Loop - Ralph Loop Pattern

Execute -> Validate -> Iterate until VERIFIED_DONE.

Quick Start

/loop "fix all type errors"
/loop "implement tests until 80% coverage"
ralph loop "fix lint errors"

Pattern

     EXECUTE
        |
        v
    +---------+
    | VALIDATE |
    +---------+
        |
   Quality    YES    +---------------+
   Passed? --------> | VERIFIED_DONE |
        |            +---------------+
        | NO
        v
    +---------+
    | ITERATE | (max iterations)
    +---------+
        |
        +-------> Back to EXECUTE

Iteration Limits

Workflow

1. Execute Task

# Attempt implementation
Edit/Write/Bash as needed

2. Validate

# Run quality gates
ralph gates

3. Check & Iterate

# If validation fails and under limit
iteration += 1
if iteration <= MAX:
    continue  # Back to Execute
else:
    report "Max iterations reached"

Loop Types

Fix Loop

/loop "fix all type errors"

Repeatedly fix errors until build passes.

Coverage Loop

/loop "increase test coverage to 80%"

Add tests until coverage target met.

Lint Loop

/loop "fix all lint warnings"

Fix lint issues until clean.

Build Loop

/loop "fix build errors"

Fix compilation errors until success.

Exit Conditions

Success (VERIFIED_DONE)

• Quality gates pass
• Tests pass
• No remaining errors

Failure (MAX_ITERATIONS)

• Iteration limit reached
• Report remaining issues
• Ask user for guidance

Manual Exit

• User interrupts
• Critical error detected
• Deadlock detected

Integration

• Core pattern for all Ralph tasks
• Used by /orchestrator in Step 5
• Hooks enforce limits automatically

Anti-Patterns

• Never exceed iteration limits
• Never loop without validation step
• Never ignore failing tests
• Never loop on same error repeatedly (detect deadlock)