Archive a completed change in the experimental workflow. Use when the user wants to finalize and archive a change after implementation is complete.
Archive a completed change in the experimental workflow.
Store selection: If the user names a store (a store is a standalone OpenSpec repo registered on this machine) or the work lives in one, run openspec store list --json to discover registered store ids, then pass --store <id> on the commands that read or write specs and changes (new change, status, instructions, list, show, validate, archive, doctor, context). Other commands do not take the flag. Hints printed by commands already carry the flag; keep it on follow-ups. Without a store, commands act on the nearest local openspec/ root.
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 --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.
Check artifact completion status
Run openspec status --change "<name>" --json to check artifact completion.
Parse the JSON to understand:
schemaName: The workflow being usedplanningHome, changeRoot, artifactPaths, and actionContext: path and scope contextartifacts: List of artifacts with their status (done or other)If any artifacts are not done:
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:
If no tasks file exists: Proceed without task-related warning.
Assess delta spec sync state
Use artifactPaths.specs.existingOutputPaths from status JSON to check for delta specs. If none exist, proceed without sync prompt.
If delta specs exist:
openspec/specs/<capability>/spec.mdPrompt options:
If user chooses sync, use Task tool (subagent_type: "general-purpose", prompt: "Use Skill tool to invoke openspec-sync-specs for change ''. Delta spec analysis: "). Proceed to archive regardless of choice.
Perform the archive
Create an archive directory under planningHome.changesDir if it doesn't exist:
mkdir -p "<planningHome.changesDir>/archive"Generate target name using current date: YYYY-MM-DD-<change-name>
Check if target already exists:
changeRoot to the archive directorymv "<changeRoot>" "<planningHome.changesDir>/archive/YYYY-MM-DD-<name>"Display summary
Show archive completion summary including:
Output On Success
## Archive Complete
**Change:** <change-name>
**Schema:** <schema-name>
**Archived to:** the archive path derived from `planningHome.changesDir`/YYYY-MM-DD-<name>/
**Specs:** ✓ Synced to main specs (or "No delta specs" or "Sync skipped")
All artifacts complete. All tasks complete.Guardrails
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Also appears in
since Aug 28, 2026
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