiguous.
Rationale:
- Agents can use the short form when it is safe.
- Durable repo-local links should not be created from partial knowledge.
- The behavior matches existing agent-first discovery semantics.
### 4. Repo-Local Only For V1
Decision: Item 8 supports initiative links only on repo-local changes.
Rules:
- `openspec new change <id> --initiative ...` creates an initiative-linked
change only when the current planning home is repo-local.
- If the command runs from a workspace planning home, v1 refuses with clear
guidance to run the command from the repo that owns the implementation plan.
- Existing workspace-planning changes remain compatibility behavior and are not
extended with initiative linkage in this slice.
Rationale:
- The current product boundary assigns implementation plans to repo-local
OpenSpec changes.
- Workspaces are local views, not the durable planning owner for initiative
work.
- Extending workspace-planning changes would revive the superseded
workspace-owns-the-plan model.
### 5. Repo Ownership Matching
Decision: Do not attempt repo ownership matching in v1.
Rules:
- Creating a repo-local change with an initiative link records participation in
the initiative.
- The link does not claim that OpenSpec verified repo ownership, repo impact, or
initiative area coverage.
- The command should not block or warn solely because the current repo is absent
from initiative content.
Rationale:
- Item 8 should not invent repo ownership or monorepo area semantics.
- Ownership matching belongs with later initiative resolution or explicit
initiative metadata.
- Keeping v1 small lets teams test whether linked repo-local changes are useful
before adding policy gates.
### 6. JSON And Human Output
Decision: Keep create output factual and minimal.
Rules:
- Output should report what the command did, not recommend workflow next steps.
- Human output should confirm the created change location, schema, and initiative
link.
- JSON output should include stable fields for the created change and initiative
link.
- JSON output should not include a `next` command or suggested workflow action.
- Output should not include initiative summaries, repo ownership claims,
resolved local context-store paths, or progress/status-like fields.
Suggested JSON shape:
```json
{
"change": {
"id": "add-billing-api",
"path": "/repo/openspec/changes/add-billing-api",
"metadataPath": "/repo/openspec/changes/add-billing-api/.openspec.yaml",
"schema": "spec-driven"
},
"initiative": {
"store": "platform",
"id": "billing-launch"
}
}
```
Rationale:
- CLI/API-style responses should state operation results or errors.
- Accurately choosing the next action depends on agent context and should remain
the agent's responsibility.
- Keeping output factual avoids coupling change creation to later lifecycle
design.
### 7. Existing Change Recovery
Decision: Include a recovery command for setting the initiative link on an
existing repo-local change.
Command shape:
```bash
openspec set change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --json
openspec set change add-billing-api --initiative platform/billing-launch --json
openspec set change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --store platform --json
openspec set change add-billing-api --initiative billing-launch --store-path ../context --json
```
Rules:
- `openspec set change <id> --initiative ...` is a validated setter for
repo-local change metadata.
- In Item 8, the only supported settable field is the initiative link.
- The command only mutates `openspec/changes/<id>/.openspec.yaml`.
- The command does not edit proposal, design, tasks, specs, or initiative-store
files.
- The command uses the same initiative lookup semantics as
`openspec new change <id> --initiative ...`.
- If the same initiative link already exists, the command succeeds as an
idempotent no-op.
- If a different initiative link already exists, the command fails without
writing. Replacement, relink, unlink, and dry-run behavior are not part of v1.
- If the command runs from a workspace planning home, it refuses for the same
reason as initiative-linked `new change`.
Rationale:
- Agents can forget to pass `--initiative` during change creation; v1 needs a
friendly recovery path.
- `set change` describes the real operation: setting checked-in change metadata,
not creating an initiative-owned relationship.
- Keeping the command limited to `.openspec.yaml` avoids a broad edit surface.
- Avoid `openspec change ...` because that namespace is currently deprecated.
- Avoid `edit` because it implies opening an editor, and avoid `update` because
OpenSpec already uses update for local guidance/tool refresh.
### 8. Status And Instructions Visibility
Decision: Surface the initiative link in status and instructions output without
resolving or displaying the initiative itself.
Rules:
- Human status output should show that the change is linked to an initiative.
- JSON status output should include the stored initiative `{ store, id }`.
- Instructions output should include a concise factual note that the change is
linked to the initiative.
- Status and instructions must not read, summarize, validate, or resolve the
initiative from the context store in v1.
- Missing or unavailable context stores must not make repo-local status or
instructions fail.
- Output should not add next-step recommendations.
Rationale:
- The initiative link should be visible in normal repo-local workflow output so
users and agents do not miss the relationship.
- Keeping visibility to stored metadata avoids introducing context-store
availability as a dependency for repo-local workflow commands.
- Initiative resolution belongs to initiative-specific commands, not status or
instructions in this slice.
## Open Decisions
None. Decision pass complete; confirm the decisions before implementation.
## Latest Suggested Resolutions
These were the suggested answers carried into implementation:
- Surface the stored initiative link in status and instructions without reading
or displaying the initiative itself.
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
# Connect Repo-Local Changes To Initiatives Tasks
## Decisions
- [x] Decide where the initiative link lives.
- [x] Decide command shape for creating initiative-linked changes.
- [x] Decide initiative lookup behavior for `--initiative`.
- [x] Decide whether workspace-scoped changes are allowed in this slice.
- [x] Decide whether repo ownership matching is attempted in v1.
- [x] Decide JSON and human output shape.
- [x] Decide whether Item 8 includes linking existing changes.
- [x] Decide whether status/instructions surface initiative links.
- [x] Confirm latest suggested resolutions in `plan.md` before implementation.
## Implementation
- [x] Extend change metadata schema with an optional initiative link.
- [x] Persist initiative metadata when creating repo-local changes.
- [x] Add command support for creating initiative-linked changes.
- [x] Add tests for metadata validation and persistence.
- [x] Add tests for command output and lookup failures.
- [x] Add status/instruction visibility for stored initiative links.
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
# Item 9 Decision: Reject Initiative Resolve
## Final Decision
Do not implement a standalone `openspec initiative resolve <id>` command, now
or later.
The command is unnecessary because it tries to do work that already belongs to
other concepts:
- `initiative show` finds the canonical initiative.
- A workspace is the local view over repos and folders.
- Repo-local changes link themselves to initiatives.
- Repo-local status reports work progress.
## Decision 1: No Command
No separate initiative command is needed.
If the user only has a context store, `initiative show` is enough. If the user
has a workspace, the local view is already represented by that workspace. If the
user is inside a repo, repo-local commands are enough.
## Decision 2: Local Resolution Belongs To Workspace
A workspace maps local repos and folders to paths on one machine. Future
initiative-aware local opening belongs in workspace behavior.
## Decision 3: Agent Behavior
Agents should:
- Use `openspec initiative show <id> --json` for shared context.
- Use the current workspace view when the user is working in a workspace.
- Use repo-local commands when the user is working in a repo.
- Let the user decide which repos are present locally.
## Decision 4: Rejected Scope
Remove all standalone resolve behavior:
- no `initiative resolve`
- no all-repo scan
- no all-workspace scan
- no `--path` search roots
- no Git remote matching
- no cloning
- no worktree or branch creation
- no initiative backlinks
- no local availability dashboard
## Decision 5: Roadmap Update
Convert Item 9 into a decision-only checkpoint.
Replacement:
```text
Item 9. Reject Initiative Resolve
Decision: do not add `openspec initiative resolve`, now or later. Initiative
discovery belongs to `initiative show`; local path mapping belongs to
workspaces; implementation progress belongs to repo-local changes.
```
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
# Reject Initiative Resolve Evidence
## Decision Summary
Date: 2026-05-25.
After review, the standalone `openspec initiative resolve <id>` command should
not be implemented, now or later.
The useful distinction is already covered by existing concepts:
- `initiative show` resolves canonical shared initiative context.
- A workspace is the local view over repos and folders.
- Repo-local changes link themselves to initiatives through checked-in metadata.
- Repo-local status reports implementation progress.
A standalone resolve command would mostly duplicate workspace local-view state
or provide weak output when no workspace is present.
## Pressure Test
Scenario:
```bash
git clone git@github.com:acme/context.git
openspec context-store register ./context --id platform
openspec initiative show billing-launch --json
```
This can locate:
```text
platform/billing-launch
./context/initiatives/billing-launch
./context/initiatives/billing-launch/initiative.yaml
```
It cannot know:
```text
which implementation repos should exist locally
where those repos are on this machine
which repos the user intends to work in
which repos should be cloned
which workspace view the user wants
```
That knowledge belongs to the user and the workspace, not the initiative.
## Why Workspace Changes The Answer
When a user has a workspace, the local view is already resolved by the
workspace:
```text
workspace -> link names -> machine-local paths
```
The agent can operate from the workspace context. A separate
`initiative resolve` command would add another layer that mostly reprints what
the workspace already owns.
If future UX needs initiative-aware opening, it should be part of workspace
behavior, such as opening or preparing a workspace around a selected initiative.
It should not be a standalone initiative command pretending to infer local repo
availability.
