/ralph-abort

namespace: aiwg
name: ralph-abort
platforms: [all]
description: Abort a running agent loop and optionally revert changes
commandHint:
  argumentHint: '[--keep-changes] [--revert] [--force --interactive --guidance "text"]'
  allowedTools: "Read, Write, Bash"
  model: haiku
  category: automation
  modelRole: efficiency
  modelTier: economy

Al Abort

Abort a running or paused agent loop.

HITL authorization checkpoints

Before any confirmation below, read and apply [agent-loop authorization checkpoints](../../docs/hitl-authorization.md). Call `aiwg config authorization check --action-file "$ACTION_FILE" --target "$TARGET_REPO"` for host-classified effects. Only `auto-authorized` with a signed receipt skips that workflow prompt; retain existing prompts/refusals otherwise. Platform prompts are never bypassed. Limits, regression and threat overrides still require review.

Usage

/ralph-abort               # Abort, keep changes
/ralph-abort --revert      # Abort and revert all changes
/ralph-abort --force       # Abort even if no active loop

Parameters

--keep-changes (default)

Stop the loop but keep all file changes made during iterations.

--revert

Revert all changes made during the agent loop using git:

• Identify commits made during loop (prefix: `ralph: iteration`)
• Reset to commit before loop started
• **Warning**: This discards work

--force

Abort even if state indicates no active loop (for cleanup).

Your Actions

Standard Abort

1. Read `.aiwg/ralph/current-loop.json` 2. Verify there's an active loop 3. Mark loop as aborted 4. Generate partial completion report 5. Confirm to user

**Output**:

Agent Loop: ABORTED

Task: {task}
Iterations completed: {N}
Duration: {time}

Changes have been kept. To revert:
  git reset --hard HEAD~{N}

Partial report: .aiwg/ralph/completion-{timestamp}.md

With --revert

1. Read loop state 2. Find all `ralph: iteration` commits from this loop 3. Confirm with user before reverting 4. Reset git to pre-loop state 5. Clean up state files

**Confirmation prompt**:

This will revert {N} commits:
- ralph: iteration 1 - initial attempt
- ralph: iteration 2 - fixed auth
- ralph: iteration 3 - in progress

Files to be reverted:
- src/auth.ts
- test/auth.test.ts

Type 'yes' to confirm revert:

**After revert**:

Agent Loop: ABORTED + REVERTED

Reverted {N} commits.
Working directory restored to pre-loop state.

State cleaned: .aiwg/ralph/current-loop.json archived

Error Handling

**No active loop**:

No active agent loop to abort.

Use --force to clean up stale state files if needed.

**Git not available**:

Git not available for --revert option.

Loop aborted, but changes cannot be reverted automatically.
Manual cleanup may be needed.

**Dirty working directory (for --revert)**:

Cannot revert: uncommitted changes exist.

Options:
1. Commit or stash changes first
2. Use /ralph-abort without --revert to keep current state

State Changes

After abort:

• `current-loop.json` marked with `status: "aborted"`
• `active: false`
• Completion report generated with partial results
• Loop can no longer be resumed

Related

• `/ralph-status` - Check loop status before aborting
• `/ralph-resume` - Continue instead of abort

References

• @$AIWG_ROOT/agentic/code/addons/agent-loop/README.md — Ralph addon overview and loop executor documentation
• @$AIWG_ROOT/agentic/code/addons/aiwg-utils/rules/human-authorization.md — Authorization rules for irreversible actions like revert
• @$AIWG_ROOT/docs/cli-reference.md — CLI reference for ralph-abort and related commands
• @$AIWG_ROOT/agentic/code/frameworks/sdlc-complete/README.md — SDLC framework context