Agent workflow alternatives (Cursor-ready SDD)
Comparison of frameworks in the same class as provectus/awos that support Cursor Agent / Cursor CLI out of the box. Context: #114 (Cursor-compatible AWOS install). Product runtime for end users is unchanged — this is contributor / maintainer agent-workflow research only.
AWOS itself is Claude-first (file copy + marketplace + recruitment MCP). This repo adapts it for Cursor via flat /awos-* wrappers, a runtime tool-map rule, dual MCP paths, and optional acplugin for non–Cursor-native plugins — see AWOS-CURSOR.md and the compatibility section of #114. The tools below already treat Cursor as a first-class install target (no Claude shim required for their core loop).
Star counts below are approximate snapshots from 2026-08-02 and drift quickly — use them only as relative popularity signal.
Why “Cursor-ready” matters (lessons from #114)
A Claude-shaped install is not enough for Cursor Agent:
| Pitfall | Effect |
|---|---|
Claude slash /awos:name |
Does not resolve in Cursor — Agent uses filename basenames (/awos-name) |
Nested .cursor/commands/awos/*.md |
Agent CLI often skips subfolders; use flat .cursor/commands/awos-*.md |
Root .mcp.json only |
Cursor reads .cursor/mcp.json for project MCP |
Prompt bodies saying AskUserQuestion / Agent(...) |
Still Claude tool names — need a runtime map; AskUserQuestion → native AskQuestion when injected, never CallDynamicTool cursor/AskQuestion; acplugin does not rewrite them |
Claude /plugin install |
Does not install into Cursor; use Cursor-native (/add-plugin) or acplugin for Layer C |
Frameworks that write Cursor-flat commands / skills at init avoid most of that tax. AWOS in this repo pays it via wrappers + docs.
Landscape
| Framework | Cursor OOB? | Core loop | Closest to AWOS? |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenSpec (~63k★) | Yes — openspec init writes flat /opsx-* for Cursor |
propose → apply → archive (specs as change deltas) | Medium — lighter SDD |
| Spec Kit (~125k★) | Yes — --ai cursor-agent → .cursor/skills; headless cursor-agent -p --trust … |
constitution → specify → plan → tasks → implement | High — gated SDD |
| GSD Core (~8k★; formerly get-shit-done) | Yes — installer --cursor |
discuss → plan → execute → verify (phases + .planning/) |
High — execution-heavy |
| BMAD-METHOD (~51k★) | Yes — --tools cursor (preferred IDE) |
Analyst/PM/Architect → SM stories → Dev/QA | Highest ceremony |
| Superpowers (~265k★) | Yes — Cursor-native /add-plugin |
brainstorm → plan → TDD → subagent exec → review | Complementary (discipline, not product→roadmap) |
| Trellis | Yes — copy skills into .cursor/skills/ |
backlog → implement → review → merge (cron-friendly) | Different layer (bulk ship) |
| AWOS (#114) | Partial — Claude installer + this repo’s flat /awos-*, runtime rule, .cursor/mcp.json; Layer C via acplugin except Cursor-native |
product → roadmap → hire → spec → tech → tasks → implement → verify | Baseline |
Community note: older get-shit-done-cursor forks exist; prefer official @opengsd/gsd-core with --cursor.
Feature comparison
| Dimension | AWOS | OpenSpec | Spec Kit | GSD | BMAD | Superpowers | Trellis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product / vision docs | Strong (/product, /roadmap, /architecture) |
Weak (per-change only) | Medium (constitution) | Strong (PROJECT.md, roadmap, milestones) |
Strongest (PRD + architecture agents) | Weak | Medium (roadmap/tickets) |
| Durable specs | Per-feature under context/ |
openspec/specs/ + change deltas |
Spec/plan/tasks artifacts | .planning/ phase artifacts |
Story files with full context | Plan in chat/files | Ticket-driven |
| Task breakdown | Vertical slices + agent tags | tasks.md checklist |
/speckit.tasks |
Phase plans, parallel waves | Hyper-detailed SM stories | Plan tasks | Backlog pull |
| Subagent orchestration | Yes + /hire recruitment MCP |
Light | Moderate | Core design (fresh context per wave) | Persona agents | Subagent-driven-dev | Parallel bulk agents |
| Capability hiring (skills/MCP) | Unique strength (awos-recruitment) |
No | No | Installer ships agents/skills | Expansion packs / modules | Plugin skills | Skills are the product |
| Verify / UAT gate | /verify vs acceptance criteria |
/opsx:verify (expanded profile) |
analyze / checklist / converge | /gsd-verify-work |
QA agent | verification skills | Review + comment resolve |
| Brownfield onboard | Manual context | /opsx:onboard |
Yes | /gsd-onboard |
Planning workflows | Map via skills | Assumes tickets exist |
| Multi-harness | Claude-primary; Cursor via #114 adapters | 30+ tools | 30+ agents | Many runtimes via installer transforms | Many IDEs | Many harnesses | Skill-copy agnostic |
| Headless Cursor CLI | Not designed for it; flat /awos-* help Agent |
Chat-oriented | Explicit specify workflow run + cursor-agent |
Slash in Agent; installer-aware | IDE slash/skills | Skills in Agent | Skills in Agent |
| Update story | ./scripts/update-awos.sh (installer + Cursor wrapper regen); acplugin re-run for converted Layer C only |
openspec update regenerates tool files |
specify upgrade path |
Re-run installer | bmad-method install --action update |
Plugin bump | Re-copy skills |
| Tool-name portability | Runtime rule required; acplugin does not rewrite prompt tools | Cursor-oriented prompts from init | Cursor skills from init | Installer transforms | Cursor tool files from install | Cursor-native plugin | Skill copy as-is |
Learning curve (low → high)
- Superpowers — Install plugin; agent self-triggers skills. Little ceremony; learn by doing. Not a product/roadmap system.
