fix(prime): use flush-only workflow when no git remote configured (#940)

Use flush-only workflow when no git remote is configured

Detects local-only repos (no git remote) and provides appropriate instructions:
- bd sync --flush-only instead of full git workflow
- Clear note about local-only storage
- Prevents confusing git errors for non-git users

cmd/bd/prime.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/config"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/rpc"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/syncbranch"
 )
 
 // isDaemonAutoSyncing checks if daemon is running with auto-commit and auto-push enabled.
@@ -179,6 +181,11 @@ var isEphemeralBranch = func() bool {
 	return err != nil
 }
 
+// primeHasGitRemote detects if any git remote is configured (stubbable for tests)
+var primeHasGitRemote = func() bool {
+	return syncbranch.HasGitRemote(context.Background())
+}
+
 // getRedirectNotice returns a notice string if beads is redirected
 func getRedirectNotice(verbose bool) string {
 	redirectInfo := beads.GetRedirectInfo()
@@ -208,10 +215,11 @@ func outputMCPContext(w io.Writer, stealthMode bool) error {
 	ephemeral := isEphemeralBranch()
 	noPush := config.GetBool("no-push")
 	autoSync := isDaemonAutoSyncing()
+	localOnly := !primeHasGitRemote()
 
 	var closeProtocol string
-	if stealthMode {
+	if stealthMode || localOnly {
-		// Stealth mode: only flush to JSONL as there's nothing to commit.
+		// Stealth mode or local-only: only flush to JSONL, no git operations
 		closeProtocol = "Before saying \"done\": bd sync --flush-only"
 	} else if autoSync && !ephemeral && !noPush {
 		// Daemon is auto-syncing - no bd sync needed
@@ -248,6 +256,7 @@ func outputCLIContext(w io.Writer, stealthMode bool) error {
 	ephemeral := isEphemeralBranch()
 	noPush := config.GetBool("no-push")
 	autoSync := isDaemonAutoSyncing()
+	localOnly := !primeHasGitRemote()
 
 	var closeProtocol string
 	var closeNote string
@@ -255,8 +264,8 @@ func outputCLIContext(w io.Writer, stealthMode bool) error {
 	var completingWorkflow string
 	var gitWorkflowRule string
 
-	if stealthMode {
+	if stealthMode || localOnly {
-		// Stealth mode: only flush to JSONL, no git operations
+		// Stealth mode or local-only: only flush to JSONL, no git operations
 		closeProtocol = `[ ] bd sync --flush-only    (export beads to JSONL only)`
 		syncSection = `### Sync & Collaboration
 - ` + "`bd sync --flush-only`" + ` - Export to JSONL`
@@ -265,7 +274,13 @@ func outputCLIContext(w io.Writer, stealthMode bool) error {
 bd close <id1> <id2> ...    # Close all completed issues at once
 bd sync --flush-only        # Export to JSONL
 ` + "```"
-		gitWorkflowRule = "Git workflow: stealth mode (no git ops)"
+		// Only show local-only note if not in stealth mode (stealth is explicit user choice)
+		if localOnly && !stealthMode {
+			closeNote = "**Note:** No git remote configured. Issues are saved locally only."
+			gitWorkflowRule = "Git workflow: local-only (no git remote)"
+		} else {
+			gitWorkflowRule = "Git workflow: stealth mode (no git ops)"
+		}
 	} else if autoSync && !ephemeral && !noPush {
 		// Daemon is auto-syncing - simplified protocol (no bd sync needed)
 		closeProtocol = `[ ] 1. git status              (check what changed)

