## Product Requirements Document (PRD)

**Project Name:** Ralph Wiggum Loop Execution
**Parent Project:** GEN-Q-001 - Self-Model Initializer
**Direction:** GEN-Q-101 (Add capability versioning)
**Version:** 1.0.0-alpha

---

### **Project Overview**

The "Ralph Wiggum Loop Execution" project aims to develop a foundational, self-contained processing loop, designed to demonstrate core capabilities within the GEN-Q-001 framework, specifically focusing on GEN-Q-101's requirement for capability versioning.

Inspired by Ralph Wiggum's unique perspective, this loop will simulate a simple observation processor. It will take an arbitrary input, process it with a specific version of its "thought engine," and output a "Ralph-esque observation" drawn from a simple knowledge base. This project will establish best practices for atomic story development, test-driven implementation, integration, and documentation, ensuring a robust and versioned capability that can be integrated into larger self-model systems.

---

### **Stories**

### **Core Implementation Stories (15 Stories)**

### GPM-001: Project Structure Initialization
**Goal:** Establish the basic directory structure for the `ralph_loop` project.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `src/` directory exists at the project root.
- A `src/ralph_loop/` directory exists inside `src/`.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/` (directory creation)
**Spawns:** GPM-002: Package initialization

### GPM-002: Python Package Initialization
**Goal:** Make `ralph_loop` a recognized Python package.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- An `__init__.py` file exists within `src/ralph_loop/`.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/__init__.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-003: Define data model

### GPM-003: Define RalphObservation Data Model
**Goal:** Create a data class to represent a single Ralph Wiggum observation.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `RalphObservation` data class is defined in `models.py`.
- `RalphObservation` has fields for `input_text` (str), `observation_text` (str), and `timestamp` (datetime).
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/models.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-017: Unit test for `RalphObservation`

### GPM-004: Implement RalphProcessor Class Skeleton
**Goal:** Create the basic structure for the `RalphProcessor` class which will handle the core logic.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `RalphProcessor` class is defined in `processor.py`.
- The class has an `__init__` method.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/processor.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-005: Add versioning to processor

### GPM-005: Add Capability Versioning to RalphProcessor
**Goal:** Integrate versioning into the `RalphProcessor` to align with GEN-Q-101's direction.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- The `RalphProcessor` `__init__` method accepts a `version` parameter (str).
- The `version` is stored as an instance attribute.
- A `get_version` method exists that returns the processor's version.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/processor.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-018: Unit test for processor version

### GPM-006: Implement Basic Process Input Method
**Goal:** Add a placeholder `process_input` method to `RalphProcessor` that returns a default observation.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `process_input(self, input_text: str) -> RalphObservation` method exists in `RalphProcessor`.
- It returns a `RalphObservation` with the given `input_text` and a hardcoded default observation text.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/processor.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-019: Unit test for `process_input`

### GPM-007: Create Main CLI Entry Point
**Goal:** Set up a `main.py` file to serve as the command-line interface entry point for the Ralph Wiggum Loop.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `main.py` file exists in `src/ralph_loop/`.
- It contains a `main()` function.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/main.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-008: Implement basic loop logic

### GPM-008: Implement Basic Loop Logic in Main
**Goal:** Create an infinite loop in `main.py` that continuously prompts for input and processes it using `RalphProcessor`.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- The `main()` function initializes `RalphProcessor` (with a default version "1.0.0").
- It contains a `while True` loop that prompts the user for input.
- It calls `processor.process_input()` and prints the observation.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/main.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-022: Integration test for main loop

### GPM-009: Add Ralph's Fact Data File
**Goal:** Create a simple text file to store a list of "Ralph-esque" observations or facts.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `data/` directory exists under `src/ralph_loop/`.
- A `ralph_facts.txt` file exists in `src/ralph_loop/data/`.
- The file contains at least 5 lines of simple, whimsical observations.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/data/ralph_facts.txt`
**Spawns:** GPM-010: Implement FactLoader

### GPM-010: Implement FactLoader Utility
**Goal:** Create a utility class or function to load facts from `ralph_facts.txt`.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `FactLoader` class is defined in `data_loader.py`.
- `FactLoader` has a `load_facts` method that reads `ralph_facts.txt` and returns a list of strings.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/data_loader.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-020: Unit test for `FactLoader`

### GPM-011: Integrate FactLoader into RalphProcessor
**Goal:** Modify `RalphProcessor` to load facts using `FactLoader` upon initialization.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- `RalphProcessor` `__init__` method now initializes a `FactLoader`.
- It calls `loader.load_facts()` and stores the list of facts.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/processor.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-012: Processor selects facts

