Add SDK features to all Ralph loop recipes

- Add WorkingDirectory/working_directory to pin sessions to project root
- Add OnPermissionRequest/on_permission_request for unattended operation
- Add tool execution event logging for visibility
- Add See Also cross-links to error-handling and persisting-sessions
- Add best practices for WorkingDirectory and permission auto-approval
- Consistent across all 4 languages (Node.js, Python, .NET, Go)

cookbook/copilot-sdk/dotnet/ralph-loop.md

@@ -119,13 +119,24 @@ try
 
         // Fresh session — each task gets full context budget
         var session = await client.CreateSessionAsync(
-            new SessionConfig { Model = "claude-sonnet-4.5" });
+            new SessionConfig
+            {
+                Model = "claude-sonnet-4.5",
+                // Pin the agent to the project directory
+                WorkingDirectory = Environment.CurrentDirectory,
+                // Auto-approve tool calls for unattended operation
+                OnPermissionRequest = (_, _) => Task.FromResult(
+                    new PermissionRequestResult { Kind = "approved" }),
+            });
         try
         {
             var done = new TaskCompletionSource<string>();
             session.On(evt =>
             {
-                if (evt is AssistantMessageEvent msg)
+                // Log tool usage for visibility
+                if (evt is ToolExecutionStartEvent toolStart)
+                    Console.WriteLine($"  ⚙ {toolStart.Data.ToolName}");
+                else if (evt is AssistantMessageEvent msg)
                     done.TrySetResult(msg.Data.Content);
             });
 
@@ -224,6 +235,8 @@ dotnet build
 6. **The plan is disposable**: If the agent goes off track, delete `IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md` and re-plan
 7. **Keep `AGENTS.md` brief**: It's loaded every iteration — operational info only, no progress notes
 8. **Use a sandbox**: The agent runs autonomously with full tool access — isolate it
+9. **Set `WorkingDirectory`**: Pin the session to your project root so tool operations resolve paths correctly
+10. **Auto-approve permissions**: Use `OnPermissionRequest` to allow tool calls without interrupting the loop
 
 ## When to Use a Ralph Loop
 
@@ -238,3 +251,8 @@ dotnet build
 - One-shot operations that don't benefit from iteration
 - Vague requirements without testable acceptance criteria
 - Exploratory prototyping where direction isn't clear
+
+## See Also
+
+- [Error Handling](error-handling.md) — timeout patterns and graceful shutdown for long-running sessions
+- [Persisting Sessions](persisting-sessions.md) — save and resume sessions across restarts

cookbook/copilot-sdk/dotnet/recipe/ralph-loop.cs

@@ -43,14 +43,25 @@ try
 
         // Fresh session — each task gets full context budget
         var session = await client.CreateSessionAsync(
-            new SessionConfig { Model = "claude-sonnet-4.5" });
+            new SessionConfig
+            {
+                Model = "claude-sonnet-4.5",
+                // Pin the agent to the project directory
+                WorkingDirectory = Environment.CurrentDirectory,
+                // Auto-approve tool calls for unattended operation
+                OnPermissionRequest = (_, _) => Task.FromResult(
+                    new PermissionRequestResult { Kind = "approved" }),
+            });
 
         try
         {
             var done = new TaskCompletionSource<string>();
             session.On(evt =>
             {
-                if (evt is AssistantMessageEvent msg)
+                // Log tool usage for visibility
+                if (evt is ToolExecutionStartEvent toolStart)
+                    Console.WriteLine($"  ⚙ {toolStart.Data.ToolName}");
+                else if (evt is AssistantMessageEvent msg)
                     done.TrySetResult(msg.Data.Content);
             });
 

cookbook/copilot-sdk/go/ralph-loop.md

@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 
 	copilot "github.com/github/copilot-sdk/go"
 )
@@ -127,6 +128,8 @@ func ralphLoop(ctx context.Context, mode string, maxIterations int) error {
 	}
 	defer client.Stop()
 
+	cwd, _ := os.Getwd()
+
 	fmt.Println(strings.Repeat("━", 40))
 	fmt.Printf("Mode:   %s\n", mode)
 	fmt.Printf("Prompt: %s\n", promptFile)
@@ -141,14 +144,24 @@ func ralphLoop(ctx context.Context, mode string, maxIterations int) error {
 	for i := 1; i <= maxIterations; i++ {
 		fmt.Printf("\n=== Iteration %d/%d ===\n", i, maxIterations)
 
