Ralph Specum Start

Ralph Specum Start

Use this for the start and new entrypoints.

Contract

• Read .claude/ralph-specum.local.md when present
• Default specs root is ./specs
• Keep .current-spec in the default specs root
• Keep the standard Ralph files stable
• Merge .ralph-state.json. Do not replace the full object

Action

1. Parse explicit name, goal, --quick, commit flags, optional specs root, and optional --tasks-size fine|coarse.
2. Resolve the target by explicit path, exact name, or .current-spec.
3. If the same name exists in multiple configured roots, stop and require a full path.
4. Check active epic context from specs/.current-epic when no explicit spec was chosen.
5. For large or cross-cutting goals, route to triage instead of forcing a single spec.
6. new is an alias here. Create the spec directory if needed.
7. Initialize or merge state with:

• source: "spec"
• name
• basePath
• phase: "research"
• taskIndex: 0
• totalTasks: 0
• taskIteration: 1
• maxTaskIterations: settings default or 5
• globalIteration: 1
• maxGlobalIterations: 100
• commitSpec: settings auto_commit_spec or true
• relatedSpecs: []
• awaitingApproval: true when the run will stop after setup and wait for explicit direction
• awaitingApproval: false when quick mode or explicit autonomy will continue without pausing
• preserve or set quickMode
• preserve or set granularity when --tasks-size was supplied
• preserve or set epicName when starting from an epic suggestion

1. Update .current-spec.
2. Write .progress.md with goal, current phase, next step, blockers, learnings, and skill discovery results when used.
3. On resume, prefer tasks.md and present files over stale state when they disagree.
4. In quick mode, generate missing artifacts in order, skip normal approval pauses, and continue into implementation in the same run.
5. Without quick mode or explicit autonomy: STOP HERE after setup. Do NOT proceed to research. Wait for the user to explicitly ask to continue. This is non-negotiable.

Branch Isolation

• If the user wants isolation, offer a feature branch in place or a worktree with a feature branch.
• If a worktree is created, stop after creation and ask the user to continue from that worktree.

Response Handoff

• After creating or resuming the spec, name the resolved spec path and summarize the current state briefly.
• End with exactly one explicit choice prompt:
• request changes
• continue to research
• Do not run research until the user explicitly asks to continue or explicitly asked for quick or autonomous flow.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: tzachbon
• Source: tzachbon/smart-ralph
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.