# Ralph Specum Switch

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

- Skill: `tzachbon/ralph-specum-switch` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add tzachbon/ralph-specum-switch`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tzachbon/ralph-specum-switch/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-switch

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# Ralph Specum Switch

Use this to switch the active spec.

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
- Parse `specs_dirs` from frontmatter to discover all spec roots
- Treat the first `specs_dirs` entry as the default root
- Default specs root is `./specs`
- `.current-spec` lives in the default specs root
- Do not guess on ambiguous names

## Action

1. Resolve the requested target by full path or exact name.
2. If no target was provided, list available specs grouped by root.
3. If the name is ambiguous across roots, stop and require a full path.
4. Update `.current-spec`:
   - bare name for the default root
   - full path for non-default roots
5. Read the target spec state and summarize phase, progress, approval state, and present files.
6. Report prototype dependencies without mutating them:
   - Treat a missing `activePrototypes` field as an empty map.
   - When state exists, run `"$RALPH_CODEX_PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/prototype_records.py" select-downstream --base-path "$BASE_PATH" --state "$BASE_PATH/.ralph-state.json"` using the selected spec's resolved `basePath`.
   - Show each blocker from `activeBlockers` with prototype ID, status, blocked artifact or transition, `returnPhase`, and `returnTaskIndex`.
   - Show `staleArtifacts` and `staleTaskIndexes` from the selection result.
   - Do not reconcile, remove active entries, edit records, or change blocker data. If no overlay or stale dependency exists, preserve the existing switch output.