Phase 1: Gather Context

Read openspec/project.md for conventions
Run openspec list --specs to see current capabilities
Run openspec list to check for conflicts
Search codebase for related code: rg [keyword]

Phase 2: Choose Change ID

Format: verb-noun in kebab-case

Examples:

add-leaderboard
update-scoring-algorithm
refactor-game-state

Verify uniqueness against openspec list.

Phase 3: Create Proposal

Create openspec/changes/[id]/proposal.md:

# Change: [Brief description]

## Why

[1-2 sentences: What problem does this solve?]

## What Changes

- [Change 1]
- [Change 2]
- **BREAKING**: [If any breaking changes]

## Impact

- Affected specs: [list]
- Affected code: [key files/directories]

Phase 4: Create Spec Deltas

For each affected capability, create openspec/changes/[id]/specs/[capability]/spec.md:

## ADDED Requirements

### Requirement: [Name]

The system SHALL [behavior].

#### Scenario: [Name]

- **WHEN** [condition]
- **THEN** [expected result]

## MODIFIED Requirements

### Requirement: [Existing Name]

[Complete updated requirement text - not just the diff]

#### Scenario: [Name]

- **WHEN** [condition]
- **THEN** [expected result]

Every requirement MUST have at least one scenario.

Phase 5: Create Tasks

Create openspec/changes/[id]/tasks.md:

## 1. [Category]

- [ ] 1.1 [Specific task - 2-5 minutes]
- [ ] 1.2 [Specific task - 2-5 minutes]

## 2. [Category]

- [ ] 2.1 [Specific task - 2-5 minutes]

Phase 6: Validate

openspec validate [id] --strict

Fix ALL issues before presenting to user.

Phase 7: Request Approval

Present summary to user:

## Proposal: [id]

**Goal:** [One sentence]

**Changes:**
- [Key change 1]
- [Key change 2]

**Tasks:** [X] items

**Ready for your review.** Run `openspec show [id]` for full details.

Do you approve this proposal?

WAIT for explicit approval before proceeding.

REQUIRED SUB-SKILL

After approval: → Load task-planning skill if tasks need more detail → Load openspec-apply skill to begin implementation

Red Flags - STOP

If you catch yourself:

Writing implementation code
Skipping validation
Proceeding without user approval
Creating vague tasks ("implement feature")

STOP. This phase is planning only.

Common Rationalizations

Excuse	Reality
"This is small, skip the proposal"	Small changes compound. Spec it anyway.
"I'll document after implementing"	After-the-fact docs miss the reasoning.
"User seems impatient"	Wrong implementation wastes more time.
"Tasks are obvious, I'll figure it out"	Vague tasks lead to scope creep.

openspec-propose

OpenSpec Propose

Iron Law

Process