Improve CheckStaleness error handling

## Problem

CheckStaleness returns 'false' (not stale) for multiple error conditions instead of returning errors. This masks problems.

**Location:** internal/autoimport/autoimport.go:253-285

## Edge Cases That Return False

1. **Invalid last_import_time format** (line 259-262)
2. **No JSONL file found** (line 267-277)
3. **JSONL stat fails** (line 279-282)

## Fix

Return errors for abnormal conditions:

```go
lastImportTime, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, lastImportStr)
if err != nil {
    return false, fmt.Errorf("corrupted last_import_time: %w", err)
}

if jsonlPath == "" {
    return false, fmt.Errorf("no JSONL file found")
}

stat, err := os.Stat(jsonlPath)
if err != nil {
    return false, fmt.Errorf("cannot stat JSONL: %w", err)
}
```

## Impact
Medium - edge cases are rare but should be handled

## Effort
30 minutes - requires updating callers in RPC server


GH#509: bd doesn't find .beads when running from nested worktrees

When worktrees are nested under main repo (.worktrees/feature/), bd stops at worktree git root instead of continuing to find .beads in parent. See GitHub issue #509 for detailed fix suggestion.


Molecule bonding: composable workflow templates

Vision: Molecules should be composable like LEGO bricks or Mad Max war rig sections. Bonding lets you attach molecules together to create compound workflows.

THREE BONDING CONTEXTS:
1. Template-time: bd mol bond A B → Create reusable compound proto
2. Spawn-time: bd mol spawn A --attach B → Attach modules when instantiating
3. Runtime: bd mol attach epic B → Add to running workflow

BOND TYPES:
- Sequential: B after A completes (feature → deploy)
- Parallel: B runs alongside A (feature + docs)
- Conditional: B only if A fails (feature → hotfix)

BOND POINTS (Attachment Sites):
- Default: B depends on A root epic completion
- Explicit: --after issue-id for specific attachment
- Future: Named bond points in proto definitions

VARIABLE FLOW:
- Shared namespace between bonded molecules
- Warn on variable name conflicts
- Future: explicit mapping with --map

DATA MODEL: Issues track bonded_from to preserve compound lineage.

SUCCESS CRITERIA:
- Can bond two protos into a compound proto
- Can spawn with --attach for on-the-fly composition
- Can attach molecules to running workflows
- Compound structure visible in bd mol show
- Variables flow correctly between bonded molecules

SIMPLIFIED API (per design review):

CORE COMMANDS:
- bd mol spawn <proto> - Instantiate proto → molecule
- bd mol bond <A> <B> - Polymorphic bonding (any combination)
- bd mol distill <mol> - Extract molecule → proto
- bd mol show/catalog - Inspect

BOND IS POLYMORPHIC:
| bond A B      | Result                              |
|---------------|-------------------------------------|
| proto + proto | compound proto                      |
| proto + mol   | spawn proto, attach to mol          |
| mol + proto   | spawn proto, attach to mol          |
| mol + mol     | join into compound molecule         |

BOND TYPES: sequential (default), parallel, conditional

TERMINOLOGY:
- Proto: Uninstantiated template (easter egg: 'protomolecule')
- Molecule: Spawned instance of a proto
- Compound: Result of bonding (proto or molecule)
- Distill: Extract proto from ad-hoc epic

All core bonding features implemented (6/7 children closed, 1 deferred for future polish)


Priority: refactor mol.go then bd squash

Two tasks:

1. bd-cnwx - Refactor mol.go (1200+ lines, split by subcommand)
2. bd-2vh3 - Ephemeral cleanup (bd cleanup --ephemeral)

Refactor first - smaller, unblocks easier review of future mol work.

- Mayor

mol.go refactor (bd-cnwx) done. Epic bd-2vh3 now has 5 tiered implementation tasks with dependencies.


Polymorphic bond command: bd mol bond A B

Implement proto-to-proto bonding to create compound protos.

COMMAND: bd mol bond proto-feature proto-testing [--as proto-feature-tested] [--type sequential]

BEHAVIOR:
- Load both proto subgraphs
- Create new compound proto with combined structure
- B's root becomes child of A's root (sequential) or sibling (parallel)
- Wire dependencies: B depends on A's leaf nodes (sequential) or runs parallel
- Store bonded_from metadata for lineage tracking

FLAGS:
- --as NAME: Custom ID for compound proto (default: generates hash)
- --type: sequential (default) or parallel
- --dry-run: Preview compound structure

OUTPUT:
- New compound proto in catalog
- Shows combined variable requirements

UPDATE: bond is now polymorphic - handles proto+proto, proto+mol, and mol+mol based on operand types. Separate 'attach' command eliminated.


Exclude pinned issues from bd ready

Update bd ready to exclude pinned issues. Pinned issues are context markers, not work items, and should never appear in the ready-to-work list.

Already implemented in SQLite (line 18). Added memory storage exclusion for completeness.


Spawn-time bonding: --attach flag

Add --attach flag to bd mol spawn for on-the-fly composition.

COMMAND: bd mol spawn proto-feature --attach proto-docs --attach proto-testing

BEHAVIOR:
- Spawn the primary proto as normal
- For each --attach: spawn that proto and wire to primary
- Attachments become children of primary's root epic
- Dependencies wired based on bond type (default: sequential)

FLAGS:
- --attach PROTO: Attach a proto (can repeat)
- --attach-type TYPE: sequential (default) or parallel for all attachments
- --after ISSUE: Attachment point for attached protos

VARIABLE HANDLING:
- All attached protos share variable namespace
- Warn on variable name conflicts
- All --var flags apply to all protos

DESIGN NOTE: This is syntactic sugar. Equivalent to:
  bd mol spawn proto-A
  bd mol bond $new_epic_id proto-B

Keeping as separate task because it's a common UX pattern worth optimizing.

