# Install openspec with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix Spec-driven development (SDD) for AI coding assistants. Version 1.6.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-11. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#openspec. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:openspec ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install openspec ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install openspec ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: llm/openspec/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#openspec ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/op/openspec/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:openspec - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.6.0 - **Source summary:** Spec-driven development (SDD) for AI coding assistants - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-07-11T15:22:32Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-25T07:20:51+00:00 ## Executables - openspec (cli) - openspec (alias) ## Dependencies - node ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-25 - Package-manager version: 1.6.0 - Package-manager updated: 2026-07-11 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://openspec.dev/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** openspec - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - openspec: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/op/openspec/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - MacPorts - openspec: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: llm/openspec/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [MCP tool packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/mcp-tools/) - Mentions MCP or Model Context Protocol. - [AI and agent packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/ai-agent-tools/) - Matched AI model, agent, coding-agent, orchestration, or MCP metadata. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [node](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/node/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [specify](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/specify/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: ai, cli, coding-agents, developer-workflow, spec-driven-development. - [claude-cmd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/claude-cmd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: ai, cli, coding-agents, developer-workflow. - [openskills](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openskills/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: ai, cli, coding-agents, developer-workflow. - [qwen-code](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/qwen-code/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: ai, cli, coding-agents, developer-workflow. - [aicommit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aicommit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: ai, cli, coding-agents. - [aicommit2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aicommit2/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: ai, cli, coding-agents. - [aicommits](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aicommits/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: ai, cli, coding-agents. - [aider](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aider/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: ai, cli, coding-agents. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/openspec.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/openspec.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph