beads-br

name	beads-br
user-invocable	false
skill_api_version	1
hexagonal_role	supporting
metadata	{"tier":"execution"}
description	Local-first issue tracker (beads_rust) for AI agents. Use when tracking tasks, managing dependencies, finding ready work, or syncing issues to git via JSONL. Triggers: "beads-br", "beads br", "local-first issue tracker beads rust".
practices	["pragmatic-programmer"]

beads-br — Beads Rust Issue Tracker

Non-invasive: br NEVER runs git commands. Sync and commit are YOUR responsibility.

Critical Rules for Agents

Rule	Why
ALWAYS use --json	Structured output for parsing
NEVER run bare bv	Blocks session in TUI mode
Sync is EXPLICIT	BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br sync --flush-only after changes
Git is YOUR job	br never runs git; _beads/ sync is explicit
No cycles allowed	br dep cycles must return empty

Private-ledger repos — the persist_intent port contract

Some repos declare a private bead ledger separated from the public source tree. The agentops repo is the canonical case; an agent that loads only this skill (without the repo CLAUDE.md) must still honor these invariants:

Invariant	Rule
Indirection	Resolve first with ao beads dir, then invoke as BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br <cmd>. A worktree-local ledger path is valid only in the canonical checkout; linked worktrees use git's common dir to reach the canonical private ledger.
Private repo	_beads/ is its own git repository (separate remote). Sync = git -C "$(ao beads dir)" push.
Never leak	never stage the private ledger from the host repo — bead bodies carry private context; the host repo is public and gitignores the ledger.
bd is retired	because the bd/Dolt remote-server lane was retired (2026-06-11) — do not run bd in a br repo; it appears only in explicitly-marked legacy notes.
Prefix filter	to prevent cross-project leakage in shared DBs, filter queries by the repo's issue prefix (e.g. ag-) before trusting br ready output.

This section is the persist_intent port contract: the skill that persists intent owns the rules that keep that intent private and uncorrupted.

Quick Workflow

# 1. Find work
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br ready --json

# 2. Claim it
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br update ag-abc123 --claim --json

# 3. Do work...

# 4. Complete
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br close ag-abc123 --reason "Implemented X"

# 5. Sync to git (EXPLICIT!)
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br sync --flush-only
git -C "$(ao beads dir)" add -A && git -C "$(ao beads dir)" commit -m "tracker: close ag-abc123" && git -C "$(ao beads dir)" push

Essential Commands

# Lifecycle
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br create "Title" -p 1 -t task --json
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br update <id> --claim --json
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br close <id> --reason "Done"
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br reopen <id>

# Querying (always use --json for agents)
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br ready --json
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br list --json
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br blocked --json
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br search "keyword"
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br show <id> --json

# Dependencies
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br dep add <child> <parent>
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br dep cycles
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br dep tree <id>

# Sync (EXPLICIT - never automatic)
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br sync --flush-only
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br sync --import-only

# System
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br doctor
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br config --list

Priority Scale

Priority	Meaning
0	Critical
1	High
2	Medium (default)
3	Low
4	Backlog

bv Integration

CRITICAL: Never run bare bv — it launches interactive TUI and blocks.

# Always use --robot-* flags:
bv --robot-next                      # Single top pick
bv --robot-triage                    # Full triage
bv --robot-plan                      # Parallel execution tracks
bv --robot-insights | jq '.Cycles'   # Check graph health

Agent Mail Coordination

Use bead ID as thread_id for multi-agent coordination:

file_reservation_paths(..., reason="ag-123")
send_message(..., thread_id="ag-123", subject="[ag-123] Starting...")
# Work...
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br close ag-123 --reason "Completed"
release_file_reservations(...)

Session Ending Pattern

git pull --rebase
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br sync --flush-only
git -C "$(ao beads dir)" add -A && git -C "$(ao beads dir)" commit -m "tracker: update issues" && git -C "$(ao beads dir)" push
git push
git status  # Verify clean

Issue-Lifecycle Discipline

Folded from the retired beads umbrella (ag-ez7y6) — operating doctrine, not the command surface above. These keep the tracker graph honest across sessions:

• Live reads are authoritative. Treat live BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br show / ready / list output as the source of truth for current tracker state. Do NOT treat the exported issues.jsonl as the primary decision source when live br data is available — the JSONL is a git-friendly export artifact, refreshed on BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br sync --flush-only.
• Scoped closure proof on every close. br close <id> --reason must name the touched files (or explicit no-file evidence artifact), the validation command(s) run, and the parent-reconciliation outcome. Never close a child bead with a generic reason like "done" or "implemented".
• Reconcile the parent in the same session. After closing or materially updating a child bead, reconcile the open parent: update stale "remaining gap" notes immediately, and close the parent when the child resolved its last real gap.
• Narrow the umbrella issue before implementing. If BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br ready --json surfaces a broad umbrella bead, do not implement against vague parent wording — first narrow the remaining gap into an execution-ready child bead, land the child, then reconcile the parent.
• Normalize stale queue items instead of skipping them. Rewrite broad or partially-absorbed beads to the actual remaining gap rather than silently passing over them.

Anti-Patterns

• Running br sync without --flush-only or --import-only
• Forgetting sync before git commit
• Creating circular dependencies
• Running bare bv
• Assuming auto-commit behavior

Storage

_beads/
├── beads.db        # SQLite (primary)
├── issues.jsonl    # Git-friendly export
└── config.yaml     # Optional config

Troubleshooting

BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br doctor       # Full diagnostics
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br dep cycles   # Must be empty
BEADS_DIR="$(ao beads dir)" br config --list

Worktree error ('main' is already checked out):

git branch beads-sync main
br config set sync.branch beads-sync

---

References

Topic	File
Full command reference	COMMANDS.md
Configuration details	CONFIG.md
Troubleshooting guide	TROUBLESHOOTING.md
Multi-agent patterns	INTEGRATION.md