Implemented --attach and --attach-type flags for bd mol spawn. Fixed pre-existing bug where bondProtoMol and bondMolMol tried to add duplicate dependencies (UNIQUE constraint). Sequential bonds now use blocks type, parallel/conditional use parent-child.


Improve version bump molecule with missing steps

During v0.32.1 release, discovered missing steps in the release molecule:

**Missing from molecule:**
1. Rebuild ~/go/bin/bd (only did ~/.local/bin/bd)
2. Install beads-mcp from local source: `uv tool install --reinstall ./integrations/beads-mcp`
3. Restart daemons with `bd daemons killall`
4. (Optional) Publish beads-mcp to PyPI

**Current molecule steps (bd-6s61):**
1. Update CHANGELOG.md
2. Update info.go versionChanges
3. Run bump-version.sh
4. Run tests and linting
5. Update local installation
6. Commit and push release
7. Wait for CI
8. Verify release artifacts

**Proposed additions:**
- After "Update local installation": rebuild BOTH ~/.local/bin/bd AND ~/go/bin/bd
- Add: "Install beads-mcp from source" step
- Add: "Restart daemons" step
- Add: "Verify all versions match" step that checks all artifacts

**Also learned:**
- Must run from mayor/rig to avoid git conflicts with bd sync (already documented in bump-version.sh)

CORRECTION: npm publishing IS automated and working!

**Package naming:**
- OLD: `beads` (npm) - deprecated, stuck at 0.2.1
- CURRENT: `@beads/bd` (npm) - scoped package, auto-published by CI

**How it works:**
- CI uses OIDC trusted publishing (no token needed)
- Workflow: .github/workflows/release.yml → publish-npm job
- Permissions: `id-token: write` enables GitHub OIDC
- To install: `npm install -g @beads/bd` (not `npm install beads`)

**All publishing is automated on tag push:**
1. GitHub Release - goreleaser ✓
2. PyPI - publish-pypi job ✓
3. Homebrew - update-homebrew job ✓
4. npm (@beads/bd) - publish-npm job ✓

**Remaining molecule improvements (local steps only):**
- Rebuild BOTH ~/.local/bin/bd AND ~/go/bin/bd
- Install beads-mcp from source: `uv tool install --reinstall ./integrations/beads-mcp`
- Restart daemons: `bd daemons killall`
- Run from mayor/rig to avoid git conflicts with bd sync
- Final verification step to check all local versions match

Implemented: Added --install (dual location), --mcp-local, --restart-daemons, and --all flags to bump-version.sh. Updated RELEASING.md with new flag documentation.


refinery Handoff

attached_molecule: bd-ndye
attached_at: 2025-12-23T12:35:07Z


Implement transaction retry logic for SQLITE_BUSY

BEGIN IMMEDIATE fails immediately on SQLITE_BUSY instead of retrying with exponential backoff.

Location: internal/storage/sqlite/sqlite.go:223-225

Problem:
- Under concurrent write load, BEGIN IMMEDIATE can fail with SQLITE_BUSY
- Current implementation fails immediately instead of retrying
- Results in spurious failures under normal concurrent usage

Solution: Implement exponential backoff retry:
- Retry up to N times (e.g., 5)
- Backoff: 10ms, 20ms, 40ms, 80ms, 160ms
- Check for context cancellation between retries
- Only retry on SQLITE_BUSY/database locked errors

Impact: Spurious failures under concurrent write load

Effort: 3 hours

Already implemented: beginImmediateWithRetry in util.go provides exponential backoff (5 retries, 10ms→160ms) for SQLITE_BUSY errors, used by RunInTransaction. Tests in util_test.go verify behavior.


Support external: prefix in blocked_by field

Allow blocked_by to include external project references:

```bash
bd update gt-xyz --blocked-by="external:beads:mol-run-assignee"
```

Syntax: `external:<project>:<capability>`
- project: name from external_projects config
- capability: matches provides:<capability> label in target project

Storage: Store as-is in blocked_by array. Resolution happens at query time.

Part of cross-project dependency system.
See: gastown/docs/cross-project-deps.md

Implemented: bd dep add accepts external:project:capability syntax, stores as-is, shows in blocked output, updates blocked cache


Add comments to 30+ silently ignored errors or fix them

Code health review found 30+ instances of error suppression using blank identifier without explanation:

Good examples (with comments):
- merge.go: _ = gitRmCmd.Run() // Ignore errors
- daemon_watcher.go: _ = watcher.Add(...) // Ignore error

Bad examples (no context):
- create.go:213: dbPrefix, _ = store.GetConfig(ctx, "issue_prefix")
- daemon_sync_branch.go: _ = daemonClient.Close()
- migrate_hash_ids.go, version_tracking.go: _ = store.Close()

Fix: Add comments explaining WHY errors are ignored, or handle them properly.

Added explanatory comments to 24 production file locations with ignored errors. Categories: Cobra flags (only fail if missing), best-effort cleanup/close operations, process signaling.


Fix update-homebrew.sh awk script corrupts formula

The awk script in scripts/update-homebrew.sh incorrectly removes platform conditionals (on_macos do, on_linux do, if Hardware::CPU.arm?, etc.) when updating SHA256 hashes. This corrupts the Homebrew formula.

The issue is the awk script uses 'next' to skip lines containing platform conditionals but never reconstructs them, resulting in a syntax-invalid formula.

Found during v0.34.0 release - had to manually fix the formula.

