# loop-factory

Organizes agent coding tasks into markdown specs that travel through inbox, active, and archive folders. Keeps agents focused on implementation and testing rather than product choices.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1800 installs · ★ 168
- Author: JuliusBrussee
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/skills/tree/HEAD/skills/loop-factory/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-08-07
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/loop-factory

## What it does

The skill turns open-ended prompting into an assembly line built around markdown specs inside a `factory/` directory. Folder placement defines task state: items wait in `inbox/`, move to `active/` during execution, and land in `archive/` only after verification. Agents write code to satisfy defined criteria, but they do not make unilateral scope decisions.

Under the hood sits the `loop-factory` CLI, which requires Python 3.10+. Running `scan` checks the queue, while `dispatch` stages prompts into `factory/prompts/` and logs run data in `factory/runs/`. By default, the tool only writes prompt files. It does not invoke your agent CLI unless you append the `--execute` flag.

Specs cannot leave `active/` without an explicit `--accepted` flag during the review step. Even in autonomous passes scheduled with cron or `/loop`, the system stops at the review gate so a human inspects the diff before archiving.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add JuliusBrussee/skills --skill loop-factory -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add JuliusBrussee/skills --skill loop-factory -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add JuliusBrussee/skills --skill loop-factory -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install JuliusBrussee/skills loop-factory
```

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

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add JuliusBrussee/skills --skill loop-factory -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/skills --path skills/loop-factory
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add JuliusBrussee/skills --skill loop-factory -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/JuliusBrussee/skills/tree/HEAD/skills/loop-factory/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- track agent implementation tasks via structured markdown files
- prevent coding agents from making product decisions during implementation
- validate changes against explicit verification commands
- sync updated architecture details back into repository documentation

## Example prompts
- /loop-factory
- Scan factory/specs/inbox and dispatch the next ready task to Claude Code
- Run an autonomous queue pass with /loop 30m /loop-factory

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 87f0450552769919.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 87f0450552769919
````text
---
name: loop-factory
description: Run a spec-driven agent loop where coding tasks live as markdown specs that move through inbox → active → archive, get implemented by Claude Code or Codex, and pass a review gate before they count as done. Use when the user mentions "loop factory", a "spec-driven loop", an "agent factory", wants repeatable/reviewable agent work, or when a repo has a factory/specs/inbox or factory/specs/active directory. Also covers installing and scaffolding the loop-factory CLI into a project.
---

# Loop Factory

Loop Factory turns "ask an agent to build something" into a visible assembly line. Each task is a markdown **spec**. The folder the spec lives in *is* its state. Agents implement and verify; they never decide what to build.

```
   📥 inbox/          🔧 active/           📦 archive/
   tasks not      ──► task an agent    ──► finished work,
   started yet        is building now      reviewed + accepted
```

The one rule that governs everything: **automate implementation and verification, not product decisions.** If a spec is missing a decision, record the open question — do not invent product direction.

Invoke this skill on demand by typing `/loop-factory` (one manual pass), or let a cron fire it unattended — see [Autonomous mode](#autonomous-mode-cron).

## When to use this skill

- Setting up Loop Factory in a repo (installing the CLI, running `init`).
- Picking a spec out of the inbox and dispatching it to Claude Code or Codex.
- Implementing a spec against its acceptance criteria.
- Reviewing finished work and archiving accepted specs.
- Backpropagating implementation learnings into the living specs/docs.

## Setup (first time in a repo)

The `loop-factory` CLI is the state engine. Install it once, then scaffold any git repo:

```bash
# get the CLI (clone the source repo, install editable)
git clone https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/Loop-Factory.git
python3 -m pip install -e ./Loop-Factory

# scaffold the factory/ folders in your target project
cd your-project
loop-factory init
loop-factory doctor      # confirm git + agent CLIs are wired up
```

No runtime dependencies beyond Python 3.10+. If you are already inside the Loop-Factory repo, you can skip the install and run `python3 bin/loop-factory <command>` directly. Full install notes, agent-CLI setup, and how to copy the native agent adapters: **[references/install.md](references/install.md)**.

## The loop

1. **Inspect the queue.** Run `loop-factory scan` to see inbox and active specs.
2. **Grill new specs first.** Before dispatching a fresh spec, interrogate it one question at a time (who owns this decision, what's out of scope, riskiest assumption, smallest acceptable version). Record answers under a `# Grill Gate` section. A vague spec produces vague code.
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 87f0450552769919

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---
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