Ralph PIV Orchestrator

Plan-Implement-Validate

Arguments: $ARGUMENTS

Parse arguments using this logic:

PRD Path Mode (first argument ends with `.md`)

If the first argument ends with .md, it's a direct path to a PRD file:

•PRD_PATH - Direct path to the PRD file
•PROJECT_PATH - Derived by going up from PRDs/ folder
•START_PHASE - Second argument (default: 1)
•END_PHASE - Third argument (default: auto-detect from PRD)

Project Path Mode

If the first argument does NOT end with .md:

•PROJECT_PATH - Absolute path to project (default: current working directory)
•START_PHASE - Second argument (default: 1)
•END_PHASE - Third argument (default: 4)
•PRD_PATH - Auto-discover from PROJECT_PATH/PRDs/ folder

Detection Logic

code

If $ARGUMENTS[0] ends with ".md":
  PRD_PATH = $ARGUMENTS[0]
  PROJECT_PATH = dirname(dirname(PRD_PATH))
  START_PHASE = $ARGUMENTS[1] or 1
  END_PHASE = $ARGUMENTS[2] or auto-detect from PRD
  PRD_NAME = basename without extension
Else:
  PROJECT_PATH = $ARGUMENTS[0] or current working directory
  START_PHASE = $ARGUMENTS[1] or 1
  END_PHASE = $ARGUMENTS[2] or 4
  PRD_PATH = auto-discover from PROJECT_PATH/PRDs/
  PRD_NAME = discovered PRD basename

Mode Detection

After parsing arguments:

•If PRD_PATH was provided or auto-discovered → MODE = "execute"
•If no PRD found → MODE = "discovery"

Auto-Detect Phases from PRD

When PRD_PATH is specified, scan the PRD for phase sections:

•Look for: ## Phase N:, ### Phase N:, **Phase N:**, Phase N:
•Set END_PHASE to highest phase found (if not specified)

Resolve Ralph PIV Plugin Directory

Before proceeding, determine the absolute path to the Ralph PIV plugin:

bash

# Find the PIV plugin root (parent of .claude-plugin/)
find /home -maxdepth 4 -name "plugin.json" -path "*/piv/.claude-plugin/*" 2>/dev/null | head -1 | sed 's|/.claude-plugin/plugin.json||'

Store the result as PIV_DIR. All reference docs and templates are under this directory.

Verify: PIV_DIR/skills/piv/assets/prp_base.md should exist.

Required Reading by Role

CRITICAL: Each role MUST read their instruction files before acting.

Role	Instructions
Discovery (no PRD)	Read {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/references/piv-discovery.md
PRD Creation	Read {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/references/create-prd.md
PRP Generation	Read {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/references/generate-prp.md
Executor	Read {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/references/execute-prp.md

DO NOT wing it. Follow the established processes.

Prerequisite: A PRD must exist before entering the Phase Workflow. If no PRD exists, enter Discovery Mode.

Discovery Mode (No PRD Found)

When MODE = "discovery":

•Read {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/references/piv-discovery.md for the discovery process
•
Present discovery questions to the user in a friendly, conversational tone
- •Target audience is vibe coders — keep it approachable
- •Skip questions the user already answered
•Wait for user answers
•
Fill gaps with your expertise:
- •If user doesn't know tech stack → research and PROPOSE one
- •If user can't define phases → propose 3-4 phases based on scope
- •Always propose-and-confirm: "Here's what I'd suggest — does this sound right?"
•
Run project setup:
- •Create directories: PRDs/, PRPs/templates/, PRPs/planning/
- •Copy PRP template: cp {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/assets/prp_base.md {PROJECT_PATH}/PRPs/templates/prp_base.md
•Generate PRD: Read {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/references/create-prd.md, write to PROJECT_PATH/PRDs/PRD-{project-name}.md
•Set PRD_PATH to the generated PRD, auto-detect phases → continue to Phase Workflow

The orchestrator handles discovery and PRD generation directly (no sub-agent needed).