Fix options:
1. Rewrite awk script to properly preserve structure while updating sha256 lines only
2. Use sed instead with targeted sha256 replacements
3. Template approach - store formula template and fill in version/hashes

Fixed awk script - removed 'next' statements that skipped structural lines, now uses sub() to replace sha256 values in-place


Work on beads-tip: Fix broken Claude integration link in ...

Work on beads-tip: Fix broken Claude integration link in bd doctor (GH#623). Update URL that doesn't exist. When done, submit MR (not PR) to integration branch for Refinery.

Fixed broken Claude plugin URL in bd doctor


Code Review: PR #481 - Context Engineering Optimizations

Comprehensive code review of the merged context engineering PR (PR #481) that reduces MCP context usage by 80-90%.

## Summary
The PR successfully implements lazy tool schema loading and minimal issue models to reduce context window usage. Overall implementation is solid and well-tested.

## Positive Findings
✅ Well-designed models (IssueMinimal, CompactedResult)
✅ Comprehensive test coverage (28 tests, all passing)
✅ Clear documentation and comments
✅ Backward compatibility preserved (show() still returns full Issue)
✅ Sensible defaults (COMPACTION_THRESHOLD=20, PREVIEW_COUNT=5)
✅ Tool catalog complete with all 15 tools documented

## Issues Identified
See linked issues for specific followup tasks.

## Context Engineering Architecture
- discover_tools(): List tool names only (~500 bytes vs ~15KB)
- get_tool_info(name): Get specific tool details on-demand
- IssueMinimal: Lightweight model for list views (~80 bytes vs ~400 bytes)
- CompactedResult: Auto-compacts results with >20 issues
- _to_minimal(): Conversion function (efficient, no N+1 issues)


Wait for CI to pass

Monitor GitHub Actions - all checks must pass before release artifacts are built


Bump version in all files

Run ./scripts/bump-version.sh 0.33.2 to update 10 version files. Then run with --commit after info.go is updated.


mol-christmas-launch: 3-day execution plan

Christmas Launch Molecule - execute phases in order, survive restarts.

PIN THIS BEAD. Check progress each session start.

## Step: phase0-beads-foundation
Fix blocking issues before swarming:
1. Verify gastown beads schema works: bd list --status=open
2. Ensure bd mol bond exists (check bd-usro)
3. Verify bd-2vh3 (squash) is filed

## Step: phase1-polecat-loop
Serial work on polecat execution:
1. gt-9nf: Fresh polecats only
2. gt-975: Molecule execution support
3. gt-8v8: Refuse uncommitted work
Then swarm: gt-e1y, gt-f8v, gt-eu9
Needs: phase0-beads-foundation

## Step: phase2-refinery
Serial work on refinery autonomy:
1. gt-5gkd: Refinery CLAUDE.md
2. gt-bj6f: Refinery context in gt prime
3. gt-0qki: Refinery-Witness protocol
Needs: phase1-polecat-loop

## Step: phase3-deacon
Health monitoring infrastructure:
1. gt-5af.4: Simplify daemon
2. gt-5af.7: Crew session patterns
3. gt-976: Crew lifecycle
Needs: phase2-refinery

## Step: phase4-code-review
Self-improvement flywheel:
1. Define mol-code-review (gt-fjvo)
2. Test on open MRs
3. Integrate with Refinery
Needs: phase3-deacon

## Step: phase5-polish
Demo readiness:
1. gt-b2hj: Find orphaned work
2. Doctor checks
3. Clean up open MRs
Needs: phase4-code-review

## Step: verify-flywheel
Success criteria:
- gt spawn works with molecules
- Refinery processes MRs autonomously
- mol-code-review runs on a PR
- bd cleanup --ephemeral works
Needs: phase5-polish

Beads portion complete (phase0-beads-foundation done). Gastown tracks remainder.


Release v0.30.4

## Version Bump Workflow

Coordinating release from 0.30.3 to 0.30.4.

### Components Updated
- Go CLI (cmd/bd/version.go)
- Claude Plugin (.claude-plugin/*.json)
- MCP Server (integrations/beads-mcp/)
- npm Package (npm-package/package.json)
- Git hooks (cmd/bd/templates/hooks/)

### Release Channels
- GitHub Releases (GoReleaser)
- PyPI (beads-mcp)
- npm (@beads/cli)
- Homebrew (homebrew-beads tap)


Update cmd/bd/version.go to 0.30.4

Update the Version constant in cmd/bd/version.go:
```go
Version = "0.30.4"
```

```verify
grep -q 'Version = "0.30.4"' cmd/bd/version.go
```


Run check-versions.sh - all must pass

Run the version consistency check:
```bash
./scripts/check-versions.sh
```

All versions must match 0.30.4.

```verify
./scripts/check-versions.sh
```


Commit changes and create v0.30.4 tag

```bash
git add -A
git commit -m "chore: Bump version to 0.30.4"
git tag -a v0.30.4 -m "Release v0.30.4"
```

```verify
git describe --tags --exact-match HEAD 2>/dev/null | grep -q 'v0.30.4'
```


Push commit and tag to origin

```bash
git push origin main
git push origin v0.30.4
```

This triggers GitHub Actions:
- GoReleaser build
- PyPI publish
- npm publish

```verify
git ls-remote origin refs/tags/v0.30.4 | grep -q 'v0.30.4'
```


Monitor GoReleaser CI job

Watch the GoReleaser action:
https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/actions/workflows/release.yml

Should complete in ~10 minutes and create:
- GitHub Release with binaries for all platforms
- Checksums and signatures

