
openspec-archiving
Archives completed changes and merges specification deltas into living documentation. Use when changes are deployed, ready to archive, or specs need updating after implementation. Triggers include "openspec archive", "archive change", "merge specs", "complete proposal", "update documentation", "finalize spec", "mark as done".
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/forztf/open-skilled-sdd --skill openspec-archiving- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads openspec-archiving automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Specification Archiving
Archives completed change proposals and merges their spec deltas into the living specification documentation.
Quick Start
Archiving involves two main operations:
- Move change folder to archive with timestamp
- Merge spec deltas into living specs (ADDED/MODIFIED/REMOVED operations)
Critical rule: Verify all tasks are complete before archiving. Archiving signifies deployment and completion.
Workflow
Copy this checklist and track progress:
Archive Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Verify implementation is complete
- [ ] Step 2: Review spec deltas to merge
- [ ] Step 3: Create timestamped archive directory
- [ ] Step 4: Merge ADDED requirements into living specs
- [ ] Step 5: Merge MODIFIED requirements into living specs
- [ ] Step 6: Merge REMOVED requirements into living specs
- [ ] Step 7: Move change folder to archive
- [ ] Step 8: Validate living spec structure
Step 1: Verify implementation is complete
Before archiving, confirm all work is done:
# Check for IMPLEMENTED marker
test -f spec/changes/{change-id}/IMPLEMENTED && echo "✓ Implemented" || echo "✗ Not implemented"
# Review tasks
cat spec/changes/{change-id}/tasks.md
# Check git status for uncommitted work
git status
Ask the user:
Are all tasks complete and tested?
Has this change been deployed to production?
Should I proceed with archiving?
Step 2: Review spec deltas to merge
Understand what will be merged:
# List all spec delta files
find spec/changes/{change-id}/specs -name "*.md" -type f
# Read each delta
for file in spec/changes/{change-id}/specs/**/*.md; do
echo "=== $file ==="
cat "$file"
done
Identify:
- Which capabilities are affected
- How many requirements are ADDED/MODIFIED/REMOVED
- Where in living specs these changes belong
Step 3: Create timestamped archive directory
# Create archive with today's date
TIMESTAMP=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
mkdir -p spec/archive/${TIMESTAMP}-{change-id}
Example:
# For change "add-user-auth" archived on Oct 26, 2025
mkdir -p spec/archive/2025-10-26-add-user-auth
Step 4: Merge ADDED requirements into living specs
For each ## ADDED Requirements section:
Process:
- Locate the target living spec file
- Append the new requirements to the end of the file
- Maintain proper markdown formatting
Example:
Source (spec/changes/add-user-auth/specs/authentication/spec-delta.md):
## ADDED Requirements
### Requirement: User Login
WHEN a user submits valid credentials,
the system SHALL authenticate the user and create a session.
#### Scenario: Successful Login
GIVEN valid credentials
WHEN user submits login form
THEN system creates session
Target (spec/specs/authentication/spec.md):
# Append to living spec
cat >> spec/specs/authentication/spec.md << 'EOF'
### Requirement: User Login
WHEN a user submits valid credentials,
the system SHALL authenticate the user and create a session.
#### Scenario: Successful Login
GIVEN valid credentials
WHEN user submits login form
THEN system creates session
EOF
Step 5: Merge MODIFIED requirements into living specs
For each ## MODIFIED Requirements section:
Process:
- Locate the existing requirement in the living spec
- Replace the ENTIRE requirement block (including all scenarios)
- Use the complete updated text from the delta
Example using sed:
# Find and replace requirement block
# This is conceptual - actual implementation depends on structure
# First, identify the line range of the old requirement
START_LINE=$(grep -n "### Requirement: User Login" spec/specs/authentication/spec.md | cut -d: -f1)
# Find the end (next requirement or end of file)
END_LINE=$(tail -n +$((START_LINE + 1)) spec/specs/authentication/spec.md | \
grep -n "^### Requirement:" | head -1 | cut -d: -f1)
# Delete old requirement
sed -i "${START_LINE},${END_LINE}d" spec/specs/authentication/spec.md
# Insert new requirement at same position
# (Extract from delta and insert)
Manual approach (recommended for safety):
1. Open living spec in editor
2. Find the requirement by name
3. Delete entire block (requirement + all scenarios)
4. Paste updated requirement from delta
5. Save
Step 6: Merge REMOVED requirements into living specs
For each ## REMOVED Requirements section:
Process:
- Locate the requirement in the living spec
- Delete the entire requirement block
- Add a comment documenting the removal
Example:
# Option 1: Delete with comment
# Manually edit spec/specs/authentication/spec.md
# Add deprecation comment
echo "<!-- Requirement 'Legacy Password Reset' removed $(date +%Y-%m-%d) -->" >> spec/specs/authentication/spec.md
# Delete the requirement block manually or with sed
Pattern:
<!-- Removed 2025-10-26: User must use email-based password reset -->
~~### Requirement: SMS Password Reset~~
Step 7: Move change folder to archive
After all deltas are merged:
# Move entire change folder to archive
mv spec/changes/{change-id} spec/archive/${TIMESTAMP}-{change-id}
Verify move succeeded:
# Check archive exists
ls -la spec/archive/${TIMESTAMP}-{change-id}
