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Smart Ralph

Smart Ralph is an open-source plugin for Claude Code and Codex that turns feature requests into structured specifications and executes the resulting coding tasks one at a time with fresh context.

Explore the practical guide ↓

Independent OpenViST project profile, based on linked sources.

Smart Ralph — OpenViST project profile in Coding Agents.
OpenViST project illustration. See the linked sources for product details.
Understand the project

Practical overview

When it fits

Use Smart Ralph when a coding-agent task benefits from a staged specification and task-by-task execution, especially when you want to review or edit planning artifacts before implementation.

Who it is for

  • Developers using Claude Code or Codex for feature implementation.
  • Teams or individuals who want research, requirements, design and tasks recorded as reviewable project files before coding.

Documented uses

  • Translate a feature request into research, user stories, acceptance criteria, design decisions and executable tasks.
  • Break a large goal into dependency-aware specifications.
  • Execute implementation tasks iteratively, record progress and resume a stopped session.
Before you choose

Requirements & limits

The project is published in a public GitHub repository under the MIT license. Installation instructions are provided for Claude Code and Codex.

  • The documented host environments are Claude Code and Codex.
  • Normal workflows include approval checkpoints between specification phases; quick mode proceeds without those pauses.
  • Codex automatic task execution depends on reviewing and trusting the bundled Stop hook; otherwise, implementation is invoked once per task.
  • Specifications remain in the project for review and editing, while progress tracking supports resuming interrupted work.

Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.

Source-based practical guide

Install Smart Ralph for Claude Code

Add the Smart Ralph plugin to Claude Code and launch a feature-spec workflow.

Before you start

  • Claude Code
  • A feature goal to give the start command

Steps

  1. Add the marketplace with /plugin marketplace add tzachbon/smart-ralph.

  2. Install the plugin with /plugin install ralph-specum@smart-ralph.

  3. Restart Claude Code.

  4. Start a spec with /ralph-specum:start user-auth "Add JWT authentication", replacing the example name and goal with your own.

Expected outcome

Claude Code starts Smart Ralph's research-to-spec workflow for the stated feature goal.

Guide limitations

  • The documented command starts a workflow; it does not establish that a particular feature will be implemented successfully.
Documentation 1 ↗
Source-based practical guide

Install Smart Ralph for Codex

Add the plugin to Codex and start a spec for a coding goal.

Before you start

  • Codex
  • A coding goal to provide to the start command

Steps

  1. Add the marketplace and plugin directories with codex plugin marketplace add tzachbon/smart-ralph --sparse .agents/plugins --sparse plugins/ralph-specum-codex.

  2. Add the plugin with codex plugin add ralph-specum@smart-ralph.

  3. Start a new Codex task and run $ralph-specum-start user-auth "Add JWT authentication", substituting your own name and goal.

Expected outcome

Codex begins Smart Ralph's spec-driven workflow for the supplied goal.

Guide limitations

  • For automatic task execution, the README says to run /hooks, review the bundled Stop hook and trust it; until then, run $ralph-specum-implement once per task.
Documentation 1 ↗
Evidence and transparency

Sources & review

Official repository ↗
Source record details
Source availability
Active
Sources checked
14 October 2026
Original website title
tzachbon/smart-ralph · Official homepage title · retained in its source language
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