#125·ralph

Skills output files to wrong paths — prd.json not colocated with ralph.sh

Author: MarkMolinaCreated Mar 15, 2026Updated Apr 14, 2026

Problem

After using the Ralph skills (via Claude Code marketplace), the generated files end up in locations where ralph.sh can't find them.

1. Ralph converter skill (/ralph) puts prd.json in the wrong place

The converter skill creates prd.json without specifying it must live alongside ralph.sh. But ralph.sh resolves paths relative to its own directory:

bash
SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
PRD_FILE="$SCRIPT_DIR/prd.json"
PROGRESS_FILE="$SCRIPT_DIR/progress.txt"

So if you followed Option 1 and copied ralph.sh to scripts/ralph/, the converter skill should tell you to save prd.json to scripts/ralph/prd.json — not to the project root or tasks/.

Same issue for progress.txt.

2. PRD skill (/prd) hardcodes tasks/ as output directory

The PRD skill says:

Location: tasks/ Filename: prd-[feature-name].md (kebab-case)

This is a convention choice, but it's not mentioned in the README and may not match a project's existing documentation structure (e.g., docs/tasks/). Minor issue compared to #1.

3. README presents Option 1 as optional when it's required

The README lists three setup options as if they're alternatives:

  • Option 1: Copy ralph.sh + CLAUDE.md/prompt.md to your project
  • Option 2: Install skills globally
  • Option 3: Use Claude Code Marketplace

But Option 1 provides the execution engine (ralph.sh + prompt template), while Options 2/3 provide the skills (/prd and /ralph commands). You need Option 1 plus one of Options 2/3. They're not interchangeable.

Suggested fix

  • In the Ralph converter skill: explicitly state that prd.json and progress.txt must be saved to the same directory as ralph.sh (e.g., scripts/ralph/)
  • In the README: clarify that Option 1 is a prerequisite, not an alternative to Options 2/3