goal-loop

Agent /goal Loop

What /goal is

/goal is a slash command that turns an agent prompt into a persistent agent looping plan → act → test → review → iterate until a stop condition is met, the user pauses, or the token budget runs out. Internally called the "Ralph loop."

Agents with the /goal feature right now: Codex, Claude Code, and Hermes Agent.

Key difference from a normal prompt: when a turn ends but the goal isn't met, the agent auto-continues instead of waiting for input.

Lifecycle states: pursuing, paused, achieved, unmet, budget-limited.

When monitoring a running /goal, every check should include a one-line update to the user: what the agent is doing and whether it is on track. Keep it extremely concise.

Not: a budget command, a safety boundary, "run forever", or a replacement for /plan. It's a contract enforcer with a verification loop.

Requirements

• An agent with the /goal feature — right now: Codex, Claude Code, or Hermes Agent
• The goals feature enabled in the agent's config
• Subscription auth — API-key auth does not work. A pro-tier plan is the realistic minimum for long runs.

When to Use it

Use only when all three are true:

1. Task is >30 min of mechanical work.
2. There's a verifiable stop condition (tests pass, coverage hit, eval ≥ X, build green).
3. Repo is agent-ready (working