diff --git a/.goreleaser.yml b/.goreleaser.yml
index cac03e36..e66992e1 100644
--- a/.goreleaser.yml
+++ b/.goreleaser.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ builds:
     main: ./cmd/bd
     binary: bd
     env:
-      - CGO_ENABLED=1
+      - CGO_ENABLED=0
     goos:
       - linux
       - darwin
diff --git a/cmd/bd/doctor.go b/cmd/bd/doctor.go
index b8949cae..1f270c59 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/doctor.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/doctor.go
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ func checkIDFormat(path string) doctorCheck {
 	}
 
 	// Open database
-	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dbPath+"?mode=ro")
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", dbPath+"?mode=ro")
 	if err != nil {
 		return doctorCheck{
 			Name:    "Issue IDs",
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ func checkCLIVersion() doctorCheck {
 }
 
 func getDatabaseVersionFromPath(dbPath string) string {
-	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dbPath+"?mode=ro")
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", dbPath+"?mode=ro")
 	if err != nil {
 		return "unknown"
 	}
@@ -785,7 +785,7 @@ func checkDatabaseJSONLSync(path string) doctorCheck {
 	jsonlCount, jsonlPrefixes, jsonlErr := countJSONLIssues(jsonlPath)
 
 	// Single database open for all queries (instead of 3 separate opens)
-	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dbPath)
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", dbPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		// Database can't be opened. If JSONL has issues, suggest recovery.
 		if jsonlErr == nil && jsonlCount > 0 {
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ func checkPermissions(path string) doctorCheck {
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(beadsDir, beads.CanonicalDatabaseName)
 	if _, err := os.Stat(dbPath); err == nil {
 		// Try to open database
-		db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dbPath)
+		db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", dbPath)
 		if err != nil {
 			return doctorCheck{
 				Name:    "Permissions",
@@ -1038,7 +1038,7 @@ func checkDependencyCycles(path string) doctorCheck {
 	}
 
 	// Open database to check for cycles
-	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dbPath)
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", dbPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return doctorCheck{
 			Name:    "Dependency Cycles",
diff --git a/docs/EXTENDING.md b/docs/EXTENDING.md
index aa7e9d9e..e7ffa1a0 100644
--- a/docs/EXTENDING.md
+++ b/docs/EXTENDING.md
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_checkpoints_execution ON myapp_checkpoints(execut
 `
 
 func InitializeMyAppSchema(dbPath string) error {
-    db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dbPath)
+    db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", dbPath)
     if err != nil {
         return err
     }
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ if dbPath == "" {
 }
 
 // Open your own connection to the same database
-db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dbPath)
+db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", dbPath)
 if err != nil {
     log.Fatal(err)
 }
diff --git a/examples/bd-example-extension-go/README.md b/examples/bd-example-extension-go/README.md
index dc3a2c32..818ec5ae 100644
--- a/examples/bd-example-extension-go/README.md
+++ b/examples/bd-example-extension-go/README.md
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ jsonlPath := beads.FindJSONLPath(dbPath)
 
 ```go
 // Open same database for extension tables
-db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dbPath)
+db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", dbPath)
 
 // Initialize extension schema
 _, err = db.Exec(Schema)
diff --git a/examples/bd-example-extension-go/main.go b/examples/bd-example-extension-go/main.go
index 725b30f4..54fe37ab 100644
--- a/examples/bd-example-extension-go/main.go
+++ b/examples/bd-example-extension-go/main.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func main() {
 	// Open bd storage + extension database
 	store, _ := beads.NewSQLiteStorage(*dbPath)
 	defer store.Close()
-	db, _ := sql.Open("sqlite", *dbPath)
+	db, _ := sql.Open("sqlite3", *dbPath)
 	defer db.Close()
 	db.Exec("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL")
 	db.Exec("PRAGMA busy_timeout=5000")
diff --git a/internal/rpc/server_compact.go b/internal/rpc/server_compact.go
index e1b8411f..864fb630 100644
--- a/internal/rpc/server_compact.go
+++ b/internal/rpc/server_compact.go
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleCompact(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	sqliteStore, ok := store.(*sqlite.SQLiteStorage)
 	if !ok {
@@ -228,6 +234,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleCompactStats(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	sqliteStore, ok := store.(*sqlite.SQLiteStorage)
 	if !ok {
diff --git a/internal/rpc/server_issues_epics.go b/internal/rpc/server_issues_epics.go
index 5248cb04..e7a17e95 100644
--- a/internal/rpc/server_issues_epics.go
+++ b/internal/rpc/server_issues_epics.go
@@ -87,6 +87,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleCreate(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 
 	// If parent is specified, generate child ID
@@ -242,6 +248,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleUpdate(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	updates := updatesFromArgs(updateArgs)
@@ -284,6 +296,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleClose(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	if err := store.CloseIssue(ctx, closeArgs.ID, closeArgs.Reason, s.reqActor(req)); err != nil {
@@ -314,6 +332,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleList(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	filter := types.IssueFilter{
 		Limit: listArgs.Limit,
@@ -492,6 +516,13 @@ func (s *Server) handleResolveID(req *Request) Response {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if s.storage == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
+
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	resolvedID, err := utils.ResolvePartialID(ctx, s.storage, args.ID)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -518,6 +549,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleShow(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	issue, err := store.GetIssue(ctx, showArgs.ID)
@@ -593,6 +630,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleReady(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	wf := types.WorkFilter{
 		Status:     types.StatusOpen,
@@ -632,6 +675,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleStale(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	filter := types.StaleFilter{
 		Days:   staleArgs.Days,
@@ -657,6 +706,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleStale(req *Request) Response {
 
 func (s *Server) handleStats(req *Request) Response {
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	stats, err := store.GetStatistics(ctx)
@@ -684,6 +739,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleEpicStatus(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	epics, err := store.GetEpicsEligibleForClosure(ctx)
diff --git a/internal/rpc/server_labels_deps_comments.go b/internal/rpc/server_labels_deps_comments.go
index 345ed280..e48f90ef 100644
--- a/internal/rpc/server_labels_deps_comments.go
+++ b/internal/rpc/server_labels_deps_comments.go
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleDepAdd(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	dep := &types.Dependency{
 		IssueID:     depArgs.FromID,
@@ -51,6 +57,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleSimpleStoreOp(req *Request, argsPtr interface{}, argDesc
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	if err := opFunc(ctx, store, s.reqActor(req)); err != nil {