#
.SYNOPSIS
Ralph Wiggum Loop - PRD-driven variant.
.DESCRIPTION
Iterates through user stories in prd.json, spawning a fresh `claude --print`
invocation for each story. Memory persists via filesystem only: git commits,
prd.json (passes field), and progress.txt.
Each iteration works on ONE user story (in priority order).
When all stories pass, the loop completes.
Circuit breakers prevent runaway costs:
- No git changes for N consecutive iterations (stalled)
- Same error repeated N consecutive iterations (stuck)
.PARAMETER Model
Initial Claude model to use. Default: "opus". The agent can dynamically switch
models between iterations via opus|sonnet signals.
.PARAMETER MaxNoProgress
Number of consecutive iterations with no git changes before circuit breaker trips. Default: 3.
.PARAMETER MaxSameError
Number of consecutive iterations with the same error before circuit breaker trips. Default: 3.
.PARAMETER StartFrom
Story ID to start from (e.g., "US-005"). Treats all earlier stories as already passed.
.EXAMPLE
.\.claude\skills\ralph\ralph.ps1 -Model "opus"
.EXAMPLE
.\.claude\skills\ralph\ralph.ps1 -StartFrom "US-010" -Model "sonnet"
#>
param(
[string]$Model = "opus",
[int]$MaxNoProgress = 3,
[int]$MaxSameError = 3,
[string]$StartFrom = ""
)
$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
$scriptDir = Split-Path -Parent $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Path
$prdFile = Join-Path $scriptDir "prd.json"
$progressFile = Join-Path $scriptDir "progress.txt"
$logDir = Join-Path $scriptDir "logs"
# --- Find project root (git repo root) ---
$projectRoot = git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>$null
if (-not $projectRoot) {
Write-Error "Not inside a git repository. Run from the project directory."
exit 1
}
$projectRoot = (Resolve-Path $projectRoot).Path
# --- Validation ---
if (-not (Test-Path $prdFile)) {
Write-Error "prd.json not found at $prdFile"
exit 1
}
# Ensure logs directory exists
if (-not (Test-Path $logDir)) {
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $logDir | Out-Null
Write-Host "Created logs directory"
}
# --- PRD Read/Write ---
function Read-Prd {
Get-Content -Path $prdFile -Raw | ConvertFrom-Json
}
function Save-Prd {
param($prdObj)
$prdObj | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 10 | Set-Content -Path $prdFile -Encoding UTF8
}
$prd = Read-Prd
# --- Git Setup ---
$BranchName = $prd.branchName
if ($BranchName) {
$currentBranch = git branch --show-current
if ($currentBranch -ne $BranchName) {
$branchExists = git branch --list $BranchName
if ($branchExists) {
Write-Host "Switching to existing branch: $BranchName"
git checkout $BranchName
} else {
Write-Host "Creating branch: $BranchName"
git checkout -b $BranchName
}
}
}
# --- Handle StartFrom: mark earlier stories as passed ---
if ($StartFrom) {
$startPriority = [int]($StartFrom -replace 'US-0*', '')
$skippedCount = 0
foreach ($story in $prd.userStories) {
$storyPriority = [int]($story.id -replace 'US-0*', '')
if ($storyPriority -lt $startPriority -and $story.passes -ne $true) {
$story.passes = $true
$story.notes = "Skipped (--StartFrom $StartFrom)"
$skippedCount++
}
}
if ($skippedCount -gt 0) {
Save-Prd $prd
Write-Host "Marked $skippedCount stories before $StartFrom as skipped." -ForegroundColor DarkYellow
}
}
# --- Circuit Breaker State ---
$noProgressCount = 0
$lastErrorSignature = ""
$sameErrorCount = 0
# --- Prompt Generation ---
function Build-StoryPrompt {
param(
$story,
$prdObj,
[array]$completedStories
)
# Build completed list
$completedSection = ""
if ($completedStories.Count -gt 0) {
$completedLines = ($completedStories | ForEach-Object {
"- $($_.id): $($_.title)"
}) -join "`n"
$completedSection = "`n## Previously Completed Stories (do not redo)`n$completedLines`n"
}
# Build criteria list
$criteriaLines = ($story.acceptanceCriteria | ForEach-Object { "- [ ] $_" }) -join "`n"
# Build prompt using array-join (avoids PS 5.1 here-string indentation issues)
$sid = $story.id
$stitle = $story.title
$sdesc = $story.description
$pdesc = $prdObj.description
$prompt = @(
"# Ralph Iteration: $sid - $stitle"
""
"## Project"
"$pdesc"
""
"Read CLAUDE.md for full project conventions, architecture, and design system. This is mandatory before starting work."