## Research Notes Retained
The earlier investigation is still useful as background:
- `initiative show` already has correct context-store lookup behavior,
ambiguity handling, incomplete lookup handling, and JSON locator output.
- Item 8 stores initiative links in repo-local `.openspec.yaml` as
`{ store, id }`.
- Workspace state owns local path mappings and generated open surfaces.
- Existing repo-local status and instructions expose initiative links but do not
resolve or summarize the initiative.
Those findings support the final decision: do not add a standalone command; keep
each responsibility in its existing owner.
## Rejected Scope
Rejected for Item 9:
- `openspec initiative resolve <id>`
- path-resolution dashboards
- progress dashboards
- all-workspace scans
- all-repo scans
- explicit path scanning as an initiative command
- Git remote matching
- repo ownership inference
- cloning or branch/worktree orchestration
- initiative backlinks
## Verification
This pass updates decision artifacts only.
```bash
git diff --check
```
Result: passed after this revision.
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
# Reject Initiative Resolve
## Status
Final decision: do not implement a standalone `openspec initiative resolve`
command, now or later.
## Source Of Truth
Start from `../../direction.md` and the boundary:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
Item 8 already established that repo-local changes may reference initiatives
through portable checked-in metadata:
```yaml
initiative:
store: platform
id: billing-launch
```
## Final Decision
Do not ship `openspec initiative resolve <id>` as a user-facing command in this
slice or any future slice.
The earlier command framing was too broad. It tried to join initiative identity,
workspace local paths, explicit repo roots, and linked repo-local changes into a
new CLI surface. That makes the command look authoritative even though the
initiative does not own local repo paths, repo participation, or implementation
state.
## Why The Command Is Not Needed
If a user only has a context store clone, OpenSpec can already resolve the
canonical initiative with:
```bash
openspec initiative show billing-launch --json
```
That answers:
```text
What initiative is this, which context store contains it, and where is the
canonical initiative folder?
```
It cannot answer:
```text
Which local implementation repos should exist on this machine?
```
because that information is not in the context store.
If a user has a workspace, the workspace is already the local view. It already
maps local repos and folders to paths on this machine. A separate
`initiative resolve` command would mostly re-describe the workspace the user is
already using.
If a user is in a repo, the repo-local change commands and status commands
already operate from that repo. The user or agent can inspect the current repo's
changes directly.
## Product Rule
Do not create a new command whose main job is to discover local paths that the
workspace already represents.
Rules:
- `initiative show` remains the command for canonical initiative discovery.
- Workspaces remain the local view over repos, folders, context stores, and
initiatives.
- Repo-local changes remain the implementation artifacts.
- Agents should use the current workspace or current repo context rather than
asking a standalone initiative command to infer local availability.
- OpenSpec should not infer repo ownership, scan arbitrary repos, clone repos,
create worktrees, or write backlinks to make resolve appear smarter than it
is.
## What To Do Instead
Keep the pieces separate:
- Use `openspec initiative show <id> --json` to locate canonical shared context.
- Use workspace commands to set up, link, relink, list, open, update, and doctor
local views.
- Use repo-local `openspec new change ... --initiative ...` and
`openspec set change ... --initiative ...` to create durable links from repo
work to initiative context.
- Use `openspec status --change <id> --json` inside the owning repo to inspect
implementation progress.
If a future workspace workflow needs to open an initiative-specific view, it
should be designed under workspace behavior, not as a standalone initiative
resolve command.
## Deferred Or Replaced Scope
The following ideas are not part of Item 9 implementation:
- `openspec initiative resolve <id>`
- scanning all registered workspaces
- scanning all repos on disk
- explicit `--path` based initiative resolution
- Git remote matching
- repo ownership inference
- cloning, fetching, pulling, pushing
- branch or worktree creation
- initiative backlinks
- progress dashboards
- local availability dashboards
## Roadmap Disposition
Item 9 is a decision-only checkpoint. It records that standalone initiative
resolution is rejected permanently.
Roadmap framing:
```text
Item 9. Reject Initiative Resolve
Decision: do not add `openspec initiative resolve`, now or later. Initiative
discovery belongs to `initiative show`; local path mapping belongs to
workspaces; implementation progress belongs to repo-local changes.
```
## Next Useful Work
The next useful implementation slice is workspace initiative opening, without a
standalone resolve prerequisite.
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
# Reject Initiative Resolve Tasks
## Decisions
- [x] Create Item 9 work-item tracking notes.
- [x] Pressure-test whether a standalone `initiative resolve` command is needed.
- [x] Decide that a standalone user-facing `initiative resolve` command should
not be implemented now or later.
- [x] Decide `initiative show` remains sufficient for canonical initiative
discovery.
- [x] Decide workspace local-view state is the right place for local repo/path
mapping.
- [x] Decide repo-local status remains the right place for work progress.
- [x] Decide not to add all-repo scanning, all-workspace scanning, Git remote
matching, cloning, worktree creation, or initiative backlinks.
## Follow-Up
- [x] Update the central roadmap entry for Item 9.
- [x] Update the initiative task tracker.
- [x] Record workspace initiative opening as the next useful implementation
slice.
@@ -0,0 +1,430 @@
# Let Workspaces Open Initiatives
## Status
Product decisions are locked. The remaining work is implementation design and
delivery.
## Source Of Truth
Start from `../../direction.md` and the boundary:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
Item 9 rejected standalone initiative resolution. Initiative discovery belongs
to `initiative show`; local path mapping belongs to workspace local-view state.
## Locked Direction
A workspace does not contain the work. It remembers how this runtime opens the
work.
```text
private local view record
-> generated runtime files
-> opener-specific launch
-> initiative context + selected local repos/folders
```
The durable part is the user's private local view choice. The generated part is
runtime support for agents and editors.
## Product Goal
Let a user open a shared initiative in their own local runtime with the context
and repos they care about.
Examples:
- A Team A developer opens `platform/billing-launch` with local Repo A and Repo
B.
- A Team B developer opens the same initiative with local Repo C only.
- A user opens the initiative context only, links repos later, and still gets
useful agent guidance.
## Non-Goals
- Do not clone repos.
- Do not create branches or worktrees.
- Do not use Git submodules as the workspace primitive.
- Do not infer all participating repos from Git remotes or disk scans.
- Do not write generated agent files into linked repos or context stores.
- Do not make workspace-level `changes/` the durable planning model.
- Do not enforce edit permissions in Item 10.
## Decision Register
### Command UX
Status: decided.
Use `workspace open` for initiative local-view realization:
```bash
openspec workspace open --initiative platform/billing-launch
openspec workspace open --initiative billing-launch --store platform
openspec workspace open --initiative billing-launch
openspec workspace open team-a-billing --initiative platform/billing-launch
```
Rationale: the action being performed is local view realization, so the command
belongs under `workspace open` rather than `initiative open`.
Lookup behavior:
- If the user provides `<store>/<initiative>`, use that exact store selector.
- If the user provides `<initiative> --store <store>`, use that exact store
selector.
- If the user provides only `<initiative>`, search registered context stores and
proceed when there is exactly one exact match.
- If multiple stores contain the same initiative id, stop and show the matching
stores with a hint to retry using `<store>/<initiative>` or `--store`.
- If no exact match exists, do not silently open the closest match. Show a small
list of likely matches when available, plus a hint to run `openspec
initiative list`.
- If some registered stores cannot be read, keep the result conservative. Do not
choose a match that could be ambiguous behind an unreadable store unless the
user supplied an explicit store selector.
Interactive UX may let a human choose from suggestions. JSON and non-interactive
UX should return structured errors and suggestions without prompting.
Workspace-name behavior:
- The optional positional workspace name remains the local view identity.
- If the user provides a workspace name with `--initiative`, create or reuse that
named local view.
- If the user omits a workspace name, create or reuse a friendly default derived
from the initiative id when that is unambiguous.
- On name collisions or multiple existing local views for the same initiative,
let the human choose interactively or require an explicit workspace name in
non-interactive mode.
### Open Target
Status: decided.
Default to opening the initiative directory, not the whole context store.
User-facing behavior:
```bash
openspec workspace open --initiative billing-launch
```
opens a focused local view:
```text
generated files in the workspace root
context-store/initiatives/billing-launch/
selected local repos/folders
```
It should not open the entire context store by default.
Rationale:
- The user asked for one initiative, so the opened context should be focused on
that initiative.
- Agents receive less unrelated shared context.
- Unrelated initiatives and shared files are not exposed by default.
- The local view stays easier to understand: generated workspace root plus this
initiative plus selected implementation roots.
Generated guidance and JSON output should still report the context store root
and that broader context exists. A later explicit option may open the full
context store, for example `--context-scope store` or `--include-store`, but
broad store scope is not the default for Item 10.
### Local View Record
Status: decided.
Use one private local view record: the root `workspace.yaml` file.
```yaml
version: 1
name: billing-launch
context:
kind: initiative
store:
id: platform
selector:
kind: registry
id: platform
initiative:
id: billing-launch
links:
repo-a: /Users/me/repos/repo-a
repo-b: /Users/me/repos/repo-b
preferred_opener: codex
tools:
- codex
```
This decision covers the conceptual record shape and the fact that generated
runtime files are not durable state.
