How to Use Ralph Wiggum to Leave Claude Code Running 24/7 on a VPS

while :; do cat PROMPT.md | claude ; done

# Create a plans directory for Ralph files
mkdir -p plans

# Create the PRD file (your task list)
touch plans/prd.json

# Create the progress file (LLM's memory)
touch plans/progress.txt

# Create the ralph script
touch plans/ralph.sh
chmod +x plans/ralph.sh

{
  "userStories": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "title": "User authentication with email/password",
      "description": "Users can sign up and log in with email and password. Passwords are hashed. Sessions persist across browser restarts.",
      "passes": false
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "title": "Dashboard shows user profile",
      "description": "After login, users see a dashboard with their name and email. The page should have a logout button.",
      "passes": false
    },
    {
      "id": 3,
      "title": "Protected routes redirect to login",
      "description": "Unauthenticated users trying to access /dashboard are redirected to /login.",
      "passes": false
    }
  ]
}

#!/bin/bash
set -e

# Check for max iterations argument
if [ -z "$1" ]; then
  echo "Usage: ./plans/ralph.sh <max_iterations>"
  echo "Example: ./plans/ralph.sh 20"
  exit 1
fi

MAX_ITERATIONS=$1

PROMPT=$(cat <<'EOF'
You are working through a PRD (Product Requirements Document).

## Files to read:
- plans/prd.json - The list of user stories with "passes" flags
- plans/progress.txt - Your notes from previous iterations

## Your process:

1. Find the highest priority feature to work on (one that has "passes": false)
   Choose based on dependencies and importance, not just the first in the list.
   Work on ONLY ONE feature per iteration.

2. Implement the feature:
   - Write the code
   - Check that types pass (if using TypeScript): pnpm type-check || npm run type-check
   - Check that tests pass: pnpm test || npm test
   - Verify the feature works as described

3. Update plans/prd.json:
   - Set "passes": true for the completed story

4. APPEND to plans/progress.txt:
   - What you completed
   - Any issues encountered
   - Notes for the next iteration
   - Do NOT overwrite - only append

5. Make a git commit:
   - Commit all changes including the PRD and progress file
   - Use a descriptive commit message

6. IMPORTANT: Only work on ONE feature per iteration.
   This keeps changes small and reviewable.

7. If all user stories have "passes": true, output:
   <promise>COMPLETE</promise>

Remember: You're leaving notes for the next version of yourself.
Each iteration starts fresh with no memory except what's in progress.txt.
EOF
)

echo "Starting Ralph Wiggum loop (max $MAX_ITERATIONS iterations)"
echo "==========================================="

for i in $(seq 1 $MAX_ITERATIONS); do
  echo ""
  echo ">>> ITERATION $i of $MAX_ITERATIONS"
  echo "-------------------------------------------"

  # Run Claude with the prompt and capture output
  OUTPUT=$(echo "$PROMPT" | claude --print 2>&1) || true

  echo "$OUTPUT"

  # Check for completion promise
  if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "<promise>COMPLETE</promise>"; then
    echo ""
    echo "==========================================="
    echo "✅ Ralph completed after $i iterations!"
    echo "==========================================="
    exit 0
  fi
done

echo ""
echo "==========================================="
echo "⚠️  Max iterations ($MAX_ITERATIONS) reached"
echo "Check progress.txt and prd.json for status"
echo "==========================================="

# Ralph Wiggum Progress Log
# This file is appended to by the AI after each iteration
# Delete this file to start a fresh sprint

---
Sprint started: [current date]
---

# Run for 20 iterations max
./plans/ralph.sh 20

# Start a new tmux session named "ralph"
tmux new -s ralph

# Run ralph inside the session
./plans/ralph.sh 50

# Detach from session: press Ctrl+B, then D
# Your ralph loop keeps running!

# Later, reattach to check progress:
tmux attach -t ralph

nohup ./plans/ralph.sh 50 > ralph-output.log 2>&1 &

# Check progress anytime
tail -f ralph-output.log

# Or check the git log
git log --oneline -10

#!/bin/bash
set -e

PROMPT=$(cat <<'EOF'
[Same prompt as above...]
EOF
)

echo "$PROMPT" | claude

./plans/ralph-once.sh

# TypeScript type checking
pnpm type-check  # or: npx tsc --noEmit

# Unit tests
pnpm test        # or: npm test

# Linting
pnpm lint        # or: npm run lint

# E2E tests (if you have them)
pnpm test:e2e

# Create isolated worktrees
git worktree add ../project-auth -b feature/auth
git worktree add ../project-api -b feature/api

# Terminal 1
cd ../project-auth
./plans/ralph.sh 30

# Terminal 2 (new tmux session)
cd ../project-api
./plans/ralph.sh 30