fix(init): error when redirect target already has database

When running `bd init` from a directory with a .beads/redirect file
pointing to a canonical .beads/ that already has a database, init
now errors instead of silently overwriting the existing database.

This prevents accidental data loss when:
- A project uses redirect to share a canonical database
- Someone runs `bd init` from the redirected location
- The canonical database was already initialized

The error message clearly explains:
- What happened (redirect target already has database)
- Where the redirect points to
- How to use the existing database (just run bd commands normally)
- How to reinitialize if needed (rm the database first)

Adds test: TestInitWithRedirectToExistingDatabase

Part of GH#bd-0qel

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

cmd/bd/init.go

@@ -805,6 +805,9 @@ func readFirstIssueFromGit(jsonlPath, gitRef string) (*types.Issue, error) {
 //
 // For worktrees, checks the main repository root instead of current directory
 // since worktrees should share the database with the main repository.
+//
+// For redirects, checks the redirect target and errors if it already has a database.
+// This prevents accidentally overwriting an existing canonical database (GH#bd-0qel).
 func checkExistingBeadsData(prefix string) error {
 	cwd, err := os.Getwd()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -855,6 +858,34 @@ Aborting.`, ui.RenderWarn("⚠"), doltPath, ui.RenderAccent("bd list"), prefix)
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Check for redirect file - if present, we need to check the redirect target (GH#bd-0qel)
+	redirectTarget := beads.FollowRedirect(beadsDir)
+	if redirectTarget != beadsDir {
+		// There's a redirect - check if the target already has a database
+		targetDBPath := filepath.Join(redirectTarget, beads.CanonicalDatabaseName)
+		if _, err := os.Stat(targetDBPath); err == nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf(`
+%s Cannot init: redirect target already has database
+
+Local .beads redirects to: %s
+That location already has: %s
+
+The redirect target is already initialized. Running init here would overwrite it.
+
+To use the existing database:
+  Just run bd commands normally (e.g., %s)
+  The redirect will route to the canonical database.
+
+To reinitialize the canonical location (data loss warning):
+  rm %s && bd init --prefix %s
+
+Aborting.`, ui.RenderWarn("⚠"), redirectTarget, targetDBPath, ui.RenderAccent("bd list"), targetDBPath, prefix)
+		}
+		// Redirect target has no database - safe to init there
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Check for existing database file (no redirect case)
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(beadsDir, beads.CanonicalDatabaseName)
 	if _, err := os.Stat(dbPath); err == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf(`

cmd/bd/init_test.go

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/beads"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/config"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/git"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/storage/sqlite"
 )
 
 func TestInitCommand(t *testing.T) {
@@ -1551,3 +1552,94 @@ func TestInitWithRedirect(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Expected prefix 'redirect-test', got %q", prefix)
 	}
 }
+
+// TestInitWithRedirectToExistingDatabase verifies that bd init errors when the redirect
+// target already has a database, preventing accidental overwrites. (GH#bd-0qel)
+func TestInitWithRedirectToExistingDatabase(t *testing.T) {
+	// Reset global state
+	origDBPath := dbPath
+	defer func() { dbPath = origDBPath }()
+	dbPath = ""
+
+	// Clear BEADS_DIR to ensure we test the tree search path
+	origBeadsDir := os.Getenv("BEADS_DIR")
+	os.Unsetenv("BEADS_DIR")
+	defer func() {
+		if origBeadsDir != "" {
+			os.Setenv("BEADS_DIR", origBeadsDir)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	// Reset Cobra flags
+	initCmd.Flags().Set("prefix", "")
+	initCmd.Flags().Set("quiet", "false")
+	initCmd.Flags().Set("force", "false")
+
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+
+	// Create canonical .beads directory with EXISTING database
+	canonicalDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "canonical")
+	canonicalBeadsDir := filepath.Join(canonicalDir, ".beads")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(canonicalBeadsDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Create an existing database in canonical location
+	canonicalDBPath := filepath.Join(canonicalBeadsDir, "beads.db")
+	store, err := sqlite.New(context.Background(), canonicalDBPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create canonical database: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := store.SetConfig(context.Background(), "issue_prefix", "existing"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to set prefix in canonical database: %v", err)
+	}
+	store.Close()
+
+	// Create project directory with redirect to canonical
+	projectDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "project")
+	projectBeadsDir := filepath.Join(projectDir, ".beads")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(projectBeadsDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Write redirect file pointing to canonical
+	redirectPath := filepath.Join(projectBeadsDir, beads.RedirectFileName)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(redirectPath, []byte("../canonical/.beads\n"), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Test checkExistingBeadsData directly since init uses os.Exit(1) which terminates tests
+	// Change to project directory first
+	origWd, _ := os.Getwd()
+	if err := os.Chdir(projectDir); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer os.Chdir(origWd)
+
+	// Call checkExistingBeadsData directly - should return error
+	err = checkExistingBeadsData("new-prefix")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Expected checkExistingBeadsData to return error when redirect target already has database")
+	}
+
+	errorMsg := err.Error()
+	if !strings.Contains(errorMsg, "redirect target already has database") {
+		t.Errorf("Expected error about redirect target having database, got: %s", errorMsg)
+	}
+
+	// Verify canonical database was NOT modified
+	store, err = openExistingTestDB(t, canonicalDBPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to reopen canonical database: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer store.Close()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	prefix, err := store.GetConfig(ctx, "issue_prefix")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to get prefix from canonical database: %v", err)
+	}
+	if prefix != "existing" {
+		t.Errorf("Canonical database prefix should still be 'existing', got %q (was overwritten!)", prefix)
+	}
+}