-		// Fresh session — each task gets full context budget
 		session, err := client.CreateSession(ctx, &copilot.SessionConfig{
-			Model: "claude-sonnet-4.5",
+			Model:            "claude-sonnet-4.5",
+			WorkingDirectory: cwd,
+			OnPermissionRequest: func(_ copilot.PermissionRequest, _ map[string]string) copilot.PermissionRequestResult {
+				return copilot.PermissionRequestResult{Kind: "approved"}
+			},
 		})
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
+		// Log tool usage for visibility
+		session.On(func(event copilot.Event) {
+			if te, ok := event.(copilot.ToolExecutionStartEvent); ok {
+				fmt.Printf("  ⚙ %s\n", te.Data.ToolName)
+			}
+		})
+
 		_, err = session.SendAndWait(ctx, copilot.MessageOptions{
 			Prompt: string(prompt),
 		})
@@ -258,6 +271,8 @@ go build ./...
 6. **The plan is disposable**: If the agent goes off track, delete `IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md` and re-plan
 7. **Keep `AGENTS.md` brief**: It's loaded every iteration — operational info only, no progress notes
 8. **Use a sandbox**: The agent runs autonomously with full tool access — isolate it
+9. **Set `WorkingDirectory`**: Pin the session to your project root so tool operations resolve paths correctly
+10. **Auto-approve permissions**: Use `OnPermissionRequest` to allow tool calls without interrupting the loop
 
 ## When to Use a Ralph Loop
 
@@ -272,3 +287,8 @@ go build ./...
 - One-shot operations that don't benefit from iteration
 - Vague requirements without testable acceptance criteria
 - Exploratory prototyping where direction isn't clear
+
+## See Also
+
+- [Error Handling](error-handling.md) — timeout patterns and graceful shutdown for long-running sessions
+- [Persisting Sessions](persisting-sessions.md) — save and resume sessions across restarts

cookbook/copilot-sdk/go/recipe/ralph-loop.go

@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ func ralphLoop(ctx context.Context, mode string, maxIterations int) error {
 	}
 	defer client.Stop()
 
+	cwd, _ := os.Getwd()
+
 	fmt.Println(strings.Repeat("━", 40))
 	fmt.Printf("Mode:   %s\n", mode)
 	fmt.Printf("Prompt: %s\n", promptFile)
@@ -53,14 +55,24 @@ func ralphLoop(ctx context.Context, mode string, maxIterations int) error {
 	for i := 1; i <= maxIterations; i++ {
 		fmt.Printf("\n=== Iteration %d/%d ===\n", i, maxIterations)
 
-		// Fresh session — each task gets full context budget
 		session, err := client.CreateSession(ctx, &copilot.SessionConfig{
-			Model: "claude-sonnet-4.5",
+			Model:            "claude-sonnet-4.5",
+			WorkingDirectory: cwd,
+			OnPermissionRequest: func(_ copilot.PermissionRequest, _ map[string]string) copilot.PermissionRequestResult {
+				return copilot.PermissionRequestResult{Kind: "approved"}
+			},
 		})
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to create session: %w", err)
 		}
 
+		// Log tool usage for visibility
+		session.On(func(event copilot.Event) {
+			if te, ok := event.(copilot.ToolExecutionStartEvent); ok {
+				fmt.Printf("  ⚙ %s\n", te.Data.ToolName)
+			}
+		})
+
 		_, err = session.SendAndWait(ctx, copilot.MessageOptions{
 			Prompt: string(prompt),
 		})

cookbook/copilot-sdk/nodejs/ralph-loop.md

@@ -99,8 +99,21 @@ async function ralphLoop(mode: Mode, maxIterations: number = 50) {
         for (let i = 1; i <= maxIterations; i++) {
             console.log(`\n=== Iteration ${i}/${maxIterations} ===`);
 
-            // Fresh session — each task gets full context budget
+            const session = await client.createSession({
-            const session = await client.createSession({ model: "claude-sonnet-4.5" });
+                model: "claude-sonnet-4.5",
+                // Pin the agent to the project directory
+                workingDirectory: process.cwd(),
+                // Auto-approve tool calls for unattended operation
+                onPermissionRequest: async () => ({ allow: true }),
+            });
+
+            // Log tool usage for visibility
+            session.on((event) => {
+                if (event.type === "tool.execution_start") {
+                    console.log(`  ⚙ ${event.data.toolName}`);
+                }
+            });
+
             try {
                 await session.sendAndWait({ prompt }, 600_000);
             } finally {
@@ -200,6 +213,8 @@ npm run build
 6. **The plan is disposable**: If the agent goes off track, delete `IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md` and re-plan
 7. **Keep `AGENTS.md` brief**: It's loaded every iteration — operational info only, no progress notes
 8. **Use a sandbox**: The agent runs autonomously with full tool access — isolate it
+9. **Set `workingDirectory`**: Pin the session to your project root so tool operations resolve paths correctly
+10. **Auto-approve permissions**: Use `onPermissionRequest` to allow tool calls without interrupting the loop
 