If the user selected a context store by local path, the private workspace record
can keep that runtime-local selector without changing checked-in repo metadata:
```yaml
context:
kind: initiative
store:
id: platform
selector:
kind: path
path: /Users/me/context/platform
observed_id: platform
initiative:
id: billing-launch
```
The context binding is optional. A user can also create a workspace that is not
linked to any initiative:
```yaml
version: 1
name: team-a-local
context: null
links:
repo-a: /Users/me/repos/repo-a
repo-b: /Users/me/repos/repo-b
preferred_opener: codex
tools:
- codex
```
This is a first-class workspace shape, not only an edge case for initiative
opening. Item 10 should preserve custom non-initiative workspaces while adding
initiative-aware opening.
### Workspace Storage And Generated Files
Status: decided.
Store each private workspace view under the user's OpenSpec global data
directory, keyed by workspace name:
```text
getGlobalDataDir()/workspaces/<workspace-name>/
```
The workspace name is the local identity. The selected store and initiative, if
any, are data inside the private record; they do not define the storage path.
This keeps the workspace API generic enough for custom local views that are not
initiative-linked.
Initial shape:
```text
getGlobalDataDir()/workspaces/<workspace-name>/
workspace.yaml
AGENTS.md
<workspace-name>.code-workspace
.codex/
skills/
.claude/
skills/
```
`workspace.yaml` is the durable private view record and the only view file in
Item 10. The other files are generated runtime support owned by OpenSpec. They
may be overwritten by `workspace open`, `workspace update`, or a future explicit
preparation surface.
Do not add a separate generated-output directory for Item 10. The managed
workspace root is already the private generated view.
Initiative open defaults:
- If the user provides a workspace name and no workspace exists, create that
workspace bound to the selected initiative.
- If the user provides a workspace name and it already points at the same
initiative, reuse it and regenerate runtime files.
- If the user provides a workspace name and it has no context binding, bind it
to the selected initiative only after clear user confirmation; in
non-interactive mode, fail and require an explicit future rebind/update
surface.
- If the user provides a workspace name and it points at a different initiative
or context, do not silently repoint it. Stop with a clear error and require an
explicit future rebind/update surface.
- If the user omits a workspace name and exactly one existing workspace points at
the selected initiative, reuse it.
- If the user omits a workspace name and no existing workspace points at the
selected initiative, create a friendly default workspace name derived from the
initiative id only when that name is unused.
- If the derived workspace name collides with another workspace, ask for an
explicit workspace name or show matching workspace choices instead of hiding
the collision behind a path convention.
- If multiple workspaces point at the same initiative, let the user choose or
require an explicit workspace name in non-interactive mode.
### Generated Runtime Files
Status: decided.
Generate runtime files at the workspace root, next to `workspace.yaml`.
```text
getGlobalDataDir()/workspaces/<workspace-name>/
```
The generated files can contain `AGENTS.md`, skills, launch prompts, and
generated editor workspace files.
Regeneration behavior:
- `workspace open` regenerates the managed runtime files before launching the
opener.
- `workspace update` regenerates the managed runtime files without changing
durable local view choices unless the user asked for a state change.
- Generated files are OpenSpec-owned and may be overwritten each time.
- `workspace.yaml` is not generated output and should not be overwritten except
when the local view record itself changes.
### Runtime Identity
Status: decided.
Use `getGlobalDataDir()` as the runtime-local boundary. It is already
cross-platform and resolves to the appropriate user data directory for macOS,
Linux, Windows, Codespaces, WSL, SSH hosts, and containers.
Local paths in `workspace.yaml` are valid only in the runtime that wrote them.
If the same user opens the same initiative from another runtime, they create or
relink that runtime's workspace there. Item 10 should not add path translation,
shared machine identities, or an extra `<runtime-id>` path segment.
### Prepare/JSON Surface
Status: decided.
Keep `workspace open --json` as a machine-facing receipt for the same open
operation. Do not add `--prepare-only` for Item 10.
The JSON response should be useful to agents and desktop integrations, not just
a success boolean. It should include the workspace name, workspace root,
generated file paths, selected context, opened roots, skipped or missing roots,
opener, launch status, and warnings.
Human-facing behavior remains the normal `workspace open` output. JSON mode is
for tools that need structured facts after OpenSpec has prepared the workspace
root and attempted the requested open.
### Missing Paths At Open Time
Status: decided.
Workspace opening should be strict about the selected initiative/context and
forgiving about optional linked local paths.
- If the selected initiative cannot be resolved, fail before launch.
- If the context store or initiative path is unavailable, fail before launch and
point to context-store registration/doctor guidance.
- If a linked repo or folder is missing, warn and skip that root; do not block a
context-only or partially linked open.
- Human output should name skipped links and suggest `workspace doctor` or
relink guidance.
- JSON output should include skipped or missing roots and warnings.
### Codex Desktop
Status: decided.
Open the generated workspace root as the Codex Desktop project. Surface the
attached initiative path and linked repo/folder paths through generated guidance
and the `workspace open --json` response.
Do not depend on Desktop multi-root automation for Item 10. If Desktop later has
a clearer multi-root contract, it can become an enhancement without changing the
workspace storage model.
### Edit Boundaries
Status: decided.
Item 10 emits advisory boundaries only. Generated context should distinguish
coordination context from implementation targets, but it should not enforce
write restrictions.
The generated view should label initiative/context-store files as shared
coordination context and linked repos/folders as local implementation context
when selected. Strong enforcement can come later.
## First-Run UX Sketch
Status: deferred beyond the first implementation slice.
This sketch captures the eventual human interactive flow. Item 10 should not
depend on building a full guided setup wizard; the first implementation may use
explicit flags and structured errors first.
```text
Found initiative: platform/billing-launch
No local workspace view exists for this runtime.
Create a local view?
> Open context only
Link existing local repos/folders
Cancel
```
No option in this first-run flow should clone, branch, create worktrees, or
create submodules.
## Machine-Readable Open Contract
`workspace open --json` is the machine-readable contract for the generated
runtime context. Item 10 should not create a separate machine-readable view
file; the durable view record is `workspace.yaml`.
The JSON response should tell agents:
- schema version
- workspace name and workspace root
- selected initiative id, title, and path
- selected context store id and path
- generated file paths
- opened roots
- skipped or missing roots
- linked repo-local changes when known
- advisory edit boundaries
- next repair commands
- warnings and launch status when produced by `workspace open --json`
If no implementation target is selected, `allowedEditRoots` should be empty or
explicitly advisory.
The exact schema can evolve during implementation, but the JSON response should
make the generated view self-describing enough for agents and desktop
integrations without scraping human output.
## Forward Compatibility
The initial `context` record supports the selected context store and initiative.
Do not design the YAML parser so narrowly that future records cannot add fields
for configurable change homes, artifact homes, target bindings, or other
collection/view metadata.
## Compatibility Notes
The current beta workspace implementation creates a managed root with
`changes/`, `AGENTS.md`, `.gitignore`,
`.openspec-workspace/workspace.yaml`, `.openspec-workspace/local.yaml`, and a
durable `.code-workspace` file.
Item 10's intended new shape is a root `workspace.yaml` plus generated runtime
files at the managed workspace root. Existing beta workspaces should be treated
as compatibility inputs. Migration or removal of all beta internals is deferred
unless the implementation slice intentionally scopes that migration.
For the initiative-opening model, generated runtime files are derived artifacts,
not workspace truth.
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
# Let Workspaces Open Initiatives Tasks
## Decisions
- [x] Create Item 10 work-item tracking notes.
- [x] Lock the high-level direction: private local view record plus generated
runtime files.
- [x] Decide command UX.
- [x] Decide default open target.
- [x] Decide private local view record shape.
- [x] Decide private local view record storage namespace and keying.
- [x] Decide generated runtime file location and lifetime.
- [x] Decide runtime identity rules.
- [x] Decide prepare/JSON surface.
- [x] Decide Codex Desktop behavior.
- [x] Decide Item 10 edit-boundary semantics.
## Implementation Scope To Confirm Later
- [x] Add or adapt workspace local-view state for initiative opening.
- [x] Preserve non-initiative custom workspaces as first-class local views.
- [x] Resolve initiative context through existing `initiative show` semantics.
- [x] Implement workspace-name reuse and collision behavior for initiative open.
- [x] Generate opener-specific runtime files.
- [x] Return explicit machine-readable view context from `workspace open --json`.
- [x] Launch agent/editor with generated workspace root plus initiative context and
selected local repos/folders.
- [x] Warn and skip missing linked repos/folders at open time while failing on
missing selected initiative/context.
- [x] Add doctor guidance for missing context stores, missing local links, stale
view records, and advisory edit boundaries.
- [x] Ensure Item 10 opens known local paths only and does not clone, branch,
create worktrees, or use submodules.
## Deferred
- [ ] Multiple saved views per initiative.
- [ ] Shared/exported workspace templates.
- [ ] Repo auto-discovery or Git remote matching.
- [ ] Strong edit-boundary enforcement.
- [ ] Codex Desktop multi-root automation if the Desktop contract is not clear
enough for Item 10.
