Allow specify workflow run to execute YAML files without a project

src/specify_cli/__init__.py

@@ -2727,7 +2727,16 @@ def workflow_run(
     """Run a workflow from an installed ID or local YAML path."""
     from .workflows.engine import WorkflowEngine
 
-    project_root = _require_specify_project()
+    source_path = Path(source)
+    is_file_source = source_path.suffix in (".yml", ".yaml") and source_path.exists()
+
+    if is_file_source:
+        # When running a YAML file directly, use cwd as project root
+        # without requiring a .specify/ project directory.
+        project_root = Path.cwd()
+    else:
+        project_root = _require_specify_project()
+
     engine = WorkflowEngine(project_root)
     engine.on_step_start = lambda sid, label: console.print(f"  \u25b8 [{sid}] {label} \u2026")
 

tests/test_workflow_run_without_project.py

@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+"""Tests for running workflow YAML files without a project."""
+
+import os
+
+import yaml
+
+
+class TestWorkflowRunWithoutProject:
+    """Tests that specify workflow run works with YAML files without .specify/ dir."""
+
+    def test_workflow_run_yaml_without_project(self, tmp_path):
+        """Running a .yml file should work without a .specify/ directory."""
+        from typer.testing import CliRunner
+        from specify_cli import app
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+
+        # Create a minimal workflow YAML with a shell step
+        workflow_file = tmp_path / "test-workflow.yml"
+        workflow_content = {
+            "schema_version": "1.0",
+            "workflow": {
+                "id": "standalone-test",
+                "name": "Standalone Test",
+                "version": "1.0.0",
+                "description": "A workflow that runs without a project",
+            },
+            "steps": [
+                {
+                    "id": "create-marker",
+                    "type": "shell",
+                    "run": "echo done > marker.txt",
+                },
+            ],
+        }
+        workflow_file.write_text(yaml.dump(workflow_content), encoding="utf-8")
+
+        old_cwd = os.getcwd()
+        try:
+            os.chdir(tmp_path)
+            result = runner.invoke(app, [
+                "workflow", "run", str(workflow_file),
+            ], catch_exceptions=False)
+        finally:
+            os.chdir(old_cwd)
+        assert result.exit_code == 0, f"workflow run failed: {result.output}"
+        assert "completed" in result.output
+        assert (tmp_path / "marker.txt").exists()
+
+    def test_workflow_run_id_still_requires_project(self, tmp_path):
+        """Running a workflow by ID should still require a .specify/ directory."""
+        from typer.testing import CliRunner
+        from specify_cli import app
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+
+        old_cwd = os.getcwd()
+        try:
+            os.chdir(tmp_path)
+            result = runner.invoke(app, [
+                "workflow", "run", "some-workflow-id",
+            ], catch_exceptions=False)
+        finally:
+            os.chdir(old_cwd)
+        assert result.exit_code != 0
+        assert "Not a spec-kit project" in result.output
+
+    def test_workflow_run_missing_yaml_file(self, tmp_path):
+        """Running a non-existent .yml file should still require a project."""
+        from typer.testing import CliRunner
+        from specify_cli import app
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+
+        old_cwd = os.getcwd()
+        try:
+            os.chdir(tmp_path)
+            result = runner.invoke(app, [
+                "workflow", "run", "nonexistent.yml",
+            ], catch_exceptions=False)
+        finally:
+            os.chdir(old_cwd)
+        # non-existent .yml files fall through to project check or file-not-found
+        assert result.exit_code != 0
+
+    def test_workflow_run_failing_yaml_without_project(self, tmp_path):
+        """A failing workflow YAML should report failure status."""
+        from typer.testing import CliRunner
+        from specify_cli import app
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+
+        workflow_file = tmp_path / "fail-workflow.yml"
+        workflow_content = {
+            "schema_version": "1.0",
+            "workflow": {
+                "id": "fail-test",
+                "name": "Fail Test",
+                "version": "1.0.0",
+                "description": "A workflow that fails",
+            },
+            "steps": [
+                {
+                    "id": "fail-step",
+                    "type": "shell",
+                    "run": "exit 1",
+                },
+            ],
+        }
+        workflow_file.write_text(yaml.dump(workflow_content), encoding="utf-8")
+
+        old_cwd = os.getcwd()
+        try:
+            os.chdir(tmp_path)
+            result = runner.invoke(app, [
+                "workflow", "run", str(workflow_file),
+            ], catch_exceptions=False)
+        finally:
+            os.chdir(old_cwd)
+        assert "failed" in result.output.lower()