# Ralph Specum Status

> This skill should be used only when the user explicitly asks to use `$ralph-specum-status`, or explicitly asks Ralph Specum in Codex for status or active spec progress.

- Skill: `tzachbon/ralph-specum-status` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tzachbon/ralph-specum-status`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tzachbon/ralph-specum-status/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tzachbon (https://skillmd.com/u/tzachbon)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tzachbon/ralph-specum-status

---


# Ralph Specum Status

Use this to report Ralph state across configured spec roots.

Derive `RALPH_CODEX_PLUGIN_ROOT` from this loaded skill by resolving two parent directories from the `SKILL.md` directory. Never derive it from the project working directory.

## Contract

- Read `.claude/ralph-specum.local.md` when present
- Default specs root is `./specs`
- `.current-spec` lives in the default specs root
- Hidden directories do not count as specs

## Action

1. Resolve configured roots.
2. Read `.current-spec` to identify the active spec.
   - If `.current-spec` is missing or empty, report that there is no active spec and continue listing specs across roots.
3. Read `specs/.current-epic` when present and summarize epic status.
4. For each spec directory, inspect:
   - `.ralph-state.json`
   - `research.md`
   - `requirements.md`
   - `design.md`
   - `tasks.md`
5. When state exists, use the resolved spec path as `basePath`, run `"$RALPH_CODEX_PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/prototype_records.py" reconcile --base-path "$BASE_PATH" --state "$BASE_PATH/.ralph-state.json"`, then re-read state. Never construct `specs/<name>` after resolution.
6. Inventory prototype records in lexical order:
   - Read `activePrototypes`, treating a missing field as an empty map.
   - List `prototypes/.*.candidate.md`, immutable `prototypes/*.md` finals, and visible or dot-prefixed `*.quarantine.md` files.
   - Parse candidates and finals with `prototype_records.py parse`; use `select-downstream` with state to derive blockers and stale dependencies.
7. If `tasks.md` exists, count completed and incomplete tasks.
8. Group results by spec root.
9. Show the active spec, current phase, backlog state, approval state, granularity when present, and which artifacts exist.

## Output

- Specs in the default root can be shown by name.
- Specs in other roots should include the root suffix for disambiguation.
- Include the next likely command when it is obvious.
- If an epic is active, include the next unblocked spec.
- If approval is pending, explicitly tell the user to approve the current artifact, request changes, or continue to the named next step.
- When prototype data exists, report counts and deterministic rows for active entries, candidates, immutable finals, and quarantines. Include prototype ID, lifecycle status or verdict, blocker targets, `returnPhase`, `returnTaskIndex`, `sourceDisposition` or source pointer, gate approval, and quarantine reason.
- Include derived `activeBlockers`, `staleArtifacts`, and `staleTaskIndexes`. Omit the prototype section when all overlay counts are zero so legacy output stays unchanged.