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+# Dolt Backend Guide
+
+Beads supports [Dolt](https://www.dolthub.com/) as an alternative storage backend to SQLite. Dolt provides Git-like version control for your database, enabling advanced workflows like branch-based development, time travel queries, and distributed sync without JSONL files.
+
+## Overview
+
+| Feature | SQLite | Dolt |
+|---------|--------|------|
+| Single-file storage | Yes | No (directory) |
+| Version control | Via JSONL | Native |
+| Branching | No | Yes |
+| Time travel | No | Yes |
+| Merge conflicts | JSONL-based | SQL-based |
+| Multi-user concurrent | Limited | Server mode |
+| Git sync required | Yes | Optional |
+
+## Quick Start
+
+### 1. Install Dolt
+
+```bash
+# macOS
+brew install dolt
+
+# Linux
+curl -L https://github.com/dolthub/dolt/releases/latest/download/install.sh | bash
+
+# Verify installation
+dolt version
+```
+
+### 2. Initialize with Dolt Backend
+
+```bash
+# New project
+bd init --backend=dolt
+
+# Or convert existing SQLite database
+bd migrate --to=dolt
+```
+
+### 3. Configure Sync Mode
+
+```yaml
+# .beads/config.yaml
+backend: dolt
+
+sync:
+  mode: dolt-native  # Skip JSONL entirely
+```
+
+## Server Mode (Recommended)
+
+Server mode provides 5-10x faster operations by running a persistent `dolt sql-server` that handles connections. This eliminates the 500-1000ms bootstrap overhead of embedded mode.
+
+### Server Mode is Enabled by Default
+
+When Dolt backend is detected, server mode is automatically enabled. The server auto-starts if not already running.
+
+### Disable Server Mode (Not Recommended)
+
+```bash
+# Via environment variable
+export BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_MODE=0
+
+# Or in config.yaml
+dolt:
+  server_mode: false
+```
+
+### Server Configuration
+
+| Environment Variable | Default | Description |
+|---------------------|---------|-------------|
+| `BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_MODE` | `1` | Enable/disable server mode (`1`/`0`) |
+| `BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_HOST` | `127.0.0.1` | Server bind address |
+| `BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_PORT` | `3306` | Server port (MySQL protocol) |
+| `BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_USER` | `root` | MySQL username |
+| `BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_PASS` | (empty) | MySQL password |
+
+### Server Lifecycle
+
+```bash
+# Check server status
+bd doctor
+
+# Server auto-starts when needed
+# PID stored in: .beads/dolt/sql-server.pid
+# Logs written to: .beads/dolt/sql-server.log
+
+# Manual stop (rarely needed)
+kill $(cat .beads/dolt/sql-server.pid)
+```
+
+## Sync Modes
+
+Dolt supports multiple sync strategies:
+
+### `dolt-native` (Recommended for Dolt)
+
+```yaml
+sync:
+  mode: dolt-native
+```
+
+- Uses Dolt remotes (DoltHub, S3, GCS, etc.)
