feat: remove ralph status, move validation into ralph run startup

Pre-flight checks (PATH validation, check script executability) now run
at `ralph run` startup instead of requiring a separate `ralph status`
command. This fails fast with clear errors.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

Author: 2 people

docs/cli.md

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
-description: ralph.toml configuration format, all CLI commands (init, run, status, new), and every option with defaults and examples.
+description: ralph.toml configuration format, all CLI commands (init, run, new), and every option with defaults and examples.
 ---
 
 # Configuration & CLI Reference
@@ -109,22 +109,6 @@ The `[PROMPT]` argument is smart — it resolves in order:
 
 Inline prompts still resolve context placeholders. When inline text is provided, `RALPH.md` doesn't need to exist.
 
-### `ralph status`
-
-Show current configuration, validate setup, and list all discovered primitives.
-
-```bash
-ralph status
-```
-
-This command checks:
-
-- Whether the prompt file exists
-- Whether the agent command is on PATH
-- All discovered checks, contexts, and named ralphs (with enabled/disabled status)
-
-If everything is configured correctly, it prints "Ready to run." If not, it tells you exactly what's wrong.
-
 ### `ralph new`
 
 Create a new ralph with AI-guided setup. Installs a skill into your agent (Claude Code, Codex) and launches an interactive session where the agent guides you through creating a complete ralph — prompt, checks, and contexts — via conversation.

docs/getting-started.md

@@ -174,15 +174,7 @@ You are an autonomous coding agent running in a loop...
 
 Each context must be referenced by name — contexts not referenced are excluded from the prompt.
 
-## Step 8: Verify and run
-
-Check that everything is configured correctly:
-
-```bash
-ralph status
-```
-
-If it says "Ready to run", you're good.
+## Step 8: Run the loop
 
 Start with a few iterations to verify things work as expected:
 

docs/troubleshooting.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ description: Fix common ralphify issues — setup errors, agent hangs, check fai
 
 # Troubleshooting
 
-Common issues and how to fix them. If your problem isn't listed here, run `ralph status` first — it validates your setup and points out most configuration problems.
+Common issues and how to fix them. If your problem isn't listed here, run `ralph run -n 1` — it validates your setup and shows clear errors.
 
 ## Setup issues
 
@@ -14,14 +14,13 @@ You haven't initialized the project yet. Run `ralph init` in your project direct
 
 ### "Command 'claude' not found on PATH"
 
-The agent CLI isn't installed or isn't in your shell's PATH. Verify by running `claude --version` directly. If it's installed but not found, check your PATH. `ralph status` also checks this.
+The agent CLI isn't installed or isn't in your shell's PATH. Verify by running `claude --version` directly. If it's installed but not found, check your PATH.
 
-### "Not ready" from `ralph status`
+### "Agent command not found on PATH"
 
-`ralph status` found one or more problems. The output tells you exactly what's wrong:
+`ralph run` checks that the agent command exists on PATH before starting the loop. If you see this error:
 
-- **Ralph file not found** → Create it with `ralph init`, or check that the `ralph` path in `ralph.toml` is correct
-- **Command not found** → Install the agent CLI or fix the `command` in `ralph.toml`
+- Install the agent CLI or fix the `command` in `ralph.toml`
 
 ### "RALPH.md already exists"
 
@@ -99,8 +98,7 @@ Primitives are discovered once when `ralph run` starts. If you add, remove, or m
 
 1. Press `Ctrl+C` to stop the loop
 2. Make your changes (add checks, edit instructions, etc.)
-3. Run `ralph status` to verify the changes are detected
-4. Run `ralph run` again
+3. Run `ralph run` again
 
 This is different from `RALPH.md`, which **is** re-read every iteration. See [What's re-read vs. fixed at startup](primitives.md#whats-re-read-vs-fixed-at-startup) for details.
 