- [ ] Migration or removal of all existing beta workspace root artifacts.
@@ -0,0 +1,289 @@
# Manual Beta Reality Pass Notes
Use this as the scratchpad while trying the beta flow.
## What Worked
- Manual beta pass caught the bad default before building more surface area.
- After changing the default, rerunning
`openspec context-store setup team-context --init-git` from inside the
OpenSpec repo created the store at
`~/.local/share/openspec/context-stores/team-context` instead of nesting it in
the repo.
- Minimal fresh-agent handoff worked for initiative creation. A subagent given
only the store id and a loose topic created `agent-trace-hooks` in the correct
context-store location:
`~/.local/share/openspec/context-stores/team-context/initiatives/agent-trace-hooks`.
## What Felt Weird
- Fresh-user guidance immediately drifted into sandbox/environment setup
(`XDG_CONFIG_HOME`, `XDG_DATA_HOME`) instead of letting the user just run the
beta locally. Strong reaction: this should work as a normal local workflow.
- `openspec context-store setup` with no args feels like it should start an
interactive setup, but it does not. The command name itself creates that
expectation.
- `openspec context-store setup team-context --init-git` created
`team-context/` inside the current OpenSpec repo because the default path is
`./<id>`. User expected a default outside the current repo, not a new Git repo
nested in whatever directory they happened to run from.
- Cleaning up the accidental store had no obvious CLI path. `context-store`
exposes setup/register/list/doctor, but no unregister/remove command, so
cleanup required removing the folder and editing the registry manually.
- `context-store setup --init-git` initializes Git, but leaves
`.openspec-store/` and new initiatives untracked. That may be fine, but the
beta flow does not tell the user or agent whether to stage/commit the shared
context store.
- `openspec workspace open` with no arguments prompts only for known local
workspace views. It does not show registered context stores or initiatives, so
`team-context` is absent even though the next guide step is opening an
initiative from that store. This is technically consistent with the current
implementation, but confusing in the beta flow because the command name reads
like the broad "open something OpenSpec-related" entrypoint.
- The post-initiative step has the wrong first-run verb. After creating a
context store and an initiative, the user is conceptually creating a local
workspace view for that initiative. "Open" implies the workspace already
exists, so the beta guide and CLI make the user infer a hidden create-or-open
behavior.
## Missing Prompts Or Too Many Flags
- Need clearer guidance for whether a beta pass should use existing local
OpenSpec state or create a normal local test context store. Avoid requiring
environment variables as the default manual path.
- Missing prompt: when no context-store id is provided, ask for the store id,
path, and Git initialization choice instead of requiring the user to know the
positional argument/flags.
- Missing prompt/safety check: before creating a default context store under
the current directory, show the target path and ask for confirmation or offer
a managed default location.
- Missing handoff guidance: after context-store setup, the guide tells the user
to ask an agent to create an initiative, but a fresh agent may not know the
beta initiative CLI or where to find the agent playbook.
- Missing prompt: `workspace open` should either offer an "open initiative from
context store" path when registered initiatives exist, or make the zero-arg
prompt text explicit that it is selecting an existing local workspace view
only. If it offers initiatives, it should likely list references like
`team-context/agent-trace-hooks`, not just the store id.
- Missing first-run workspace creation flow: after an initiative exists, the
user should be guided through creating the local workspace view. A simple
interactive path could ask what to set up, list registered initiatives such as
`team-context/agent-trace-hooks`, suggest a workspace name from the initiative
id, optionally link existing repo/folder paths, choose an opener, then create
the workspace view.
- Better minimal beta path: keep lazy workspace creation, but make bare
interactive `openspec workspace open` initiative-aware. The picker should show
existing local workspace views and registered initiatives that can create a
local view on selection, with labels that preserve the distinction between
"workspace" and "initiative."
- The generated initiative file contract is underexplained. The CLI creates
exactly `initiative.yaml`, `requirements.md`, `design.md`, `decisions.md`,
`questions.md`, and `tasks.md`, but docs describe the Markdown files as
"typical" or "then edit" rather than naming the contract clearly.
- A user looking at the generated initiative tree may reasonably ask where that
structure came from. The exact six-file contract is clear in code and the
internal MVP work item, but public beta docs do not make it explicit and the
broader direction doc still mentions future `contracts/` content.
## Agent Handoff Notes
- The first agent step has a bootstrapping problem. `context-store setup` does
not create repo-local guidance, and `workspace open --initiative` cannot run
until the initiative exists. A fresh agent needs either an explicit pasted
mini-playbook, installed OpenSpec skills, or CLI output that prints the exact
next agent prompt/command.
- In the manual subagent test, the agent ran `initiative create --help`, then
created the initiative with `--store team-context --title ... --summary ...
--json`. It correctly resolved the store and did not create files in the
OpenSpec repo.
- The subagent replaced generated `TBD` placeholders with useful short content,
which suggests the templates give enough structure but not enough guidance.
There is no CLI option to seed richer content beyond title and summary.
- `initiative create --json` reports `created_files` as relative names. Agents
have to combine those with the returned root to get absolute paths.
- "Commands only" is product-ambiguous for this beta. The implementation treats
it as "remove all skills and install only slash command files," but users may
read it as "I prefer slash commands for workflow entry points." They still
likely expect their coding agent to understand OpenSpec concepts, context
stores, initiatives, and workspace handoff.
## Delivery UX Model
- Split the concept into two layers:
- Baseline OpenSpec literacy: "Does the agent understand OpenSpec concepts and
know how to inspect context stores, initiatives, workspaces, and repo-local
changes?"
- Workflow entrypoints: "How does the user invoke workflow actions such as
propose/apply/archive?"
- Current `delivery` acts like a generated-artifact cleanup switch. That is too
low-level for the user-facing choice.
- Better meaning:
- `skills`: install the baseline guide skill plus workflow skills.
- `commands`: install the baseline guide skill plus workflow slash commands.
- `both`: install the baseline guide skill plus workflow skills and workflow
slash commands.
- In UI copy, avoid "commands only" if it implies no skills at all. Prefer
labels like "Slash commands as workflow entrypoints" or "Workflow commands
only" with helper text that baseline OpenSpec guidance is still installed
when the selected agent supports skills.
- For tools without a command adapter, commands-oriented delivery should warn
clearly that workflow slash commands are unavailable for that tool. The tool
should still receive the baseline guide skill if it supports skills, so the
selected agent is not left with nothing.
## Initiative Placement UX
- A fresh agent also needs to know whether a new planning object belongs in a
context store or in the current repo. This should not be left to vibes.
- Product distinction:
- Initiatives in context stores are durable planning and coordination context
that intentionally lives outside implementation repos: product intent,
decisions, questions, roadmap notes, and tasks that should not necessarily
be checked into the code repo.
- Repo-local OpenSpec changes are implementation plans owned by the repo that
will change: proposal/design/spec deltas/tasks/validation.
- Workspaces are local views that connect shared context to local repos; they
should not become a third durable planning home.
- Agent guidance should not assume repo-local is preferred just because work
touches one repo. Use or create a context-store initiative when the user wants
OpenSpec artifacts outside the repo, when a monorepo has multiple teams with
separate planning contexts, when repo policy discourages planning artifacts,
when work is cross-repo/team-coordinated, long-lived, pre-implementation
discovery, or already tied to an existing context store.
- If a request is ambiguous, the agent should inspect first:
`openspec initiative list --json`, `openspec list --json`, and workspace
state when available. If still ambiguous, ask: "Should these OpenSpec
artifacts live outside the repo in a context store, or inside this repo as a
repo-local implementation change?"
- CLI/skill copy should make the linked flow explicit: create/read initiative
in the context store, then create repo-local changes from the owning repo with
`--initiative <store>/<initiative>`.
## Initiative Creation Rethink
- `openspec initiative create` currently creates a full six-file planning
packet with `TBD` placeholders. That is too eager for the intended audience:
PMs, designers, architects, and agents facilitating early product/architecture
thinking.
- Initial creation should register the initiative shell, not invent the plan.
The most conservative first slice is `initiative.yaml` plus either:
- a short `brief.md` seeded from title/summary/current understanding; or
- a lightweight `requirements.md` with no `TBD` placeholders and no claims of
accepted requirements until the content has been reviewed.
- Follow-up artifacts should be created iteratively when they become real:
- `requirements.md`: accepted high-level requirements, goals, non-goals,
unresolved product questions.
- `design.md`: reviewed product/UX/architecture direction and tradeoffs.
- `questions.md`: optional question log when questions need tracking.
- `decisions.md`: optional decision log appended only after decisions happen.
- Avoid default `tasks.md`; implementation tasks belong in repo-local changes.
If initiative-level coordination is needed later, use clearer language like
`workstreams.md`, `milestones.md`, or `coordination.md`.
- This should ideally become schema-led. Reuse the artifact-graph idea
(artifact ids, generated paths, templates, dependencies, status/instructions),
but root it at the initiative directory instead of repo-local changes.
- A minimal initiative schema could start with only `requirements` and `design`,
where design depends on requirements. `decisions` and `questions` are living
logs, so file-existence completion semantics may not fit them.
