feat(list): propose priority and author change metadata

openspec/changes/add-priority-author-metadata/.openspec.yaml

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+schema: spec-driven
+created: 2026-09-17

openspec/changes/add-priority-author-metadata/proposal.md

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+## Why
+
+`openspec list` shows every in-flight change with no way to tell which one matters most or who owns it. With several parallel changes, triaging what to pick up next means opening every `proposal.md`. Filed as [#1899](https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec/issues/1899).
+
+## What Changes
+
+- Add optional `priority` (`low` | `medium` | `high`) and `author` (string) fields to per-change metadata (`.openspec.yaml`), validated by `ChangeMetadataSchema`.
+- `createChange` auto-populates `author` from `git config user.name` at `openspec new change` time when the caller doesn't pass one explicitly, and leaves it unset when git config has no name to offer.
+- `openspec list` reads `.openspec.yaml` per change and shows `priority`/`author` as additional table columns, and includes them in `--json` output, whenever a change sets them. Changes that set neither render exactly as they do today.
+
+## Capabilities
+
+### Modified Capabilities
+- `change-creation`: metadata schema gains optional `priority` (enum) and `author` (string) fields; change creation auto-populates `author` from git config when the caller omits it.
+- `cli-list`: change list output (table and `--json`) gains optional priority/author columns.
+
+## Impact
+
+- `src/core/change-metadata/schema.ts` — new optional `priority`/`author` fields on `ChangeMetadataSchema`.
+- `src/utils/change-utils.ts` / `src/commands/workflow/new-change.ts` — resolve `author` from `git config user.name` when not explicitly provided.
+- `src/core/list.ts` — read `.openspec.yaml` per change, render the new columns, extend the JSON shape.
+- No breaking changes: both fields are optional and existing changes/output are unaffected.

openspec/changes/add-priority-author-metadata/specs/change-creation/spec.md

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+## ADDED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: Change Metadata Priority and Author
+The system SHALL support optional `priority` and `author` fields in a change's metadata.
+
+`author` is a creation-time input: `createChange`'s `options.metadata` gains an
+optional `author` field alongside the existing `goal`, `affected_areas`, and
+`initiative` fields, and `openspec new change` exposes it as `--author <name>`.
+`priority` is not a creation-time input in this proposal — `createChange` has
+no `priority` option or flag. A change gets a `priority` only by hand-editing
+`.openspec.yaml` after creation; this requirement covers accepting and
+validating that value, not setting it during creation.
+
+#### Scenario: Priority accepted
+- **WHEN** a change's `.openspec.yaml` sets `priority` to one of `low`, `medium`, or `high`
+- **THEN** metadata validation accepts the value
+
+#### Scenario: Invalid priority rejected
+- **WHEN** a change's `.openspec.yaml` sets `priority` to a value other than `low`, `medium`, or `high`
+- **THEN** metadata validation rejects the value
+
+#### Scenario: Author auto-populated from git config
+- **WHEN** `createChange` is called with no `author` in `options.metadata` and `git config user.name` resolves to a non-empty value
+- **THEN** the created change's `.openspec.yaml` includes that value as `author`
+
+#### Scenario: Explicit author takes precedence
+- **WHEN** `createChange` is called with `options.metadata.author` set (for example via `openspec new change --author <name>`)
+- **THEN** the created change's `.openspec.yaml` uses the provided value instead of `git config user.name`
+
+#### Scenario: No git config available
+- **WHEN** `createChange` is called with no `author` in `options.metadata` and `git config user.name` is unset or git is unavailable
+- **THEN** the created change's `.openspec.yaml` omits the `author` field

openspec/changes/add-priority-author-metadata/specs/cli-list/spec.md

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+## MODIFIED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: Output Format
+The command SHALL display items in a clear, readable table format with mode-appropriate progress or counts.
+
+#### Scenario: Displaying change list (default)
+- **WHEN** displaying the list of changes
+- **THEN** show a table with columns: Change name (directory name) and Task progress (e.g., "3/5 tasks" or "✓ Complete")
+
+#### Scenario: Displaying spec list
+- **WHEN** displaying the list of specs
+- **THEN** show a table with columns:
+  - Spec id (directory name)
+  - Requirement count (e.g., "requirements 12")
+
+#### Scenario: Priority column included only when some change sets it
+- **WHEN** displaying the list of changes and at least one listed change's `.openspec.yaml` sets `priority`
+- **THEN** the table includes a Priority column, with an empty cell for any row whose change does not set `priority`
+
+#### Scenario: Author column included only when some change sets it
+- **WHEN** displaying the list of changes and at least one listed change's `.openspec.yaml` sets `author`
+- **THEN** the table includes an Author column, with an empty cell for any row whose change does not set `author`
+
+#### Scenario: Legacy layout when no change sets priority or author
+- **WHEN** displaying the list of changes and no listed change's `.openspec.yaml` sets `priority` or `author`
+- **THEN** the table renders with only the Change name, Task progress, and relative modification time columns, unchanged from today's layout
+
+## ADDED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: JSON Output Includes Priority and Author
+The command's `--json` output for changes SHALL include `priority` and `author` fields when set in the change's metadata.
+
+#### Scenario: JSON output with metadata present
+- **WHEN** `openspec list --json` is executed and a change's `.openspec.yaml` sets `priority` and `author`
+- **THEN** that change's JSON entry includes `priority` and `author` with those values
+
+#### Scenario: JSON output with metadata absent
+- **WHEN** `openspec list --json` is executed and a change's `.openspec.yaml` sets neither field
+- **THEN** that change's JSON entry omits the `priority` and `author` keys