Continue working on a change by creating the next artifact.
When to Use
- •User says "continue", "next", "create the next artifact"
- •User wants to create proposal, specs, design, or tasks
- •User is working on an existing change and wants to progress
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
- •
If no change name provided, prompt for selection
List available changes:
bashpython .agents/openspec_kit.py list
Ask the user to select which change to work on. Show:
- •Change name
- •Schema (e.g., "spec-driven")
- •Status (e.g., "1/4 artifacts")
- •Recommendation: Mark the most recently modified change as "(Recommended)"
IMPORTANT: Do NOT guess or auto-select a change. Always let the user choose.
- •
Check current status
bashpython .agents/openspec_kit.py status "<name>"
Parse the JSON to understand:
- •
schemaName: The workflow schema being used - •
artifacts: Array of artifacts with their status ("done", "ready", "blocked") - •
isComplete: Boolean indicating if all artifacts are complete
- •
- •
Act based on status:
If all artifacts are complete (
isComplete: true):- •Congratulate the user
- •Show final status
- •Suggest: "All artifacts created! You can now implement this change using openspec-apply-change or archive it."
- •STOP
If artifacts are ready to create (status shows artifacts with
status: "ready"):- •Pick the FIRST artifact with
status: "ready"from the status output - •Get its instructions:
bash
python .agents/openspec_kit.py instructions <artifact-id> "<name>"
- •Parse the JSON. Key fields:
- •
context: Project background from dependencies (read these for context) - •
template: The structure to use for your output file - •
instruction: Schema-specific guidance - •
outputPath: Where to write the artifact - •
dependencies: Completed artifacts to read for context
- •
- •Create the artifact file:
- •Read any completed dependency files for context
- •Use
templateas the structure - fill in its sections - •Write to the output path specified
- •Show what was created and what's now unlocked
- •STOP after creating ONE artifact
If no artifacts are ready (all blocked):
- •This shouldn't happen with a valid schema
- •Show status and suggest checking for issues
- •
After creating an artifact, show progress
bashpython .agents/openspec_kit.py status "<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:
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/<capability>/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 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