### GPM-012: RalphProcessor Selects Random Fact
**Goal:** Update `process_input` to select a random observation from the loaded facts.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- `RalphProcessor.process_input` now randomly selects one fact from its loaded list.
- The selected fact is used as `observation_text` in the `RalphObservation` returned.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/processor.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-013: Define LoopConfig

### GPM-013: Define LoopConfig Data Model
**Goal:** Create a data class for managing configuration parameters of the Ralph Wiggum Loop.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `LoopConfig` data class is defined in `config.py`.
- It has fields for `processor_version` (str) and `facts_file_path` (str).
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/config.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-014: Implement ConfigLoader

### GPM-014: Implement ConfigLoader Utility
**Goal:** Create a utility to load configuration from a YAML file.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `ConfigLoader` class is defined in `config.py`.
- It has a `load_config(file_path: str) -> LoopConfig` method that parses a YAML file.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/config.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-021: Unit test for `ConfigLoader`

### GPM-015: Main Uses ConfigLoader for Initialization
**Goal:** Modify `main.py` to load configuration using `ConfigLoader` and use it to initialize `RalphProcessor`.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- `main.py` calls `ConfigLoader.load_config` (e.g., from `ralph_loop_config.yaml`).
- `RalphProcessor` is initialized using `config.processor_version` and `config.facts_file_path`.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/main.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-031: Create example config file

### **Test/Verification Stories (7 Stories)**

### GPM-016: Initialize Test Environment
**Goal:** Set up the basic directory structure and configuration for running tests with `pytest`.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `tests/` directory exists at the project root.
- A `pytest.ini` file exists in the project root.
**Files:** `tests/`, `pytest.ini`
**Spawns:** GPM-017: Unit test for `RalphObservation`

### GPM-017: Unit Test for RalphObservation Model
**Goal:** Verify the correct instantiation and behavior of the `RalphObservation` data class.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A test file `test_models.py` exists in `tests/`.
- It contains a test case that creates a `RalphObservation` and asserts its attributes.
**Files:** `tests/test_models.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-018: Unit test for processor version

### GPM-018: Unit Test for RalphProcessor Versioning
**Goal:** Ensure the `RalphProcessor` correctly handles and reports its version.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A test file `test_processor.py` exists in `tests/`.
- It contains a test case that initializes `RalphProcessor` with a specific version and asserts `get_version()` returns it.
**Files:** `tests/test_processor.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-019: Unit test for `process_input`

### GPM-019: Unit Test for RalphProcessor.process_input
**Goal:** Verify that `process_input` correctly generates a `RalphObservation` with input and a (random) observation.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- `test_processor.py` contains a test case for `process_input`.
- It asserts that the returned object is an instance of `RalphObservation`.
- It asserts that `input_text` is correctly passed through.
- It asserts that `observation_text` is present and not empty.
**Files:** `tests/test_processor.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-020: Unit test for `FactLoader`

### GPM-020: Unit Test for FactLoader
**Goal:** Verify that `FactLoader` correctly reads and returns facts from the text file.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A test file `test_data_loader.py` exists in `tests/`.
- It contains a test case that mocks `ralph_facts.txt` and asserts `load_facts` returns the expected list.
**Files:** `tests/test_data_loader.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-021: Unit test for `ConfigLoader`

### GPM-021: Unit Test for ConfigLoader
**Goal:** Ensure `ConfigLoader` can correctly parse a YAML configuration file into a `LoopConfig` object.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A test file `test_config.py` exists in `tests/`.
- It contains a test case that mocks a YAML config file and asserts `load_config` returns a `LoopConfig` with correct values.
**Files:** `tests/test_config.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-022: Integration test for main loop

### GPM-022: Integration Test for Main Loop Flow
**Goal:** Verify the end-to-end flow of the `main.py` loop, from config loading to processing.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A test file `test_integration.py` exists in `tests/`.
- It contains a test case that simulates `main.py` execution (e.g., by mocking input/output or running it in a limited fashion).
- It asserts that `RalphProcessor` is initialized with correct config values.
- It asserts that an observation is generated and printed.
**Files:** `tests/test_integration.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-023: Implement CLI argument parsing

### **Integration Stories (7 Stories)**

### GPM-023: Implement Basic CLI Argument Parsing
**Goal:** Allow `main.py` to accept a `--config` argument for specifying the configuration file path.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- `main.py` uses `argparse` to define a `--config` argument.
- If `--config` is provided, `ConfigLoader` uses that path; otherwise, it uses a default.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/main.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-024: Add structured logging

### GPM-024: Add Structured Logging Module
**Goal:** Introduce a dedicated module for configuring and providing a structured logger for the application.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `logger.py` file exists in `src/ralph_loop/`.
- It contains a `get_logger()` function that returns a configured `logging.Logger` instance.
- The logger outputs messages with timestamps and log levels.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/logger.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-025: Integrate logger into processor

