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OpenSpec

by Fission-AI

The leading spec-driven development workflow for AI agents. Implements the /opsx:propose → /opsx:apply → /opsx:archive cycle that scaffolds proposals, specs, design docs, and task checklists, then applies them and archives once shipped.

43,650·7 tools·Released AUG 2024·MIT
npm install -g @fission-ai/openspec@latest
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OpenSpec is the spec-driven development workflow that AI coding agents have been waiting for. The pitch is straightforward: you tell the agent to propose a change (`/opsx:propose add-dark-mode`), and OpenSpec scaffolds a structured artifact bundle: proposal, specs, design, tasks. The agent then applies the tasks one at a time (`/opsx:apply`), and once done, archives the change with the specs updated for the next feature. The 43k stars are the loudest signal in this entire directory and they earn it. The architecture decision worth understanding: OpenSpec is built brownfield-first, scaling from a single developer to enterprise teams while preserving the team's existing workflow. Run it on a Greenfield repo and you get spec-driven development from day one; run it on an existing codebase and the proposals respect what already exists.

Reviewed by M. Nouriel · APR 2026

INSTALL THIS SERVER

{ "mcpServers": { "openspec": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@fission-ai/openspec@latest", "mcp" ] } } }
PrereqRequires Node.js 20.19.0+. Install globally first: `npm install -g @fission-ai/openspec@latest`. Then run `openspec init` in your project to scaffold the openspec/ directory. Path: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS).
{ "mcpServers": { "openspec": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@fission-ai/openspec@latest", "mcp" ] } } }
{ "mcpServers": { "openspec": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@fission-ai/openspec@latest", "mcp" ] } } }
{ "mcpServers": { "openspec": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@fission-ai/openspec@latest", "mcp" ] } } }
{ "mcpServers": { "openspec": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@fission-ai/openspec@latest", "mcp" ] } } }

7 TOOLS AVAILABLE

propose
Scaffold a change with proposal, specs, design, and task checklist
Write
apply
Work through the task checklist of an open proposal
Write
archive
Close out a change and update specs
Write
verify
Validate spec-implementation alignment
Read
sync
Refresh specs from current code
Write
bulk-archive
Archive multiple completed changes at once
Admin

OUR ASSESSMENT

Strengths
  • 43k GitHub stars and active maintenance signal real workflow adoption among teams using AI coding agents.
  • Brownfield-first architecture; proposals respect existing code while shaping incremental change.
  • Structured artifact output (proposal, specs, design, tasks) gives the agent a checklist to drive against, with clear hand-off points for human review.
  • Zero-config quick start: `npm install -g @fission-ai/openspec@latest` then `openspec init`.
Weaknesses
  • Workflow conventions are opinionated; teams with established spec patterns may find friction adapting.
  • New `/opsx:` workflow is the recommended path; older OpenSpec workflows exist but receive less ongoing development.
  • Requires Node.js 20.19.0+; older runtimes fail at install.
Security Notes

OpenSpec runs locally and operates on the operator's filesystem. The agent reads and writes files under `openspec/` in the project directory plus generated artifacts under the project tree. Secrets and credentials stay outside OpenSpec's scope; spec-driven workflows execute the same code the agent was already authorized to write, so the existing project-level access controls apply. Production deployment of OpenSpec-generated changes uses the team's standard CI and code-review gates.

Best For

Teams adopting AI coding assistants who want repeatable, spec-driven feature workflows over prompt-and-pray. Works equally well on greenfield and existing codebases.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Language
typescript
Transport
stdio
Clients
Claude DesktopClaude CodeCursorVS CodeWindsurf
License
MIT
GitHub
Fission-AI/OpenSpec · ★ 43,650
npm
@fission-ai/openspec
Last Release
v1.3.1APR 21, 2026
First Released
AUG 30, 2024

ADOPTION METRICS

// GitHub Stars
43,650

// Reading this43.6k stars place this as the most-starred entry in our directory. Star traction reflects strong adoption among teams running structured agent-driven development workflows.

// Popularity Rank
#1
Globally · #1 in Dev Tools

// Reading thisTop-ranked dev-tools MCP by every stat we track. The brownfield-first architectural choice is the reason it scales beyond demo workflows.

SOURCES & VERIFICATION

We don't take any single directory's word for it. Before scoring, we cross-reference 5 public MCP sources, install the server ourselves against the clients we cover, and record when we last re-verified.

01
Discovered
Manual submission
First indexed APR 28, 2026
02
Cross-referenced
5 directories
PulseMCP, MCPMarket, Official MCP Registry, Awesome MCP Servers, Smithery
03
Verified against
Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Codex CLI
Installed and tested across clients
04
Last re-checked
APR 28, 2026
Weekly re-verification
// How other directories see it

The same server, 5 different lenses. We reconcile these signals into our editorial score, which is why our number sometimes diverges from a directory-aggregate star count.

SourceTheir ratingTheir star countTheir downloadsLast synced
AutomationSwitch This page4.5editorial43,650APR 28, 2026
PulseMCP— unratedunavailableunavailableAPR 28, 2026
MCPMarket— unratedunavailableunavailableAPR 28, 2026
Official MCP Registry— unratedunavailableunavailableAPR 28, 2026
Awesome MCP Servers— unratedunavailableunavailableAPR 28, 2026
Smithery— unratedunavailableunavailableAPR 28, 2026

// Counts are directory-reported; we don't adjust them. Discrepancies usually come from different snapshot times or star-caching.

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