Check status:
```bash
gh run list --workflow=release.yml -L 1
gh run watch  # to monitor live
```

Verify release exists:
```bash
gh release view v0.30.4
```

```verify
gh release view v0.30.4 --json tagName -q .tagName | grep -q 'v0.30.4'
```


Monitor PyPI publish

Watch the PyPI publish action:
https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/actions/workflows/pypi-publish.yml

Verify at: https://pypi.org/project/beads-mcp/0.30.4/

Check:
```bash
pip index versions beads-mcp 2>/dev/null | grep -q '0.30.4'
```

```verify
pip index versions beads-mcp 2>/dev/null | grep -q '0.30.4' || curl -s https://pypi.org/pypi/beads-mcp/json | jq -e '.releases["0.30.4"]'
```


Monitor npm publish

Watch the npm publish action:
https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/actions/workflows/npm-publish.yml

Verify at: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@anthropics/claude-code-beads-plugin/v/0.30.4

Check:
```bash
npm view @anthropics/claude-code-beads-plugin@0.30.4 version
```

```verify
npm view @anthropics/claude-code-beads-plugin@0.30.4 version 2>/dev/null | grep -q '0.30.4'
```


Update Homebrew formula

After GoReleaser completes, the Homebrew tap should be auto-updated.

If manual update needed:
```bash
./scripts/update-homebrew.sh v0.30.4
```

Or manually update steveyegge/homebrew-beads with new SHA256.

Verify:
```bash
brew update
brew info beads
```


Install 0.30.4 Go binary locally

Rebuild and install the Go binary:
```bash
go install ./cmd/bd
# OR
make install
```

Verify:
```bash
bd --version
```

```verify
bd --version 2>&1 | grep -q '0.30.4'
```


Restart beads daemon

Kill any running daemons so they pick up the new version:
```bash
bd daemons killall
```

Start fresh daemon:
```bash
bd list  # triggers daemon start
```

Verify daemon version:
```bash
bd version --daemon
```

```verify
bd version --daemon 2>&1 | grep -q '0.30.4'
```


Install 0.30.4 MCP server locally

Upgrade the MCP server (after PyPI publish):
```bash
pip install --upgrade beads-mcp
# OR if using uv:
uv tool upgrade beads-mcp
```

Verify:
```bash
pip show beads-mcp | grep Version
```

```verify
pip show beads-mcp 2>/dev/null | grep -q 'Version: 0.30.4'
```


Update CHANGELOG.md for 0.30.4

1. Change `## [Unreleased]` to `## [0.30.4] - 2025-12-17`
2. Add new empty `## [Unreleased]` section at top
3. Ensure all changes since 0.30.3 are documented


Update git hooks

Install the updated hooks:
```bash
bd hooks install
```

Verify hook version:
```bash
grep 'bd-hooks-version' .git/hooks/pre-commit
```

```verify
grep -q 'bd-hooks-version: 0.30.4' .git/hooks/pre-commit 2>/dev/null || echo 'Hooks may not be installed - verify manually'
```


Final release verification

Verify all release artifacts are accessible:

- [ ] `bd --version` shows 0.30.4
- [ ] `bd version --daemon` shows 0.30.4
- [ ] GitHub release exists: https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/releases/tag/v0.30.4
- [ ] `brew upgrade beads && bd --version` shows 0.30.4 (if using Homebrew)
- [ ] `pip show beads-mcp` shows 0.30.4
- [ ] npm package available at 0.30.4
- [ ] `bd info --whats-new` shows 0.30.4 notes

Run final checks:
```bash
bd --version
bd version --daemon
pip show beads-mcp | grep Version
bd info --whats-new
```


Add 0.30.4 to info.go release notes

Update cmd/bd/info.go versionChanges map with release notes for 0.30.4.
Include any workflow-impacting changes for --whats-new output.


Update .claude-plugin/plugin.json to 0.30.4

Update version field in .claude-plugin/plugin.json:
```json
"version": "0.30.4"
```

```verify
jq -e '.version == "0.30.4"' .claude-plugin/plugin.json
```


Update .claude-plugin/marketplace.json to 0.30.4

Update version field in .claude-plugin/marketplace.json:
```json
"version": "0.30.4"
```

```verify
jq -e '.plugins[0].version == "0.30.4"' .claude-plugin/marketplace.json
```


Update integrations/beads-mcp/pyproject.toml to 0.30.4

Update version in pyproject.toml:
```toml
version = "0.30.4"
```

```verify
grep -q 'version = "0.30.4"' integrations/beads-mcp/pyproject.toml
```


Update beads_mcp/__init__.py to 0.30.4

Update __version__ in integrations/beads-mcp/src/beads_mcp/__init__.py:
```python
__version__ = "0.30.4"
```

```verify
grep -q '__version__ = "0.30.4"' integrations/beads-mcp/src/beads_mcp/__init__.py
```


Update npm-package/package.json to 0.30.4

Update version field in npm-package/package.json:
```json
"version": "0.30.4"
```

```verify
jq -e '.version == "0.30.4"' npm-package/package.json
```


Update hook templates to 0.30.4

Update bd-hooks-version comment in all 4 hook templates:
- cmd/bd/templates/hooks/pre-commit
- cmd/bd/templates/hooks/post-merge
- cmd/bd/templates/hooks/pre-push
- cmd/bd/templates/hooks/post-checkout

Each should have:
```bash
# bd-hooks-version: 0.30.4
```

```verify
grep -l 'bd-hooks-version: 0.30.4' cmd/bd/templates/hooks/* | wc -l | grep -q '4'
```


Consider backwards compatibility for ready() and list() return type change

PR #481 changed the return types of `ready()` and `list()` from `list[Issue]` to `list[IssueMinimal] | CompactedResult`. This is a breaking change for MCP clients.

