# Ralph

> Use for spec-driven development loops, porting code between languages, migrating codebases, retrospective analysis, or autonomous build loops. Trigger phrases: "ralph loop", "spec-driven", "build feature", "port", "clone to", "migrate to", "translate to", "rewrite in", "convert from X to Y", "autonomous loop", "implementation plan", "JTBD", "retrospective", "retro", "post-mortem", "what went wrong", "audit the project", "improvement todo".

- Skill: `george-rd/ralph` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add george-rd/ralph`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/george-rd/ralph/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Security
- Author: george-rd (https://skillmd.com/u/george-rd)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/george-rd/ralph

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# Ralph Wiggum Toolkit

Recipe-based autonomous development loops with spec-driven methodology.

## Quick Start

### Greenfield (new features)

1. Run `/ralph init` to scaffold the project
2. Write specs: `/ralph spec`
3. Plan: `/ralph plan`
4. Build: `/ralph build`

### Port (codebase migration)

1. Run `/ralph init --recipe port <source-lang> <target-lang>` to scaffold
2. Run headless extraction loops for test and source specs
3. Plan: `/ralph plan`
4. Build: `/ralph build`

## How It Works

- **Recipes** define what gets scaffolded, which prompts exist, and how many phases
- **Loop infrastructure** (loop.sh, stop-hook.sh, setup-loop.sh) is shared across all recipes
- **Manifest** (`ralph/manifest.json`) tracks progress across iterations
- Each iteration gets fresh context; continuity lives in files on disk

## Available Recipes

- **greenfield**: User-written specs → plan → build. For new features.
- **port**: Extract behavioral specs → port to target language. For codebase migration.
- **retrospective**: Analyze a completed Ralph project. Produces: codegap -> implementation gap -> plugin gap -> synthesis -> session explanation -> improvement TODO.

Full guide: `/ralph help`