FAQ
Q: How is this different from .cursorrules or CLAUDE.md? A: Those define coding style and conventions. OpenSpec defines features and requirements. They're complementary — use both.
Q: Does the AI agent need special support for OpenSpec? A: No. Any AI that can read YAML/Markdown can follow OpenSpec files. The structure is self-explanatory.
Q: Can I use it for existing projects?
A: Yes. Run openspec init and add specs for new features. No need to spec existing code.
Q: How detailed should specs be? A: Enough that two different developers (or AI agents) would build roughly the same thing. Include requirements, constraints, and acceptance criteria.
Works With
- Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Codex, Windsurf
- Any AI coding agent that reads project files
- VS Code (official extension)
- Git (specs are version-controlled YAML files)