- For next-release safety, avoid a strict top-level `schema:` field in
`initiative.yaml` until metadata compatibility is designed. If a schema hint
needs persistence, store it under `metadata` or keep the default implicit.
## Docs Fixes
- The beta guide says "This creates a local context store" but does not explain
that the default location is `./<id>` relative to the current working
directory. That needs to be explicit if the default remains.
- Immediate docs/code fix changed the default away from `./<id>` and documented
the managed local data location instead.
- Step 2 should not assume the agent already knows the beta initiative command.
Include a copy-paste bootstrap prompt or link/inline excerpt from the agent
CLI playbook.
- Step 3 says "Open Your Local Workbench," but the command is actually
create-or-open when `--initiative` is passed. The guide should make that
explicit: "Create or open a local workspace view for the initiative." It
should also warn that bare `openspec workspace open` selects existing
workspace views only and will not list context stores like `team-context`.
- Better: change the user-facing flow so the first-time path is explicitly
creation/setup. The guide should send humans to an interactive workspace setup
path for the initiative, then reserve `workspace open` for reopening an
existing workspace view.
- Subagent UX/model passes recommended a leaner beta change: keep
`workspace open --initiative <store>/<initiative>` as the explicit
create-or-reuse path, but make bare interactive `workspace open` show
initiatives as selectable targets. Selecting an initiative should say it is
creating/opening a local workspace view.
## Possible Implementation Slices
- Make `openspec context-store setup` interactive when no id is provided:
prompt for store id, default path, and Git initialization; keep `--json` /
non-interactive behavior deterministic with a helpful fix message.
- Reconsider the default context-store setup path. Options: use the managed
OpenSpec data directory by default, or keep `./<id>` only after an interactive
confirmation that names the full target path.
- Implemented during the pass: use the managed OpenSpec data directory by
default and keep `--path` for explicit locations.
- Add `openspec context-store unregister <id>` or `remove <id>` for local
registry cleanup, with an explicit choice about whether to delete files or
only forget the local registration.
- Add a first-run handoff affordance after context-store setup, such as printing
"Next for your agent" guidance or adding a command that emits the agent
playbook for shared context/initiative setup.
- Add interactive workspace creation for initiative views. Candidate surfaces:
extend `openspec workspace setup` with initiative selection, add
`openspec workspace setup --initiative <store>/<initiative>`, or introduce a
clearer `workspace create` command. The key UX requirement is that a fresh
user can run an interactive command after initiative creation and be led to
"create a local workspace view for this initiative" without knowing
`--initiative` or the derived workspace-name convention.
- Add an initiative-aware `workspace open` picker as the smallest product fix:
on bare interactive open, list local workspaces plus registered initiatives.
If the user selects an initiative, feed it through the existing
`--initiative` create/reuse path. Do not auto-create workspaces during
context-store setup or initiative creation, and do not make workspaces 1:1
with initiatives.
- Implemented during the pass: bare interactive `workspace open` now shows
registered initiatives that do not already have a known local view, and
selecting one creates/reuses the initiative-bound workspace view.
- Follow-up fix: when that lazy initiative view is new, `workspace open`
now runs the same repo/folder link prompt as `workspace setup` before
creating the workspace view. This avoids opening an empty workspace and
makes the first-run path collect implementation roots at the moment the
user expects it.
- Consider splitting baseline OpenSpec literacy from workflow delivery. A
small default `use-openspec` skill could be installed whenever a selected
agent supports skills, even if workflow delivery is set to commands-only, so
"commands only" means "workflow actions are slash commands" rather than "the
agent gets no OpenSpec context."
- Simpler possible slice: treat `use-openspec` as a normal managed skill bundled
with the configurator and installed by default. Keep it skill-only even if it
is presented as part of the default profile, so it does not create a slash
command, workflow artifact, or user-facing workflow action.
- Rethink `openspec initiative create` as a sparse, schema-led container
instead of a fully scaffolded planning packet. Initial create should likely
write only `initiative.yaml` plus a short `brief.md` seeded from title and
summary. Follow-up agent/CLI actions can add `requirements.md`, `design.md`,
`questions.md`, `decisions.md`, or coordination artifacts when there is
reviewed content to capture. Avoid default `TBD` sections, fake decisions,
and default initiative-level `tasks.md` that may be confused with repo-local
implementation tasks.
- Manual follow-up converted the test `agent-trace-hooks` initiative to the
proposed sparse shape: kept `initiative.yaml`, added `brief.md`, and removed
the eager generated planning files. `initiative show` still resolves because
current initiative identity depends on `initiative.yaml`.
- Promoted the broader fix into
`work-items/15-context-store-project-roots-and-schema-led-initiatives/`:
context stores should behave like OpenSpec roots for shared context, with
store-local config, schemas, and sparse schema-led initiative artifacts.
- Workspace shape correction: managed workspace views should not look like
repos. New workspace views should contain the generated root files
(`AGENTS.md`, `workspace.yaml`, and `<workspace>.code-workspace`) without a
default `changes/` directory or generated `.gitignore`; VS Code multi-root
views should show linked repos first, then initiative context, then the small
OpenSpec workspace folder.
- Guide correction: after opening a workspace, the user should ask the agent to
explore or draft using the initiative. The agent should resolve workspace
state, initiative context, and linked repo ownership, then run repo-local
OpenSpec commands from the owning repo. The user-facing flow should not make
humans type `openspec new change` or `cd` into implementation repos.
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
# Manual Beta Reality Pass
## Status
Proposed next work item.
## Goal
Try the current beta flow by hand and use the friction as product input before
building more surface area.
## Pass Shape
Start from a fresh local setup and walk through:
- context store setup or registration
- initiative creation and editing through an agent
- workspace open
- workspace link or relink
- workspace doctor
- repo-local change creation linked to an initiative
- handoff back to an agent
## Output
The output should be notes, not polish:
- what felt easy
- what felt weird
- where flags leaked into user-facing docs
- where prompts were missing
- what an agent needed to be told explicitly
- what should become a follow-on implementation slice
## Non-Goals
- Do not require a clean public tutorial state.
- Do not solve every issue found during the pass.
- Do not turn the beta flow into a progress dashboard.
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
# Manual Beta Reality Pass Tasks
- [ ] Run the current beta flow from a fresh user's point of view.
- [ ] Capture notes in the initiative as the pass happens.
- [ ] Mark where the user should type commands versus prompt an agent.
- [ ] Record confusing output, missing prompts, and unclear command names.
- [ ] Update beta docs with immediate findings.
- [ ] Split larger findings into proposed implementation work items.
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
# Context Store First-Run And Cleanup UX Evidence
## Manual Beta Source Notes
The manual beta pass found:
- no-argument `openspec context-store setup` feels like it should start an
interactive setup;
- accidental setup previously created a store under the current repo before the
managed default was corrected;
- cleanup had no CLI path and required deleting files plus editing the registry
manually;
- Git initialization left shared files untracked without telling the user or
agent what to do next.
## Initial Recommendation
Keep context-store first-run UX small and local:
- prompt only for local setup choices;
- never push, pull, commit, create remotes, or delete files implicitly;
- keep JSON output explicit enough for agents to continue safely;
- leave team sync policy to the later shared-coordination hardening work.
## Implementation Result
- `openspec context-store setup` now runs a guided setup in interactive
terminals when no id is provided.
- Non-interactive and `--json` setup require explicit inputs and fail with a
structured setup-id diagnostic when the id is missing.
- Explicit setup paths inside another Git repository are blocked
non-interactively and require explicit confirmation interactively.
- `context-store unregister <id>` removes only the local registry entry.
- `context-store remove <id>` removes the local registry entry and deletes the
local folder only after confirmation or `--yes`; it refuses to delete folders
without matching context-store metadata.
- Human success output is intentionally compact; JSON output carries exact
registry, file, and Git state without `next_commands`.
Verification:
- `pnpm build`
- `pnpm lint`
- `pnpm vitest run test/commands/context-store.test.ts test/core/context-store/registry.test.ts`
- `pnpm test`
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
# Context Store First-Run And Cleanup UX
## Status
Implemented.
This work item covers the context-store setup and cleanup gaps that were not
fully captured by later docs, schema, or handoff work.
## Source Of Truth
Manual beta notes:
- `../11-manual-beta-reality-pass/notes.md`, especially the findings around
no-argument setup, cleanup, target path safety, and shared-store Git guidance.
Preserve the current boundary:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
## Why This Exists
The beta pass found that `openspec context-store setup` feels like a first-run
entrypoint, but no-argument setup currently does not guide the user through the
choices they need to make. The pass also found that recovering from a mistaken
store setup requires manual registry edits and file deletion.
These are local lifecycle problems, not shared coordination model problems.
They should be solved before asking new users or teammates to trust context
stores as normal local workflow.
## Goals
- Make no-argument `context-store setup` a friendly interactive setup path in a
terminal.
- Keep non-interactive and JSON behavior deterministic and agent-safe.
- Make the target store path explicit before creation.
- Provide a supported local cleanup command for removing or unregistering a
context store from this machine.
- Keep Git setup limited to optional local initialization, without staging,
committing, pushing, creating remotes, or choosing team workflow.