- OpenSpec — Three commands for most work (
explore/propose/apply/archive). Fastest path to “spec before code” with durable repo artifacts. Cursor naming (/opsx-propose) handled by init. - GSD — More commands and
.planning/state, but the loop is repetitive (discuss → plan → execute → verify). Steeper than OpenSpec because of phases, waves, and “clear context between steps,” still aimed at solo flow. - Spec Kit — Explicit phase gates and more Markdown. Heavier than OpenSpec; GitHub-backed docs help. Best if you want a standard, rigid SDD pipeline including optional headless Cursor CLI.
- AWOS — Clear chain, but product/roadmap/architecture prerequisites plus hire/MCP/plugins. On Cursor, #114 adds harness complexity (flat commands, tool map, dual MCP, acplugin for some plugins).
- BMAD — Full agile org simulation (many agents, modules, story ceremony). Highest process overhead; strongest for greenfield / multi-role planning.
- Trellis — Concepts are simple (six SDLC skills), but the operating model assumes ticket systems, cron, and “bulk unattended” — a different skill set than interactive SDD.
Fit vs #114
If the goal is “Cursor Agent CLI works without a Claude shim”:
- Best drop-in SDD: OpenSpec — intentionally generates Cursor-flat commands; lightest learning curve for change-scoped work.
- Best full pipeline + headless Cursor: Spec Kit — first-class
cursor-agentintegration and CLI workflow dispatch. - Best execution / context-rot focus: GSD Core — official
--cursorinstaller; phase loop with parallel subagents. - Best planning ceremony / greenfield: BMAD — Cursor preferred; heavyweight.
- Best complement, not replacement: Superpowers — Cursor-native Layer C in #114; pairs with any of the above (Trellis markets that pairing). Skip acplugin for Superpowers.
What only AWOS really owns: recruitment (/hire + MCP marketplace of skills/agents). OpenSpec / Spec Kit / GSD do not replace that; you would still hire skills by hand or keep AWOS Layer B.
acplugin is the general path for non–Cursor-native Claude plugins (layout/frontmatter → .cursor/). It does not replace Layer A wrappers, does not rewrite Claude tool names in skill/command bodies, and is one-shot (re-run on upstream bumps). Details: AWOS-CURSOR.md and #114.
Practical stance for this repo: keep AWOS for the product→hire→verify chain adapted in #114 (committed flat /awos-* + runtime rule + MCP so clones work). If you want Cursor-native SDD without maintaining those adapters, spike OpenSpec (light) or GSD (heavier execution) on one small chore and compare artifact quality vs /awos-*. Prefer Spec Kit when headless cursor-agent CI/automation matters.
Quick install pointers
| Tool | Typical install |
|---|---|
| OpenSpec | npm i -g @fission-ai/openspec@latest then openspec init (select Cursor) |
| Spec Kit | uvx --from git+https://github.com/github/spec-kit.git specify init --ai cursor-agent (see Spec Kit docs for current installer) |
| GSD Core | npx @opengsd/gsd-core@latest --cursor --local (or --global) |
| BMAD | npx bmad-method install --tools cursor --yes (plus modules as needed) |
| Superpowers | Cursor /add-plugin superpowers |
| Trellis | Copy skills into .cursor/skills/ per project README |
| AWOS | ./scripts/update-awos.sh (or bunx @provectusinc/awos + ./scripts/sync-awos-cursor-commands.sh) — see AWOS-CURSOR.md |
Out of scope
- Replacing this repo’s wiki slash commands (
/wiki-*) with any of the above. - Changing AWOS upstream to be Cursor-native.
- Expecting acplugin alone to make Claude plugins behave as if they were written for Cursor tool APIs.