openspec-verify-change

Verify that an implementation matches the change artifacts (specs, tasks, design).

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, schemas, view). Once selected, treat --store <id> as sticky for the rest of the workflow. Every unscoped example of those commands below is shorthand: before running it, append the flag. For example, run openspec status --change "<name>" --json --store "<id>", not the unscoped form shown below. 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.

Project check: These steps expect a project that already uses OpenSpec. Before the first step that writes anything (new change, archive, sync specs, or authoring an artifact file), confirm the project has a root: run openspec list --json (with --store <id> when a store is selected, since the store is then the root) and read root. A root object means the project is set up. "root": null means it is not - there is no openspec/ directory here, and a write such as openspec new change would create one as a side effect. The command also exits non-zero, which is that answer rather than a broken CLI, so read the JSON instead of retrying or working around it.

One "root": null is not about setup: when a status error message starts with Declared in or Invalid store declaration in and names this project's openspec/config.yaml (or config.yml), the project does use OpenSpec through a store it declares, which this machine cannot resolve (the store is not registered, or the store: line is malformed). Do not treat it as uninitialized and skip the branches below: stop before writing and show the user that error's message and fix.

Otherwise, with no root, what happens next depends on how this workflow was reached:

Auto-selected: you chose this workflow yourself, without the user naming OpenSpec, naming this skill, or running its slash command. Stop using OpenSpec and answer the request normally, as you would with no OpenSpec installed. Do not ask them to set anything up and do not mention OpenSpec setup.
Explicit OpenSpec request: the user named OpenSpec, named this skill, or ran its slash command. Stop before writing and ask how to proceed: set this project up (openspec init), target a store they already have (--store <id>), or continue without OpenSpec for this request. Wait for their answer.

In both branches, never create the root as a side effect: do not run openspec init until the user asks for it, do not hand-create openspec/ files, and do not let a command create it.

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

Select the change

If a name is provided, use it. Otherwise:
- Infer from conversation context if the user mentioned a change
- Auto-select if only one active change exists
- If ambiguous, run openspec list --json to get available changes and ask the user to select one
When prompting, show all active changes returned by the list, including changes with status: "no-tasks". Include the schema used for each change if available. Mark changes with incomplete tasks as "(In Progress)".

Always announce: "Using change: " and how to override (e.g., /openspec-verify-change <other>).
Check status to understand the schema
```
openspec status --change "<name>" --json
```
Parse the JSON to understand:
- schemaName: The workflow being used (e.g., "spec-driven")
- planningHome, changeRoot, artifactPaths, and actionContext: path and scope context
- Which artifacts exist for this change
Get planning context and load artifacts
```
openspec instructions apply --change "<name>" --json
```
This returns the change directory, contextFiles (artifact ID -> array of concrete file paths), taskTrackingConfigured, and top-level tasks and progress aggregated from every concrete file matched by the schema's apply.tracks configuration that could be read. Read all available artifacts from contextFiles.

Treat apply state and instruction as context, not a verification verdict. Do not implement tasks or archive the change during verification.
Initialize verification report structure

Create a report structure with three dimensions:
- Completeness: Track tasks and spec coverage
- Correctness: Track requirement implementation and scenario coverage
- Coherence: Track design adherence and pattern consistency
Each dimension can have CRITICAL, WARNING, or SUGGESTION issues.

Verification is advisory. Respect intentional omissions such as skip_specs: true, optional design documents, and schemas without task tracking. Do not require or invent optional or intentionally omitted artifacts to obtain a clean report. describes a limit of this report, not a new archive prerequisite. Archive retains its own checks and user-confirmation behavior.

Verification Heuristics

Completeness: Focus on objective checklist items (checkboxes, requirements list)
Correctness: Use keyword search, file path analysis, reasonable inference - don't require perfect certainty
Coherence: Look for glaring inconsistencies, don't nitpick style
False Positives: When uncertain, prefer SUGGESTION over WARNING, WARNING over CRITICAL
Actionability: Every issue must have a specific recommendation with file/line references where applicable

Output Format

Use clear markdown with:

Table for summary scorecard
Grouped lists for issues (CRITICAL/WARNING/SUGGESTION)
Code references in format: file.ts:123
Specific, actionable recommendations
No vague suggestions like "consider reviewing"