openspec-ff-change
Fast-forward through OpenSpec artifact creation. Use when the user wants to quickly create all artifacts needed for implementation without stepping through each one individually.
Best use case
openspec-ff-change is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Fast-forward through OpenSpec artifact creation. Use when the user wants to quickly create all artifacts needed for implementation without stepping through each one individually.
Teams using openspec-ff-change should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/openspec-ff-change/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How openspec-ff-change Compares
| Feature / Agent | openspec-ff-change | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Fast-forward through OpenSpec artifact creation. Use when the user wants to quickly create all artifacts needed for implementation without stepping through each one individually.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
Fast-forward through artifact creation - generate everything needed to start implementation in one go.
**Input**: The user's request should include a change name (kebab-case) OR a description of what they want to build.
**Steps**
1. **If no clear input provided, ask what they want to build**
Use the **AskUserQuestion tool** (open-ended, no preset options) to ask:
> "What change do you want to work on? Describe what you want to build or fix."
From their description, derive a kebab-case name (e.g., "add user authentication" → `add-user-auth`).
**IMPORTANT**: Do NOT proceed without understanding what the user wants to build.
2. **Create the change directory**
```bash
openspec new change "<name>"
```
This creates a scaffolded change at `openspec/changes/<name>/`.
3. **Get the artifact build order**
```bash
openspec status --change "<name>" --json
```
Parse the JSON to get:
- `applyRequires`: array of artifact IDs needed before implementation (e.g., `["tasks"]`)
- `artifacts`: list of all artifacts with their status and dependencies
4. **Create artifacts in sequence until apply-ready**
Use the **TodoWrite tool** to track progress through the artifacts.
Loop through artifacts in dependency order (artifacts with no pending dependencies first):
a. **For each artifact that is `ready` (dependencies satisfied)**:
- Get instructions:
```bash
openspec instructions <artifact-id> --change "<name>" --json
```
- The instructions JSON includes:
- `context`: Project background (constraints for you - do NOT include in output)
- `rules`: Artifact-specific rules (constraints for you - do NOT include in output)
- `template`: The structure to use for your output file
- `instruction`: Schema-specific guidance for this artifact type
- `outputPath`: Where to write the artifact
- `dependencies`: Completed artifacts to read for context
- Read any completed dependency files for context
- Create the artifact file using `template` as the structure
- Apply `context` and `rules` as constraints - but do NOT copy them into the file
- Show brief progress: "✓ Created <artifact-id>"
b. **Continue until all `applyRequires` artifacts are complete**
- After creating each artifact, re-run `openspec status --change "<name>" --json`
- Check if every artifact ID in `applyRequires` has `status: "done"` in the artifacts array
- Stop when all `applyRequires` artifacts are done
c. **If an artifact requires user input** (unclear context):
- Use **AskUserQuestion tool** to clarify
- Then continue with creation
5. **Show final status**
```bash
openspec status --change "<name>"
```
**Output**
After completing all artifacts, summarize:
- Change name and location
- List of artifacts created with brief descriptions
- What's ready: "All artifacts created! Ready for implementation."
- Prompt: "Run `/opsx:apply` or ask me to implement to start working on the tasks."
**Artifact Creation Guidelines**
- Follow the `instruction` field from `openspec instructions` for each artifact type
- The schema defines what each artifact should contain - follow it
- Read dependency artifacts for context before creating new ones
- Use `template` as the structure for your output file - fill in its sections
- **IMPORTANT**: `context` and `rules` are constraints for YOU, not content for the file
- Do NOT copy `<context>`, `<rules>`, `<project_context>` blocks into the artifact
- These guide what you write, but should never appear in the output
**Guardrails**
- Create ALL artifacts needed for implementation (as defined by schema's `apply.requires`)
- Always read dependency artifacts before creating a new one
- If context is critically unclear, ask the user - but prefer making reasonable decisions to keep momentum
- If a change with that name already exists, suggest continuing that change instead
- Verify each artifact file exists after writing before proceeding to nextRelated Skills
openspec-verify-change
Verify implementation matches change artifacts. Use when the user wants to validate that implementation is complete, correct, and coherent before archiving.
openspec-sync-specs
Sync delta specs from a change to main specs. Use when the user wants to update main specs with changes from a delta spec, without archiving the change.
openspec-propose
Propose a new change with all artifacts generated in one step. Use when the user wants to quickly describe what they want to build and get a complete proposal with design, specs, and tasks ready for implementation.
openspec-onboard
Guided onboarding for OpenSpec - walk through a complete workflow cycle with narration and real codebase work.
openspec-new-change
Start a new OpenSpec change using the experimental artifact workflow. Use when the user wants to create a new feature, fix, or modification with a structured step-by-step approach.
openspec-explore
Enter explore mode - a thinking partner for exploring ideas, investigating problems, and clarifying requirements. Use when the user wants to think through something before or during a change.
openspec-continue-change
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.
openspec-bulk-archive-change
Archive multiple completed changes at once. Use when archiving several parallel changes.
openspec-archive-change
Archive a completed change in the experimental workflow. Use when the user wants to finalize and archive a change after implementation is complete.
openspec-apply-change
Implement tasks from an OpenSpec change. Use when the user wants to start implementing, continue implementation, or work through tasks.
vet
Run vet immediately after ANY logical unit of code changes. Do not batch your changes, do not wait to be asked to run vet, make sure you are proactive.
software-design-review
Analyzes code based on John Ousterhout's "A Philosophy of Software Design". Identifies unnecessary complexity, shallow modules, information leaks, and design problems. Use when reviewing architecture, PRs, refactoring, or asking about code quality.