@@ -168,7 +166,7 @@ chmod +x .ralphify/checks/my-check/run.sh
 
 ### Check has neither command nor script
 
-If `ralph status` warns that a check has neither a `run.*` script nor a `command`, add one of:
+If a check has neither a `run.*` script nor a `command`, add one of:
 
 - A `command` field in the CHECK.md frontmatter
 - An executable script named `run.sh`, `run.py`, etc. in the check directory
@@ -181,7 +179,7 @@ If a `{{ contexts.my-context }}` placeholder silently disappears (the prompt has
 
 1. The directory name matches: `.ralphify/contexts/my-context/CONTEXT.md`
 2. The placeholder uses the exact directory name: `{{ contexts.my-context }}`
-3. The context is enabled (check with `ralph status`)
+3. The context is enabled (check the `enabled` field in its CONTEXT.md frontmatter)
 4. If the context has a command, verify the command produces output by running it manually
 
 Same rules apply for `{{ instructions.name }}`.
@@ -241,7 +239,7 @@ git checkout -b feature-b && ralph run
 
 ## Getting more help
 
-1. Run `ralph status` to validate your full setup
+1. Run `ralph run -n 1` to validate your setup — it checks your config and shows clear errors
 2. Use `ralph run -n 1 --log-dir ralph_logs` to capture a single iteration for debugging
 3. Check the [Configuration & CLI](cli.md) for all available options
 4. File an issue at [github.com/computerlovetech/ralphify](https://github.com/computerlovetech/ralphify/issues)

src/ralphify/cli.py

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""CLI commands for ralphify — init, run, status, and scaffold new primitives.
+"""CLI commands for ralphify — init, run, and scaffold new primitives.
 
 This is the main module.  The ``run`` command delegates to the engine module
 for the core autonomous loop.  Terminal rendering of events is handled by
@@ -10,22 +10,17 @@
 import sys
 import tomllib
 import uuid
-from collections.abc import Callable
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import TypeVar
 
 import typer
 from rich.console import Console
 
 from ralphify import __version__
 from ralphify._console_emitter import ConsoleEmitter
-from ralphify._discovery import Primitive
 from ralphify._frontmatter import CONFIG_FILENAME
-from ralphify.checks import discover_checks
-from ralphify.contexts import discover_contexts
 from ralphify._run_types import RunConfig, RunState
 from ralphify.engine import run_loop
-from ralphify.ralphs import discover_ralphs, resolve_ralph_source
+from ralphify.ralphs import resolve_ralph_source
 from ralphify.detector import detect_project
 from ralphify._templates import (
     ROOT_RALPH_TEMPLATE,
@@ -64,20 +59,6 @@
 ]
 
 
-_P = TypeVar("_P", bound=Primitive)
-
-
-def _print_primitives_section(label: str, items: list[_P], detail_fn: Callable[[_P], str]) -> None:
-    """Print a status section for discovered primitives."""
-    if items:
-        rprint(f"\n[bold]{label}:[/bold]  {len(items)} found")
-        for item in items:
-            icon = "[green]✓[/green]" if item.enabled else "[dim]○[/dim]"
-            rprint(f"  {icon} {item.name:<18} {detail_fn(item)}")
-    else:
-        rprint(f"\n[bold]{label}:[/bold]  [dim]none[/dim]")
-
-
 def _print_banner() -> None:
     width = shutil.get_terminal_size().columns
     art_width = max(len(line) for line in BANNER_LINES)
@@ -174,54 +155,6 @@ def new(
     os.execvp(cmd[0], cmd)
 
 
-@app.command()
-def status() -> None:
-    """Show current configuration and validate setup."""
-    config = _load_config()
-    agent = config["agent"]
-    command = agent["command"]
-    args = agent.get("args", [])
-    ralph_file = agent["ralph"]
-    ralph_path = Path(ralph_file)
-
-    rprint("[bold]Configuration[/bold]")
-    rprint(f"  Command: [cyan]{command} {' '.join(args)}[/cyan]")
-    rprint(f"  Ralph:   [cyan]{ralph_file}[/cyan]")
-
-    issues = []
-
-    if ralph_path.exists():
-        size = len(ralph_path.read_text())
-        rprint(f"\n[green]✓[/green] Ralph file exists ({size} chars)")
-    else:
-        issues.append("ralph")
-        rprint(f"\n[red]✗[/red] Ralph file '{ralph_file}' not found")
-
-    if shutil.which(command):
-        rprint(f"[green]✓[/green] Command '{command}' found on PATH")
-    else:
-        issues.append("command")
-        rprint(f"[red]✗[/red] Command '{command}' not found on PATH")
-
-    checks = discover_checks()
-    _print_primitives_section("Checks", checks,
-        lambda c: str(c.script.name) if c.script else c.command or "?")
-
-    contexts = discover_contexts()
-    _print_primitives_section("Contexts", contexts,
-        lambda c: str(c.script.name) if c.script else c.command or "(static)")
-
-    ralphs = discover_ralphs()
-    _print_primitives_section("Ralphs", ralphs,
-        lambda p: p.description or "(no description)")
-
-    if issues:
-        rprint("\n[red]Not ready.[/red] Fix the issues above before running.")
-        raise typer.Exit(1)
-    else:
-        rprint("\n[green]Ready to run.[/green]")
-
-
 @app.command()
 def run(
     prompt: str | None = typer.Argument(None, help="Named ralph from .ralphify/ralphs/."),
@@ -256,6 +189,10 @@ def run(
         rprint(f"[red]Prompt file '{ralph_file_path}' not found.[/red]")
         raise typer.Exit(1)
 
