# Ralph Specum Switch

Should be used only when the user explicitly asks to use `$ralph-specum-switch`, or...

- Repository: https://github.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph (566 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-28
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add tzachbon/smart-ralph --skill ralph-specum-switch -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add tzachbon/smart-ralph --skill ralph-specum-switch -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add tzachbon/smart-ralph --skill ralph-specum-switch -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add tzachbon/smart-ralph --skill ralph-specum-switch -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add tzachbon/smart-ralph`

## Description

This skill should be used only when the user explicitly asks to use `$ralph-specum-switch`, or explicitly asks Ralph Specum in Codex to switch the active spec.

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

# Ralph Specum Switch

Use this to switch the active spec.

Derive `RALPH_CODEX_PLUGIN_ROOT` from this loaded skill by resolving two parent directories from the `SKILL.md` directory. Never derive it from the project working directory.

## Contract

- Read `.claude/ralph-specum.local.md` when present
- Parse `specs_dirs` from frontmatter to discover all spec roots
- Treat the first `specs_dirs` entry as the default root
- Default specs root is `./specs`
- `.current-spec` lives in the default specs root
- Do not guess on ambiguous names

## Action

1. Resolve the requested target by full path or exact name.
2. If no target was provided, list available specs grouped by root.
3. If the name is ambiguous across roots, stop and require a full path.
4. Update `.current-spec`:
   - bare name for the default root
   - full path for non-default roots
5. Read the target spec state and summarize phase, progress, approval state, and present files.
6. Report prototype dependencies without mutating them:
   - Treat a missing `activePrototypes` field as an empty map.
   - When state exists, run `"$RALPH_CODEX_PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/prototype_records.py" select-downstream --base-path "$BASE_PATH" --state "$BASE_PATH/.ralph-state.json"` using the selected spec's resolved `basePath`.
   - Show each blocker from `activeBlockers` with prototype ID, status, blocked artifact or transition, `returnPhase`, and `returnTaskIndex`.
   - Show `staleArtifacts` and `staleTaskIndexes` from the selection result.
   - Do not reconcile, remove active entries, edit records, or change blocker data. If no overlay or stale dependency exists, preserve the existing switch output.