""
"## Your Task"
""
"**${sid}: $stitle**"
""
"$sdesc"
""
"## Acceptance Criteria"
""
"$criteriaLines"
""
"## Reference Documents"
""
"Read these as needed for implementation detail:"
""
"- **CLAUDE.md** - Project conventions, architecture, design tokens, guardrails (READ FIRST)"
"- **Ralph/depth-design.md** - Component architecture, props interfaces, CSS specs, data models"
"- **Ralph/depth-requirements.md** - Full requirements with content sources and UX patterns"
"- **References/CV_v4.md** - Source of truth for all CV content (roles, dates, achievements, numbers)"
"$completedSection"
"## Workflow"
""
"1. Read CLAUDE.md to understand project conventions"
"2. Read Ralph/depth-design.md sections relevant to this story"
"3. Read existing source files you will modify to understand current patterns"
"4. Implement ALL acceptance criteria"
"5. Run npm run typecheck - fix any type errors"
"6. Run npm run build - fix any build errors"
"7. Stage and commit your changes:"
" git add [specific files] && git commit -m `"${sid}: [descriptive message]`""
"8. When ALL criteria are met, output: $sid"
""
"## Rules"
""
"- Work ONLY on $sid. Do not modify code for other stories."
"- Read files before modifying them."
"- Follow existing patterns and conventions in the codebase."
"- Use lucide-react for icons, never unicode symbols."
"- Use the project's CSS custom properties and Tailwind tokens."
"- Commit specific files, not git add -A."
"- Do NOT start a dev server (npm run dev). One is already running on port $devServerPort. Do NOT run any background tasks."
"- If genuinely blocked, output $sid with explanation."
"- To recommend a different model for the NEXT iteration, output opus or sonnet."
) -join "`n"
return $prompt
}
# --- Banner ---
$completedCount = @($prd.userStories | Where-Object { $_.passes -eq $true }).Count
$totalCount = $prd.userStories.Count
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "===== Ralph Wiggum Loop (PRD-driven) =====" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Project: $($prd.project)" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Branch: $BranchName | Model: $Model (dynamic switching enabled)" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Stories: $completedCount/$totalCount complete" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Circuit breakers: no-progress=$MaxNoProgress, same-error=$MaxSameError" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "===========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host ""
# Dev server port (assumed to be running externally)
$devServerPort = 5173
Write-Host "Dev server assumed running on port $devServerPort" -ForegroundColor DarkGray
Write-Host ""
# --- Story Loop ---
$iterationCount = 0
$originalDir = Get-Location
Set-Location $projectRoot
try {
while ($true) {
# Re-read PRD each iteration (in case previous iteration updated it)
$prd = Read-Prd
# Partition stories
$completedStories = @($prd.userStories | Where-Object { $_.passes -eq $true })
$pendingStories = @($prd.userStories | Where-Object { $_.passes -ne $true } | Sort-Object { $_.priority })
# Check if all done
if ($pendingStories.Count -eq 0) {
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "===== ALL STORIES COMPLETE =====" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "$($completedStories.Count)/$($prd.userStories.Count) stories passed." -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "Branch: $BranchName" -ForegroundColor Green
break
}
$currentStory = $pendingStories[0]
$iterationCount++
$pctComplete = [math]::Round(($completedStories.Count / $prd.userStories.Count) * 100)
$storyLabel = "$($currentStory.id): $($currentStory.title)"