+    if not shutil.which(command):
+        rprint(f"[red]Agent command '{command}' not found on PATH.[/red]")
+        raise typer.Exit(1)
+
     if log_dir:
         rprint(f"[dim]Logging output to {log_dir}/[/dim]")
 

src/ralphify/engine.py

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import os
 import time
 import traceback
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
@@ -52,26 +53,38 @@ def _resolve_ralph_dir(config: RunConfig) -> Path | None:
 
 
 def _discover_enabled_primitives(
-    root: Path, ralph_dir: Path | None = None,
+    root: Path,
+    ralph_dir: Path | None = None,
+    global_checks: list[str] | None = None,
+    global_contexts: list[str] | None = None,
 ) -> EnabledPrimitives:
     """Discover all primitives and return only the enabled ones.
 
+    Global primitives are only included when explicitly requested via
+    *global_checks* / *global_contexts* name lists.  When ``None``, no
+    globals are selected (the library model).
+
     When *ralph_dir* is set, ralph-scoped primitives are merged with
-    globals (local wins on name collisions).  Enabled filtering happens
-    **after** the merge so a disabled local primitive can suppress a
-    global one with the same name.
-
-    This is the **single layer** responsible for enabled filtering.
-    Downstream functions (``resolve_contexts``, ``run_all_contexts``,
-    ``run_all_checks``) trust that they receive only enabled primitives
-    and do not re-filter.
+    selected globals (local wins on name collisions).  Enabled filtering
+    happens **after** the merge so a disabled local primitive can
+    suppress a global one with the same name.
     """
     return EnabledPrimitives(
-        checks=discover_enabled_checks(root, ralph_dir),
-        contexts=discover_enabled_contexts(root, ralph_dir),
+        checks=discover_enabled_checks(root, ralph_dir, global_names=global_checks),
+        contexts=discover_enabled_contexts(root, ralph_dir, global_names=global_contexts),
     )
 
 
+def _validate_check_scripts(checks: list[Check]) -> None:
+    """Raise if any check uses a script that isn't executable."""
+    for check in checks:
+        if check.script and not os.access(check.script, os.X_OK):
+            raise PermissionError(
+                f"Check script not executable: '{check.script}'. "
+                f"Run: chmod +x {check.script}"
+            )
+
+
 class _BoundEmitter:
     """Wraps an EventEmitter with a fixed run_id for concise emission.
 
@@ -133,7 +146,11 @@ def _handle_loop_transitions(
     # immediately.  When an explicit reload was requested (e.g. from the
     # UI), we still emit the PRIMITIVES_RELOADED event.
     explicit_reload = state.consume_reload_request()
-    primitives = _discover_enabled_primitives(config.project_root, ralph_dir)
+    primitives = _discover_enabled_primitives(
+        config.project_root, ralph_dir,
+        global_checks=config.global_checks,
+        global_contexts=config.global_contexts,
+    )
 
     if explicit_reload:
         emit(EventType.PRIMITIVES_RELOADED, {
@@ -353,6 +370,7 @@ def run_loop(
     })
 
     try:
+        _validate_check_scripts(primitives.checks)
         while True:
             should_continue, primitives = _handle_loop_transitions(
                 state, config, primitives, emit, ralph_dir,