feat(mcp): improve error messages for missing bd CLI

Add helpful installation instructions when bd CLI is not found,
making it clear that the CLI must be installed separately.

Changes:
- Add BdNotFoundError.installation_message() with clear install steps
- Update all BdNotFoundError raises to use new formatted message
- Improve config error message with installation instructions first
- Update tests to match new error message format

Error message now shows:
- Clear explanation that bd CLI is required
- Installation command with curl one-liner
- Link to GitHub installation docs
- Reminder to restart Claude Code after installation

Test results: 90/91 tests passing (1 unrelated path assertion)

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

integrations/beads-mcp/src/beads_mcp/bd_client.py

@@ -30,7 +30,24 @@ class BdError(Exception):
 class BdNotFoundError(BdError):
     """Raised when bd command is not found."""
 
-    pass
+    @staticmethod
+    def installation_message(attempted_path: str) -> str:
+        """Get helpful installation message.
+
+        Args:
+            attempted_path: Path where we tried to find bd
+
+        Returns:
+            Formatted error message with installation instructions
+        """
+        return (
+            f"bd CLI not found at: {attempted_path}\n\n"
+            "The beads Claude Code plugin requires the bd CLI to be installed separately.\n\n"
+            "Install bd CLI:\n"
+            "  curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/steveyegge/beads/main/install.sh | bash\n\n"
+            "Or visit: https://github.com/steveyegge/beads#installation\n\n"
+            "After installation, restart Claude Code to reload the MCP server."
+        )
 
 
 class BdCommandError(BdError):
@@ -130,7 +147,7 @@ class BdClient:
             stdout, stderr = await process.communicate()
         except FileNotFoundError as e:
             raise BdNotFoundError(
-                f"bd command not found at '{self.bd_path}'. Make sure bd is installed and in PATH."
+                BdNotFoundError.installation_message(self.bd_path)
             ) from e
 
         if process.returncode != 0:
@@ -174,8 +191,7 @@ class BdClient:
             stdout, stderr = await process.communicate()
         except FileNotFoundError as e:
             raise BdNotFoundError(
-                f"bd command not found at '{self.bd_path}'. "
-                f"Install bd from: https://github.com/steveyegge/beads"
+                BdNotFoundError.installation_message(self.bd_path)
             ) from e
 
         if process.returncode != 0:
@@ -388,7 +404,7 @@ class BdClient:
             _stdout, stderr = await process.communicate()
         except FileNotFoundError as e:
             raise BdNotFoundError(
-                f"bd command not found at '{self.bd_path}'. Make sure bd is installed and in PATH."
+                BdNotFoundError.installation_message(self.bd_path)
             ) from e
 
         if process.returncode != 0:
@@ -416,7 +432,7 @@ class BdClient:
             stdout, stderr = await process.communicate()
         except FileNotFoundError as e:
             raise BdNotFoundError(
-                f"bd command not found at '{self.bd_path}'. Make sure bd is installed and in PATH."
+                BdNotFoundError.installation_message(self.bd_path)
             ) from e
 
         if process.returncode != 0:
@@ -483,7 +499,7 @@ class BdClient:
             stdout, stderr = await process.communicate()
         except FileNotFoundError as e:
             raise BdNotFoundError(
-                f"bd command not found at '{self.bd_path}'. Make sure bd is installed and in PATH."
+                BdNotFoundError.installation_message(self.bd_path)
             ) from e
 
         if process.returncode != 0:

integrations/beads-mcp/src/beads_mcp/config.py

@@ -61,8 +61,12 @@ class Config(BaseSettings):
                 path = Path(v)
             else:
                 raise ValueError(
-                    f"bd executable not found at: {v}\n"
-                    + "Please verify BEADS_PATH points to a valid bd executable."
+                    f"bd executable not found at: {v}\n\n"
+                    + "The beads Claude Code plugin requires the bd CLI to be installed.\n\n"
+                    + "Install bd CLI:\n"
+                    + "  curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/steveyegge/beads/main/install.sh | bash\n\n"
+                    + "Or visit: https://github.com/steveyegge/beads#installation\n\n"
+                    + "After installation, restart Claude Code to reload the MCP server."
                 )
 
         if not os.access(v, os.X_OK):
@@ -119,14 +123,18 @@ def load_config() -> Config:
     except Exception as e:
         default_path = _default_beads_path()
         error_msg = (
-            f"Configuration Error: {e}\n\n"
-            + "Environment variables:\n"
+            f"Beads MCP Server Configuration Error\n\n"
+            + f"{e}\n\n"
+            + "Common fix: Install the bd CLI first:\n"
+            + "  curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/steveyegge/beads/main/install.sh | bash\n\n"
+            + "Or visit: https://github.com/steveyegge/beads#installation\n\n"
+            + "After installation, restart Claude Code.\n\n"
+            + "Advanced configuration (optional):\n"
             + f"  BEADS_PATH            - Path to bd executable (default: {default_path})\n"
-            + "  BEADS_DB              - Optional path to beads database file\n"
+            + "  BEADS_DB              - Path to beads database file (default: auto-discover)\n"
             + "  BEADS_ACTOR           - Actor name for audit trail (default: $USER)\n"
             + "  BEADS_NO_AUTO_FLUSH   - Disable automatic JSONL sync (default: false)\n"
-            + "  BEADS_NO_AUTO_IMPORT  - Disable automatic JSONL import (default: false)\n\n"
-            + "Make sure bd is installed and the path is correct."
+            + "  BEADS_NO_AUTO_IMPORT  - Disable automatic JSONL import (default: false)"
         )
         print(error_msg, file=sys.stderr)
         raise ConfigError(error_msg) from e

integrations/beads-mcp/tests/test_bd_client.py

@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ async def test_run_command_not_found(bd_client):
     """Test command execution when bd executable not found."""
     with (
         patch("asyncio.create_subprocess_exec", side_effect=FileNotFoundError()),
-        pytest.raises(BdNotFoundError, match="bd command not found"),
+        pytest.raises(BdNotFoundError, match="bd CLI not found"),
     ):
         await bd_client._run_command("show", "bd-1")
 
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ async def test_add_dependency_not_found(bd_client):
     """Test add_dependency when bd executable not found."""
     with (
         patch("asyncio.create_subprocess_exec", side_effect=FileNotFoundError()),
-        pytest.raises(BdNotFoundError, match="bd command not found"),
+        pytest.raises(BdNotFoundError, match="bd CLI not found"),
     ):
         params = AddDependencyParams(from_id="bd-2", to_id="bd-1", dep_type="blocks")
         await bd_client.add_dependency(params)
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ async def test_quickstart_not_found(bd_client):
     """Test quickstart when bd executable not found."""
     with (
         patch("asyncio.create_subprocess_exec", side_effect=FileNotFoundError()),
-        pytest.raises(BdNotFoundError, match="bd command not found"),
+        pytest.raises(BdNotFoundError, match="bd CLI not found"),
     ):
         await bd_client.quickstart()
 

integrations/beads-mcp/uv.lock

@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "beads-mcp"
-version = "0.9.3"
+version = "0.9.4"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "fastmcp" },