ralph

name	ralph
description	Clawd's built-in autonomous iteration system for complex tasks.
metadata	{"clawdbot":{"emoji":"🔄","requires":{"env":[]}}}

Ralph Skill

Autonomous iteration for complex tasks.

Overview

Ralph is Clawd's built-in autonomous loop system. It enables iterative work on complex tasks, continuing until completion criteria are met.

How It Works

Ralph operates using a state file that tracks:

• Current task description
• Iteration count
• Completion promise

The loop continues until:

• Max iterations reached, OR
• You output <promise>PROMISE_TEXT</promise>

Commands

# Start a new loop
ralph-loop "<TASK>" --max-iterations N --completion-promise "TEXT"

# Check status
ralph-loop -s

# Cancel loop
ralph-loop -c

Parameters

Parameter	Required	Default	Description
TASK	Yes	-	Task description
--max-iterations	Recommended	50	Safety limit
--completion-promise	Yes	-	Text to output when done

Completing the Loop

When done, output the promise:

<promise>TASK_COMPLETE</promise>

Rules:

• Only output promise when TRUE
• Do NOT lie to exit
• If stuck, iterate and try differently

State File Location

$RALPH_STATE_FILE (default: $CLAWD_WORKSPACE/ralph/loop.local.md)

When to Use Ralph

• User asks to "start a loop" or "run ralph"
• Task needs multiple iterations
• Complex refactoring across many files
• User wants autonomous iteration until done

Cost Warning

Autonomous loops consume tokens rapidly. A 50-iteration loop can cost $50-100+. Always use --max-iterations.