# ralph-loop-help

A skill that answers questions about the Ralph Loop technique: how the cycle runs, which options exist, and when to reach for it.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 899 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/ralph-loop-help/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-25
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ralph-loop-help

## What it does

The skill fires when you ask what Ralph Loop is, how it works, or how to use it. It carries a ready explanation of the Ralph Wiggum technique: one prompt goes to the agent over and over, and the self-referential part comes from the agent reading its own earlier work in files and git history rather than from feeding output back as input.

Each pass looks like this: the agent gets the same prompt, edits files, tries to exit, and a stop hook catches that exit and hands the prompt back. State lives in `.cursor/ralph/scratchpad.md`. Two things end the run — the agent printing a `<promise>` tag with the agreed phrase, or the `--max-iterations` cap being hit. With neither in place the loop keeps going, so set one before you start.

The technique suits tasks with a clear success criterion and greenfield work that needs refinement in steps. It gets in the way when a person has to make the design calls or the criterion is vague, because the agent has nothing to aim at. To stop a run early, ask the agent to cancel it; it removes the state file and reports how many iterations passed.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

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

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

### Codex

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

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

### Cursor

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

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

### GitHub Copilot

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

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

### Gemini CLI

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

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

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill ralph-loop-help -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/ralph-loop-help/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- explain the Ralph Loop cycle to someone new to it
- run iterative refinement on a task with a cap on attempts
- set a completion phrase that ends the loop
- cancel a running loop and get the iteration count
- judge whether the technique fits a given task

## Example prompts
- Explain what Ralph Loop is and how the cycle works
- Start a ralph loop on "build a REST API for todos", cap it at 20 iterations, completion phrase COMPLETE
- Cancel the ralph loop and tell me how many iterations ran

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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