# Skill Iterative Loop

Run tasks in a loop until goals are met, use for iterative refinement, polling, or...

- Repository: https://github.com/nyldn/claude-octopus (4351 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add nyldn/claude-octopus --skill skill-iterative-loop -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add nyldn/claude-octopus --skill skill-iterative-loop -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add nyldn/claude-octopus --skill skill-iterative-loop -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add nyldn/claude-octopus --skill skill-iterative-loop -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add nyldn/claude-octopus`

## Description

Run tasks in a loop until goals are met, use for iterative refinement, polling, or convergence

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Iterative Loop Execution

## Overview

Systematic iterative execution with clear goals, exit conditions, and progress tracking.

**Core principle:** Define goal → Set max iterations → Execute → Evaluate → Loop or complete.

---

## When to Use

**Use this skill when user wants to:**
- Execute a task multiple times with refinements
- Loop until a condition is met
- Iteratively improve something (code, tests, performance)
- Retry operations with modifications
- Progressive enhancement in rounds

**Do NOT use for:**
- Single execution ("run tests once")
- Manual step-by-step work
- Infinite loops without bounds
- Simple retry logic (use skill-debug)

---

## The Process

### Phase 1: Loop Setup

#### Step 1: Understand the Intent

```markdown
**Loop Intent:**

Goal: [what should be achieved]
Success criteria: [how do we know we're done]
Max iterations: [safety limit]
Per-iteration tasks: [what to do each loop]
```

#### Step 2: Clarify Parameters

Use AskUserQuestion if unclear:

- **Max iterations:** How many times maximum?
- **Success condition:** What indicates we can stop early?
- **Per-iteration actions:** What exactly to do each round?
- **Failure handling:** What if it never succeeds?

#### Step 3: Safety Checks

```markdown
**Safety Validation:**

- [ ] Max iterations defined (no infinite loops)
- [ ] Success condition is measurable
- [ ] Each iteration makes progress
- [ ] Failure exit strategy exists
- [ ] User aware of potential duration
```

**Never proceed without max iterations defined.**

---

### Phase 2: Loop Execution

#### Step 1: Initialize Loop

```markdown
**Starting Iterative Loop**

Goal: [description]
Max iterations: [N]
Success criteria: [condition]

---

### Iteration 1 / [N]
```

#### Step 2: Execute Iteration

For each iteration:

```markdown
**Iteration [current] / [max]**

**Actions:**
1. [Action 1]
   → [result/output]
2. [Action 2]
   → [result/output]
3. [Action 3]
   → [result/output]

The rest: https://github.com/nyldn/claude-octopus/blob/HEAD/.claude/skills/skill-iterative-loop/SKILL.md