name: openspec-continue-change description: Continue working on an OpenSpec change by creating the next artifact. Use when the user wants to progress their change, create the next artifact, or continue their workflow. license: MIT compatibility: Requires openspec CLI. metadata: author: openspec version: "1.0"
Continue working on a change by creating the next artifact.
Input: Optionally specify a change name. If omitted, check if it can be inferred from conversation context. If vague or ambiguous you MUST prompt for available changes.
Steps
Run openspec list --json to get available changes sorted by most recently modified. Then use the AskUserQuestion tool to let the user select which change to work on.
Present the top 3-4 most recently modified changes as options, showing:
schema field if present, otherwise "spec-driven")lastModified field)Mark the most recently modified change as "(Recommended)" since it's likely what the user wants to continue.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT guess or auto-select a change. Always let the user choose.
Check current status
openspec status --change "<name>" --json
Parse the JSON to understand current state. The response includes:
schemaName: The workflow schema being used (e.g., "spec-driven")artifacts: Array of artifacts with their status ("done", "ready", "blocked")isComplete: Boolean indicating if all artifacts are completeIf all artifacts are complete (isComplete: true):
If artifacts are ready to create (status shows artifacts with status: "ready"):
status: "ready" from the status outputbash
openspec instructions <artifact-id> --change "<name>" --json
context: Project background (constraints for you - do NOT include in output)rules: Artifact-specific rules (constraints for you - do NOT include in output)template: The structure to use for your output fileinstruction: Schema-specific guidanceoutputPath: Where to write the artifactdependencies: Completed artifacts to read for contexttemplate as the structure - fill in its sectionscontext and rules as constraints when writing - but do NOT copy them into the fileIf no artifacts are ready (all blocked):
bash
openspec status --change "<name>"
Output
After each invocation, show:
- Which artifact was created
- Schema workflow being used
- Current progress (N/M complete)
- What artifacts are now unlocked
- Prompt: "Want to continue? Just ask me to continue or tell me what to do next."
Artifact Creation Guidelines
The artifact types and their purpose depend on the schema. Use the instruction field from the instructions output to understand what to create.
Common artifact patterns:
spec-driven schema (proposal → specs → design → tasks):
- proposal.md: Ask user about the change if not clear. Fill in Why, What Changes, Capabilities, Impact.
- The Capabilities section is critical - each capability listed will need a spec file.
- specs//spec.md: Create one spec per capability listed in the proposal's Capabilities section (use the capability name, not the change name).
- design.md: Document technical decisions, architecture, and implementation approach.
- tasks.md: Break down implementation into checkboxed tasks.
For other schemas, follow the instruction field from the CLI output.
Guardrails
- Create ONE artifact per invocation
- Always read dependency artifacts before creating a new one
- Never skip artifacts or create out of order
- If context is unclear, ask the user before creating
- Verify the artifact file exists after writing before marking progress
- Use the schema's artifact sequence, don't assume specific artifact names
- IMPORTANT: context and rules are constraints for YOU, not content for the file
- Do NOT copy <context>, <rules>, <project_context> blocks into the artifact
- These guide what you write, but should never appear in the output