fix(archive): allow REMOVED requirements when creating new spec files (#403) (#404)

When creating a new spec file, REMOVED requirements are now ignored
with a warning instead of causing archive to fail. This enables
refactoring scenarios where old fields are removed while documenting
a capability for the first time.

Fixes #403

Author: smileeunsong

src/core/archive.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { promises as fs } from 'fs';
 import path from 'path';
-import { FileSystemUtils } from '../utils/file-system.js';
 import { getTaskProgressForChange, formatTaskStatus } from '../utils/task-progress.js';
 import { Validator } from './validation/validator.js';
 import chalk from 'chalk';
@@ -447,15 +446,26 @@ export class ArchiveCommand {
 
     // Load or create base target content
     let targetContent: string;
+    let isNewSpec = false;
     try {
       targetContent = await fs.readFile(update.target, 'utf-8');
     } catch {
-      // Target spec does not exist; only ADDED operations are permitted
-      if (plan.modified.length > 0 || plan.removed.length > 0 || plan.renamed.length > 0) {
+      // Target spec does not exist; MODIFIED and RENAMED are not allowed for new specs
+      // REMOVED will be ignored with a warning since there's nothing to remove
+      if (plan.modified.length > 0 || plan.renamed.length > 0) {
         throw new Error(
-          `${specName}: target spec does not exist; only ADDED requirements are allowed for new specs.`
+          `${specName}: target spec does not exist; only ADDED requirements are allowed for new specs. MODIFIED and RENAMED operations require an existing spec.`
         );
       }
+      // Warn about REMOVED requirements being ignored for new specs
+      if (plan.removed.length > 0) {
+        console.log(
+          chalk.yellow(
+            `⚠️  Warning: ${specName} - ${plan.removed.length} REMOVED requirement(s) ignored for new spec (nothing to remove).`
+          )
+        );
+      }
+      isNewSpec = true;
       targetContent = this.buildSpecSkeleton(specName, changeName);
     }
 
@@ -498,9 +508,15 @@ export class ArchiveCommand {
     for (const name of plan.removed) {
       const key = normalizeRequirementName(name);
       if (!nameToBlock.has(key)) {
-        throw new Error(
-          `${specName} REMOVED failed for header "### Requirement: ${name}" - not found`
-        );
+        // For new specs, REMOVED requirements are already warned about and ignored
+        // For existing specs, missing requirements are an error
+        if (!isNewSpec) {
+          throw new Error(
+            `${specName} REMOVED failed for header "### Requirement: ${name}" - not found`
+          );
+        }
+        // Skip removal for new specs (already warned above)
+        continue;
       }
       nameToBlock.delete(key);
     }

test/core/archive.test.ts

@@ -127,6 +127,133 @@ Then expected result happens`;
       expect(updatedContent).toContain('#### Scenario: Basic test');
     });
 