$pctStr = "${pctComplete}%"
$progressMsg = " Progress: $($completedStories.Count)/$($prd.userStories.Count) ($pctStr) - Remaining: $($pendingStories.Count)"
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "--- Iteration $iterationCount - $storyLabel ---" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host $progressMsg -ForegroundColor DarkGray
# Record HEAD before this iteration
$headBefore = git rev-parse HEAD 2>$null
$iterStart = Get-Date
Write-Host " Started: $($iterStart.ToString('HH:mm:ss')) | Model: $Model" -ForegroundColor DarkGray
Write-Host ""
# Generate prompt for this story
$promptContent = Build-StoryPrompt -story $currentStory -prdObj $prd -completedStories $completedStories
# --- Spawn Claude ---
$logFile = Join-Path $logDir "$($currentStory.id).log"
$rawLogFile = Join-Path $logDir "$($currentStory.id).raw.jsonl"
$maxRetries = 10
$retryCount = 0
$outputString = ""
$apiOverloaded = $false
do {
$apiOverloaded = $false
$textBuilder = [System.Text.StringBuilder]::new()
$toolCount = 0
# Clear raw log file for this attempt
if (Test-Path $rawLogFile) { Remove-Item $rawLogFile -Force }
if ($retryCount -gt 0) {
$backoffSeconds = [Math]::Pow(2, $retryCount - 1)
Write-Host " [Retry $retryCount/$maxRetries] API overloaded, waiting $backoffSeconds seconds..." -ForegroundColor DarkYellow
Start-Sleep -Seconds $backoffSeconds
Write-Host " Retrying Claude invocation..." -ForegroundColor DarkGray
}
# --- Spawn Claude via Process.Start for clean shutdown control ---
# Using Process.Start instead of pipeline so we can break on the result
# event and force-kill the process tree. The pipeline approach hangs when
# Claude spawns background tasks (e.g. npm run dev) that keep stdout open.
$promptTempFile = Join-Path $logDir "$($currentStory.id).prompt.tmp"
$promptContent | Set-Content -Path $promptTempFile -Encoding UTF8
$claudeArgs = "--print --verbose --dangerously-skip-permissions --model $Model --output-format stream-json"
$psi = [System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo]::new()
$psi.FileName = "cmd.exe"
$psi.Arguments = "/c type `"$promptTempFile`" | claude $claudeArgs"
$psi.UseShellExecute = $false
$psi.RedirectStandardOutput = $true
$psi.RedirectStandardError = $true
$psi.CreateNoWindow = $true
$psi.WorkingDirectory = $projectRoot
$claudeProc = [System.Diagnostics.Process]::Start($psi)
# Drain stderr async to prevent buffer deadlock
$claudeProc.add_ErrorDataReceived({ param($s,$e) })
$claudeProc.BeginErrorReadLine()
try {
while ($null -ne ($line = $claudeProc.StandardOutput.ReadLine())) {
$line = $line.Trim()
if (-not $line) { continue }
# Save raw event for debugging
try {
Add-Content -Path $rawLogFile -Value $line -Encoding UTF8 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
} catch { }
$isResultEvent = $false
try {
$evt = $line | ConvertFrom-Json -ErrorAction Stop
# --- Tool use start ---
if ($evt.type -eq 'content_block_start' -and $evt.content_block.type -eq 'tool_use') {
$toolCount++
$toolName = $evt.content_block.name
Write-Host " [$toolName]" -ForegroundColor DarkCyan
}
# --- Streaming text ---
elseif ($evt.type -eq 'content_block_delta' -and $evt.delta.type -eq 'text_delta' -and $evt.delta.text) {
Write-Host -NoNewline $evt.delta.text
[void]$textBuilder.Append($evt.delta.text)
}
# --- Result event (terminal — stop reading after this) ---
elseif ($evt.type -eq 'result') {
if ($evt.subtype -eq 'error_result' -and $evt.error) {
Write-Host " [ERROR] $($evt.error)" -ForegroundColor Red
[void]$textBuilder.AppendLine("ERROR: $($evt.error)")
}
elseif ($evt.result) {
[void]$textBuilder.AppendLine($evt.result)
}
$isResultEvent = $true
}
# --- Message-level content ---
elseif ($evt.message -and $evt.message.content) {
