# Beads Beads (`bd`) is a distributed, [[Git]]-backed graph issue tracker specifically designed for AI agents. It provides persistent, structured memory for coding agents. It replaces messy [[Markdown]] plans with a dependency-aware graph, allowing agents to handle long-horizon tasks without losing context. It functions as a memory system that helps agents manage complex, multi-step work over extended periods. ## Key features Storage & Infrastructure: - Issues stored as [[JSONL]] files in a `.beads/` directory, enabling version control like regular code - [[SQLite]] local cache for performance optimization - Background daemon for automatic synchronization - Hash-based task identifiers (e.g., `bd-a1b2`) designed to prevent merge conflicts Agent-Focused Capabilities: - JSON-formatted output for machine readability - Dependency tracking between tasks - Automatic detection of ready-to-work tasks - Semantic summarization of completed work to preserve context Workflow Support: - Hierarchical task organization (`bd-a3f8` → `bd-a3f8.1` → `bd-a3f8.1.1`) - Stealth mode for local-only usage without repository commits - Contributor vs. maintainer role detection for open-source workflows Supports Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, and Windows. ## Essential commands | Command | Function | |---------|----------| | `bd ready` | Display tasks without open blockers | | `bd create "Title" -p 0` | Create priority-zero task | | `bd dep add <child> <parent>` | Link tasks with dependencies | | `bd show <id>` | View full task details and history | ## References - https://github.com/steveyegge/beads ## Related - [[Beads Viewer]] - [[Ralph TUI]] - [[AI Agents]] - [[SQLite]] - [[JSONL]] - [[Large Language Models (LLMs)]] - [[Claude Code]]