beads
Dolt-powered issue tracker for multi-session work with dependencies and persistent memory across conversation compaction. Use when work spans sessions, has blockers, or needs context recovery after compaction. Trigger with "create task", "what's ready", "track this work", "resume after compaction". Make sure to use this skill whenever managing multi-session work, tracking dependencies, or recovering context.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/gastownhall/beads --skill beads- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads beads automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Beads - Persistent Task Memory for AI Agents
Graph-based issue tracker that survives conversation compaction. Provides persistent memory for multi-session work with complex dependencies.
bd vs TodoWrite
Decision test: "Will I need this context in 2 weeks?" YES = bd, NO = TodoWrite.
| bd (persistent) | TodoWrite (ephemeral) |
|---|---|
| Multi-session, dependencies, compaction survival | Single-session linear tasks |
| Dolt-backed team sync | Conversation-scoped |
See BOUNDARIES.md for detailed comparison.
Prerequisites
bd --version # Requires v0.60.0+
- bd CLI installed and in PATH
- Git repository (optional — use
BEADS_DIR+--stealthfor git-free operation) - Initialization:
bd initrun once (humans do this, not agents)
CLI Reference
Run bd prime for AI-optimized workflow context (auto-loaded by hooks).
Run bd <command> --help for specific command usage.
Essential commands: bd ready, bd create, bd show, bd update, bd close, bd dolt push
Session Protocol
bd ready— Find unblocked workbd show <id>— Get full contextbd update <id> --claim— Claim and start work atomically- Add notes as you work (critical for compaction survival)
bd close <id> --reason "..."— Complete taskbd dolt push— Push to Dolt remote (if configured)
Output
Append --json to any command for structured output. Use bd show <id> --long for extended metadata. Status icons: ○ open ◐ in_progress ● blocked ✓ closed ❄ deferred.
Error Handling
| Error | Fix |
|---|---|
database not found | bd init <prefix> in project root |
not in a git repository | git init first |
disk I/O error (522) | Move .beads/ off cloud-synced filesystem |
| Status updates lag | Use server mode: bd dolt start |
See TROUBLESHOOTING.md for full details.
Examples
Track a multi-session feature:
bd create "OAuth integration" -t epic -p 1 --json
bd create "Token storage" -t task --deps blocks:oauth-id --json
bd ready --json # Shows unblocked work
bd update <id> --claim --json # Claim and start
bd close <id> --reason "Implemented with refresh tokens" --json
Recover after compaction: bd list --status in_progress --json then bd show <id> --long
Discover work mid-task: bd create "Found bug" -t bug -p 1 --deps discovered-from:<current-id> --json
Advanced Features
| Feature | CLI | Resource |
|---|---|---|
| Molecules (templates) | bd mol --help | MOLECULES.md |
| Chemistry (pour/wisp) | bd pour, bd wisp | CHEMISTRY_PATTERNS.md |
| Agent beads | bd agent --help | AGENTS.md |
| Async gates | bd gate --help | ASYNC_GATES.md |
| Worktrees | bd worktree --help | WORKTREES.md |
Resources
| Category | Files |
|---|---|
| Getting Started | BOUNDARIES.md, CLI_REFERENCE.md (live reference pointers), WORKFLOWS.md |
| Core Concepts | DEPENDENCIES.md, ISSUE_CREATION.md, PATTERNS.md |
| Resilience | RESUMABILITY.md, TROUBLESHOOTING.md |
| Advanced | MOLECULES.md, CHEMISTRY_PATTERNS.md, AGENTS.md, ASYNC_GATES.md, WORKTREES.md |
| Reference | STATIC_DATA.md, INTEGRATION_PATTERNS.md |
Validation
If bd --version reports newer than 0.60.0, this skill may be stale. Run bd prime for current CLI guidance — it auto-updates with each bd release and is the canonical source of truth (ADR-0001).
FAQ
What does the beads skill do?
Dolt-powered issue tracker for multi-session work with dependencies and persistent memory across conversation compaction. Use when work spans sessions, has blockers, or needs context recovery after compaction. Trigger with "create task", "what's ready", "track this work", "resume after compaction". Make sure to use this skill whenever managing multi-session work, tracking dependencies, or recovering context.
How do I install beads?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/gastownhall/beads --skill beads in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/beads/ (personal) or .claude/skills/beads/ (project).
Which AI agents can use beads?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is beads safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains beads?
It is published by gastownhall in gastownhall/beads. It has 2,125 recorded installs.
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