name: openspec-sync-specs description: 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. license: MIT compatibility: Requires openspec CLI. metadata: author: openspec version: "1.0" generatedBy: "1.4.1"
Sync delta specs from a change to main specs.
This is an agent-driven operation - you will read delta specs and directly edit main specs to apply the changes. This allows intelligent merging (e.g., adding a scenario without copying the entire requirement).
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
Run
openspec list --jsonto get available changes. Use the AskUserQuestion tool to let the user select.Show changes that have delta specs (under
specs/directory).IMPORTANT: Do NOT guess or auto-select a change. Always let the user choose.
-
Resolve change context
Run:
openspec status --change "<name>" --jsonIf status reports
actionContext.mode: "workspace-planning", explain that workspace spec sync is not supported in this slice and STOP. Do not fall back to repo-local paths or edit linked repos. -
Find delta specs
Use
artifactPaths.specs.existingOutputPathsfrom the status JSON as the list of delta spec files.Each delta spec file contains sections like:
## ADDED Requirements- New requirements to add## MODIFIED Requirements- Changes to existing requirements## REMOVED Requirements- Requirements to remove## RENAMED Requirements- Requirements to rename (FROM:/TO: format)
If no delta specs found, inform user and stop.
-
For each delta spec, apply changes to main specs
For each repo-local capability delta spec path returned by the CLI:
a. Read the delta spec to understand the intended changes
b. Read the main spec at
openspec/specs/<capability>/spec.md(may not exist yet)c. Apply changes intelligently:
ADDED Requirements:
- If requirement doesn't exist in main spec → add it
- If requirement already exists → update it to match (treat as implicit MODIFIED)
MODIFIED Requirements:
- Find the requirement in main spec
- Apply the changes - this can be:
- Adding new scenarios (don't need to copy existing ones)
- Modifying existing scenarios
- Changing the requirement description
- Preserve scenarios/content not mentioned in the delta
REMOVED Requirements:
- Remove the entire requirement block from main spec
RENAMED Requirements:
- Find the FROM requirement, rename to TO
d. Create new main spec if capability doesn't exist yet:
- Create
openspec/specs/<capability>/spec.md - Add Purpose section (can be brief, mark as TBD)
- Add Requirements section with the ADDED requirements
-
Show summary
After applying all changes, summarize:
- Which capabilities were updated
- What changes were made (requirements added/modified/removed/renamed)
Delta Spec Format Reference
## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: New Feature
The system SHALL do something new.
#### Scenario: Basic case
- **WHEN** user does X
- **THEN** system does Y
## MODIFIED Requirements
### Requirement: Existing Feature
#### Scenario: New scenario to add
- **WHEN** user does A
- **THEN** system does B
## REMOVED Requirements
### Requirement: Deprecated Feature
## RENAMED Requirements
- FROM: `### Requirement: Old Name`
- TO: `### Requirement: New Name`
Key Principle: Intelligent Merging
Unlike programmatic merging, you can apply partial updates:
- To add a scenario, just include that scenario under MODIFIED - don't copy existing scenarios
- The delta represents intent, not a wholesale replacement
- Use your judgment to merge changes sensibly
Output On Success
## Specs Synced: <change-name>
Updated main specs:
**<capability-1>**:
- Added requirement: "New Feature"
- Modified requirement: "Existing Feature" (added 1 scenario)
**<capability-2>**:
- Created new spec file
- Added requirement: "Another Feature"
Main specs are now updated. The change remains active - archive when implementation is complete.
Guardrails
- Read both delta and main specs before making changes
- Preserve existing content not mentioned in delta
- If something is unclear, ask for clarification
- Show what you're changing as you go
- The operation should be idempotent - running twice should give same result
---
name: openspec-sync-specs
description: 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.
license: MIT
compatibility: Requires openspec CLI.
metadata:
author: openspec
version: "1.0"
generatedBy: "1.4.1"
---
Sync delta specs from a change to main specs.
This is an **agent-driven** operation - you will read delta specs and directly edit main specs to apply the changes.
This allows intelligent merging (e.g., adding a scenario without copying the entire requirement).
**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**
1. **If no change name provided, prompt for selection**
Run `openspec list --json` to get available changes. Use the **AskUserQuestion tool** to let the user select.
Show changes that have delta specs (under `specs/` directory).
**IMPORTANT**: Do NOT guess or auto-select a change. Always let the user choose.
2. **Resolve change context**
Run:
```bash
openspec status --change "<name>" --json
```
If status reports `actionContext.mode: "workspace-planning"`, explain that workspace spec sync is not supported in
this slice and STOP. Do not fall back to repo-local paths or edit linked repos.
3. **Find delta specs**
Use `artifactPaths.specs.existingOutputPaths` from the status JSON as the list of delta spec files.
Each delta spec file contains sections like:
- `## ADDED Requirements` - New requirements to add
- `## MODIFIED Requirements` - Changes to existing requirements
- `## REMOVED Requirements` - Requirements to remove
- `## RENAMED Requirements` - Requirements to rename (FROM:/TO: format)
If no delta specs found, inform user and stop.
4. **For each delta spec, apply changes to main specs**
For each repo-local capability delta spec path returned by the CLI:
a. **Read the delta spec** to understand the intended changes
b. **Read the main spec** at `openspec/specs/<capability>/spec.md` (may not exist yet)
c. **Apply changes intelligently**:
**ADDED Requirements:**
- If requirement doesn't exist in main spec → add it
- If requirement already exists → update it to match (treat as implicit MODIFIED)
**MODIFIED Requirements:**
- Find the requirement in main spec
- Apply the changes - this can be:
- Adding new scenarios (don't need to copy existing ones)
- Modifying existing scenarios
- Changing the requirement description
- Preserve scenarios/content not mentioned in the delta
**REMOVED Requirements:**
- Remove the entire requirement block from main spec
**RENAMED Requirements:**
- Find the FROM requirement, rename to TO
d. **Create new main spec** if capability doesn't exist yet:
- Create `openspec/specs/<capability>/spec.md`
- Add Purpose section (can be brief, mark as TBD)
- Add Requirements section with the ADDED requirements
5. **Show summary**
After applying all changes, summarize:
- Which capabilities were updated
- What changes were made (requirements added/modified/removed/renamed)
**Delta Spec Format Reference**
```markdown
## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: New Feature
The system SHALL do something new.
#### Scenario: Basic case
- **WHEN** user does X
- **THEN** system does Y
## MODIFIED Requirements
### Requirement: Existing Feature
#### Scenario: New scenario to add
- **WHEN** user does A
- **THEN** system does B
## REMOVED Requirements
### Requirement: Deprecated Feature
## RENAMED Requirements
- FROM: `### Requirement: Old Name`
- TO: `### Requirement: New Name`
```
**Key Principle: Intelligent Merging**
Unlike programmatic merging, you can apply **partial updates**:
- To add a scenario, just include that scenario under MODIFIED - don't copy existing scenarios
- The delta represents *intent*, not a wholesale replacement
- Use your judgment to merge changes sensibly
**Output On Success**
```
## Specs Synced: <change-name>
Updated main specs:
**<capability-1>**:
- Added requirement: "New Feature"
- Modified requirement: "Existing Feature" (added 1 scenario)
**<capability-2>**:
- Created new spec file
- Added requirement: "Another Feature"
Main specs are now updated. The change remains active - archive when implementation is complete.
```
**Guardrails**
- Read both delta and main specs before making changes
- Preserve existing content not mentioned in delta
- If something is unclear, ask for clarification
- Show what you're changing as you go
- The operation should be idempotent - running twice should give same result