Orchestrator Philosophy

"Context budget: ~15% orchestrator, 100% fresh per sub-agent"

You are the orchestrator. You stay lean and manage workflow. You DO NOT execute PRPs yourself — you spawn specialized sub-agents with fresh context for each task.

Phase Workflow

For each phase from START_PHASE to END_PHASE:

Step 1: Check/Generate PRP

Step 1a: Check for existing PRP

bash

ls -la PROJECT_PATH/PRPs/ 2>/dev/null | grep -i "phase.*N\|pN\|p-N"

If a PRP already exists for this phase, skip to Step 2.

Step 1b: Spawn Fresh Research Agent for PRP Generation

CRITICAL: Do NOT generate the PRP yourself. Spawn a FRESH sub-agent.

Before spawning, the orchestrator must:

•Read the PRD at PRD_PATH
•Find the Phase N section
•Extract the phase scope (title, deliverables, validation criteria)
•Pass this extracted scope to the fresh agent

Spawn a general-purpose sub-agent with this prompt:

code

RESEARCH & PRP GENERATION MISSION - Phase {N}
==============================================

You are generating a PRP for Phase {N}. You have fresh context — use it wisely.

Project root: {PROJECT_PATH}
PRD Path: {PRD_PATH}

## Phase {N} Scope (from PRD)
{paste phase title, deliverables, and validation criteria}

## Step 1: Codebase Analysis
Read the codebase analysis process doc at: {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/references/codebase-analysis.md
Follow it fully. Run deep codebase analysis for: {phase feature description}
Save analysis to: {PROJECT_PATH}/PRPs/planning/{PRD_NAME}-phase-{N}-analysis.md

## Step 2: Generate PRP (analysis context still loaded)
Read the PRP generation process doc at: {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/references/generate-prp.md
Read the PRP template at: {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/assets/prp_base.md
Follow the process doc fully. Use the template structure.
You already have the codebase analysis in your context — use it directly.
DO NOT spawn a sub-agent for this. You do it yourself.
Output PRP to: {PROJECT_PATH}/PRPs/PRP-{PRD_NAME}-phase-{N}.md

## Critical Rules
- Do BOTH steps yourself in sequence
- Your analysis context feeds directly into PRP quality
- Follow the full generate-prp process (template, quality gates, info density)
- The PRP template is at: {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/assets/prp_base.md
- DO NOT spawn sub-agents for either step

Wait for the research agent to complete before proceeding.

Step 2: Spawn Executor Sub-Agent

Use the Task tool with subagent_type: "piv-executor":

code

EXECUTOR MISSION - Phase {N}
============================

Read the PRP execution process doc at: {PIV_DIR}/skills/piv/references/execute-prp.md

PRP Path: {PRP_PATH}
Project: {PROJECT_PATH}

Follow: Load PRP → Think Deeply & Plan → Execute → Validate → Verify
Output EXECUTION SUMMARY with Status, Files, Tests, Issues.

Wait for executor to complete before proceeding.

Step 3: Spawn Validator Sub-Agent

Use the Task tool with subagent_type: "piv-validator":

code

VALIDATOR MISSION - Phase {N}
=============================

PRP Path: {PRP_PATH}
Project: {PROJECT_PATH}
Executor Summary:
{paste EXECUTION SUMMARY here}

Verify ALL requirements independently. Don't trust executor claims.
Check every file, every test, every requirement in the PRP.
Output VERIFICATION REPORT with Grade (PASS/GAPS_FOUND/HUMAN_NEEDED), Checks, Gaps.