cmd/bd/prime_test.go

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ func TestOutputContextFunction(t *testing.T) {
 		mcpMode       bool
 		stealthMode   bool
 		ephemeralMode bool
+		localOnlyMode bool
 		expectText    []string
 		rejectText    []string
 	}{
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ func TestOutputContextFunction(t *testing.T) {
 			mcpMode:       false,
 			stealthMode:   false,
 			ephemeralMode: false,
+			localOnlyMode: false,
 			expectText:    []string{"Beads Workflow Context", "bd sync", "git push"},
 			rejectText:    []string{"bd sync --flush-only", "--from-main"},
 		},
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@ func TestOutputContextFunction(t *testing.T) {
 			mcpMode:       false,
 			stealthMode:   false,
 			ephemeralMode: true,
+			localOnlyMode: false,
 			expectText:    []string{"Beads Workflow Context", "bd sync --from-main", "ephemeral branch"},
 			rejectText:    []string{"bd sync --flush-only", "git push"},
 		},
@@ -36,14 +39,43 @@ func TestOutputContextFunction(t *testing.T) {
 			mcpMode:       false,
 			stealthMode:   true,
 			ephemeralMode: false, // stealth mode overrides ephemeral detection
+			localOnlyMode: false,
 			expectText:    []string{"Beads Workflow Context", "bd sync --flush-only"},
 			rejectText:    []string{"git push", "git pull", "git commit", "git status", "git add"},
 		},
+		{
+			name:          "CLI Local-only (no git remote)",
+			mcpMode:       false,
+			stealthMode:   false,
+			ephemeralMode: false,
+			localOnlyMode: true,
+			expectText:    []string{"Beads Workflow Context", "bd sync --flush-only", "No git remote configured"},
+			rejectText:    []string{"git push", "git pull", "--from-main"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "CLI Local-only overrides ephemeral",
+			mcpMode:       false,
+			stealthMode:   false,
+			ephemeralMode: true, // ephemeral is true but local-only takes precedence
+			localOnlyMode: true,
+			expectText:    []string{"Beads Workflow Context", "bd sync --flush-only", "No git remote configured"},
+			rejectText:    []string{"git push", "--from-main", "ephemeral branch"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "CLI Stealth overrides local-only",
+			mcpMode:       false,
+			stealthMode:   true,
+			ephemeralMode: false,
+			localOnlyMode: true, // local-only is true but stealth takes precedence
+			expectText:    []string{"Beads Workflow Context", "bd sync --flush-only"},
+			rejectText:    []string{"git push", "git pull", "git commit", "git status", "git add", "No git remote configured"},
+		},
 		{
 			name:          "MCP Normal (non-ephemeral)",
 			mcpMode:       true,
 			stealthMode:   false,
 			ephemeralMode: false,
+			localOnlyMode: false,
 			expectText:    []string{"Beads Issue Tracker Active", "bd sync", "git push"},
 			rejectText:    []string{"bd sync --flush-only", "--from-main"},
 		},
@@ -52,6 +84,7 @@ func TestOutputContextFunction(t *testing.T) {
 			mcpMode:       true,
 			stealthMode:   false,
 			ephemeralMode: true,
+			localOnlyMode: false,
 			expectText:    []string{"Beads Issue Tracker Active", "bd sync --from-main", "ephemeral branch"},
 			rejectText:    []string{"bd sync --flush-only", "git push"},
 		},
@@ -60,6 +93,34 @@ func TestOutputContextFunction(t *testing.T) {
 			mcpMode:       true,
 			stealthMode:   true,
 			ephemeralMode: false, // stealth mode overrides ephemeral detection
+			localOnlyMode: false,
+			expectText:    []string{"Beads Issue Tracker Active", "bd sync --flush-only"},
+			rejectText:    []string{"git push", "git pull", "git commit", "git status", "git add"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "MCP Local-only (no git remote)",
+			mcpMode:       true,
+			stealthMode:   false,
+			ephemeralMode: false,
+			localOnlyMode: true,
+			expectText:    []string{"Beads Issue Tracker Active", "bd sync --flush-only"},
+			rejectText:    []string{"git push", "git pull", "--from-main"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "MCP Local-only overrides ephemeral",
+			mcpMode:       true,
+			stealthMode:   false,
+			ephemeralMode: true, // ephemeral is true but local-only takes precedence
+			localOnlyMode: true,
+			expectText:    []string{"Beads Issue Tracker Active", "bd sync --flush-only"},
+			rejectText:    []string{"git push", "--from-main", "ephemeral branch"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "MCP Stealth overrides local-only",
+			mcpMode:       true,
+			stealthMode:   true,
+			ephemeralMode: false,
+			localOnlyMode: true, // local-only is true but stealth takes precedence
 			expectText:    []string{"Beads Issue Tracker Active", "bd sync --flush-only"},
 			rejectText:    []string{"git push", "git pull", "git commit", "git status", "git add"},
 		},
@@ -68,7 +129,8 @@ func TestOutputContextFunction(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			defer stubIsEphemeralBranch(tt.ephemeralMode)()
-			defer stubIsDaemonAutoSyncing(false)() // Default: no auto-sync in tests
+			defer stubIsDaemonAutoSyncing(false)()             // Default: no auto-sync in tests
+			defer stubPrimeHasGitRemote(!tt.localOnlyMode)() // localOnly = !primeHasGitRemote
 
 			var buf bytes.Buffer
 			err := outputPrimeContext(&buf, tt.mcpMode, tt.stealthMode)
@@ -121,3 +183,20 @@ func stubIsDaemonAutoSyncing(isAutoSync bool) func() {
 		isDaemonAutoSyncing = original
 	}
 }
+
+// stubPrimeHasGitRemote temporarily replaces primeHasGitRemote
+// with a stub returning returnValue.
+//
+// Returns a function to restore the original primeHasGitRemote.
+// Usage:
+//
+//	defer stubPrimeHasGitRemote(true)()
+func stubPrimeHasGitRemote(hasRemote bool) func() {
+	original := primeHasGitRemote
+	primeHasGitRemote = func() bool {
+		return hasRemote
+	}
+	return func() {
+		primeHasGitRemote = original
+	}
+}