## Non-Goals
- Do not add remote creation, clone, pull, push, watch, or sync automation.
- Do not make setup choose team governance, branching, or review policy.
- Do not delete shared files without an explicit user choice.
- Do not make context stores implementation repos.
## UX Direction
Locked decisions from the product pass:
- `openspec context-store setup` with no arguments should start a guided setup
when run in an interactive terminal. Agents, scripts, CI, and `--json` callers
should pass the equivalent explicit inputs instead of relying on prompts.
- The guided setup should ask only for values that map to existing setup flags:
context store id, context store path, and whether to initialize Git.
- User-facing prompt copy should stay direct:
`Context store name`, `Where should this context store live?`,
`Initialize Git in this context store?`, then a final
`Create this context store?` confirmation after showing the resolved summary.
- The default location should be the managed OpenSpec context-store directory,
not the current working directory. Users can still choose any explicit safe
local path; OpenSpec stores that machine-local path in the local registry, not
in shared context-store metadata.
- Setup should be protective around risky paths: create missing paths, accept
empty directories, treat matching context-store metadata as idempotent, stop
on metadata/id conflicts, stop on files, and stop or explicitly warn before
using a non-empty unmarked directory or a path inside another Git repository.
- Cleanup should expose two explicit intents: `context-store unregister <id>`
forgets the machine-local registry entry and leaves files alone, while
`context-store remove <id>` unregisters the store and deletes the local folder
only after showing the exact path and receiving confirmation.
- Happy-path human output should stay small: show the context store id, its
location, and the next user-facing step. Do not show Git state, metadata
paths, registry paths, or created-file lists unless there is a warning,
failure, `--json`, or `context-store doctor` output.
- JSON output should report exact resulting state, not workflow guidance. Include
ids, roots, metadata paths, registry state, Git facts, created/deleted files,
and warnings/errors where present, but do not include `next_commands`. Empty
`status: []` can be preserved where existing JSON compatibility needs it, but
new behavior should not rely on blank status arrays for meaning.
- Git initialization is an optional local convenience only. When requested,
OpenSpec may run `git init`, but it must not stage, commit, push, create
remotes, create branches, or define team Git policy.
Interactive setup should cover the minimum choices:
```text
Store id
Target path, defaulting to the managed OpenSpec context-store location
Whether to initialize Git
```
Before writing files, output should show the resolved target path. If an
explicit path is inside another Git repo or an existing non-empty directory,
the command should either ask for confirmation with clear wording or fail with
a fix message in non-interactive mode.
Cleanup should distinguish local registration from file deletion:
```bash
openspec context-store unregister team-context
openspec context-store remove team-context
```
The command names are explicit because the user intents are different:
- forget this local registry entry only
- delete this local context-store folder too
If Git initialization fails, setup should explain that the user can install Git
or rerun setup without Git. Successful Git initialization stays out of the
happy-path human output.
## Agent / JSON Contract
JSON setup output should report:
- store id
- root path
- metadata path
- whether Git was initialized
- whether files were created or already existed
- local registry path or registry entry identity
JSON cleanup output should report:
- store id
- removed local registry entry, if any
- deleted root path, if requested
- files left on disk, if deletion was not requested
- warnings for missing, ambiguous, or already-removed state
## Done When
- A fresh user can run `openspec context-store setup` in a terminal and be led
through the normal local setup path without knowing flags.
- Non-interactive and JSON setup still fail predictably when required choices
are missing.
- A mistaken local store registration can be removed through the CLI without
hand-editing the registry.
- Setup and cleanup output make local file, registry, and Git state explicit.
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
# Context Store First-Run And Cleanup UX Tasks
- [x] Decide exact no-argument `context-store setup` behavior for TTY,
non-TTY, and `--json` invocations.
- [x] Design the interactive setup prompts for store id, target path, and Git
initialization.
- [x] Define target-path safety behavior for managed defaults, explicit paths,
paths inside existing Git repos, and non-empty directories.
- [x] Implement the interactive setup flow without changing deterministic
non-interactive behavior.
- [x] Decide whether the cleanup surface is `unregister`, `remove`, or both.
- [x] Define cleanup semantics for "forget local registration" versus "delete
local files too".
- [x] Implement local registry cleanup with explicit confirmation before file
deletion.
- [x] Add human output that stays small and JSON output that reports exact setup
and cleanup state without `next_commands`.
- [x] Keep Git initialization scoped to local `git init` with no auto-staging,
committing, pushing, remote creation, or team policy.
- [x] Add focused tests for setup prompts, non-interactive failures, path
safety, registry cleanup, and JSON output.
- [x] Update beta docs and agent playbook references for first-run setup and
cleanup.
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
# Agent Handoff Output And Delivery Polish Evidence
## Manual Beta Source Notes
The manual beta pass found:
- after context-store setup, the user is told to ask an agent to create an
initiative, but a fresh agent may not know the beta CLI or where to find the
playbook;
- `initiative create --json` reports `created_files` as relative names, so
agents must combine them with the returned root before writing;
- "commands only" can sound like "the agent gets no OpenSpec guidance," even
though users may only mean slash commands as workflow entrypoints;
- tools without command adapters need a clear warning when workflow slash
commands cannot be installed.
## Initial Recommendation
Treat this as output polish, not a new workflow engine:
- add direct path fields rather than breaking existing relative fields;
- keep handoff guidance concrete and command-sized;
- keep baseline OpenSpec literacy separate from workflow entrypoints;
- leave the broader "what should I do next?" command to the proposed handoff
work item.
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
# Agent Handoff Output And Delivery Polish
## Status
Proposed from the manual beta reality pass.
This work item captures the remaining agent-handoff and delivery-output gaps
that are smaller than the broader `initiative next` discussion but still matter
for the beta flow.
## Source Of Truth
Manual beta notes:
- `../11-manual-beta-reality-pass/notes.md`, especially the findings around
post-setup agent guidance, relative `created_files`, and commands-oriented
delivery warnings.
Related work:
- `../proposed-initiative-next-agent-handoff-ux/`
- `../14-workspaces-beta-guide-split/`
- `../15-context-store-project-roots-and-schema-led-initiatives/`
## Why This Exists
The beta pass showed that agents can succeed if they know which command to run,
but the first handoff is still too implicit. Setup output, JSON receipts, docs,
and generated delivery artifacts should make the next move obvious without
requiring the user to paste tribal knowledge.
This work item is deliberately narrower than an `initiative next` command. It
polishes existing command outputs and delivery semantics so a fresh agent can
continue safely.
## Goals
- Make setup and initiative creation output point to the next useful agent
action.
- Ensure agent-readable JSON returns paths that can be used directly without
path reconstruction when practical.
- Clarify commands-oriented delivery so "workflow commands" does not mean "the
agent receives no OpenSpec guidance."
- Warn clearly when the selected tool cannot receive workflow slash commands.
- Keep baseline OpenSpec literacy separate from workflow entrypoints.
## Non-Goals
- Do not implement an `initiative next` command in this slice.
- Do not add progress dashboards or work-status rollups.
- Do not create initiatives, changes, or workspaces automatically as part of
setup output.
- Do not make every relative path field disappear if existing compatibility
requires it; add direct absolute path fields instead.
## Output Direction
Commands that create or prepare OpenSpec shared context should include a small
handoff block in human output:
```text
Next for your agent:
Ask your coding agent to create or update an initiative in team-context.
```
JSON output should prefer both stable relative names and direct absolute paths
where agents need to write files:
```json
{
"created_files": ["initiative.yaml", "brief.md"],
"created_paths": [
"/path/to/store/initiatives/billing-launch/initiative.yaml",
"/path/to/store/initiatives/billing-launch/brief.md"
],
"next_commands": {}
}
```
Delivery copy should distinguish:
- baseline OpenSpec guidance or literacy;
- workflow entrypoints such as skills or slash commands.
If a user selects commands-oriented delivery for a tool that has no command
adapter, output should warn that workflow slash commands are unavailable while
still installing or recommending baseline guidance when the tool supports it.
## Done When
- A fresh agent can continue after context-store setup or initiative creation
using command output and docs, without guessing paths or beta command names.
- JSON receipts expose direct paths for created initiative artifacts or explain
why only relative names are available.
- Commands-oriented delivery output clearly reports what guidance and workflow
entrypoints were installed, skipped, or unavailable.
- The broader `initiative next` proposal can build on these outputs instead of
solving first-run handoff from scratch.
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
# Agent Handoff Output And Delivery Polish Tasks
- [ ] Decide which existing commands should print a "Next for your agent"
handoff block.
- [ ] Define the minimal handoff content for context-store setup, initiative
creation, workspace opening, and repo-local linked change creation.
- [ ] Add direct created-path fields, such as `created_paths`, where JSON output
currently forces agents to combine relative file names with returned
roots.
- [ ] Preserve compatibility for existing relative `created_files` fields where
callers may already depend on them.
- [ ] Update `initiative create --json` and sparse initiative creation output
from Item 15 to include direct artifact paths and next commands.
- [ ] Decide how generated docs or setup output points to the agent CLI
playbook without requiring a pasted mini-playbook in every guide step.
