How do I install the Beads skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/beads in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Beads safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Beads?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Beads free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

tomevault-io (@tomevault-io) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Beads by tomevault-io — Agent Skill

Name: Beads
Author: tomevault-io

File contents

Beads Issue Tracker

When to Use

Creating or updating issues
Querying ready/blocked tasks
Managing dependencies
Closing completed work

Core Concepts

bd ready — tasks with no blockers
Status: open → in_progress → closed
Types: task, bug, feature, epic, chore
Priority: 0 (critical) → 4 (low), default 2
Dependencies: only blocks affects ready

Operations

Get Issue Details

bd show <id> --json

Returns full issue data: title, description, status, type, priority, dependencies.

Check If Issue Exists

bd show <id>

Exit code 0 = exists, non-zero = not found.

Create Issue

bd create --title "Title" --type task --priority 2 --description "Description" --json

Creates new issue. Use --parent <epic-id> for subtasks.

Update Status

bd update <id> --status in_progress --json

Valid statuses: open, in_progress, closed.

Add Dependency

bd dep add <blocked-id> <blocker-id> --type blocks

Makes blocker-id block blocked-id. Only blocks affects ready state.

Get Dependency Tree

bd dep tree <id>

Shows issue hierarchy and blocking relationships.

Find Ready Tasks

bd ready --json

Lists tasks with no unresolved blockers.

Find Blocked Tasks

bd blocked --json

Lists tasks waiting on blockers.

Close Issue

bd close <id> --reason "Done: summary" --json

Marks issue as closed with resolution reason.

List Issues

bd list --status open --json

Filter by status, type, priority.

Sync

bd sync

Synchronizes local state with remote.

Quick Reference

Action	Command
Show issue	`bd show <id> --json`
Create issue	`bd create --title "..." --type task --json`
Update status	`bd update <id> --status in_progress`
Add blocker	`bd dep add <blocked> <blocker> --type blocks`
Ready tasks	`bd ready --json`
Close issue	`bd close <id> --reason "..."`

References

references/types.md — Issue types and priorities
references/dependencies.md — Dependency types and usage

Converted and distributed by TomeVault — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

---name: beadsdescription: Issue tracking with Beads (bd CLI). Use when commands need to create, query, or update issues. Use when this capability is needed.---# Beads Issue Tracker## When to Use- Creating or updating issues- Querying ready/blocked tasks- Managing dependencies- Closing completed work## Core Concepts- **bd ready** — tasks with no blockers- **Status**: open → in_progress → closed- **Types**: task, bug, feature, epic, chore- **Priority**: 0 (critical) → 4 (low), default 2- **Dependencies**: only `blocks` affects ready## Operations### Get Issue Details```bashbd show <id> --json```Returns full issue data: title, description, status, type, priority, dependencies.### Check If Issue Exists```bashbd show <id>```Exit code 0 = exists, non-zero = not found.### Create Issue```bashbd create --title "Title" --type task --priority 2 --description "Description" --json```Creates new issue. Use `--parent <epic-id>` for subtasks.### Update Status```bashbd update <id> --status in_progress --json```Valid statuses: open, in_progress, closed.### Add Dependency```bashbd dep add <blocked-id> <blocker-id> --type blocks```Makes blocker-id block blocked-id. Only `blocks` affects ready state.### Get Dependency Tree```bashbd dep tree <id>```Shows issue hierarchy and blocking relationships.### Find Ready Tasks```bashbd ready --json```Lists tasks with no unresolved blockers.### Find Blocked Tasks```bashbd blocked --json```Lists tasks waiting on blockers.### Close Issue```bashbd close <id> --reason "Done: summary" --json```Marks issue as closed with resolution reason.### List Issues```bashbd list --status open --json```Filter by status, type, priority.### Sync```bashbd sync```Synchronizes local state with remote.## Quick Reference| Action | Command ||--------|---------|| Show issue | `bd show <id> --json` || Create issue | `bd create --title "..." --type task --json` || Update status | `bd update <id> --status in_progress` || Add blocker | `bd dep add <blocked> <blocker> --type blocks` || Ready tasks | `bd ready --json` || Close issue | `bd close <id> --reason "..."` |## References- `references/types.md` — Issue types and priorities- `references/dependencies.md` — Dependency types and usage---> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/arttttt) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

Frequently asked questions

Beads