Ralph init

Scaffold or update repo-local Ralph harness. Opt-in only.

Rules

• •Only create/update scripts/ralph/ in the current repo.
• •If scripts/ralph/ already exists, offer to update (preserves config.env).
• •Copy templates from templates/ into scripts/ralph/.
• •Copy flowctl and flowctl.py from ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/ into scripts/ralph/.
• •Set executable bit on scripts/ralph/ralph.sh, scripts/ralph/ralph_once.sh, and scripts/ralph/flowctl.

Workflow

1. •

   Resolve repo root: git rev-parse --show-toplevel

2. •

   Check if scripts/ralph/ exists:

   • •If exists: ask "Update existing Ralph setup? (preserves config.env and runs/) [y/n]"
     • •If no: stop
     • •If yes: set UPDATE_MODE=1
   • •If not exists: set UPDATE_MODE=0
3. •

   Detect available review backends (skip if UPDATE_MODE=1):

   bash

   HAVE_RP=$(which rp-cli >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo 1 || echo 0)
   HAVE_CODEX=$(which codex >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo 1 || echo 0)
   

4. •

   Determine review backend (skip if UPDATE_MODE=1):

   • •If BOTH available, ask user (do NOT use AskUserQuestion tool):
     code

     Both RepoPrompt and Codex available. Which review backend?
     a) RepoPrompt (macOS, visual builder)
     b) Codex CLI (cross-platform, GPT 5.2 High)
     
     (Reply: "a", "rp", "b", "codex", or just tell me)
     

     Wait for response. Default if empty/ambiguous: rp
   • •If only rp-cli available: use rp
   • •If only codex available: use codex
   • •If neither available: use none
5. •

   Copy files using bash (MUST use cp, NOT Write tool):

   If UPDATE_MODE=1 (updating):

   bash

   # Backup config.env
   cp scripts/ralph/config.env /tmp/ralph-config-backup.env
   
   # Update templates (preserves runs/)
   cp "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/flow-next-ralph-init/templates/ralph.sh" scripts/ralph/
   cp "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/flow-next-ralph-init/templates/ralph_once.sh" scripts/ralph/
   cp "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/flow-next-ralph-init/templates/prompt_plan.md" scripts/ralph/
   cp "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/flow-next-ralph-init/templates/prompt_work.md" scripts/ralph/
   cp "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/flow-next-ralph-init/templates/watch-filter.py" scripts/ralph/
   cp "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/flowctl" "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/flowctl.py" scripts/ralph/
   chmod +x scripts/ralph/ralph.sh scripts/ralph/ralph_once.sh scripts/ralph/flowctl
   
   # Restore config.env
   cp /tmp/ralph-config-backup.env scripts/ralph/config.env
   

   If UPDATE_MODE=0 (fresh install):

   bash

   mkdir -p scripts/ralph/runs
   cp -R "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/flow-next-ralph-init/templates/." scripts/ralph/
   cp "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/flowctl" "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/flowctl.py" scripts/ralph/
   chmod +x scripts/ralph/ralph.sh scripts/ralph/ralph_once.sh scripts/ralph/flowctl
   

   Note: cp -R templates/. copies all files including dotfiles (.gitignore).

6. •

   Edit scripts/ralph/config.env to set the chosen review backend (skip if UPDATE_MODE=1):

   • •Replace PLAN_REVIEW=codex with PLAN_REVIEW=<chosen>
   • •Replace WORK_REVIEW=codex with WORK_REVIEW=<chosen>
7. •

   Print next steps (run from terminal, NOT inside Claude Code):

   If UPDATE_MODE=1:

   code

   Ralph updated! Your config.env was preserved.
   
   Changes in this version:
   - Removed local hooks requirement (plugin hooks work when installed normally)
   
   Run from terminal:
   - ./scripts/ralph/ralph_once.sh (one iteration, observe)
   - ./scripts/ralph/ralph.sh (full loop, AFK)
   

   If UPDATE_MODE=0:

   code

   Ralph initialized!
   
   Next steps (run from terminal, NOT inside Claude Code):
   - Edit scripts/ralph/config.env to customize settings
   - ./scripts/ralph/ralph_once.sh (one iteration, observe)
   - ./scripts/ralph/ralph.sh (full loop, AFK)
   
   Maintenance:
   - Re-run /flow-next:ralph-init after plugin updates to refresh scripts
   - Uninstall (run manually): rm -rf scripts/ralph/