foreach ($block in $evt.message.content) {
if ($block.type -eq 'text' -and $block.text) {
Write-Host $block.text
[void]$textBuilder.AppendLine($block.text)
}
elseif ($block.type -eq 'tool_use') {
$toolCount++
Write-Host " [$($block.name)]" -ForegroundColor DarkCyan
}
}
}
} catch {
if ($line -and $line -notmatch '^\s*["\{\[\}\]]') {
Write-Host $line -ForegroundColor DarkYellow
[void]$textBuilder.AppendLine($line)
}
}
# Result is always the final stream event — stop reading
if ($isResultEvent) { break }
}
} finally {
# Kill the Claude process tree to prevent orphaned cmd.exe/node processes
if ($claudeProc -and -not $claudeProc.HasExited) {
try {
taskkill /T /F /PID $claudeProc.Id 2>$null | Out-Null
} catch { }
}
Remove-Item -Path $promptTempFile -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
$outputString = $textBuilder.ToString()
# Check for 529 overloaded error
if ($outputString -match "529.*overloaded|overloaded_error") {
$apiOverloaded = $true
$retryCount++
if ($retryCount -ge $maxRetries) {
Write-Host " [ERROR] API overloaded after $maxRetries retries, giving up." -ForegroundColor Red
}
}
# Check for usage limit with cooldown
elseif ($outputString -match "(?i)usage limit reached.*reset at (\d{1,2})(?::(\d{2}))?\s*(am|pm)") {
$resetHour = [int]$Matches[1]
$resetMinute = if ($Matches[2]) { [int]$Matches[2] } else { 0 }
$resetAmPm = $Matches[3]
if ($resetAmPm -ieq "pm" -and $resetHour -ne 12) { $resetHour += 12 }
elseif ($resetAmPm -ieq "am" -and $resetHour -eq 12) { $resetHour = 0 }
$now = Get-Date
$resetTime = Get-Date -Hour $resetHour -Minute $resetMinute -Second 0
if ($resetTime -le $now) { $resetTime = $resetTime.AddDays(1) }
$resetTime = $resetTime.AddMinutes(2)
$waitSeconds = [Math]::Ceiling(($resetTime - $now).TotalSeconds)
$waitMinutes = [Math]::Ceiling($waitSeconds / 60)
Write-Host ""
Write-Host " [USAGE LIMIT] Reset at $($Matches[1]) $resetAmPm. Cooling down ~$waitMinutes minutes (until $($resetTime.ToString('HH:mm')))..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
Start-Sleep -Seconds $waitSeconds
Write-Host " [USAGE LIMIT] Cooldown complete. Retrying..." -ForegroundColor Green
$apiOverloaded = $true
}
} while ($apiOverloaded -and $retryCount -lt $maxRetries)
# Save log
$outputString | Set-Content -Path $logFile -Encoding UTF8
# Show elapsed time
$elapsed = (Get-Date) - $iterStart
Write-Host ""
Write-Host " Finished: $(Get-Date -Format 'HH:mm:ss') (elapsed: $($elapsed.ToString('mm\:ss')), tools: $toolCount)" -ForegroundColor DarkGray
# --- Detect signals ---
$storyComplete = $outputString -match "$([regex]::Escape($currentStory.id))"
$storyBlocked = $outputString -match "$([regex]::Escape($currentStory.id))"
$headAfter = git rev-parse HEAD 2>$null
$hasGitChanges = $headAfter -ne $headBefore
# --- Update story status ---
if ($storyComplete) {
# Mark story as passed in prd.json
$prd = Read-Prd
$storyToUpdate = $prd.userStories | Where-Object { $_.id -eq $currentStory.id }
if ($storyToUpdate) {
$alreadyDone = if (-not $hasGitChanges) { " (already committed)" } else { "" }
$storyToUpdate.passes = $true
$storyToUpdate.notes = "Completed iteration $iterationCount at $(Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm'). Model: $Model.$alreadyDone"
}
Save-Prd $prd
# Append to progress.txt
$ts = Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm'
$el = $elapsed.ToString('mm\:ss')
$tag = if ($hasGitChanges) { "PASS" } else { "PASS (no new commits)" }
$progressEntry = "$ts | $tag | $($currentStory.id): $($currentStory.title) | model=$Model elapsed=$el tools=$toolCount"
Add-Content -Path $progressFile -Value $progressEntry -Encoding UTF8