+    it('should allow REMOVED requirements when creating new spec file (issue #403)', async () => {
+      const changeName = 'new-spec-with-removed';
+      const changeDir = path.join(tempDir, 'openspec', 'changes', changeName);
+      const changeSpecDir = path.join(changeDir, 'specs', 'gift-card');
+      await fs.mkdir(changeSpecDir, { recursive: true });
+      
+      // Create delta spec with both ADDED and REMOVED requirements
+      // This simulates refactoring where old fields are removed and new ones are added
+      const specContent = `# Gift Card - Changes
+
+## ADDED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: Logo and Background Color
+The system SHALL support logo and backgroundColor fields for gift cards.
+
+#### Scenario: Display gift card with logo
+- **WHEN** a gift card is displayed
+- **THEN** it shows the logo and backgroundColor
+
+## REMOVED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: Image Field
+### Requirement: Thumbnail Field`;
+      await fs.writeFile(path.join(changeSpecDir, 'spec.md'), specContent);
+      
+      // Execute archive - should succeed with warning about REMOVED requirements
+      await archiveCommand.execute(changeName, { yes: true, noValidate: true });
+      
+      // Verify warning was logged about REMOVED requirements being ignored
+      expect(console.log).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('Warning: gift-card - 2 REMOVED requirement(s) ignored for new spec (nothing to remove).')
+      );
+      
+      // Verify spec was created with only ADDED requirements
+      const mainSpecPath = path.join(tempDir, 'openspec', 'specs', 'gift-card', 'spec.md');
+      const updatedContent = await fs.readFile(mainSpecPath, 'utf-8');
+      expect(updatedContent).toContain('# gift-card Specification');
+      expect(updatedContent).toContain('### Requirement: Logo and Background Color');
+      expect(updatedContent).toContain('#### Scenario: Display gift card with logo');
+      // REMOVED requirements should not be in the final spec
+      expect(updatedContent).not.toContain('### Requirement: Image Field');
+      expect(updatedContent).not.toContain('### Requirement: Thumbnail Field');
+      
+      // Verify change was archived successfully
+      const archiveDir = path.join(tempDir, 'openspec', 'changes', 'archive');
+      const archives = await fs.readdir(archiveDir);
+      expect(archives.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+      expect(archives.some(a => a.includes(changeName))).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should still error on MODIFIED when creating new spec file', async () => {
+      const changeName = 'new-spec-with-modified';
+      const changeDir = path.join(tempDir, 'openspec', 'changes', changeName);
+      const changeSpecDir = path.join(changeDir, 'specs', 'new-capability');
+      await fs.mkdir(changeSpecDir, { recursive: true });
+      
+      // Create delta spec with MODIFIED requirement (should fail for new spec)
+      const specContent = `# New Capability - Changes
+
+## ADDED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: New Feature
+New feature description.
+
+## MODIFIED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: Existing Feature
+Modified content.`;
+      await fs.writeFile(path.join(changeSpecDir, 'spec.md'), specContent);
+      
+      // Execute archive - should abort with error message (not throw, but log and return)
+      await archiveCommand.execute(changeName, { yes: true, noValidate: true });
+      
+      // Verify error message mentions MODIFIED not allowed for new specs
+      expect(console.log).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('new-capability: target spec does not exist; only ADDED requirements are allowed for new specs. MODIFIED and RENAMED operations require an existing spec.')
+      );
+      expect(console.log).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Aborted. No files were changed.');
+      
+      // Verify spec was NOT created
+      const mainSpecPath = path.join(tempDir, 'openspec', 'specs', 'new-capability', 'spec.md');
+      await expect(fs.access(mainSpecPath)).rejects.toThrow();
+      
+      // Verify change was NOT archived
+      const archiveDir = path.join(tempDir, 'openspec', 'changes', 'archive');
+      const archives = await fs.readdir(archiveDir);
+      expect(archives.some(a => a.includes(changeName))).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should still error on RENAMED when creating new spec file', async () => {
+      const changeName = 'new-spec-with-renamed';
+      const changeDir = path.join(tempDir, 'openspec', 'changes', changeName);
+      const changeSpecDir = path.join(changeDir, 'specs', 'another-capability');
+      await fs.mkdir(changeSpecDir, { recursive: true });
+      
+      // Create delta spec with RENAMED requirement (should fail for new spec)
+      const specContent = `# Another Capability - Changes
+
+## ADDED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: New Feature
+New feature description.
+
+## RENAMED Requirements
+- FROM: \`### Requirement: Old Name\`
+- TO: \`### Requirement: New Name\``;
+      await fs.writeFile(path.join(changeSpecDir, 'spec.md'), specContent);
+      
+      // Execute archive - should abort with error message (not throw, but log and return)
+      await archiveCommand.execute(changeName, { yes: true, noValidate: true });
+      
+      // Verify error message mentions RENAMED not allowed for new specs
+      expect(console.log).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('another-capability: target spec does not exist; only ADDED requirements are allowed for new specs. MODIFIED and RENAMED operations require an existing spec.')
+      );
+      expect(console.log).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Aborted. No files were changed.');
+      
+      // Verify spec was NOT created
+      const mainSpecPath = path.join(tempDir, 'openspec', 'specs', 'another-capability', 'spec.md');
+      await expect(fs.access(mainSpecPath)).rejects.toThrow();
+      
+      // Verify change was NOT archived
+      const archiveDir = path.join(tempDir, 'openspec', 'changes', 'archive');
+      const archives = await fs.readdir(archiveDir);
+      expect(archives.some(a => a.includes(changeName))).toBe(false);
+    });
+
     it('should throw error if change does not exist', async () => {
       await expect(
         archiveCommand.execute('non-existent-change', { yes: true })