From c7c212f8a100c0b0c2575ae8cd3b059c0762c029 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Doug Campos <qmx@qmx.me>
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2025 19:43:43 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] fix(init): handle read-only gitignore gracefully in stealth
 mode (#663)

When the global gitignore file is read-only (e.g., symlink to immutable
location), print manual instructions instead of failing with an error.
---
 cmd/bd/init.go      | 14 ++++++-
 cmd/bd/init_test.go | 89 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 102 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/cmd/bd/init.go b/cmd/bd/init.go
index edc2aa4b..077feeed 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/init.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/init.go
@@ -1503,7 +1503,19 @@ func setupGlobalGitIgnore(homeDir string, projectPath string, verbose bool) erro
 	// Write the updated ignore file
 	// #nosec G306 - config file needs 0644
 	if err := os.WriteFile(ignorePath, []byte(newContent), 0644); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write global gitignore: %w", err)
+		fmt.Printf("\nUnable to write to %s (file is read-only)\n\n", ignorePath)
+		fmt.Printf("To enable stealth mode, add these lines to your global gitignore:\n\n")
+		if !hasBeads || !hasClaude {
+			fmt.Printf("# Beads stealth mode: %s\n", projectPath)
+		}
+		if !hasBeads {
+			fmt.Printf("%s\n", beadsPattern)
+		}
+		if !hasClaude {
+			fmt.Printf("%s\n", claudePattern)
+		}
+		fmt.Println()
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	if verbose {
diff --git a/cmd/bd/init_test.go b/cmd/bd/init_test.go
index 4f2b9e40..4f81122e 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/init_test.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/init_test.go
@@ -1047,3 +1047,92 @@ func TestSetupClaudeSettings_NoExistingFile(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("File should contain bd onboard prompt")
 	}
 }
+
+// TestSetupGlobalGitIgnore_ReadOnly verifies graceful handling when the
+// gitignore file cannot be written (prints manual instructions instead of failing).
+func TestSetupGlobalGitIgnore_ReadOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("read-only file", func(t *testing.T) {
+		tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+		configDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".config", "git")
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(configDir, 0755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
+		ignorePath := filepath.Join(configDir, "ignore")
+		if err := os.WriteFile(ignorePath, []byte("# existing\n"), 0644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.Chmod(ignorePath, 0444); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		defer os.Chmod(ignorePath, 0644)
+
+		output := captureStdout(t, func() error {
+			return setupGlobalGitIgnore(tmpDir, "/test/project", false)
+		})
+
+		if !strings.Contains(output, "Unable to write") {
+			t.Error("expected instructions for manual addition")
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(output, "/test/project/.beads/") {
+			t.Error("expected .beads pattern in output")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("symlink to read-only file", func(t *testing.T) {
+		tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+
+		// Target file in a separate location
+		targetDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "target")
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(targetDir, 0755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		targetFile := filepath.Join(targetDir, "ignore")
+		if err := os.WriteFile(targetFile, []byte("# existing\n"), 0644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.Chmod(targetFile, 0444); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		defer os.Chmod(targetFile, 0644)
+
+		// Symlink from expected location
+		configDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".config", "git")
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(configDir, 0755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.Symlink(targetFile, filepath.Join(configDir, "ignore")); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
+		output := captureStdout(t, func() error {
+			return setupGlobalGitIgnore(tmpDir, "/test/project", false)
+		})
+
+		if !strings.Contains(output, "Unable to write") {
+			t.Error("expected instructions for manual addition")
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(output, "/test/project/.beads/") {
+			t.Error("expected .beads pattern in output")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func captureStdout(t *testing.T, fn func() error) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	oldStdout := os.Stdout
+	r, w, _ := os.Pipe()
+	os.Stdout = w
+
+	err := fn()
+
+	w.Close()
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	buf.ReadFrom(r)
+	os.Stdout = oldStdout
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	return buf.String()
+}