# Check changes directory is clean
ls spec/changes/ | grep "{change-id}" # Should return nothing
Step 8: Validate living spec structure
After merging, validate the living specs are well-formed:
# Check requirement format
grep -n "### Requirement:" spec/specs/**/*.md
# Check scenario format
grep -n "#### Scenario:" spec/specs/**/*.md
# Count requirements per spec
for spec in spec/specs/**/spec.md; do
count=$(grep -c "### Requirement:" "$spec")
echo "$spec: $count requirements"
done
Manual review:
- Open each modified spec file
- Verify markdown formatting is correct
- Check requirements flow logically
- Ensure no duplicate requirements exist
Merge Logic Reference
ADDED Operation
Action: Append to living spec
Location: End of file (before any footer/appendix)
Format: Copy requirement + all scenarios exactly as written
MODIFIED Operation
Action: Replace existing requirement
Location: Find by requirement name, replace entire block
Format: Use complete updated text from delta (don't merge, replace)
Note: Old version is preserved in archive
REMOVED Operation
Action: Delete requirement, add deprecation comment
Location: Find by requirement name
Format: Delete entire block, optionally add <!-- Removed YYYY-MM-DD: reason -->
RENAMED Operation (uncommon)
Action: Update requirement name, keep content
Location: Find by old name, update to new name
Format: Just change the header: ### Requirement: NewName
Note: Typically use MODIFIED instead
Best Practices
Pattern 1: Verify Before Moving
Always verify delta merges before moving to archive:
# After merging, check diff
git diff spec/specs/
# Review changes
git diff spec/specs/authentication/spec.md
# If correct, commit
git add spec/specs/
git commit -m "Merge spec deltas from add-user-auth"
# Then archive
mv spec/changes/add-user-auth spec/archive/2025-10-26-add-user-auth
Pattern 2: Atomic Archiving
Archive entire changes, not individual files:
Good:
# Move complete change folder
mv spec/changes/add-user-auth spec/archive/2025-10-26-add-user-auth
Bad:
# Don't cherry-pick files
mv spec/changes/add-user-auth/proposal.md spec/archive/
# (leaves orphaned files)
Pattern 3: Archive Preservation
The archive is a historical record. Never modify archived files:
❌ Don't: Edit files in spec/archive/
✓ Do: Treat archive as read-only history
Pattern 4: Git Commit Strategy
Recommended commit workflow:
# Commit 1: Merge deltas
git add spec/specs/
git commit -m "Merge spec deltas from add-user-auth
- Added User Login requirement
- Modified Password Policy requirement
- Removed Legacy Auth requirement"
# Commit 2: Archive change
git add spec/archive/ spec/changes/
git commit -m "Archive add-user-auth change"
Advanced Topics
For complex deltas: See reference/MERGE_LOGIC.md
Conflict resolution: If multiple changes modified the same requirement, manual merge is required.
Rollback strategy: To rollback an archive, reverse the process (move from archive back to changes, remove merged content from living specs).
Common Patterns
Pattern 1: Simple Addition
Change adds 1 new requirement → Append to spec → Archive
Pattern 2: Behavioral Change
Change modifies 1 requirement → Replace in spec → Archive
Pattern 3: Deprecation
Change removes 1 requirement → Delete from spec with comment → Archive
Pattern 4: Feature with Multiple Requirements
Change adds 5 requirements across 2 specs
→ Append each to respective spec
→ Verify all are merged
→ Archive
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Don't:
- Archive incomplete implementations
- Merge deltas before deployment
- Modify archived files
- Skip validation after merging
- Forget to git commit merged specs
Do:
- Verify all tasks complete before archiving
- Merge deltas carefully and completely
- Treat archive as immutable history
- Validate merged specs structure
- Commit merged specs before archiving move
Troubleshooting
Issue: Merge conflict (requirement exists in living spec)
Solution:
1. If names match but content differs → Use MODIFIED pattern
2. If truly different requirements → Rename one
3. If duplicate by mistake → Use whichever is correct
Issue: Can't find requirement to modify/remove
Solution:
1. Search by partial name: grep -i "login" spec/specs/**/*.md
2. Check if already removed
3. Check if in different capability file
Issue: Living spec has formatting errors after merge
Solution:
1. Fix formatting manually
2. Re-run validation: grep -n "###" spec/specs/**/*.md
3. Ensure consistent heading levels
Reference Materials
- MERGE_LOGIC.md - Detailed merge operation rules
Token budget: This SKILL.md is approximately 480 lines, under the 500-line recommended limit.
FAQ
What does the openspec-archiving skill do?
Archives completed changes and merges specification deltas into living documentation. Use when changes are deployed, ready to archive, or specs need updating after implementation. Triggers include "openspec archive", "archive change", "merge specs", "complete proposal", "update documentation", "finalize spec", "mark as done".
How do I install openspec-archiving?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/forztf/open-skilled-sdd --skill openspec-archiving in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/openspec-archiving/ (personal) or .claude/skills/openspec-archiving/ (project).
Which AI agents can use openspec-archiving?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is openspec-archiving safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains openspec-archiving?
It is published by forztf in forztf/open-skilled-sdd. It has 1,031 recorded installs.
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