loop-loop/skills/run/SKILL.md

---
name: run
description: "Agent Loop — single entry point. Scaffolds .loop/ if missing, creates a worktree, generates stories, then launches autonomous execution in tmux."
---

# /run — Agent Loop

Single entry point for the agent loop. Handles setup and planning interactively, then launches autonomous execution in a git worktree via tmux.

Each run gets its own worktree (isolated working directory on a feature branch). Multiple loops can run in parallel on different specs. Completed runs are archived to the main project's `.loop/archive/`.

## Usage

```
/agent-loop:run                    # Full flow: setup → worktree → stories → launch
/agent-loop:run --skip-eval        # Skip evaluator pass
```

## Instructions

Follow this sequence. Each phase checks what exists and skips if already done.

---

## Phase 1: Scaffold Main .loop/ (if needed)

Check if `.loop/config.json` exists in the current project root.

**If it does NOT exist**, run the setup script:

Ask the user: **Mode?** (a) Implement (b) Explore (c) Fix — default is Implement.

Then run:

```bash
bash "$(ls -d ~/.claude/plugins/cache/agent-loop/agent-loop/*/setup.sh 2>/dev/null | tail -1)" <mode>
```

Show the output. If setup fails, stop.

**If it already exists**, check if the harness files need updating. Compare the installed harness version against the plugin version:

```bash
INSTALLED=$(cat .loop/.harness-version 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")
PLUGIN=$(jq -r '.version // empty' "$(ls -d ~/.claude/plugins/cache/agent-loop/agent-loop/*/.claude-plugin/plugin.json 2>/dev/null | tail -1)" 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")
echo "installed=$INSTALLED plugin=$PLUGIN"
```

If the versions differ (or installed is "unknown"), update the harness files:

```bash
bash "$(ls -d ~/.claude/plugins/cache/agent-loop/agent-loop/*/setup.sh 2>/dev/null | tail -1)" --update
```

Tell the user: *"Updated harness files to v{version}."*

---

## Phase 2: Create Worktree and Generate Stories

### 2a. Find the spec

Search for existing specs or plans:
- `docs/superpowers/specs/*.md`
- `docs/superpowers/plans/*.md`
- `docs/specs/*.md`
- `docs/plans/*.md`
- `SPEC.md`, `PRD.md`, `DESIGN.md`, `PLAN.md` at project root
- Any markdown file that looks like a feature spec or implementation plan

If found: "I found a spec at `{path}`. Using it to generate stories."

If NOT found, stop and tell the user:

> **No spec or plan found.** Agent Loop decomposes existing plans into stories — it doesn't create plans from scratch.
>
> Create a plan first, then re-run `/agent-loop:run`:
> - Describe your idea to Claude and ask it to write a spec
> - Use `/plan` if available
> - Or create a markdown file at `docs/specs/` or `SPEC.md`
>
> The plan should describe what to build, the tech stack, and key requirements.

**STOP here. Do NOT ask the user to describe the project in a few sentences. Do NOT proceed without a spec file.**

### 2b. Derive names and create worktree

Read the spec title or filename to derive a feature slug. Examples:
- `SPEC.md` with title "# Enhanced Spikes Editor" → slug: `enhanced-spikes-editor`
- `docs/specs/auth-system.md` → slug: `auth-system`

Derive paths:

```bash
PROJECT_DIR=$(basename "$(pwd)")
FEATURE_SLUG="<derived-slug>"
BRANCH_NAME="loop/${FEATURE_SLUG}"
WORKTREE_PATH="../${PROJECT_DIR}--loop-${FEATURE_SLUG}"
MAIN_LOOP_DIR="$(pwd)/.loop"
```

Check if the worktree already exists:

```bash
if [ -d "$WORKTREE_PATH" ]; then
    echo "WORKTREE_EXISTS"
else
    echo "WORKTREE_NEW"
fi
```

**If worktree exists**, check its state:
- Read `{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/prd.json` — are all stories passed?
- If all passed: ask user — "Previous run on `{BRANCH_NAME}` is complete. Archive and start fresh, or resume?"
- If in progress: ask user — "Run in progress on `{BRANCH_NAME}` ({passed}/{total}). Resume, or archive and start fresh?"
- If user says resume: skip to Phase 3 (launch in existing worktree)
- If user says archive/fresh: archive from worktree to main, remove worktree, then continue below

**If worktree is new**, create it:

```bash
git worktree add "$WORKTREE_PATH" -b "$BRANCH_NAME"
```

If the branch already exists (e.g., from a previous run):

```bash
git worktree add "$WORKTREE_PATH" "$BRANCH_NAME"
```

Initialize the worktree's `.loop/`:

```bash
bash "$(ls -d ~/.claude/plugins/cache/agent-loop/agent-loop/*/setup.sh 2>/dev/null | tail -1)" --init-worktree "$WORKTREE_PATH" "$MAIN_LOOP_DIR"
```

Initialize submodules if the project uses them:

```bash
git -C "$WORKTREE_PATH" submodule update --init --recursive 2>/dev/null || true
```

### 2c. Generate stories

Read the project root listing and tech stack info.