Process validator result:

•PASS → Proceed to Step 5 (commit)
•GAPS_FOUND → Proceed to Step 4 (debug)
•HUMAN_NEEDED → Ask user for guidance

Step 4: Debug Loop (Max 3 iterations)

Spawn debugger sub-agent using subagent_type: "piv-debugger":

code

DEBUGGER MISSION - Phase {N} - Iteration {I}
============================================

Project: {PROJECT_PATH}
PRP Path: {PRP_PATH}
Gaps: {GAPS}
Errors: {ERRORS}

Fix root causes, not symptoms. Run tests after each fix.
Output FIX REPORT with Status, Fixes Applied, Test Results.

After fixes:

•Re-run validator
•If PASS → proceed to commit
•If GAPS_FOUND again → debug again (up to 3 total)
•After 3 iterations → escalate to user

Step 5: Smart Commit (Orchestrator does this)

After validation passes:

bash

cd PROJECT_PATH
git status
git diff --stat

Create semantic commit:

•Format: feat/fix/refactor(scope): description
•Add: Built with Ralph PIV - https://github.com/SmokeAlot420/ralph-piv

Step 6: Update Progress

Update PROJECT_PATH/WORKFLOW.md:

•Mark phase N as complete
•Note validation results
•Record any issues or observations

Step 7: Next Phase

Increment phase counter. If more phases remain, loop back to Step 1.

Error Handling

No PRD Found

Enter Discovery Mode (see above).

Executor Returns BLOCKED

Ask user: "Executor blocked on phase N. Issue: [description]. How should we proceed?"

Validator Returns HUMAN_NEEDED

Ask user: "Validator needs guidance on phase N. Question: [details]. Please advise."

3 Debug Cycles Exhausted

Ask user: "Phase N failed validation after 3 fix attempts. Persistent issues: [list]. Need your guidance."

Completion

When all phases are complete, output:

code

## RALPH PIV COMPLETE

Phases Completed: START to END
Total Commits: N
Validation Cycles: M

### Phase Summary:
- Phase 1: [feature] - validated in N cycles
- Phase 2: [feature] - validated in N cycles
...

All phases successfully implemented and validated.

Visual Workflow

code

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                 RALPH PIV ORCHESTRATOR                         │
│              Plan-Implement-Validate                          │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ IF NO PRD FOUND:                                              │
│   a. Ask discovery questions (piv-discovery.md)               │
│   b. Generate PRD from answers (create-prd.md)                │
│   c. Set PRD_PATH, auto-detect phases                         │
│                                                               │
│ FOR EACH PHASE (START_PHASE to END_PHASE):                    │
│   a. Check if PRP exists                                      │
│   b. If not → spawn RESEARCH AGENT (analysis + PRP gen)       │
│   c. Spawn EXECUTOR → returns EXECUTION SUMMARY               │
│   d. Spawn VALIDATOR → returns PASS/GAPS_FOUND/HUMAN_NEEDED   │
│   e. If GAPS_FOUND → Spawn DEBUGGER (max 3x)                  │
│   f. Commit on PASS                                           │
│   g. Update WORKFLOW.md                                       │
│   h. Next phase                                               │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Ralph PIV Orchestrator

Arguments: $ARGUMENTS

PRD Path Mode (first argument ends with .md)

Project Path Mode

Detection Logic

Mode Detection

Auto-Detect Phases from PRD

Resolve Ralph PIV Plugin Directory

Required Reading by Role

Discovery Mode (No PRD Found)

Orchestrator Philosophy

Phase Workflow

Step 1: Check/Generate PRP

Step 1a: Check for existing PRP

Step 1b: Spawn Fresh Research Agent for PRP Generation

Step 2: Spawn Executor Sub-Agent

Step 3: Spawn Validator Sub-Agent

Step 4: Debug Loop (Max 3 iterations)

Step 5: Smart Commit (Orchestrator does this)

Step 6: Update Progress

Step 7: Next Phase

Error Handling

No PRD Found

Executor Returns BLOCKED

Validator Returns HUMAN_NEEDED

3 Debug Cycles Exhausted

Completion

Visual Workflow

PRD Path Mode (first argument ends with `.md`)