---
title: "Assets"
description: "ralphy assets list, pull, install, clean — the companion-repo pool, required template assets, and example projects."
---

Heavy template assets and example projects live in the [`ralphy-assets`](https://github.com/alecs5am/ralphy-assets) companion repo, not the main checkout. `ralphy assets` is the verb group that pulls them on demand, SHA-256 verifies the download, caches under `.ralphy/cache/assets/`, and optionally copies into a project's tree. Per [AGENTS.md invariant #12](https://github.com/alecs5am/ralphy/blob/main/AGENTS.md), agents should consult the catalog before improvising a reference for a real-world IP / character / track.

## Three layers

The companion manifest groups assets into three layers:

- **`required`** — template-bound mandatory assets. Auto-pulled when you run `ralphy template use <slug>`. Listed for transparency; you rarely pull these directly.
- **`pool`** — generic, reusable assets grouped by *kind* (open-ended: `italian-brainrot-characters`, `gameplay-loops`, `trend-music`, `stock-broll`, …). Pull individual items on demand.
- **`examples`** — ready-made example mp4 outputs per template. Visual reference + regression baselines.

## ralphy assets list

```bash
ralphy assets list                                       # everything
ralphy assets list --kind italian-brainrot-characters    # one pool kind
ralphy assets list --template italian-brainrot           # required + matching pool
ralphy assets list --refresh                             # force manifest re-fetch
```

Returns `{ manifestUpdated, manifestVersion, required, pool, examples }`. Items include `kind`, `slug`, `sizeMB`, `license`, `worksWith`, `description`.

## ralphy assets pull &lt;template-slug&gt;

Pulls every required asset for a template into the local cache. Idempotent — already-cached files with a matching SHA-256 skip the download.

```bash
ralphy assets pull italian-brainrot
ralphy assets pull italian-brainrot --refresh
```

Returns `{ template, pulled: [{ key, cachedPath, sizeBytes }] }`.

## ralphy assets install &lt;project-id&gt; &lt;template-slug&gt;

Pulls + installs into a project's asset tree. Combines `pull` with a copy step that respects each entry's `destSubdir`.

```bash
ralphy assets install demo-001 italian-brainrot
```

This is what `ralphy template use` calls under the hood — running it directly is the manual path when you want to re-install required assets without re-using the template.

## ralphy assets pull-pool &lt;kind&gt;/&lt;slug&gt;

Single-item pool pull. The agent's go-to verb when it needs a named character / footage / track.

```bash
ralphy assets pull-pool italian-brainrot-characters/tung-tung-tung-sahur
ralphy assets pull-pool gameplay-loops/subway-surfers --install demo-001
```

With `--install <project-id>`, the verb also copies into the project under `item.destSubdir` (or the category's `defaultDestSubdir`). The result includes the relative dest path so the agent can wire the asset into a prompt directly.

## ralphy assets catalog

Regenerates `docs/assets-catalog.md` from the live manifest. The catalog is the agent-friendly view that lives in the main repo so it's always in context — no network call needed at read time.

```bash
ralphy assets catalog              # print to stdout
ralphy assets catalog --write      # rewrite docs/assets-catalog.md
ralphy assets catalog --refresh    # force manifest re-fetch first
```

Per [AGENTS.md invariant #12](https://github.com/alecs5am/ralphy/blob/main/AGENTS.md), regenerate after any manifest change in the companion repo so the in-repo catalog stays current.

## ralphy assets clean / cache-info

```bash
ralphy assets clean       # wipe .ralphy/cache/assets
ralphy assets cache-info  # list what's currently cached
```

`cache-info` returns `{ cacheDir, files: [{ relative }], fileCount }`. The cache is gitignored and safe to wipe at any time — every entry re-pulls on demand.

## Verification

Every download SHA-256 verifies against the manifest. Mismatch → the file is removed and the verb raises. The manifest itself is signed at the companion-repo CI step.

## Companion-repo flow

```text
ralphy-assets (companion)
  ├── manifest.json          # required + pool + examples + checksums
  ├── required/<template>/<file>
  ├── pool/<kind>/<slug>/<file>
  └── examples/<id>.tar.gz

  ↓ pull (HTTPS, SHA-256 verified)

.ralphy/cache/assets/  # local cache, gitignored
  ├── manifest.json
  ├── required/...
  └── pool/...

  ↓ install (copy)

.ralphy/workspaces/<ws>/projects/<id>/assets/
```

Override the manifest URL via the `RALPHY_ASSETS_MANIFEST_URL` env var; see [Env + config](/cli/env-config).

## Worked example

```bash
# Discover what's available
ralphy assets list --kind italian-brainrot-characters

# Pull one item into a project
ralphy assets pull-pool italian-brainrot-characters/tung-tung-tung-sahur \
  --install demo-001
# → .ralphy/workspaces/<ws>/projects/demo-001/artifacts/refs/tung-tung-tung-sahur.png

# Reference it in a generate call
ralphy generate image \
  --project demo-001 --slot scene-02-bg \
  --prompt "..." \
  --ref .ralphy/workspaces/<ws>/projects/demo-001/artifacts/refs/tung-tung-tung-sahur.png
```

## Related

- [Templates](/cli/templates) — `template use` auto-installs required assets
- [References](/concepts/references) — when the ref-required gate fires
- [`ralphy-assets`](https://github.com/alecs5am/ralphy-assets) — the companion repo
- [docs/assets-catalog.md](https://github.com/alecs5am/ralphy/blob/main/docs/assets-catalog.md) — the in-repo derived view
- [cli/commands/assets.ts](https://github.com/alecs5am/ralphy/blob/main/cli/commands/assets.ts)
