install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install openspec

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install openspec

MacPorts ports tree · llm/openspec/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#openspec

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/op/openspec/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Spec-driven development (SDD) for AI coding assistants

Project links

Commands and aliases

openspec

history

Project history and usage

OpenSpec is a TypeScript/Node CLI for spec-driven development with AI coding assistants. It creates repository-local proposal, design, task, and spec artifacts so humans and coding agents can agree on intent before implementation.

Project history

The project emerged with the wave of agentic coding tools, where chat-only requirements often disappear between sessions. Its README frames OpenSpec as a lightweight spec layer for AI coding assistants: changes get their own folders, requirements become editable artifacts, and slash commands drive planning and implementation through existing assistants.

OpenSpec's public repository and documentation emphasize portability over a single hosted service. The package installs through npm or Homebrew, runs without API keys or an MCP server, and generates command profiles for many coding tools.

Adoption history

OpenSpec's adoption signals are strongest in developer-tool channels: the GitHub repository advertises tens of thousands of stars, Homebrew packages it as `openspec`, and the project site lists native support for tools such as Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, GitHub Copilot, OpenCode, Windsurf, Gemini CLI, and others.

Because the project is young and its history is mostly described by its own repository, the durable adoption story is still forming. The meaningful package-manager fact is that Homebrew and npm make the same workflow available as a normal CLI rather than only as copied prompt files.

How it is used

Developers install `openspec`, initialize it in a repository, and then use assistant slash commands such as proposal, apply, explore, and archive flows. A typical change leaves behind `proposal.md`, `design.md`, `tasks.md`, and spec deltas under an `openspec/changes/` directory, then archives accepted changes back into the maintained specs.

Why package nerds care

OpenSpec is package-nerd interesting because it packages process as code. Instead of shipping a library API, it ships a repo convention, generated assistant instructions, schemas, and CLI maintenance commands that make AI planning artifacts versionable and reviewable.

Timeline

2025-2026: OpenSpec's public materials describe a spec-driven workflow aimed at AI coding assistants and brownfield codebases.
2026: Homebrew packages OpenSpec 1.5.0, and the GitHub releases page lists v1.5.0 as a June 28, 2026 release.

Related projects

OpenSpec compares itself with GitHub Spec Kit and Kiro, positioning itself as lighter-weight than phase-gated spec frameworks and more portable than IDE-bound planning products.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`openspec`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-25

manager version1.6.0

manager updated2026-07-11

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://openspec.dev/

infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://openspec.dev/none confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:openspec
Version	1.6.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/openspec
Homepage	https://openspec.dev/
Repository	https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec
Upstream docs	https://openspec.dev/
License	MIT
Source archive	https://registry.npmjs.org/@fission-ai/openspec/-/openspec-1.6.0.tgz
Last updated	2026-07-11T15:22:32Z
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	node
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	openspec
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Nix95%

openspec

nix profile install nixpkgs#openspec

normalized package name match
Matched by: Openspec

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/op/openspec/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

MacPorts95%

openspec

sudo port install openspec

normalized package name match
Matched by: Openspec

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: llm/openspec/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/openspec.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install openspec with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix