Fast-forward through artifact creation - generate everything needed to start implementation in one go.
Input: The user's request should include:
- A Jira ticket ID (e.g.,
SCRUM-123) - will fetch ticket content using Jira MCP - A change name (kebab-case) - will use that name directly
- A description of what they want to build - will derive a kebab-case name
Steps
-
Determine input type and get context
a. If input looks like a Jira ticket ID (matches pattern like
SCRUM-123,PROJ-456, etc.):- Use
getAccessibleAtlassianResourcesMCP tool to get the cloudId - Use
getJiraIssueMCP tool with:cloudId: from step aboveissueIdOrKey: the provided ticket ID
- Extract ticket content (title, description, acceptance criteria, etc.)
- Derive a kebab-case change name from the ticket title:
- Convert ticket title to lowercase
- Replace spaces and special characters with hyphens
- Remove any leading/trailing hyphens
- Example: "Update Position API" →
update-position-api, "Add User Auth" →add-user-auth - If ticket title is unclear or too long, use a shortened meaningful version
- Use the derived kebab-case name as
<name>for the change directory - Use ticket content as context for creating artifacts
- Store ticket ID for reference (e.g., in proposal or as metadata)
b. If input is a change name (kebab-case format):
- Use the provided name directly
- Check if change already exists, if so ask user if they want to continue it
c. If input is a description:
- Derive a kebab-case name (e.g., "add user authentication" →
add-user-auth)
d. If no input provided:
- Use the AskUserQuestion tool (open-ended, no preset options) to ask:
"What change do you want to work on? Provide a Jira ticket ID (e.g., SCRUM-123), change name, or describe what you want to build."
IMPORTANT: Do NOT proceed without understanding what the user wants to build.
- Use
-
Create the change directory
bash1openspec new change "<name>"This creates a scaffolded change at
openspec/changes/<name>/.
2.5. Handle attached files (if any) If the user has attached files to this conversation:
- Check for any files in the conversation context (attached files will be visible in the file list)
- For each attached file:
- Read the file to get its current path
- Move it to the root of the change directory:
openspec/changes/<name>/<filename> - Use the file system tools to copy/move the file, preserving the original filename
- If files were moved, inform the user: "Moved N attached file(s) to the change directory root."
-
Get the artifact build order
bash1openspec status --change "<name>" --jsonParse 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
-
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
1openspec 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 fileinstruction: Schema-specific guidance for this artifact typeoutputPath: Where to write the artifactdependencies: Completed artifacts to read for context
- CRITICAL for tasks artifact: If creating
tasks.md:- Read
openspec/config.yamlto get backend-specific rules (mandatory steps, branch naming, etc.) - Read
.claude/rules/openspec-tasks-mandatory-steps.mdcto understand mandatory testing requirements and agent execution responsibilities - Task structure requirements
- All mandatory steps that MUST be included (e.g., Step 0: Create Feature Branch)
- Read
- If Jira ticket was provided: Use ticket content to inform artifact creation (especially proposal and tasks)
- Read any completed dependency files for context
- Create the artifact file using
templateas the structure - Apply
contextandrulesas constraints - but do NOT copy them into the file - For tasks artifact: Ensure all mandatory steps from
config.yamland the rule file are included:- Step 0: Create Feature Branch (MUST be first step for backend changes)
- Review and Update Existing Unit Tests (MANDATORY)
- Run Unit Tests and Verify Database State (MANDATORY)
- Manual Endpoint Testing with curl (MANDATORY - AGENT MUST EXECUTE)
- E2E Testing with Playwright MCP (MANDATORY if applicable - AGENT MUST EXECUTE)
- Update Technical Documentation (MANDATORY)
- For manual testing tasks: Include sub-tasks that make it clear the agent must execute tests (e.g., "Test GET endpoints with curl", "Restore database state", etc.)
- Show brief progress: "✓ Created <artifact-id>"
b. Continue until all
applyRequiresartifacts are complete- After creating each artifact, re-run
openspec status --change "<name>" --json - Check if every artifact ID in
applyRequireshasstatus: "done"in the artifacts array - Stop when all
applyRequiresartifacts are done
c. If an artifact requires user input (unclear context):
- Use AskUserQuestion tool to clarify
- Then continue with creation
- Get instructions:
-
Show final status
bash1openspec 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:applyor ask me to implement to start working on the tasks."
Artifact Creation Guidelines
- Follow the
instructionfield fromopenspec instructionsfor each artifact type - The schema defines what each artifact should contain - follow it
- Read dependency artifacts for context before creating new ones
- Use
templateas the structure for your output file - fill in its sections - IMPORTANT:
contextandrulesare 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
- Do NOT copy
Guardrails
- Create ALL artifacts needed for implementation (as defined by schema's
apply.requires) - Always read dependency artifacts before creating a new one
- For tasks.md: Read
.claude/rules/openspec-tasks-mandatory-steps.mdcto ensure all mandatory steps are included with proper agent execution requirements - 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 next