## Impact Assessment
Breaking change affects:
- Any MCP client expecting `list[Issue]` from ready()
- Any MCP client expecting `list[Issue]` from list()
- Client code that accesses full Issue fields (description, design, acceptance_criteria, timestamps, dependencies, dependents)

## Current Behavior
- ready() returns `list[IssueMinimal] | CompactedResult`
- list() returns `list[IssueMinimal] | CompactedResult`
- show() still returns full `Issue` (good)

## Considerations
**Pros of current approach:**
- Forces clients to use show() for full details (good for context efficiency)
- Simple mental model (always use show for full data)
- Documentation warns about this

**Cons:**
- Clients expecting list[Issue] will break
- No graceful degradation option
- No migration period

## Potential Solutions
1. Add optional parameter `full_details=false` to ready/list (would increase payload)
2. Create separate tools: ready_minimal/list_minimal + ready_full/list_full
3. Accept breaking change and document upgrade path (current approach)
4. Version the MCP server and document migration guide

## Recommendation
Current approach (solution 3) is reasonable if:
- Changelog clearly documents the breaking change
- Migration guide provided to clients
- Error handling is graceful for clients expecting specific fields


JSON test issue

Line 1
Line 2
Line 3


Clean up orphaned child issues (bd-cb64c226.*, bd-cbed9619.*)

## Problem

Every bd command shows warnings about 12 orphaned child issues:
- bd-cb64c226.1, .6, .8, .9, .10, .12, .13
- bd-cbed9619.1, .2, .3, .4, .5

These are hierarchical IDs (parent.child format) where the parent issues no longer exist.

## Impact

- Clutters output of every bd command
- Confusing for users
- Indicates incomplete cleanup of deleted parent issues

## Proposed Solution

1. Delete the orphaned issues since their parents no longer exist:
   ```bash
   bd delete bd-cb64c226.1 bd-cb64c226.6 bd-cb64c226.8 ...
   ```

2. Or convert them to top-level issues if they contain useful content

## Investigation Needed

- What were the parent issues bd-cb64c226 and bd-cbed9619?
- Why were they deleted without their children?
- Should bd delete cascade to children automatically?


Add timeout message for long-running git push operations

When git push hangs waiting for credential/browser auth, show a periodic message to the user instead of appearing frozen. Add timeout messaging after N seconds of inactivity during git operations.


Add 0.33.2 to versionChanges in info.go

Add new entry at TOP of versionChanges in cmd/bd/info.go with release notes from CHANGELOG.md. Must do before bump-version.sh --commit.


Add tests for dependency management

Key dependency functions like mergeBidirectionalTrees, GetDependencyTree, and DetectCycles have low or no coverage. These are essential for maintaining data integrity in the dependency graph.


Merge: bd-4opy

branch: polecat/angharad
target: main
source_issue: bd-4opy
rig: beads


gt handoff deadlock at handoff.go:125

When running 'gt handoff -m "message"' after successful MR submit, go panics with 'fatal error: all goroutines are asleep - deadlock\!' at handoff.go:125. The shutdown request still appears to be sent successfully but the command crashes. Stack trace shows issue is in runHandoff select statement.


Standardize error handling: replace direct fmt.Fprintf+os.Exit with FatalError

Code health review found inconsistent error handling patterns:

Pattern A (preferred): FatalError() from errors.go:21-24
Pattern B (inconsistent): Direct fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr) + os.Exit(1)

Affected files:
- delete.go:35-49 uses direct pattern
- create.go:213 ignores error silently
- Various other commands

Fix: Standardize on FatalError() wrapper for consistent error messages and testability.

Investigation found ~1129 fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr) calls in production code. Many are followed by os.Exit(1) and could use FatalError. Estimated: significant effort requiring mechanical but careful changes.


Run bump-version.sh {{version}}

Run ./scripts/bump-version.sh {{version}} to update version in all files


Release v{{version}}

Version bump workflow for beads release {{version}}.

## Variables
- `{{version}}` - The new version number (e.g., 0.31.0)
- `{{date}}` - Release date (YYYY-MM-DD format)

## Workflow Steps
1. Kill running daemons
2. Run tests and linting
3. Bump version in all files (10 files total)
4. Update cmd/bd/info.go with release notes
5. Commit and push version bump
6. Create and push git tag
7. Update Homebrew formula
8. Upgrade local Homebrew installation
9. Verify installation

## Files Updated by bump-version.sh
- cmd/bd/version.go
- .claude-plugin/plugin.json
- .claude-plugin/marketplace.json
- integrations/beads-mcp/pyproject.toml
- integrations/beads-mcp/src/beads_mcp/__init__.py
- README.md
- npm-package/package.json
- cmd/bd/templates/hooks/* (4 files)
- CHANGELOG.md

## Manual Step Required
- cmd/bd/info.go - Add versionChanges entry with release notes


Update version to {{version}} in version.go

Edit cmd/bd/version.go line 17:

```go
Version = "{{version}}"
```

Verify with: `grep 'Version =' cmd/bd/version.go`


Upgrade local Homebrew installation

Upgrade bd via Homebrew:

```bash
brew update
brew upgrade bd
/opt/homebrew/bin/bd version  # Verify shows {{version}}
```

**Note**: If `brew upgrade` fails with CLT (Command Line Tools) errors on bleeding-edge macOS versions (e.g., Tahoe 26.x):

```bash
# Reinstall CLT
sudo rm -rf /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools
xcode-select --install
# Wait for GUI installer to complete, then retry brew upgrade
```

Alternative: Skip Homebrew and use go install:
```bash
go install ./cmd/bd
~/go/bin/bd version  # Verify shows {{version}}
```


Update go install bd to {{version}}

Rebuild and install bd to ~/go/bin:

```bash
go install ./cmd/bd
~/go/bin/bd version  # Verify shows {{version}}
```

Note: If ~/go/bin is in PATH before /opt/homebrew/bin, this is the version that runs by default.