### GPM-025: Integrate Logger into RalphProcessor
**Goal:** Enable `RalphProcessor` to use the structured logger for reporting its actions.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- `RalphProcessor` `__init__` method receives and stores a logger instance.
- `process_input` logs the input received and the observation generated at INFO level.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/processor.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-026: Integrate logger into main

### GPM-026: Integrate Logger into Main Loop
**Goal:** Update `main.py` to use the structured logger for startup, shutdown, and loop messages.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- `main.py` obtains a logger instance using `get_logger()`.
- It logs messages for application startup and graceful shutdown (e.g., on Ctrl+C).
- It logs prompts and successful observation prints.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/main.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-027: Create requirements.txt

### GPM-027: Create Requirements File
**Goal:** Document all Python dependencies required for the project.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `requirements.txt` file exists in the project root.
- It lists `pyyaml`, `dataclasses_json` (if used), `pytest`, and any other direct dependencies.
**Files:** `requirements.txt`
**Spawns:** GPM-028: Add Dockerfile

### GPM-028: Add Dockerfile for Containerization
**Goal:** Provide a Dockerfile to easily build and run the Ralph Wiggum Loop within a container.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `Dockerfile` exists in the project root.
- It builds a Python image that installs dependencies from `requirements.txt`.
- It sets `src/ralph_loop/main.py` as the entry point.
**Files:** `Dockerfile`
**Spawns:** GPM-029: Create API placeholder

### GPM-029: Create Placeholder for Simple API Endpoint
**Goal:** Prepare for future integration with a parent system by defining a placeholder for a simple HTTP API endpoint.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- An `api.py` file exists in `src/ralph_loop/`.
- It defines a simple function (e.g., `run_observation(input_text: str)`) that would wrap `RalphProcessor.process_input`.
- This file explicitly states it's a placeholder for a Flask/FastAPI endpoint.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/api.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-030: Create README.md

### **Documentation/Config Stories (4 Stories)**

### GPM-030: Create README.md
**Goal:** Provide a clear, concise overview of the Ralph Wiggum Loop project, its purpose, and how to get started.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `README.md` file exists in the project root.
- It includes a project title, a brief description, and basic setup instructions.
**Files:** `README.md`
**Spawns:** GPM-031: Add example config file

### GPM-031: Add Example Configuration File
**Goal:** Provide a default and easily modifiable configuration file for the Ralph Wiggum Loop.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `ralph_loop_config.yaml` file exists in the project root.
- It defines `processor_version` and `facts_file_path` with sensible defaults.
**Files:** `ralph_loop_config.yaml`
**Spawns:** GPM-032: Add LICENSE file

### GPM-032: Add LICENSE File
**Goal:** Clearly state the licensing terms under which the project is distributed.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `LICENSE` file exists in the project root.
- It contains the text of an open-source license (e.g., MIT, Apache 2.0).
**Files:** `LICENSE`
**Spawns:** GPM-033: Add CONTRIBUTING.md

### GPM-033: Add CONTRIBUTING.md Guide
**Goal:** Provide guidelines for potential contributors to the Ralph Wiggum Loop project.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- A `CONTRIBUTING.md` file exists in the project root.
- It includes sections on how to set up the development environment, run tests, and submit changes.
**Files:** `CONTRIBUTING.md`
**Spawns:** GPM-034: Implement error handling for fact loading

### **Optimization Stories (3 Stories)**

### GPM-034: Implement Error Handling for Fact Loading
**Goal:** Make the `FactLoader` more robust by handling cases where the facts file is missing or unreadable.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- `FactLoader.load_facts` includes a `try-except` block for `FileNotFoundError` and `IOError`.
- If an error occurs, it logs an error message and returns an empty list or a default fact.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/data_loader.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-035: Optimize fact loading with cache

### GPM-035: Optimize Fact Loading with LRU Cache
**Goal:** Improve performance for repeated fact loading by caching the results.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- `FactLoader.load_facts` (or an equivalent method) is decorated with `functools.lru_cache`.
- A test verifies that subsequent calls to load facts (with the same file path) retrieve cached data.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/data_loader.py`
**Spawns:** GPM-036: Add basic performance metrics

### GPM-036: Add Basic Performance Metrics Collection
**Goal:** Introduce a simple mechanism to measure the execution time of each loop iteration.
**Acceptance Criteria:**
- `RalphProcessor.process_input` calculates the time taken for its execution.
- This time is logged at a DEBUG level along with the observation.
- The `main` loop can optionally print this metric.
**Files:** `src/ralph_loop/processor.py`, `src/ralph_loop/main.py`
**Spawns:** Future: Advanced error handling, more sophisticated fact generation, API implementation.