- [ ] Clarify delivery terminology so commands-oriented delivery means workflow
commands as entrypoints, not absence of baseline OpenSpec guidance.
- [ ] Add warnings when a selected tool does not support workflow slash command
delivery.
- [ ] Define how baseline OpenSpec guidance is reported when commands-oriented
delivery is selected for a tool that still supports skills.
- [ ] Add tests or fixtures for human output, JSON output, and delivery-warning
behavior.
- [ ] Update beta docs and generated agent guidance with the polished handoff
and delivery language.
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
# Workspaces Beta Guide Split
## Status
Proposed next work item.
## Goal
Make the beta docs match how people should actually use the feature:
- humans use terminal prompts for local setup and local paths
- coding agents use explicit CLI commands for OpenSpec work
## Working Model
User-facing docs should be light on flags and heavy on agent prompts. The agent
CLI playbook should carry the exact commands, JSON surfaces, cwd rules, and
current caveats.
Manual beta clarification: after a workspace is opened, the user should ask the
agent to explore or draft from the workspace. The agent should resolve the
workspace and initiative context, identify the owning linked repo, and run
repo-local OpenSpec commands from that repo. The workspace is the conversation
surface, not the artifact home.
## Scope
- Revise `docs/workspaces-beta/user-guide.md`.
- Revise `docs/workspaces-beta/agent-cli-playbook.md`.
- Keep the docs minimal until the flow has been tried manually.
- Record command or prompt gaps found during the doc pass.
## Non-Goals
- Do not change CLI behavior in this work item.
- Do not promise sync, cloning, branching, worktrees, progress dashboards, or
enforced edit boundaries.
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
# Workspaces Beta Guide Split Tasks
- [x] Identify which setup steps should be typed by the user.
- [x] Identify which initiative and change steps should be delegated to a coding
agent.
- [x] Update the user guide around interactive setup and agent prompts.
- [x] Update the agent CLI playbook around explicit commands and cwd rules.
- [x] Add a tiny caveat section that reflects shipped beta behavior.
- [ ] Capture any product gaps exposed by the docs pass.
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
# Context Store Project Roots And Schema-Led Initiatives Evidence
## Manual Beta Findings
- A fresh-agent style prompt successfully created `agent-trace-hooks` in the
registered `team-context` context store.
- The current CLI created this hardcoded file set:
```text
initiative.yaml
requirements.md
design.md
decisions.md
questions.md
tasks.md
```
- The generated markdown templates started with `TBD` placeholders.
- The agent filled those documents with plausible but unreviewed planning
content.
- We manually reduced the test initiative to a sparse shape:
```text
initiative.yaml
brief.md
```
- `openspec initiative show team-context/agent-trace-hooks --json` and
`openspec initiative list --store team-context --json` continued to resolve,
which proves current identity/listing logic does not require the six-file
packet.
## Code Observations
- Initiative file names are hardcoded in
`src/core/collections/initiatives/schema.ts`.
- Initiative markdown templates are hardcoded in
`src/core/collections/initiatives/templates.ts`.
- `createInitiative` writes `initiative.yaml` and then all default template
files in `src/core/collections/initiatives/operations.ts`.
- `initiative create --json` reports `created_files` from
`INITIATIVE_FILE_NAMES` in `src/commands/initiative.ts`.
- Initiative list/show read only `initiative.yaml`.
- Project-local schema resolution already uses
`<projectRoot>/openspec/schemas/<name>/schema.yaml` in
`src/core/artifact-graph/resolver.ts`.
- Project config already reads `<projectRoot>/openspec/config.yaml` in
`src/core/project-config.ts`.
- Change artifact status/instructions are coupled to repo-local change context
through `src/core/artifact-graph/instruction-loader.ts`.
- Planning-home detection currently treats an ancestor containing `openspec/`
as a possible repo planning root, so adding config to context stores needs a
safety check.
## UX/Product Pass
Recommended user meaning:
```text
context store = shared OpenSpec context project
initiative = iterative high-level planning object
repo change = implementation plan
workspace = local view
```
Docs should avoid saying initiatives are only for cross-repo or cross-team
work. A user may choose a context store simply because they want OpenSpec
artifacts outside the implementation repo.
`initiative create` should make the smallest useful shared object and then
teach the agent how to continue through status/instructions. It should not
pretend requirements, decisions, and tasks exist before review.
## Architecture Pass
Feasible minimal path:
1. Treat the context store root as a project root for config/schema resolution.
2. Create `openspec/config.yaml` during context-store setup.
3. Resolve initiative schemas with `projectRoot = contextStoreRoot`.
4. Add initiative-specific status/instructions helpers using artifact graph
primitives.
5. Change initiative creation to write a sparse shell.
Main risks:
- strict `initiative.yaml` parsing if a new top-level `schema` field is added
- tests currently asserting the six-file MVP contract
- docs and generated agent guidance currently telling agents to edit the five
generated Markdown files
- ambiguity between initiative planning artifacts and repo-local implementation
tasks
- context-store roots becoming accidental repo planning homes after they gain
`openspec/config.yaml`
## Subagent / Research Notes
Three focused passes converged on the same direction.
Architecture pass:
- Model a context store as an OpenSpec planning root:
```text
context-store/
.openspec-store/store.yaml
openspec/config.yaml
openspec/schemas/
initiatives/
```
- Keep `.openspec-store/store.yaml` as store identity and
`openspec/config.yaml` as behavior/configuration.
- Reuse project-local config and schema resolution with the context-store root
as the project root.
- Add an initiative-specific artifact context instead of forcing initiatives
through repo-local change context.
- Guard planning-home discovery so a context store with `openspec/config.yaml`
does not become an accidental implementation repo.
UX/product pass:
- Describe a context store as an OpenSpec-managed planning home. It may be used
for cross-repo coordination, but also simply to keep OpenSpec artifacts out of
an implementation repo.
- Make `initiative create` sparse: `initiative.yaml` plus a seed artifact such
as `brief.md`.
- Add status/instructions output so agents create requirements and design
artifacts only when there is reviewed content to capture.
- Stop treating default initiative artifacts as files the user or agent should
immediately fill in.
Release-risk pass:
- Keep old six-file beta initiatives readable.
- Update tests that assert the old generated file list.
- Avoid strict top-level additions to `initiative.yaml` until metadata
versioning is designed.
- Defer context-store-hosted executable changes to the configurable change-home
work instead of bundling them into this slice.
@@ -0,0 +1,344 @@
# Context Store Project Roots And Schema-Led Initiatives
## Status
Proposed from the manual beta reality pass.
This work item replaces the current "initiative create writes a full hardcoded
six-file packet" model with a project-like context-store root and an iterative,
schema-led initiative artifact flow.
## Source Of Truth
Start from `../../direction.md` and preserve the current boundary:
```text
Context stores sync truth.
Collections shape truth.
Initiatives coordinate work.
Workspaces open local views.
Changes implement repo-owned slices.
```
Manual beta evidence: agents can create the current MVP initiative shape, but
the generated `requirements.md`, `design.md`, `decisions.md`, `questions.md`,
and `tasks.md` invite premature, unreviewed planning content.
## Why This Exists
`openspec initiative create` currently creates a complete-looking planning
packet from hardcoded TypeScript constants and `TBD` templates. That made the
MVP tangible, but it is the wrong default for real initiative work.
Initiatives are high-level shared planning surfaces for PMs, designers,
architects, and agents. They should capture intent, reviewed requirements,
design direction, open questions, and decisions as those artifacts become real.
They should not create empty or fake documents that look finished just because
the folder exists.
The broader product shape is that a context store should feel like an OpenSpec
root in the same way a repo does after `openspec init`: it can have local
OpenSpec configuration and project-local schemas. The difference is lifecycle:
a context store is the shared context root, not an implementation repo.
## Product Model
Repo after `openspec init`:
```text
repo/
openspec/
config.yaml
schemas/
changes/
specs/
```
Context store after setup:
```text
context-store/
.openspec-store/
store.yaml
openspec/
config.yaml
schemas/
initiatives/
```
The `openspec/` directory inside a context store exists for OpenSpec config and
schema resolution. It does not by itself make the context store an executable
implementation planning home.
## Goals
- Let context stores carry OpenSpec config, including a default initiative
schema.
- Let context stores carry project-local schemas under `openspec/schemas/`.
- Replace hardcoded initiative file creation with a schema-led artifact model.
- Make `initiative create` sparse and safe by default.
- Let agents grow initiative artifacts one step at a time through status and
instructions output.
- Keep existing six-file MVP initiatives readable.
- Keep repo-local changes as the default implementation artifact.
## Non-Goals
- Do not make context-store-hosted executable changes part of this slice. That
remains Item 18.
- Do not add cross-repo apply, archive, validation, or spec-sync orchestration.
- Do not make workspace-local artifacts the shared planning source of truth.
- Do not migrate existing initiatives automatically.
- Do not install AI-tool runtime files into context stores by default unless a
later UX decision explicitly opts into that.
## Default Initiative Shape
New initiative creation should create a shell, not the whole plan:
```text
initiatives/<id>/
initiative.yaml
brief.md
```
`brief.md` is a seed document, not a completion marker for reviewed
requirements or design. It should contain the title, summary, and a short
"current understanding" section with no `TBD` placeholders.