Restart daemon with {{version}}

Restart the bd daemon to pick up new version:

```bash
bd daemon --stop
bd daemon --start
bd daemon --health  # Verify Version: {{version}}
```


Upgrade beads-mcp to {{version}}

Upgrade the MCP server via pip:

```bash
pip install --upgrade beads-mcp
pip show beads-mcp | grep Version  # Verify {{version}}
```

Note: Restart Claude Code or MCP session to use new version.


Add {{version}} to versionChanges in info.go

Add new entry at the TOP of versionChanges array in cmd/bd/info.go:

```go
{
    Version: "{{version}}",
    Date:    "{{date}}",
    Changes: []string{
        // Add notable changes here
    },
},
```

Copy changes from CHANGELOG.md [Unreleased] section.


Update CHANGELOG.md for {{version}}

In CHANGELOG.md:

1. Change `## [Unreleased]` section header to `## [{{version}}] - {{date}}`
2. Add new empty `## [Unreleased]` section above it
3. Review and clean up the changes list

Format:
```markdown
## [Unreleased]

## [{{version}}] - {{date}}

### Added
- ...

### Changed
- ...

### Fixed
- ...
```


Run tests and verify build

Run the test suite to verify nothing is broken:

```bash
./scripts/test.sh
```

Or manually:
```bash
go build ./cmd/bd/...
go test ./...
```

Fix any failures before proceeding.


Commit release v{{version}}

Stage and commit the version bump:

```bash
git add cmd/bd/version.go cmd/bd/info.go CHANGELOG.md
git commit -m "release: v{{version}}"
```

Do NOT push yet - tag first.


Create git tag v{{version}}

Create the release tag:

```bash
git tag v{{version}}
```

Verify: `git tag | grep {{version}}`


Push release v{{version}} to remote

Push the commit and tag:

```bash
git push && git push --tags
```

Verify on GitHub that the tag appears in releases.


Create and push git tag v{{version}}

Create the release tag and push it:

```bash
git tag v{{version}}
git push origin v{{version}}
```

This triggers the GoReleaser GitHub Action to build release binaries.


Update Homebrew formula

Update the Homebrew tap with new version:

```bash
./scripts/update-homebrew.sh {{version}}
```

This script waits for GitHub Actions to complete (~5 min), then updates the formula with new SHA256 hashes.

After running, verify the formula with:

```bash
brew info steveyegge/beads/bd
```


Add integration tests for RPC server and event loops

After adding basic unit tests for daemon utilities, the complex daemon functions still need integration tests:

Core daemon lifecycle:
- startRPCServer: Initializes and starts RPC server with proper error handling
- runEventLoop: Polling-based sync loop with parent monitoring and signal handling
- runDaemonLoop: Main daemon initialization and setup

Health checking:
- isDaemonHealthy: Checks daemon responsiveness and health metrics
- checkDaemonHealth: Periodic health verification

These require more complex test infrastructure (mock RPC, test contexts, signal handling) and should be tackled after the unit test foundation is in place.


gt mq list shows empty when MRs exist


Support --reason flag in daemon mode for reopen command

The reopen.go command has a TODO at line 61 to add reason as a comment once RPC supports AddComment. Currently --reason flag is ignored in daemon mode with a warning.

Already implemented in commit 78847147: reopen command now adds reason as comment in daemon mode via RPC AddComment


Phase 2.5: TOON-based daemon sync

Implement TOON-native daemon sync (replaces JSONL sync machinery).

## Overview
Daemon sync is the final integration point. Replace export/import/merge machinery with TOON-native sync, building on deletion tracking (2.3) and merge optimization (2.4).

## Required Work

### 2.5.1 TOON-based Daemon Sync
- [ ] Understand current JSONL sync machinery (export.go, import.go, merge.go)
- [ ] Replace export step with TOON encoding (EncodeTOON)
- [ ] Replace import step with TOON decoding (DecodeTOON)
- [ ] Replace merge step with TOON-aware 3-way merge
- [ ] Update daemon auto-sync to read/write TOON
- [ ] Verify 5-second debounce still works

### 2.5.2 Deletion Sync Integration
- [ ] Load deletions.toon during import phase
- [ ] Apply deletions after merging issues
- [ ] Ensure deletion TTL respects daemon schedule

### 2.5.3 Testing
- [ ] Unit tests for daemon sync with TOON
- [ ] Integration tests with actual daemon operations
- [ ] Multi-clone sync scenarios with concurrent edits
- [ ] Performance comparison with JSONL sync
- [ ] Long-running daemon stability tests

## Success Criteria
- Daemon reads/writes TOON format (not JSONL)
- Sync latency comparable to JSONL (<100ms)
- All 70+ tests passing
- bdt commands work seamlessly with daemon
- Multi-clone sync scenarios work correctly


Redesign workflow system: templates as native Beads

## Problem

The current workflow system (YAML templates in cmd/bd/templates/workflows/) is architecturally flawed:

1. **Out-of-band data plane** - YAML files are a parallel system outside Beads itself
2. **Heavyweight DSL** - YAML is gross; even TOML would have been better, but neither is ideal
3. **Not graph-native** - Beads IS already a dependency graph with priorities, so why reinvent it?
4. **Can't use bd commands on templates** - They're opaque YAML, not viewable/editable Beads

