Beads Local DB Ops

Beads Dolt Server Ops

Goal

Use Beads with Dolt server backend where:

• Shared Dolt database (via server mode on port 3307) is persistent storage
• All writes persist immediately — no sync step needed
• Multiple repos (prefixed by issue-prefix in config) share a single Dolt database
• JSONL files (.beads/issues.jsonl) are interchange format for cross-clone git sync
• bd export / bd import replace the deprecated bd sync commands

Multi-Repo Model

Each repository connects to the shared Dolt server with its own prefix:

• repomap-core: issue-prefix: repomap-core (this repo)
• oc-daemon: issue-prefix: daemon
• Other repos: their own prefix, same Dolt server on port 3307
• The Dolt database at ~/.dolt-data/beads holds all repos' issues
• --prefix flag on bd create routes issues to the correct partition

Cross-Repo Routing (routes.jsonl)

To create beads in a different repo's prefix from the current repo, each repo needs a .beads/routes.jsonl file mapping prefixes to relative paths:

repomap-core .beads/routes.jsonl:

{"prefix":"daemon-","path":"../oc-daemon"}

oc-daemon .beads/routes.jsonl:

{"prefix":"repomap-core-","path":"../repomap-core"}

Format: Each line is a JSON object with:

• prefix: the ID prefix with trailing hyphen (e.g., "daemon-")
• path: relative path from the project root (parent of .beads/) to the target repo's project root

Usage:

# From repomap-core, create a bead in daemon's rig
.kilocode/tools/bd create "Fix classifier" -t task -p 1 --prefix daemon

# List beads in another rig
.kilocode/tools/bd list --rig daemon

Two-Clone "Employees" Model

• Windsurf employee: ~/Projects/repomap-windsurf/
• Kilo employee: ~/Projects-Employee-1/repomap-core/
• Each clone connects to the shared Dolt server on port 3307
• JSONL interchange via git for cross-clone sync when needed
• Never assign same task to both employees concurrently

When to use this skill

Use this skill for:

• Session start: verify Dolt server is running, check bd status
• During work: bd create, bd update, bd show, bd close (all persist immediately)
• Session end: bd export if JSONL interchange is needed for cross-clone sync
• Cross-clone sync: bd export → git commit JSONL → other clone bd import
• Cross-repo bead creation: use --prefix flag with routes.jsonl configured

Dolt Server Prerequisites

The Dolt server must be running before bd commands work:

# Start Dolt server (one-time per boot)
cd ~/.dolt-data/beads && nohup dolt sql-server --port 3307 --host 127.0.0.1 > /tmp/dolt-beads-server.log 2>&1 &

# Verify server is listening
nc -z 127.0.0.1 3307 && echo "Server OK" || echo "Server NOT running"

Critical Workflow

Session Start

# Verify Dolt server is running
nc -z 127.0.0.1 3307 && echo "Server OK" || echo "Start Dolt server first"

# Refresh Dolt from JSONL if a cross-clone git pull may have brought newer JSONL
.kilocode/tools/bd import --from-jsonl .beads/issues.jsonl

# Find available work
.kilocode/tools/bd ready

# Claim an issue
.kilocode/tools/bd update <id> --status in_progress

During Work

# View issue details
.kilocode/tools/bd show <id>

# Update status (writes persist immediately — no sync needed)
.kilocode/tools/bd update <id> --status in_progress

# Add notes as you learn
.kilocode/tools/bd update <id> --notes "..."

# Create new issues
.kilocode/tools/bd create "Title" -d "Description" -p 0 -l "label1,label2"

# Create in another repo's prefix (requires routes.jsonl)
.kilocode/tools/bd create "Title" -t task -p 1 --prefix daemon

Session End

# Close completed issues (persists immediately)
.kilocode/tools/bd close <id>

# Export to JSONL for cross-clone interchange (if needed)
.kilocode/tools/bd export -o .beads/issues.jsonl

Git Hooks Policy

Do NOT use bd hooks install. Git hook shims resolve bd via PATH, which may find the wrong version (e.g., a release binary without CGO support). This causes hard crashes that block all git commits.

Instead, use the opencode plugin at .opencode/plugins/beads-sync.ts which:

• Uses the pinned bd wrapper at .kilocode/tools/bd
• Handles pre-commit export, post-merge import, pre-push validation
• Covers ~90% of agent-initiated git operations
• Degrades gracefully if bd is unavailable

If bd doctor warns about missing hooks, this is expected and safe to ignore.

Deprecated Commands

The following commands exist for backward compatibility but are no-ops with Dolt backend:

• bd sync — Returns instantly. All writes persist via Dolt server immediately.
• bd sync --no-push — Returns instantly. Same reason.

Replacements:

• For JSONL interchange: bd export (to JSONL) and bd import (from JSONL)
• For Dolt remote ops: bd dolt push and bd dolt pull

Advanced Features (available in v0.59.0+)

• bd gate — Async coordination gates for fanout/collect patterns
• bd query — Query issues using simple query language
• bd dep — Manage dependencies between issues
• bd diff — Show changes between Dolt commits/branches
• bd history — Show version history for an issue (Dolt feature)
• bd mol — Molecule commands (work templates)
• bd formula — Workflow formulas
• bd slot — Agent bead slots
• bd compact — Dolt compaction for closed issues (new in v0.55.4)
• bd list --no-parent — Filter to top-level issues only (new in v0.55.4)
• bd list --rig <name> — Query another rig's beads from current repo
• bd move / bd refile — Move issues between rigs
• Custom types: molecule, gate, convoy, merge-request, slot, agent, role, rig, message
• fresher bd doctor / init diagnostics for fresh-clone and Dolt database-not-found states
• improved deterministic ordering and Dolt query behavior in large issue sets

Operational Contract

• Always verify Dolt server is running at session start
• Only one clone should run the Dolt daemon at a time
• When switching employees, ensure Dolt server is accessible
• Never work on same issue in both clones concurrently
• CGO-enabled bd binary is required (build from source if release binary lacks CGO)
• Issue prefix (repomap-core) automatically partitions issues per repo in the shared database
• Cross-repo routing requires routes.jsonl in both repos

CGO Build Note (v0.59.0)

The pinned build script at .kilocode/tools/beads_install.sh (local-only, gitignored) builds from source with CGO_ENABLED=1, which is required for the Dolt backend. Run it once per machine to install. The version pin is in .kilocode/tools/beads_version.

Troubleshooting

• CGO error on init: Binary lacks CGO — rebuild with .kilocode/tools/beads_install.sh (local-only, gitignored)
• Server not listening: Start Dolt server: cd ~/.dolt-data/beads && dolt sql-server --port 3307 --host 127.0.0.1
• Database not found: Run bd init --server --from-jsonl to initialize
• Sync deprecated warnings: Expected; bd sync is a no-op with Dolt. Use bd export/bd import for interchange.
• Fresh clone confusion: newer bd doctor and init flows should surface fresh-clone state more clearly; prefer those diagnostics before manual repair
• Federation errors: Federation requires the beads database name on the server; use bd doctor for diagnostics
• Count mismatch (Dolt vs JSONL): Normal during migration. Run bd export -o .beads/issues.jsonl to re-sync JSONL.
• Missing hooks warning: Expected — we use the opencode plugin instead of git hooks. Safe to ignore.
• Cross-repo create fails: Check that .beads/routes.jsonl exists in the source repo with the correct prefix and relative path.
• Nil pointer on cross-repo deps: Ensure both repos have routes.jsonl configured bidirectionally, and the target repo's .beads/config.yaml has the correct issue-prefix.

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