Implement tasks from an OpenSpec change.
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
- •
Select the change
If a name is provided, use it. Otherwise:
- •Infer from conversation context if the user mentioned a change
- •Auto-select if only one active change exists
- •If ambiguous, run
openspec list --jsonto get available changes and use the AskUserQuestion tool to let the user select
Always announce: "Using change: <name>" and how to override (e.g.,
/opsx:apply <other>). - •
Check status to understand the schema
bashopenspec status --change "<name>" --json
Parse the JSON to understand:
- •
schemaName: The workflow being used (e.g., "spec-driven") - •Which artifact contains the tasks (typically "tasks" for spec-driven, check status for others)
- •
- •
Get apply instructions
bashopenspec instructions apply --change "<name>" --json
This returns:
- •Context file paths (varies by schema - could be proposal/specs/design/tasks or spec/tests/implementation/docs)
- •Progress (total, complete, remaining)
- •Task list with status
- •Dynamic instruction based on current state
Handle states:
- •If
state: "blocked"(missing artifacts): show message, suggest using openspec-continue-change - •If
state: "all_done": congratulate, suggest archive - •Otherwise: proceed to implementation
- •
Read context files
Read the files listed in
contextFilesfrom the apply instructions output. The files depend on the schema being used:- •spec-driven: proposal, specs, design, tasks
- •Other schemas: follow the contextFiles from CLI output
- •
Show current progress
Display:
- •Schema being used
- •Progress: "N/M tasks complete"
- •Remaining tasks overview
- •Dynamic instruction from CLI
- •
Implement tasks (loop until done or blocked)
For each pending task:
- •Show which task is being worked on
- •Identify task type:
- •Code implementation task: Make the code changes required
- •Test/Verification task: Run the test command or verification step
- •Manual task: Guide user through manual steps
- •Keep changes minimal and focused
- •Mark task complete in the tasks file:
- [ ]→- [x] - •Continue to next task
Special handling for test/verification tasks:
- •Task 5.1 (E2E Tests): Run the test command specified in the task
- •If command is
<!-- project-specific test command -->, ask user for the actual command - •Execute tests and verify they pass
- •If tests fail, report failures and pause for user guidance
- •If command is
- •Task 7.1 (Real DB Tests): Run tests with real database
- •Execute the test command
- •Verify all scenarios from spec.md are covered
- •Task 7.2 (Drift Check): Perform automated drift check
- •Verify OpenAPI schema matches spec.md
- •Compare response structures
- •Calculate drift rate (must be < 1%)
- •Report any drift issues
- •Task 3.2, 7.1: These are verification tasks - actually run the verification steps
Pause if:
- •Task is unclear → ask for clarification
- •Implementation reveals a design issue → suggest updating artifacts
- •Error or blocker encountered → report and wait for guidance
- •Test failures → report and wait for user to fix
- •User interrupts
- •
On completion or pause, show status
Display:
- •Tasks completed this session
- •Overall progress: "N/M tasks complete"
- •If all done: suggest archive
- •If paused: explain why and wait for guidance
Output During Implementation
## Implementing: <change-name> (schema: <schema-name>) Working on task 3/7: <task description> [...implementation happening...] ✓ Task complete Working on task 4/7: <task description> [...implementation happening...] ✓ Task complete
Output On Completion
## Implementation Complete **Change:** <change-name> **Schema:** <schema-name> **Progress:** 7/7 tasks complete ✓ ### Completed This Session - [x] Task 1 - [x] Task 2 ... All tasks complete! Ready to archive this change.
Output On Pause (Issue Encountered)
## Implementation Paused **Change:** <change-name> **Schema:** <schema-name> **Progress:** 4/7 tasks complete ### Issue Encountered <description of the issue> **Options:** 1. <option 1> 2. <option 2> 3. Other approach What would you like to do?
Guardrails
- •Keep going through tasks until done or blocked
- •Always read context files before starting (from the apply instructions output)
- •If task is ambiguous, pause and ask before implementing
- •If implementation reveals issues, pause and suggest artifact updates
- •Keep code changes minimal and scoped to each task
- •Update task checkbox immediately after completing each task
- •For test/verification tasks: Actually run the tests/checks, don't just mark as done
- •For tasks with placeholders (like
<!-- project-specific test command -->): Ask user for actual values - •Pause on errors, blockers, or unclear requirements - don't guess
- •Pause on test failures - report and wait for user to fix
- •Use contextFiles from CLI output, don't assume specific file names
Task Type Detection
Recognize task types from task descriptions:
- •Code implementation: Contains "Implement", "Create", "Update", "Add"
- •Test task: Contains "Run Tests", "Test", "Verify", "E2E", "Contract Testing"
- •Verification task: Contains "Verify", "Check", "Audit", "Drift Check"
- •Manual task: Contains "Run", "Execute" with command placeholders
For test/verification tasks:
- •Extract the test command if specified
- •If command is a placeholder, ask user for actual command
- •Run the command
- •Verify results
- •Mark complete only if tests pass or verification succeeds
Fluid Workflow Integration
This skill supports the "actions on a change" model:
- •Can be invoked anytime: Before all artifacts are done (if tasks exist), after partial implementation, interleaved with other actions
- •Allows artifact updates: If implementation reveals design issues, suggest updating artifacts - not phase-locked, work fluidly