beads

name	beads
description	Use when working in a repository that uses bd or Beads for durable project task tracking, issue dependencies, blocker management, multi-session handoff, or shared work memory. Trigger when the user asks to find ready work, claim or close tasks, create follow-up work, inspect blockers, recover project context, or choose between local planning and persistent project tracking.

Beads

Use Beads as the shared project task system. Local plans, scratch files, and personal memories are useful, but they are not the durable source of truth for project work.

First Step

Run:

bd prime

If that prints nothing, check whether the repository has an active Beads workspace:

bd where

Preferred Route

Use the bd CLI when shell access is available. It is the most compact and direct Beads interface.

Core CLI Workflow

1. Find work:

bd ready
bd ready --claim
bd list --status=open
bd list --status=in_progress

2. Inspect before editing:

bd show <id>

3. Claim work atomically:

bd update <id> --claim

4. Create durable follow-up work when implementation reveals new tasks:

bd create "Short title" --description="Why this exists and what needs to be done" --type=task --priority=2

5. Close completed work:

bd close <id> --reason="Completed"

For multiline completion notes, use a file instead of shell-escaping a long reason:

bd close <id> --reason-file <path>

Use bd -C <path> ... for scripts and cross-worktree checks when changing directories would obscure which Git checkout is being edited. After running setup commands, inspect the printed target paths and git status in the intended worktree before committing.

What Belongs In Beads

Use Beads for:

• shared project tasks
• blockers and dependencies
• discovered follow-up work
• work that must survive thread reset, compaction, or handoff
• status that another person or agent should be able to resume

Use agent-local planning tools only for the current turn's execution checklist. Do not treat them as shared project state.

Rules

• Do not create markdown TODO files as the source of truth when Beads is available.
• Do not use bd edit; it opens an interactive editor. Use bd update flags instead.
• Prefer --json when parsing bd output programmatically.
• Prefer bd ready --claim --json only when the ready-work filters make the selected task unambiguous. Otherwise inspect with bd ready --json, then claim the specific task with bd update <id> --claim --json.
• If hooks are installed, bd prime may already be injected. Run it manually when context is missing.
• Do not auto-close or mutate tasks unless the work is actually complete.