## The Right Design

**Templates should be Beads themselves.**

A "workflow template" should be:
- An epic marked as a template (via label, type, or prefix like `tpl-`)
- Child issues with dependencies between them (using normal bd dep)
- Titles and descriptions containing `{{variable}}` placeholders
- Normal priorities that control serialization order

"Instantiation" becomes:
1. Clone the template subgraph (epic + children + dependencies)
2. Substitute variables in titles/descriptions
3. Generate new IDs for all cloned issues
4. Return the new epic ID

## Benefits

- **No YAML** - Templates are just Beads
- **Use existing tools** - `bd show`, `bd edit`, `bd dep` work on templates
- **Graph-native** - Dependencies are real Beads dependencies
- **Simpler codebase** - Remove all the YAML parsing/workflow code
- **Composable** - Templates can reference other templates

## Tasks

1. Delete the YAML workflow system code (revert recent push + remove existing workflow code)
2. Design template marking convention (label? type? id prefix?)
3. Implement `bd template create` or `bd clone --as-template`
4. Implement `bd template instantiate <template-id> --var key=value`
5. Migrate version-bump workflow to native Beads template
6. Update documentation


Revert/remove YAML workflow system

Revert the recent commit and remove all YAML workflow code:

1. `git revert aae8407a` (the commit we just pushed with workflow fixes)
2. Remove `cmd/bd/templates/workflows/` directory
3. Remove workflow.go or gut it to minimal stub
4. Remove WorkflowTemplate types from internal/types/workflow.go
5. Remove any workflow-related RPC handlers

Keep only minimal scaffolding if needed for the new template system.


Implement subgraph cloning with variable substitution

Core implementation of template instantiation:

1. Add `bd template instantiate <template-id> [--var key=value]...` command
2. Implement subgraph loading:
   - Load template epic
   - Recursively load all children (and their children)
   - Load all dependencies between issues in the subgraph
3. Implement variable substitution:
   - Scan titles and descriptions for `{{name}}` patterns
   - Replace with provided values
   - Error on missing required variables (or prompt interactively)
4. Implement cloning:
   - Generate new IDs for all issues
   - Create cloned issues with substituted text
   - Remap and create dependencies
5. Return the new epic ID

Consider adding `--dry-run` flag to preview what would be created.


Create version-bump template as native Beads

Migrate the version-bump workflow from YAML to a native Beads template:

1. Create epic with template label: Release {{version}}
2. Create child tasks for each step (update version files, changelog, commit, push, publish)
3. Set up dependencies between tasks
4. Add verification commands in task descriptions

This serves as both migration and validation of the new system.


Add bd template list command

Add a convenience command to list available templates:

bd template list

This is equivalent to 'bd list --label=template' but more discoverable.
Could also show variable placeholders found in each template.


Update documentation for template system

Update AGENTS.md and help text to document the new template system:

- How to create a template (epic + template label + child issues)
- How to define variables (just use {{name}} placeholders)
- How to instantiate (bd template instantiate)
- Migration from YAML workflows (if any users had custom ones)


Phase 1.1: TOON Library Integration - Add gotoon dependency

Add gotoon (github.com/alpkeskin/gotoon) to go.mod and create internal/toon wrapper package for TOON encoding/decoding. This enables bdtoon to encode Issue structs to TOON format and decode TOON back to issues.

## Subtasks
1. Add gotoon dependency: go get github.com/alpkeskin/gotoon
2. Create internal/toon package with wrapper functions
3. Write encode tests for Issue struct round-trip conversion
4. Write decode tests for TOON to Issue conversion
5. Add gotoon API options to wrapper (indent, delimiter, length markers)

## Success Criteria
- go.mod includes gotoon dependency
- internal/toon/encode.go exports EncodeTOON(issues) ([]byte, error)
- internal/toon/decode.go exports DecodeTOON(data []byte) ([]Issue, error)
- Round-trip tests verify Issue → TOON → Issue produces identical data
- Tests pass with: go test ./internal/toon -v


Update CHANGELOG.md with release notes

Add release notes for 0.32.1: MCP output control params (#667), pin field fix


Split internal/storage/sqlite/queries.go (1586 lines)

Code health review found queries.go is too large at 1586 lines with:

- Issue scanning logic duplicated between transaction.go and queries.go
- Timestamp defensive fixes duplicated in CreateIssue, CreateIssues, batch_ops.go
- Multiple similar patterns that should be consolidated

Also: transaction.go at 1284 lines, dependencies.go at 893 lines

Recommendation:
1. Extract common scanning into shared function
2. Consolidate timestamp defensive fixes
3. Split queries.go by domain (CRUD, search, batch, events)


BondRef data model for compound lineage

Add data model support for tracking compound molecule lineage.

NEW FIELDS on Issue:
  bonded_from: []BondRef  // For compounds: constituent protos

NEW TYPE:
  type BondRef struct {
      ProtoID   string  // Source proto ID
      BondType  string  // sequential, parallel, conditional
      BondPoint string  // Attachment site (issue ID or empty for root)
  }

JSONL SERIALIZATION:
  {
    "id": "proto-feature-tested",
    "title": "Feature with tests",
    "bonded_from": [
      {"proto_id": "proto-feature", "bond_type": "root"},
      {"proto_id": "proto-testing", "bond_type": "sequential"}
    ],
    ...
  }

QUERIES:
- GetCompoundConstituents(id) → []BondRef
- IsCompound(id) → bool
- GetCompoundsUsing(protoID) → []Issue  // Reverse lookup

Added BondRef type to types.go with ProtoID, BondType, BondPoint fields; added BondedFrom field to Issue; added IsCompound() and GetConstituents() helpers; added BondType constants


Deleted issues resurrect during bd sync (tombstones not propagating)

## Problem

When issues are deleted with bd delete --force, they get deleted from the local DB but resurrect during the next bd sync.