 ## When to Use a Ralph Loop
 
@@ -214,3 +229,8 @@ npm run build
 - One-shot operations that don't benefit from iteration
 - Vague requirements without testable acceptance criteria
 - Exploratory prototyping where direction isn't clear
+
+## See Also
+
+- [Error Handling](error-handling.md) — timeout patterns and graceful shutdown for long-running sessions
+- [Persisting Sessions](persisting-sessions.md) — save and resume sessions across restarts

cookbook/copilot-sdk/nodejs/recipe/package-lock.json

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
       "name": "copilot-sdk-cookbook-recipes",
       "version": "1.0.0",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@github/copilot-sdk": "file:../../src"
+        "@github/copilot-sdk": "*"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
         "@types/node": "^22.19.7",

cookbook/copilot-sdk/nodejs/recipe/ralph-loop.ts

@@ -39,9 +39,19 @@ async function ralphLoop(mode: Mode, maxIterations: number) {
         for (let i = 1; i <= maxIterations; i++) {
             console.log(`\n=== Iteration ${i}/${maxIterations} ===`);
 
-            // Fresh session — each task gets full context budget
             const session = await client.createSession({
                 model: "claude-sonnet-4.5",
+                // Pin the agent to the project directory
+                workingDirectory: process.cwd(),
+                // Auto-approve tool calls for unattended operation
+                onPermissionRequest: async () => ({ allow: true }),
+            });
+
+            // Log tool usage for visibility
+            session.on((event) => {
+                if (event.type === "tool.execution_start") {
+                    console.log(`  ⚙ ${event.data.toolName}`);
+                }
             });
 
             try {

cookbook/copilot-sdk/python/ralph-loop.md

@@ -108,10 +108,20 @@ async def ralph_loop(mode: str = "build", max_iterations: int = 50):
         for i in range(1, max_iterations + 1):
             print(f"\n=== Iteration {i}/{max_iterations} ===")
 
-            # Fresh session — each task gets full context budget
+            session = await client.create_session(SessionConfig(
-            session = await client.create_session(
+                model="claude-sonnet-4.5",
-                SessionConfig(model="claude-sonnet-4.5")
+                # Pin the agent to the project directory
+                working_directory=str(Path.cwd()),
+                # Auto-approve tool calls for unattended operation
+                on_permission_request=lambda _req, _ctx: {"kind": "approved", "rules": []},
+            ))
+
+            # Log tool usage for visibility
+            session.on(lambda event:
+                print(f"  ⚙ {event.data.tool_name}")
+                if event.type.value == "tool.execution_start" else None
             )
+
             try:
                 await session.send_and_wait(
                     MessageOptions(prompt=prompt), timeout=600
@@ -210,6 +220,8 @@ python -m pytest
 6. **The plan is disposable**: If the agent goes off track, delete `IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md` and re-plan
 7. **Keep `AGENTS.md` brief**: It's loaded every iteration — operational info only, no progress notes
 8. **Use a sandbox**: The agent runs autonomously with full tool access — isolate it
+9. **Set `working_directory`**: Pin the session to your project root so tool operations resolve paths correctly
+10. **Auto-approve permissions**: Use `on_permission_request` to allow tool calls without interrupting the loop
 
 ## When to Use a Ralph Loop
 
@@ -224,3 +236,8 @@ python -m pytest
 - One-shot operations that don't benefit from iteration
 - Vague requirements without testable acceptance criteria
 - Exploratory prototyping where direction isn't clear
+
+## See Also
+
+- [Error Handling](error-handling.md) — timeout patterns and graceful shutdown for long-running sessions
+- [Persisting Sessions](persisting-sessions.md) — save and resume sessions across restarts

cookbook/copilot-sdk/python/recipe/ralph_loop.py

@@ -43,10 +43,23 @@ async def ralph_loop(mode: str = "build", max_iterations: int = 50):
         for i in range(1, max_iterations + 1):
             print(f"\n=== Iteration {i}/{max_iterations} ===")
 
-            # Fresh session — each task gets full context budget
+            session = await client.create_session(SessionConfig(
-            session = await client.create_session(
+                model="claude-sonnet-4.5",
-                SessionConfig(model="claude-sonnet-4.5")
+                # Pin the agent to the project directory
+                working_directory=str(Path.cwd()),
+                # Auto-approve tool calls for unattended operation
+                on_permission_request=lambda _req, _ctx: {
+                    "kind": "approved",
+                    "rules": [],
+                },
+            ))
+
+            # Log tool usage for visibility
+            session.on(lambda event:
+                print(f"  ⚙ {event.data.tool_name}")
+                if event.type.value == "tool.execution_start" else None
             )
+
             try:
                 await session.send_and_wait(
                     MessageOptions(prompt=prompt), timeout=600