---
title: ralph
description: Keep an agent continuously working on a prompt.
---

`ralph` is the simplest continuous-work loop. It repeatedly runs the configured smart agent with the provided prompt.

```bash
bunx smithers-orchestrator workflow run ralph --prompt "Continue reducing flaky tests"
```

<Frame caption="The ralph UI shows the single agent task re-running on your prompt in an unbounded loop.">
  <img src="/images/workflow-ui/ralph.png" alt="ralph workflow UI showing a single agent task in an unbounded loop" />
</Frame>

## Inputs

| Input | Type | Default |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `prompt` | string | `"Continue working on the current task."` |

## Use it when

- You want an agent to keep working on an open-ended prompt with no fixed finish line.
- A maintenance task benefits from continuous iteration (reducing flaky tests, chipping at tech debt).

## Use something else when

- The work has a clear definition of done: use [`implement`](/workflows/implement) or [`mission`](/workflows/mission).
- You need review gates or validation each pass: use a validation-loop workflow such as [`implement`](/workflows/implement).

## Resume & retry

`ralph` runs an unbounded loop and will not stop on its own. Cancel it with `bunx smithers-orchestrator cancel RUN_ID` when enough work is done, or configure a `maxIterations` limit in your local workflow file. Runs are durable and resume with `up --resume`.