Write-Host " [PASSED] $storyLabel" -ForegroundColor Green
if (-not $hasGitChanges) {
Write-Host " (Work was already committed)" -ForegroundColor DarkGray
}
$noProgressCount = 0
$sameErrorCount = 0
$lastErrorSignature = ""
}
elseif ($storyBlocked) {
$ts = Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm'
$progressEntry = "$ts | BLOCKED | $storyLabel"
Add-Content -Path $progressFile -Value $progressEntry -Encoding UTF8
Write-Host " [BLOCKED] $storyLabel - check $logFile for details." -ForegroundColor Red
# Blocked counts as no progress
$noProgressCount++
}
else {
# No completion signal
if ($hasGitChanges) {
Write-Host " [PARTIAL] Git changes but no completion signal. Retrying story." -ForegroundColor DarkYellow
$ts = Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm'
$progressEntry = "$ts | PARTIAL | $storyLabel"
Add-Content -Path $progressFile -Value $progressEntry -Encoding UTF8
$noProgressCount = 0
} else {
Write-Host " [NO PROGRESS] No changes and no signal." -ForegroundColor DarkYellow
$noProgressCount++
}
}
# --- Circuit Breaker: No Progress ---
if ($noProgressCount -ge $MaxNoProgress) {
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "===== CIRCUIT BREAKER: NO PROGRESS =====" -ForegroundColor Red
Write-Host "No meaningful progress for $MaxNoProgress consecutive iterations." -ForegroundColor Red
Write-Host "Stuck on: $($currentStory.id) - $($currentStory.title)" -ForegroundColor Red
Write-Host "Check $logFile for details." -ForegroundColor Red
break
}
# --- Circuit Breaker: Repeated Error ---
$errorLines = $outputString | Select-String -Pattern "(?i)(error|exception|failed|fatal)[:.].*" -AllMatches
if ($errorLines) {
$filteredErrors = $errorLines.Matches | Where-Object { $_.Value -notmatch "529|overloaded" } | Select-Object -First 3
$currentErrorSignature = ($filteredErrors | ForEach-Object { $_.Value }) -join "|"
if ($currentErrorSignature -and $currentErrorSignature -eq $lastErrorSignature) {
$sameErrorCount++
Write-Host " [Circuit Breaker] Same error pattern repeated ($sameErrorCount/$MaxSameError)" -ForegroundColor DarkYellow
if ($sameErrorCount -ge $MaxSameError) {
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "===== CIRCUIT BREAKER: REPEATED ERROR =====" -ForegroundColor Red
Write-Host "Same error for $MaxSameError consecutive iterations:" -ForegroundColor Red
Write-Host " $currentErrorSignature" -ForegroundColor Red
break
}
} elseif ($currentErrorSignature) {
$sameErrorCount = 0
}
$lastErrorSignature = $currentErrorSignature
} else {
$sameErrorCount = 0
$lastErrorSignature = ""
}
# --- Dynamic Model Selection ---
if ($outputString -match "(opus|sonnet)") {
$nextModel = $Matches[1]
if ($nextModel -ne $Model) {
Write-Host " [Model Switch] $Model -> $nextModel (agent recommendation)" -ForegroundColor Magenta
$Model = $nextModel
}
}
# Brief pause between iterations
Start-Sleep -Seconds 2
}
} finally {
Set-Location $originalDir
}
# --- Final Summary ---
$prd = Read-Prd
$finalPassed = @($prd.userStories | Where-Object { $_.passes -eq $true }).Count
$finalTotal = $prd.userStories.Count
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "===========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host " Ralph Loop finished after $iterationCount iteration(s)" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host " Stories: $finalPassed/$finalTotal passed" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host " Branch: $BranchName" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host " Logs: $logDir" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "===========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
if ($finalPassed -eq $finalTotal) {
exit 0
} else {
exit 1
}