ralph

Ralph PRD Converter

Converts existing PRDs to the prd.json format that Ralph uses for autonomous execution.

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The Job

Take a PRD (markdown file or text) and convert it to prd.json in your ralph directory.

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Output Format

{
	"project": "[Project Name]",
	"branchName": "ralph/[feature-name-kebab-case]",
	"description": "[Feature description from PRD title/intro]",
	"userStories": [
		{
			"id": "US-001",
			"title": "[Story title]",
			"description": "As a [user], I want [feature] so that [benefit]",
			"acceptanceCriteria": ["Criterion 1", "Criterion 2", "Typecheck passes"],
			"priority": 1,
			"passes": false,
			"notes": ""
		}
	]
}

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Story Size: The Number One Rule

Each story must be completable in ONE Ralph iteration (one context window).

Ralph spawns a fresh Amp instance per iteration with no memory of previous work. If a story is too big, the LLM runs out of context before finishing and produces broken code.

Right-sized stories:

• Add a database column and migration
• Add a UI component to an existing page
• Update a server action with new logic
• Add a filter dropdown to a list

Too big (split these):

• "Build the entire dashboard" - Split into: schema, queries, UI components, filters
• "Add authentication" - Split into: schema, middleware, login UI, session handling
• "Refactor the API" - Split into one story per endpoint or pattern

Rule of thumb: If you cannot describe the change in 2-3 sentences, it is too big.

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Story Ordering: Dependencies First

Stories execute in priority order. Earlier stories must not depend on later ones.

Correct order:

1. Schema/database changes (migrations)
2. Server actions / backend logic
3. UI components that use the backend
4. Dashboard/summary views that aggregate data

Wrong order:

1. UI component (depends on schema that does not exist yet)
2. Schema change

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Acceptance Criteria: Must Be Verifiable

Each criterion must be something Ralph can CHECK, not something vague.