Execute an autonomous development loop that picks one task per iteration, implements it, verifies it, and commits the result — each iteration in a fresh context window. Use when the user runs /ralph, mentions "ralph loop", "autonomous loop", "builder verifier", "run tasks automatically", "iterate on tasks", "develop autonomously", or wants an automated build-verify-commit cycle with task tracking.
Autonomous development with fresh context per iteration and Hat-lite builder/verifier workflow.
# From project directory (after /create-prd)
./ralph.sh 20 # Run up to 20 iterations
./ralph.sh 5 # Quick test with 5 iterations
Each iteration runs in a fresh context window:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ITERATION (Fresh Context) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 1. ORIENT: Read activity.log + tasks.json + memories│
│ 2. BUILD: Pick ONE task, implement, verify │
│ 3. VERIFY: Review, update status, commit │
│ 4. LEARN: (Optional) Save insights to memories │
│ 5. DECIDE: All done? → RALPH_COMPLETE │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
| Role | When | Responsibility | |------|------|----------------| | Builder | ~65% of iteration | Implement ONE task | | Verifier | ~35% of iteration | Review, update, commit |
| File | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| .ralph/current-taskset/tasks.json | Task state (source of truth) |
| .ralph/current-taskset/activity.log | Iteration history |
| .ralph/current-taskset/memories.md | Persistent learnings |
| .ralph/current-taskset | Symlink to active task set |
| PROMPT.md | Instructions per iteration |
| ralph.sh | Loop runner script |
Tasks are stored in .ralph/current-taskset/tasks.json:
{
"tasks": [
{
"id": "setup-001",
"description": "Initialize project",
"verificationTier": "build",
"passes": false,
"iteration_completed": null
}
]
}
Valid verificationTier values: "build" (default), "visual", "api", "e2e". See WORKFLOW.md for details.
When all tasks pass, output:
RALPH_COMPLETE: All tasks verified
Subcommands: /ralph run [N], /ralph status, /ralph init, /ralph taskset <new|list|switch|delete>, /ralph add-task, /ralph remember, /ralph memories.
See WORKFLOW.md for the 5-phase iteration lifecycle (Orient, Build, Verify, Learn, Decide) and Hat-Lite role definitions.
See EXAMPLES.md for web app, API, resumption, and mid-loop status checking scenarios.
See TROUBLESHOOTING.md for immediate exit, premature completion, infinite loop, and context issues.
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Category:developer