Ff

---
name: "OPSX: Fast Forward"
description: Create a change and generate all artifacts needed for implementation in one go
category: Workflow
tags: [workflow, artifacts, experimental]
---

Fast-forward through artifact creation - generate everything needed to start implementation.

**Input**: The argument after `/opsx:ff` is the change name (kebab-case), OR a description of what the user wants to build.

**Steps**

0. **Create/refresh plan workspace**

   Before creating artifacts, initialize the durable planning workspace:
   ```bash
   scripts/openspec/init-plan-workspace.sh "<name>"

This ensures openspec/plan/<name>/ exists with role folders and per-role OpenSpec artifacts (.openspec.yaml, proposal.md, tasks.md, specs/<role>/spec.md).

1. If no input provided, ask what they want to build

   Use the AskUserQuestion tool (open-ended, no preset options) to ask:

   "What change do you want to work on? Describe what you want to build or fix."

   From their description, derive a kebab-case name (e.g., "add user authentication" → add-user-auth).

   IMPORTANT: Do NOT proceed without understanding what the user wants to build.

2. Create the change directory

   openspec new change "<name>"
   

   This creates a scaffolded change at openspec/changes/<name>/.

3. Get the artifact build order

   openspec status --change "<name>" --json
   

   Parse the JSON to get:

   • applyRequires: array of artifact IDs needed before implementation (e.g., ["tasks"])
   • artifacts: list of all artifacts with their status and dependencies

4. Create artifacts in sequence until apply-ready

   Use the TodoWrite tool to track progress through the artifacts.

   Loop through artifacts in dependency order (artifacts with no pending dependencies first):

   a. For each artifact that is ready (dependencies satisfied):

   • Get instructions:

     openspec instructions <artifact-id> --change "<name>" --json
     

   • The instructions JSON includes:
     • 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 for this artifact type
     • outputPath: Where to write the artifact
     • dependencies: Completed artifacts to read for context
   • Read any completed dependency files for context
   • Create the artifact file using template as the structure
   • Apply context and rules as constraints - but do NOT copy them into the file
   • Show brief progress: "✓ Created "

   b. Continue until all applyRequires artifacts are complete

   • After creating each artifact, re-run openspec status --change "<name>" --json
   • Check if every artifact ID in applyRequires has status: "done" in the artifacts array
   • Stop when all applyRequires artifacts are done

   c. If an artifact requires user input (unclear context):

   • Use AskUserQuestion tool to clarify
   • Then continue with creation

5. Show final status

   openspec status --change "<name>"
   

Output

After completing all artifacts, summarize:

• Change name and location
• List of artifacts created with brief descriptions
• What's ready: "All artifacts created! Ready for implementation."
• Prompt: "Run /opsx:apply to start implementing."

Artifact Creation Guidelines

• Follow the instruction field from openspec instructions for each artifact type
• The schema defines what each artifact should contain - follow it
• Read dependency artifacts for context before creating new ones
• Use the template as a starting point, filling in based on context

Guardrails

• Create ALL artifacts needed for implementation (as defined by schema's apply.requires)
• Always read dependency artifacts before creating a new one
• If context is critically unclear, ask the user - but prefer making reasonable decisions to keep momentum
• If a change with that name already exists, ask if user wants to continue it or create a new one
• Verify each artifact file exists after writing before proceeding to next