Reviewed planning artifacts are created later through the initiative schema.
Default built-in schema, conceptually:
```yaml
name: product-initiative
version: 1
description: High-level initiative planning for PMs, designers, architects, and agents
usage: initiative
artifacts:
- id: requirements
generates: requirements.md
description: Product intent, goals, non-goals, requirements, and open questions
template: requirements.md
requires: []
- id: design
generates: design.md
description: Product, UX, and architecture direction with constraints and tradeoffs
template: design.md
requires:
- requirements
```
Do not include `tasks.md` in the default initiative schema. Implementation
tasks belong in repo-local changes. Coordination tasks, workstreams, decision
logs, and question logs can be separate later schemas or explicit artifacts once
the usage pattern is clearer.
## UX Direction
Store setup should make the store project-like enough for schemas:
```bash
openspec context-store setup team-context --init-git
```
Expected created shape:
```text
team-context/
.openspec-store/store.yaml
openspec/config.yaml
initiatives/
```
Preferred config direction:
```yaml
initiative_schema: product-initiative
```
This avoids overloading the existing repo-local `schema` field, which currently
means "default change schema." If implementation chooses to reuse `schema`
instead, docs and JSON output must make the context-store scope explicit.
Then initiative creation stays small:
```bash
openspec initiative create agent-trace-hooks \
--store team-context \
--title "Agent Trace Hooks" \
--summary "Explore lightweight capture of agent trace events and hook outcomes."
```
Expected next action:
```bash
openspec initiative status team-context/agent-trace-hooks --json
openspec initiative instructions requirements team-context/agent-trace-hooks --json
```
The agent writes `requirements.md` only when the conversation has enough
reviewed content. `design.md` becomes ready after requirements exist.
## Technical Approach
Reuse the artifact graph primitives, but add an initiative-specific loader
instead of forcing initiatives through `loadChangeContext`.
Current reusable pieces:
- `src/core/artifact-graph/graph.ts`
- `src/core/artifact-graph/state.ts`
- `src/core/artifact-graph/outputs.ts`
- `src/core/artifact-graph/resolver.ts`
- `src/core/artifact-graph/instruction-loader.ts` template loading
- `src/core/project-config.ts`
New initiative-specific pieces:
- a context-store OpenSpec-root helper that treats the store root as the
`projectRoot` for config and schema lookup
- an initiative artifact context loader rooted at
`context-store/initiatives/<id>/`
- initiative `status` and `instructions` commands that mirror the repo-local
artifact workflow but return initiative-specific fields
- a sparse `initiative create` path that writes `initiative.yaml` and `brief.md`
only
Do not use the existing repo planning-home resolver unchanged. Once context
stores contain `openspec/config.yaml`, the current "nearest `openspec/` folder
means repo planning home" heuristic can accidentally make a context store look
like an implementation repo. This work must either:
- teach planning-home resolution to detect `.openspec-store/store.yaml` and
return or reject a context-store kind for implementation commands, or
- explicitly reject `openspec new change` from a context-store root until Item
15 defines target-bound executable changes.
## Schema And Config Compatibility
Prefer a next-release-safe config path:
- Add `initiative_schema` to project config, or an equivalent
collection-specific config field.
- Continue using existing `schema` as the default repo-local change schema.
- Store per-initiative schema overrides in existing `metadata` if needed.
- Avoid adding a new top-level `schema` field to `initiative.yaml` until
initiative metadata versioning is designed.
Why: `initiative.yaml` is currently strict and versioned as `version: 1`.
Adding a top-level field would make older CLIs reject new initiatives. Existing
`metadata` can carry forward-compatible fields without breaking old readers.
Schema namespace needs one explicit decision:
- Either add a `usage: change | initiative` discriminator to schema files and
filter commands accordingly, or
- use a separate initiative schema namespace while reusing the same artifact
graph format.
The simplest user-facing model is still `openspec/schemas/`, but commands must
avoid listing `product-initiative` as a valid repo-local change workflow.
## JSON Contract
`initiative create --json` should report the shell and next actions:
```json
{
"context_store": {
"id": "team-context",
"root": "/path/to/store"
},
"initiative": {
"id": "agent-trace-hooks",
"root": "/path/to/store/initiatives/agent-trace-hooks",
"metadata_path": "/path/to/store/initiatives/agent-trace-hooks/initiative.yaml",
"schema": "product-initiative"
},
"created_files": [
"initiative.yaml",
"brief.md"
],
"next_commands": {
"status": "openspec initiative status team-context/agent-trace-hooks --json",
"requirements": "openspec initiative instructions requirements team-context/agent-trace-hooks --json"
},
"status": []
}
```
`initiative status --json` should include:
- context store identity and root
- initiative identity, root, metadata path, and selected schema
- artifact paths keyed by artifact id
- artifact statuses: `done`, `ready`, `blocked`
- next steps
- action context that says this is shared planning context, not an editable
implementation target
`initiative instructions --json` should include:
- resolved output path
- existing output paths
- schema instruction
- template content
- dependencies and unlocks
- store config context/rules if supported
## Release Risk And Migration
This is compatible if implemented as a sparse, additive layer:
- Existing six-file initiatives remain readable because list/show only require
`initiative.yaml`.
- Existing optional markdown files can remain in old initiative folders.
- New status/instructions can ignore files outside the selected schema.
- Old CLIs can still read new initiatives if schema data stays under
`metadata` or store config rather than new strict top-level fields.
High-risk areas:
- Planning-home detection after context stores gain `openspec/config.yaml`.
- Tests and docs that assert the six-file MVP initiative shape.
- Schema lists and completions if initiative schemas share the same namespace
as change schemas.
- Agent guidance that still tells agents to edit every generated initiative
markdown file after creation.
## Test And Doc Touch Points
Likely tests to update or add:
- `test/core/collections/initiatives/schema.test.ts`
- `test/core/collections/initiatives/templates.test.ts`
- `test/core/collections/initiatives/operations.test.ts`
- `test/commands/initiative.test.ts`
- `test/commands/context-store.test.ts`
- `test/commands/artifact-workflow.test.ts`
- planning-home tests for context-store roots with `openspec/config.yaml`
- schema listing/completion tests if schema usage filtering is added
Likely docs to update:
- `docs/workspaces-beta/agent-cli-playbook.md`
- `docs/workspaces-beta/user-guide.md`
- `docs/cli.md`
- schema docs if `usage` or `initiative_schema` is added
- `openspec/initiatives/context-store-and-initiatives/work-items/05-ship-initiative-mvp/`
with a note that the MVP shape was superseded by this work item
## Done When
- A new context store has OpenSpec config and can resolve project-local
initiative schemas.
- `initiative create` creates only the sparse initiative shell.
- Agents can use initiative status/instructions to create high-level planning
artifacts iteratively.
- `openspec new change` does not accidentally treat a context store as a normal
implementation repo just because the store has `openspec/config.yaml`.
- Existing MVP initiatives continue to list and show.
- Docs describe initiative artifacts as reviewed, iterative context rather than
files to fill in immediately.
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
# Context Store Project Roots And Schema-Led Initiatives Tasks
- [x] Create Item 15 work-item tracking notes.
- [ ] Record the product decision that context stores should behave like
OpenSpec roots for config and schema resolution, but not as implementation
repos by default.
- [ ] Define the context-store root layout, including `.openspec-store/`,
`openspec/config.yaml`, `openspec/schemas/`, and `initiatives/`.
- [ ] Decide the config key for the default initiative schema, with
`initiative_schema` as the preferred next-release-safe direction.
- [ ] Decide whether initiative schemas share `openspec/schemas/` with a
`usage: initiative` discriminator or use a separate namespace while
reusing the artifact graph format.
- [ ] Add or design the built-in `product-initiative` schema for high-level
requirements and design artifacts.
- [ ] Define `brief.md` as the sparse creation seed and decide whether it sits
outside the artifact graph or is represented as an already-complete
artifact.
- [ ] Change `initiative create` from hardcoded six-file generation to sparse
`initiative.yaml` plus `brief.md` creation.
- [ ] Add initiative artifact status resolution rooted at
`context-store/initiatives/<id>/`.
- [ ] Add initiative artifact instructions output that returns schema guidance,
template content, dependencies, output path, and existing paths.
- [ ] Ensure store-local config context and rules can be read for initiative
artifact instructions without confusing repo-local change config.
- [ ] Guard planning-home resolution so context stores with
`openspec/config.yaml` do not silently become repo-local implementation
homes.
- [ ] Update `initiative create --json`, human output, and next-command guidance
for sparse creation and iterative artifacts.
- [ ] Update tests that currently assert the MVP six-file initiative shape.
- [ ] Add compatibility tests proving old six-file initiatives still list and
show.
- [ ] Add tests for context-store local schemas and store config defaults.
- [ ] Update beta docs and agent guidance to stop telling agents to edit every
initiative markdown file immediately after creation.
- [ ] Record migration behavior and a note that Item 5's six-file MVP shape has
been superseded by this schema-led sparse model.

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