Openspec Sync Specs

---
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.
allowed-tools: Bash(openspec:*)
license: MIT
compatibility: Requires openspec CLI.
metadata:
  author: openspec
  version: "1.0"
  generatedBy: "1.6.0"
---

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).

**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**

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
   ```

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

<!-- keel:openspec-surface-overlay version=5.80.0 -->
## Keel Sync Overlay

Keel rules below take precedence over conflicting generic OpenSpec instructions in this file.

- Invoke the OpenSpec CLI as `keel openspec …` throughout this file. The commands below are written as a bare `openspec`, which resolves only where OpenSpec is separately installed on PATH; `keel openspec` resolves either way, and `keel --doctor` reports which case this repository is.

- The current agent owns the sync decision and must verify task evidence, follow-up ownership, and completion gates before proceeding.
- Sync completion is gated by `keel gate change-close --action sync` plus `keel-review-checklist`; there is no runtime hook for it, so running the gate is the agent's own step.
- Before syncing, each related critical expectation must have behavior evidence, a durable follow-up owner, or an explicit discard reason.
- Target-native subagents may help with bounded assessment or evidence production only; they cannot sync, change acceptance, or bypass completion gates.
- Do not treat generic OpenSpec sync delegation language as authority to transfer Keel ownership.
- Invoke OpenSpec through `keel openspec` (for example `keel openspec validate`); a bare `openspec` command may not be on PATH.
- Syncing promotes the change's spec delta into `openspec/specs/`. A later archive of the same change must use `--skip-specs`, because archive is not idempotent over an already-promoted delta.
<!-- keel:openspec-surface-overlay:end -->