What are OpenSpec artifacts?

These are standardized Markdown files such as proposals, designs, and specifications used to capture the thinking process and decisions made during the exploration phase.

Does this skill write code?

No, Explore Mode is strictly for thinking and discovery; it prohibits writing application code to ensure focus remains on planning and conceptual clarity.

Why does it use ASCII diagrams?

ASCII diagrams provide a fast, lightweight, and version-control-friendly way for the AI to visualize complex relationships and flows directly within your terminal or documentation.

How do I start a change after exploring?

Once your ideas are crystallized, you can exit explore mode and transition to implementation using OpenSpec commands like /opsx:new or /opsx:ff.

Can I use it on an existing project?

Yes, the skill is designed to read and explore your existing codebase to ground discussions in reality and map current architecture.

OpenSpec Explore Mode

Name: OpenSpec Explore Mode
Author: bcl1713

bybcl1713

0•

Productivity & Workflow

Provides a non-coding discovery environment for brainstorming architecture, clarifying requirements, and visualizing system designs using OpenSpec.

OpenSpec Explore Mode transforms Claude into a dedicated thinking partner for the pre-implementation phase of software development. It enables developers to investigate complex codebases, map out architectural changes, and identify potential risks without the pressure of immediate code generation. By leveraging ASCII diagrams and OpenSpec-aware context, the skill helps clarify requirements and formalize decisions into design artifacts, ensuring a solid conceptual foundation is established before any feature code is written.

Key Features

01Seamless integration with OpenSpec artifacts like proposals, designs, and task lists

02Interactive brainstorming and requirement clarification without code implementation

03Automatic generation of ASCII diagrams for architectural visualization and data flows

04Risk assessment and assumption testing to surface potential project bottlenecks

050 GitHub stars

06Deep codebase investigation to identify integration points and hidden complexities

Use Cases

01Investigating a legacy codebase to understand existing patterns and dependencies

02Brainstorming high-level architecture for a new feature before starting development

03Comparing multiple implementation strategies and documenting tradeoffs in a design spec

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add bcl1713/starlink-dashboard openspec-explore

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill