Convert PRDs to prd.json format for the Ralph autonomous agent system. Use when you have an existing PRD and need to convert it to Ralph's JSON format. Triggers on: convert this prd, turn this into ralph format, create prd.json from this, ralph json.
View on GitHubFebruary 1, 2026
Select agents to install to:
npx add-skill https://github.com/snarktank/ralph/blob/main/skills/ralph/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill ralphInstallation paths:
.claude/skills/ralph/# Ralph PRD Converter
Converts existing PRDs to the prd.json format that Ralph uses for autonomous execution.
---
## The Job
Take a PRD (markdown file or text) and convert it to `prd.json` in your ralph directory.
---
## Output Format
```json
{
"project": "[Project Name]",
"branchName": "ralph/[feature-name-kebab-case]",
"description": "[Feature description from PRD title/intro]",
"userStories": [
{
"id": "US-001",
"title": "[Story title]",
"description": "As a [user], I want [feature] so that [benefit]",
"acceptanceCriteria": [
"Criterion 1",
"Criterion 2",
"Typecheck passes"
],
"priority": 1,
"passes": false,
"notes": ""
}
]
}
```
---
## Story Size: The Number One Rule
**Each story must be completable in ONE Ralph iteration (one context window).**
Ralph spawns a fresh Amp instance per iteration with no memory of previous work. If a story is too big, the LLM runs out of context before finishing and produces broken code.
### Right-sized stories:
- Add a database column and migration
- Add a UI component to an existing page
- Update a server action with new logic
- Add a filter dropdown to a list
### Too big (split these):
- "Build the entire dashboard" - Split into: schema, queries, UI components, filters
- "Add authentication" - Split into: schema, middleware, login UI, session handling
- "Refactor the API" - Split into one story per endpoint or pattern
**Rule of thumb:** If you cannot describe the change in 2-3 sentences, it is too big.
---
## Story Ordering: Dependencies First
Stories execute in priority order. Earlier stories must not depend on later ones.
**Correct order:**
1. Schema/database changes (migrations)
2. Server actions / backend logic
3. UI components that use the backend
4. Dashboard/summary views that aggregate data
**Wrong order:**
1. UI component (depends on schema that does not exist yet)
2. Schema change
---
## Acceptance Criteria: Mu