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smart-ralph

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Core Smart Ralph skill defining common arguments, execution modes, and shared behaviors across all Ralph plugins.

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smart-ralph

tzachbon/smart-ralph

Plugin

ralph-speckit

development

Repository

tzachbon/smart-ralph
134stars

plugins/ralph-speckit/skills/smart-ralph/SKILL.md

Last Verified

January 25, 2026

Install Skill

Select agents to install to:

Scope:
npx add-skill https://github.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph/blob/main/plugins/ralph-speckit/skills/smart-ralph/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill smart-ralph

Installation paths:

Claude
.claude/skills/smart-ralph/
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Instructions

# Smart Ralph

Core skill for all Ralph plugins. Defines common arguments, execution modes, and shared behaviors.

## Common Arguments

All Ralph commands support these standard arguments:

| Argument | Short | Description | Default |
|----------|-------|-------------|---------|
| `--quick` | `-q` | Skip interactive phases, auto-generate artifacts, start execution immediately | false |
| `--commit` | `-c` | Commit and push spec/feature files after generation | true (normal), false (quick) |
| `--no-commit` | | Explicitly disable committing files | - |
| `--max-task-iterations` | `-m` | Max retries per failed task before stopping | 5 |
| `--fresh` | `-f` | Force new spec/feature, overwrite if exists | false |

## Argument Parsing Rules

```text
Priority Order (highest to lowest):
1. --no-commit (explicit disable)
2. --commit (explicit enable)
3. --quick mode default (false)
4. Normal mode default (true)
```

### Parsing Logic

```text
commitSpec = true  // default

if "--no-commit" in args:
  commitSpec = false
else if "--commit" in args:
  commitSpec = true
else if "--quick" in args:
  commitSpec = false  // quick mode defaults to no commit
// else keep default (true)
```

## Execution Modes

### Normal Mode (Interactive)

- User reviews artifacts between phases
- Phase transitions require explicit commands
- Each phase sets `awaitingApproval: true`
- Commits spec files by default

### Quick Mode (`--quick`)

- Skips all interactive prompts and interviews
- Auto-generates all artifacts in sequence
- Immediately starts execution after generation
- Does NOT commit by default (use `--commit` to override)
- Still delegates to subagents (delegation is mandatory)

## State File Structure

All Ralph plugins use a state file with common fields:

```json
{
  "phase": "research|requirements|design|tasks|execution",
  "taskIndex": 0,
  "totalTasks": 0,
  "taskIteration": 1,
  "maxTaskIterations": 5,
  "awaitingApproval": false
}
```

Plugins may extend with additional fields.

Validation Details

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Instruction Length:
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