ralph-iteration

name	ralph-iteration
description	Guide for completing a single Ralph Mode iteration effectively. Use this when working through Ralph Mode iteration loops to ensure systematic progress.

Ralph Iteration Skill

This skill guides you through completing one iteration of a Ralph Mode loop effectively.

Steps

1. Context Gathering (2 min)

# Check current state
cat .ralph-mode/state.json

# Read the task
cat .ralph-mode/prompt.md

# See what changed in previous iterations
git log --oneline -5
git diff HEAD~1 --stat

2. Analysis (2 min)

• What's already been done?
• What's left to do?
• Are there any errors to fix?

3. Implementation (5-10 min)

Make targeted changes:

• Focus on ONE aspect of the task
• Don't try to do everything at once
• Make changes that can be verified

4. Verification (2 min)

# Run tests if applicable
npm test  # or pytest, etc.

# Check for errors
grep -r "TODO" src/ || true
grep -r "FIXME" src/ || true

5. Completion Check

Ask yourself:

• Does this meet ALL requirements?
• Have I tested the changes?
• Am I 100% confident?

If YES: Output <promise>COMPLETION_PROMISE</promise> If NO: Document progress and continue next iteration

Common Patterns

Bug Fix Pattern

1. Reproduce the bug
2. Identify root cause
3. Fix the issue
4. Verify fix works
5. Check for regressions

Feature Pattern

1. Understand requirements
2. Plan the implementation
3. Implement incrementally
4. Add tests
5. Document if needed

Refactor Pattern

1. Ensure tests exist
2. Make small changes
3. Run tests after each change
4. Verify behavior unchanged