Dispatch the **agent-loop:planner** agent. Pass the **absolute worktree path** so the planner writes to the worktree's `.loop/`:

```
Agent(
  subagent_type: "agent-loop:planner",
  prompt: "Generate prd.json and sprint contracts.\n\nIMPORTANT: Write ALL files using absolute paths under: {WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/\n- PRD: {WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/prd.json\n- Contracts: {WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/contracts/\n- Progress: {WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/progress.md\n\nBranch name to use in prd.json: {BRANCH_NAME}\n\nMode: {mode}\nProject root: {WORKTREE_PATH}\n\nSpec:\n{spec content}\n\nTech stack: {detected stack}",
  description: "Planning: generate stories"
)
```

### 2d. Present stories

After the planner finishes, read `{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/prd.json` and present:

> **Stories generated — Review before running**
>
> Worktree: `{WORKTREE_PATH}` (branch: `{BRANCH_NAME}`)
>
> 1. US-001: {title}
> 2. US-002: {title}
> ...
>
> **Review:**
> - `{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/prd.json` — stories and acceptance criteria
> - `{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/contracts/` — done conditions per story
>
> Let me know if you want changes, or say **go** to start the loop.

**STOP and wait for the user.** Do NOT start the loop automatically. The user must say "go", "start", "run", "looks good", or similar before proceeding to Phase 3.

---

## Phase 3: Validate and Launch

1. Read `{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/prd.json` and verify:
   - Has a `userStories` array (NOT `sprints`, `stories`, or `tasks`)
   - Each story has: `id`, `title`, `passes`, `priority`
   - If invalid, show the error and stop.

2. Read `{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/config.json` for `mode`, `maxIterations`.

3. Verify `{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/loop.sh` exists and is executable.

4. Parse arguments for any flags to pass through (e.g., `--skip-eval`).

5. Build the loop.sh command and derive a unique tmux session name:

```bash
LOOP_CMD="{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/loop.sh"
# Add --skip-eval if requested
# Add --max N if specified

# Derive tmux session name from worktree directory name
WORKTREE_DIR=$(basename "$WORKTREE_PATH")
SESSION_NAME="agent-loop-${WORKTREE_DIR}"
```

6. Kill any existing tmux session with this name, then launch detached in the worktree:

```bash
tmux kill-session -t "$SESSION_NAME" 2>/dev/null; tmux new-session -d -s "$SESSION_NAME" -c "$WORKTREE_PATH" "$LOOP_CMD"
```

7. Save the worktree path and session name for the completion handler. Write a tracking file in main's .loop/:

```bash
cat > .loop/.active-worktree << EOF
WORKTREE_PATH={WORKTREE_PATH}
SESSION_NAME={SESSION_NAME}
BRANCH_NAME={BRANCH_NAME}
MAIN_LOOP_DIR={MAIN_LOOP_DIR}
EOF
```

8. Start a **background watcher** that waits for the loop to finish. Use the Bash tool with `run_in_background: true`:

```bash
while tmux has-session -t "$SESSION_NAME" 2>/dev/null; do sleep 10; done; echo "LOOP_COMPLETE"
```

9. Tell the user:

> **Loop launched** as tmux session `{SESSION_NAME}`. Watch it live:
> ```
> ! tmux attach -t {SESSION_NAME}
> ```
> (Type the above — it opens the session right here in your terminal.)
>
> - **Detach** (return to Claude Code): `Ctrl+B` then `D`
> - **Stop the loop**: `Ctrl+C`
> - Ask me "status" anytime and I'll check progress.
>
> I'll notify you when the loop finishes.
>
> When complete, merge with:
> ```
> git merge {BRANCH_NAME}
> git worktree remove {WORKTREE_PATH}
> git branch -d {BRANCH_NAME}
> ```

---

## When Background Watcher Completes

When you receive the background task notification (the watcher prints "LOOP_COMPLETE"), the loop has finished. Automatically:

1. Read the tracking file to get paths:

```bash
cat .loop/.active-worktree
```

2. Read `{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/prd.json` — count passed/failed/blocked stories
3. Read `{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/progress.md` — show the latest session log entries
4. Check `git log --oneline` on the feature branch for commits made during the run

5. Archive the run to main's `.loop/archive/`:

```bash
source .loop/lib/state.sh && source .loop/lib/archive.sh && archive_from_worktree "{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop" "$(pwd)/.loop"
```

6. Clean up the tracking file:

```bash
rm -f .loop/.active-worktree
```

7. Present a summary:

> **Loop Complete**
> - Stories: {passed}/{total} complete, {blocked} blocked
> - Iterations: {from progress.md}
> - Commits: {list from git log}
> - Archived to: `.loop/archive/{date}-{feature}/`
>
> {If any stories blocked: "Some stories need human review. Run /agent-loop:triage for details."}
> {If all passed: "All stories complete. Review the code and test it."}
>
> **When ready to merge:**
> ```
> git merge {BRANCH_NAME}
> git worktree remove {WORKTREE_PATH}
> git branch -d {BRANCH_NAME}
> ```

---

## Monitoring (if user asks mid-run)

If the user asks about progress (e.g., "status", "how's it going"):

1. Check for active worktree tracking:

```bash
cat .loop/.active-worktree 2>/dev/null
```

If no tracking file, check for tmux sessions matching the pattern:

```bash
tmux list-sessions 2>/dev/null | grep "^agent-loop-"
```

2. Read `{WORKTREE_PATH}/.loop/prd.json` — count passed/failed/blocked
3. Capture recent tmux output:

```bash
tmux capture-pane -t "$SESSION_NAME" -p | tail -20
```

4. Report current status.