/openspec-archive-change

name: openspec-archive-change
description: Archive a completed change in the experimental workflow. Use when the user wants to finalize and archive a change after implementation is complete.
license: MIT
compatibility: Requires openspec CLI.
metadata:
  author: openspec
  version: "1.0"
  generatedBy: "1.3.1"

Archive a completed change in the experimental workflow.

**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 only active changes (not already archived). Include the schema used for each change if available.

**IMPORTANT**: Do NOT guess or auto-select a change. Always let the user choose.

2. **Check artifact completion status**

Run `openspec status --change "<name>" --json` to check artifact completion.

Parse the JSON to understand:

• `schemaName`: The workflow being used
• `artifacts`: List of artifacts with their status (`done` or other)

**If any artifacts are not `done`:**

• Display warning listing incomplete artifacts
• Use **AskUserQuestion tool** to confirm user wants to proceed
• Proceed if user confirms

3. **Check task completion status**

Read the tasks file (typically `tasks.md`) to check for incomplete tasks.

Count tasks marked with `- [ ]` (incomplete) vs `- [x]` (complete).

**If incomplete tasks found:**

• Display warning showing count of incomplete tasks
• Use **AskUserQuestion tool** to confirm user wants to proceed
• Proceed if user confirms

**If no tasks file exists:** Proceed without task-related warning.

4. **Assess delta spec sync state**

Check for delta specs at `openspec/changes/<name>/specs/`. If none exist, proceed without sync prompt.

**If delta specs exist:**

• Compare each delta spec with its corresponding main spec at `openspec/specs/<capability>/spec.md`
• Determine what changes would be applied (adds, modifications, removals, renames)
• Show a combined summary before prompting

**Prompt options:**

• If changes needed: "Sync now (recommended)", "Archive without syncing"
• If already synced: "Archive now", "Sync anyway", "Cancel"

If user chooses sync, use Task tool (subagent_type: "general-purpose", prompt: "Use Skill tool to invoke openspec-sync-specs for change '<name>'. Delta spec analysis: <include the analyzed delta spec summary>"). Proceed to archive regardless of choice.

5. **Perform the archive**

Create the archive directory if it doesn't exist:

   mkdir -p openspec/changes/archive

Generate target name using current date: `YYYY-MM-DD-<change-name>`

**Check if target already exists:**

• If yes: Fail with error, suggest renaming existing archive or using different date
• If no: Move the change directory to archive

   mv openspec/changes/<name> openspec/changes/archive/YYYY-MM-DD-<name>

6. **Display summary**

Show archive completion summary including:

• Change name
• Schema that was used
• Archive location
• Whether specs were synced (if applicable)
• Note about any warnings (incomplete artifacts/tasks)

**Output On Success**

## Archive Complete

**Change:** <change-name>
**Schema:** <schema-name>
**Archived to:** openspec/changes/archive/YYYY-MM-DD-<name>/
**Specs:** ✓ Synced to main specs (or "No delta specs" or "Sync skipped")

All artifacts complete. All tasks complete.

**Guardrails**

• Always prompt for change selection if not provided
• Use artifact graph (openspec status --json) for completion checking
• Don't block archive on warnings - just inform and confirm
• Preserve .openspec.yaml when moving to archive (it moves with the directory)
• Show clear summary of what happened
• If sync is requested, use openspec-sync-specs approach (agent-driven)
• If delta specs exist, always run the sync assessment and show the combined summary before prompting