---
description: Continue working on a change - create the next artifact (Experimental)
---
Continue working on a change by creating the next artifact.
**Input**: Optionally specify a change name after `/opsx:continue` (e.g., `/opsx:continue add-auth`). 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 sorted by most recently modified. Then use the **AskUserQuestion tool** to let the user select which change to work on.
Present the top 3-4 most recently modified changes as options, showing:
- Change name
- Schema (from `schema` field if present, otherwise "spec-driven")
- Status (e.g., "0/5 tasks", "complete", "no tasks")
- How recently it was modified (from `lastModified` field)
Mark the most recently modified change as "(Recommended)" since it's likely what the user wants to continue.
**IMPORTANT**: Do NOT guess or auto-select a change. Always let the user choose.
2. **Check current status**
```bash
openspec status --change "<name>" --json
```
Parse the JSON to understand current state. The response includes:
- `schemaName`: The workflow schema being used (e.g., "spec-driven")
- `artifacts`: Array of artifacts with their status ("done", "ready", "blocked")
- `isComplete`: Boolean indicating if all artifacts are complete
3. **Act based on status**:
---
**If all artifacts are complete (`isComplete: true`)**:
- Congratulate the user
- Show final status including the schema used
- Suggest: "All artifacts created! You can now implement this change with `/opsx:apply` or archive it with `/opsx:archive`."
- STOP
---
**If artifacts are ready to create** (status shows artifacts with `status: "ready"`):
- Pick the FIRST artifact with `status: "ready"` from the status output
- Get its instructions:
```bash
openspec instructions <artifact-id> --change "<name>" --json
```
- Parse the JSON. The key fields are:
- `context`: Project background (constraints for you - do NOT include in output)
- `rules`: Artifact-specific rules (constraints for you - do NOT include in output)
- `template`: The structure to use for your output file
- `instruction`: Schema-specific guidance
- `outputPath`: Where to write the artifact
- `dependencies`: Completed artifacts to read for context
- **Create the artifact file**:
- Read any completed dependency files for context
- Use `template` as the structure - fill in its sections
- Apply `context` and `rules` as constraints when writing - but do NOT copy them into the file
- Write to the output path specified in instructions
- Show what was created and what's now unlocked
- STOP after creating ONE artifact
---
**If no artifacts are ready (all blocked)**:
- This shouldn't happen with a valid schema
- Show status and suggest checking for issues
4. **After creating an artifact, show progress**
```bash
openspec status --change "<name>"
```
**Output**
After each invocation, show:
- Which artifact was created
- Schema workflow being used
- Current progress (N/M complete)
- What artifacts are now unlocked
- Prompt: "Run `/opsx:continue` to create the next artifact"
**Artifact Creation Guidelines**
The artifact types and their purpose depend on the schema. Use the `instruction` field from the instructions output to understand what to create.
Common artifact patterns:
**spec-driven schema** (proposal → specs → design → tasks):
- **proposal.md**: Ask user about the change if not clear. Fill in Why, What Changes, Capabilities, Impact.
- The Capabilities section is critical - each capability listed will need a spec file.
- **specs/<capability>/spec.md**: Create one spec per capability listed in the proposal's Capabilities section (use the capability name, not the change name).
- **design.md**: Document technical decisions, architecture, and implementation approach.
- **tasks.md**: Break down implementation into checkboxed tasks.
For other schemas, follow the `instruction` field from the CLI output.
**Guardrails**
- Create ONE artifact per invocation
- Always read dependency artifacts before creating a new one
- Never skip artifacts or create out of order
- If context is unclear, ask the user before creating
- Verify the artifact file exists after writing before marking progress
- Use the schema's artifact sequence, don't assume specific artifact names
- **IMPORTANT**: `context` and `rules` are constraints for YOU, not content for the file
- Do NOT copy `<context>`, `<rules>`, `<project_context>` blocks into the artifact
- These guide what you write, but should never appear in the output
