Ralph Loop

Ralph Loop is a task execution discipline that turns the AI agent into a self-running sprint machine. For every user task, the AI creates a structured persis...

Ralph Loop Skill

Concept & Vision

Ralph Loop is a task execution discipline that turns the AI agent into a self-running sprint machine. For every user task, the AI creates a structured persistent memory file at /workspace/memory/ralph-loop.md and follows it until the job is done — checking off each step, updating progress, and sending brief human-readable updates after each completed phase. The name comes from Ralph Wiggum (The Simpsons): the AI keeps going, never gives up, and iterates until it succeeds.

Activation

Triggered when the user says:

• "Ralph loop" (any capitalization)
• "Start Ralph Loop on [task]"
• "Run it in Ralph loop"
• "Ralph loop" before any multi-step task
• Any task the user expects the AI to execute autonomously without questions

Ralph Loop File — Structure

Location: /workspace/memory/ralph-loop.md

markdown

# Ralph Loop — [Task Name]
Started: [YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM UTC] | Status: 🟡 In Progress

## Goal
[User's original request — verbatim]

## Plan
- [ ] Step 1 — [brief description of what needs doing]
- [ ] Step 2 — [brief description]
- [ ] Step 3 — [brief description]
...

## Current Work
[What I'm working on RIGHT NOW — one line]

## Progress Log
### Phase 1 — [Phase name] ✓
[Time] — [what is done]
### Phase 2 — [Phase name] ✓
[Time] — [what is done]

## Stalled / Blockers
[Empty — fill ONLY if stuck after 2 failed attempts]

Ralph Loop Protocol

PHASE 1: Init

1. Create /workspace/memory/ralph-loop.md with the full plan
2. Set status to 🟡 In Progress
3. Send ONE short Telegram message — informational only, NOT asking for anything:

   "🚀 Task name — Ralph Loop started. What will be done."

PHASE 2: Execute — NEVER STOP

The only acceptable reasons to pause and wait for the user:

• Error cannot be resolved after exactly 2 attempts
• Critical information only the user has (e.g. their name, CV content, password)

For every other situation: keep working. Do not stop. Do not ask. Do not wait.

For each step in the plan:

1. Read ralph-loop.md to know current state
2. Work the step completely (write code, run commands, create files, fetch data, write content)
3. Update the file — mark the step as [x]
4. Add sub-steps if the work reveals micro-tasks
5. When a logical group of 2-4 steps is complete → add Progress Log entry + send ONE Telegram update:

   "✅ [Phase name] — [what is done]. Starting: [next phase]."

6. If the entire task is done → go to Phase 3

PHASE 2B: Only stop when truly stuck

Only stop here — never before:

1. Write to "Stalled / Blockers" in ralph-loop.md
2. Set status to ⏸️ Paused — Awaiting Input
3. Send Telegram message:

   "⏸️ Ralph Loop paused — Step N: [exact error]. Please advise how to proceed."

4. Wait for user's response. Resume only after they provide the solution.
5. After resuming: continue from where you stopped, do not restart.

PHASE 3: Completion

1. Set status to ✅ Done
2. Add final Progress Log entry
3. Delete /workspace/memory/ralph-loop.md
4. Send final Telegram message:

   "🎉 Task name — done. [What was produced]. Files: [/workspace/path]."

5. Ralph Loop ends.

Ralph Loop Rules

Rule	Strictness
Never stop mid-task to ask the user something unless truly stuck	🚨 CRITICAL
Do not restart a loop once started — continue until done	🚨 CRITICAL
Send Telegram updates only after completing a phase (2-4 steps)	✅ Normal
If stuck after 2 failed attempts → stop, inform, wait for user	✅ Normal
Update the file after every single step	✅ Normal
Delete ralph-loop.md on completion	✅ Normal
Break large steps into micro-steps freely	✅ Normal
Telegram messages are 2-3 sentences max	✅ Normal

Telegram Message Style

After a phase (good):

"✅ Job boards — пронашао 12 компанија. Следећи: компаније мета."

Bad (too long):

"Завршио сам истраживање job boards-ова и пронашао сам неколико занимљивих..."

Bad (asking a question):

"Да ли желиш да наставим са следећим кораком?"

Deactivating the Loop

The loop ends when all steps are checked [x] and the file is deleted. No lingering files.

Ralph Loop Rules (plain English)

1. START → FINISH. No stopping in the middle.
2. If stuck after 2 attempts → only then stop and tell the user
3. Keep working until every step is [x] before sending any Telegram message
4. Telegram message = progress notification, NOT a request for permission
5. Delete the file when done
6. Never restart a loop — continue from where you left off