# cancel-ralph

Aborts an active Ralph loop and cleans up its state files. Useful when an agent gets stuck or you need to halt the loop manually.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 901 installs · ★ 14099
- Author: cursor
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/cursor/plugins/tree/HEAD/ralph-loop/skills/cancel-ralph/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-25
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/cancel-ralph

## What it does

The skill inspects `.cursor/ralph/scratchpad.md` to see if a loop is running. No scratchpad file? The agent replies that no active loop exists and stops immediately.

If the file is present, the skill extracts the step count from the `iteration:` line. Next, it executes `rm -rf .cursor/ralph` in the project root. This wipes the state directory and any completion flags in one pass. It finishes by reporting which iteration was interrupted.

Because the skill targets only `.cursor/ralph`, it will not detect loops configured to store state in any other directory.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill cancel-ralph -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/cancel-ralph/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/cancel-ralph/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill cancel-ralph -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/cancel-ralph/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill cancel-ralph -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/cancel-ralph/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install cursor/plugins cancel-ralph
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/cancel-ralph/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill cancel-ralph -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/cursor/plugins --path ralph-loop/skills/cancel-ralph
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/cancel-ralph/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill cancel-ralph -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/cursor/plugins/tree/HEAD/ralph-loop/skills/cancel-ralph/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- abort a stuck or runaway Ralph loop
- wipe the `.cursor/ralph` state directory
- check which iteration was running before termination

## Example prompts
- Cancel the active Ralph loop
- Stop ralph and clear the scratchpad
- Abort running ralph loop

## Similar
- [ralph-plan](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ralph-plan.md) — skill · 2600 installs
- [loopify](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/loopify.md) — skill · 337 installs
- [ralph-tui-create-beads](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ralph-tui-create-beads.md) — skill · 1000 installs
- [ralph-tui-create-beads-rust](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ralph-tui-create-beads-rust.md) — skill · 986 installs
- [cancel](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/cancel.md) — skill · 859 installs
- [ralph-loop](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/plugins/ralph-loop.md) — plugin · ★ 44635

From the same set: [cursor/plugins](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/cursor/plugins.md) — 45 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md