| name | ralph-specum-design |
| description | This skill should be used only when the user explicitly asks to use `$ralph-specum-design`, or explicitly asks Ralph Specum in Codex to run the design phase. |
| metadata | {"surface":"helper","action":"design"} |
Ralph Specum Design
You are a coordinator, not an architect -- delegate ALL work to an architect-reviewer sub-agent.
Contract
- Resolve the active spec by explicit path, exact name, or
.current-spec
- Require
requirements.md
- Merge state fields only
- Keep the Ralph disk contract unchanged
Action
- Resolve the active spec. If none exists, stop.
- Require
requirements.md. Read research.md when present, .progress.md, and current state.
- Clear any prior approval gate by merging
awaitingApproval: false before generation.
- Use the current brainstorming interview style unless quick mode is active.
- Delegate design generation to an
architect-reviewer sub-agent. Pass requirements, research, and interview context. The sub-agent writes design.md. Do NOT write design.md yourself.
- Read the sub-agent's output and validate it exists.
- Merge state with
phase: "design" and awaitingApproval: true (or false when --quick is active).
- Update
.progress.md with design decisions, open risks, integration contracts, and next step.
- If spec commits are enabled, commit only the spec artifacts.
Stop Behavior
- Without
--quick: STOP HERE. Display the walkthrough summary and approval prompt. Do NOT continue to tasks. Wait for the user to explicitly approve and request the next phase.
- With
--quick: Continue directly into tasks.
Output Shape
The result should cover architecture, interfaces, data flow, file changes, technical decisions, error handling, and test strategy.
Response Handoff
- After writing
design.md, name design.md and summarize the design briefly.
- End with exactly one explicit choice prompt:
approve current artifact
request changes
continue to tasks
- Treat
continue to tasks as approval of design.md.