+- No JSONL files needed
+- Native database-level sync
+- Supports branching and merging
+
+### `belt-and-suspenders`
+
+```yaml
+sync:
+  mode: belt-and-suspenders
+```
+
+- Uses BOTH Dolt remotes AND JSONL
+- Maximum redundancy
+- Useful for migration periods
+
+### `git-portable`
+
+```yaml
+sync:
+  mode: git-portable
+```
+
+- Traditional JSONL-based sync
+- Compatible with SQLite workflows
+- Dolt provides local version history only
+
+## Dolt Remotes
+
+### Configure a Remote
+
+```bash
+# DoltHub (public or private)
+cd .beads/dolt
+dolt remote add origin https://doltremoteapi.dolthub.com/org/beads
+
+# S3
+dolt remote add origin aws://[bucket]/path/to/repo
+
+# GCS
+dolt remote add origin gs://[bucket]/path/to/repo
+
+# Local file system
+dolt remote add origin file:///path/to/remote
+```
+
+### Push/Pull
+
+```bash
+# Via bd sync
+bd sync
+
+# Direct dolt commands (if needed)
+cd .beads/dolt
+dolt push origin main
+dolt pull origin main
+```
+
+## Migration from SQLite
+
+### Option 1: Fresh Start
+
+```bash
+# Archive existing beads
+mv .beads .beads-sqlite-backup
+
+# Initialize with Dolt
+bd init --backend=dolt
+
+# Import from JSONL (if you have one)
+bd import .beads-sqlite-backup/issues.jsonl
+```
+
+### Option 2: In-Place Migration
+
+```bash
+# Export current state
+bd export --full issues.jsonl
+
+# Reconfigure backend
+# Edit .beads/config.yaml to set backend: dolt
+
+# Re-initialize
+bd init --backend=dolt
+
+# Import
+bd import issues.jsonl
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Server Won't Start
+
+```bash
+# Check if port is in use
+lsof -i :3306
+
+# Check server logs
+cat .beads/dolt/sql-server.log
+
+# Verify dolt installation
+dolt version
+
+# Try manual start
+cd .beads/dolt && dolt sql-server --host 127.0.0.1 --port 3306
+```
+
+### Connection Issues
+
+```bash
+# Test connection
+mysql -h 127.0.0.1 -P 3306 -u root beads
+
+# Check server is running
+bd doctor
+
+# Force restart
+kill $(cat .beads/dolt/sql-server.pid) 2>/dev/null
+bd list  # Triggers auto-start
+```
+
+### Performance Issues
+
+1. **Ensure server mode is enabled** (default)
+2. Check server logs for errors
+3. Run `bd doctor` for diagnostics
+4. Consider `dolt gc` for database maintenance:
+   ```bash
+   cd .beads/dolt && dolt gc
+   ```
+
+### Lock Contention
+
+Dolt handles concurrent access better in server mode. If you see lock errors:
+
+```bash
+# Check for stale locks
+ls -la .beads/dolt/.dolt/noms/*.lock
+
+# Server mode eliminates most lock issues
+export BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_MODE=1
+```
+
+## Advanced Usage
+
+### Branching
+
+```bash
+cd .beads/dolt
+
+# Create feature branch
+dolt checkout -b feature/experiment
+
+# Make changes via bd commands
+bd create "experimental issue"
+
+# Merge back
+dolt checkout main
+dolt merge feature/experiment
+```
+
+### Time Travel
+
+```bash
+cd .beads/dolt
+
+# List commits
+dolt log --oneline
+
+# Query at specific commit
+dolt sql -q "SELECT * FROM issues AS OF 'abc123'"
+
+# Checkout historical state
+dolt checkout abc123
+```
+
+### Diff and Blame
+
+```bash
+cd .beads/dolt
+
+# See changes since last commit
+dolt diff
+
+# Diff between commits
+dolt diff HEAD~5 HEAD -- issues
+
+# Blame (who changed what)
+dolt blame issues
+```
+
+## Configuration Reference
+
+### Full Config Example
+
+```yaml
+# .beads/config.yaml
+backend: dolt
+
+sync:
+  mode: dolt-native
+  auto_dolt_commit: true   # Auto-commit after sync (default: true)
+  auto_dolt_push: false    # Auto-push after sync (default: false)
+
+dolt:
+  server_mode: true        # Use sql-server (default: true)
+  server_host: "127.0.0.1"
+  server_port: 3306
+  server_user: "root"
+  server_pass: ""
+
+  # Embedded mode settings (when server_mode: false)
+  lock_retries: 30
+  lock_retry_delay: "100ms"
+  idle_timeout: "30s"
+
+federation:
+  remote: "dolthub://myorg/beads"
+  sovereignty: "T3"  # T1-T4
+```
+
+### Environment Variables
+
+| Variable | Description |
+|----------|-------------|
+| `BEADS_BACKEND` | Force backend: `sqlite` or `dolt` |
+| `BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_MODE` | Server mode: `1` or `0` |
+| `BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_HOST` | Server host |
+| `BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_PORT` | Server port |
+| `BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_USER` | Server user |
+| `BEADS_DOLT_SERVER_PASS` | Server password |
+
+## See Also
+
+- [Sync Modes](CONFIG.md#sync-mode-configuration) - Detailed sync configuration
+- [Daemon](DAEMON.md) - Background sync daemon
+- [Troubleshooting](TROUBLESHOOTING.md) - General troubleshooting
+- [Dolt Documentation](https://docs.dolthub.com/) - Official Dolt docs