## Reproduction

1. Observe orphan warnings (bd-cb64c226.*, bd-cbed9619.*)
2. Delete them: bd delete bd-cb64c226.1 ... --force
3. Run bd sync
4. Orphan warnings reappear - issues were resurrected!

## Root Cause Hypothesis

The sync branch workflow (beads-sync) has the old state before deletions. When bd sync pulls from beads-sync and copies JSONL to main, the deleted issues are re-imported.

Tombstones may not be properly:
1. Written to beads-sync during export
2. Propagated during pull/merge
3. Honored during import

## Related

- bd-7b7h: chicken-and-egg sync.branch bug (same workflow)
- bd-ncwo: ID-based fallback matching to prevent ghost resurrection

## Files to Investigate

- cmd/bd/sync.go (export/import flow)
- internal/syncbranch/worktree.go (PullFromSyncBranch, copyJSONLToMainRepo)
- internal/importer/ (tombstone handling)


Run bump-version.sh 0.30.7

Run ./scripts/bump-version.sh 0.30.7 to update version in all files


Digest: Release v0.34.0 @ 2025-12-22 12:16

Released v0.34.0: wisp commands, chemistry UX, cross-project deps


GH#405: Fix prefix parsing with hyphens - multi-hyphen prefixes parsed incorrectly

Fixed: ExtractIssuePrefix was falling back to first-hyphen for word-like suffixes, breaking multi-hyphen prefixes like 'hacker-news' and 'me-py-toolkit'.


wish: a 'continue' or similar cmd/flag which means alter last issue

so many time I create an issue and then have another thought: 'oh, before I did X and it crashed there was ZZZ happening' or 'actually that is P4 not P2'. It would be nice if when `bd {cmd}` is used without a {title} or {id} it just adds or updates the most recently touched issue.


bd mol current: soft cursor showing current/next step

Add bd mol current command for molecule navigation orientation.

## Usage

bd mol current [mol-id]

If mol-id given, show status for that molecule.
If not given, infer from in_progress issues assigned to current agent.

## Output

You're working on molecule gt-abc (Feature X)

  [done] gt-abc.1: Design
  [done] gt-abc.2: Scaffold
  [done] gt-abc.3: Implement
  [current] gt-abc.4: Write tests [in_progress] <- YOU ARE HERE
  [pending] gt-abc.5: Documentation
  [pending] gt-abc.6: Exit decision

Progress: 3/6 steps complete

## Key behaviors
- Shows full molecule structure with status indicators
- Highlights current in_progress step
- If no in_progress, highlights first ready step
- Works without explicit cursor tracking (inferred from state)

## Implementation notes
- Query children of mol-id
- Sort by dependency order
- Find first in_progress or first ready
- Format with status indicators

## Gas Town integration
- gt-lz13: Update templates with nav workflow
- gt-um6q: Update docs with nav workflow

Implemented mol current and close --continue


Improve test coverage for cmd/bd/setup (28.4% → 50%)

The setup package has only 28.4% test coverage. Setup commands are critical for first-time user experience.

Current coverage: 28.4%
Target coverage: 50%


Verify release artifacts

Check GitHub releases page - binaries for darwin/linux/windows should be available


GH#532: bd sync circular error (suggests running bd sync)

bd sync error message recommends running bd sync to fix the bd sync error. Fix error handling to provide useful guidance. See GitHub issue #532.


Daemon should be singleton and aggressively kill stale instances

Found 2 bd daemons running (PIDs 76868, 77515) during shutdown. The daemon should:

1. Be a singleton - only one instance per rig allowed
2. On startup, check for existing daemon and kill it before starting
3. Use a PID file or lock file to enforce this

Currently stale daemons can accumulate, causing confusion and resource waste.

**Investigation 2025-12-21:**

The singleton mechanism is already implemented and working correctly:

1. **daemon.lock** uses flock (exclusive non-blocking) to prevent duplicate daemons
2. **bd.sock.startlock** coordinates concurrent auto-starts via O_CREATE|O_EXCL
3. **Registry** tracks all daemons globally in ~/.beads/registry.json

Testing shows:
- Trying to start a second daemon gives: 'Error: daemon already running (PID X)'
- Multiple daemons for *different* rigs is expected/correct behavior

The original report ('Found 2 bd daemons running PIDs 76868, 77515') was likely:
1. Two daemons for different rigs (expected), OR
2. An edge case that's since been fixed

Consider closing as RESOLVED or clarifying the original scenario.

Singleton mechanism already implemented and verified working. Uses flock-based daemon.lock + O_CREATE|O_EXCL startlock. Testing confirms 'daemon already running' error on duplicate start attempts.


Protect pinned issues from bd cleanup/compact

Update bd cleanup and bd compact to never delete pinned issues, even if they are closed. Pinned issues should persist indefinitely as reference material.


Merge: bd-t4sb

branch: polecat/capable
target: main
source_issue: bd-t4sb
rig: beads


GH#505: Add bd reset/wipe command

Add command to cleanly reset/wipe beads database. User reports painful manual process to start fresh. See GitHub issue #505.


Update CHANGELOG.md for 0.33.2

In CHANGELOG.md:

1. Change `## [Unreleased]` section header to `## [0.33.2] - 2025-12-21`
2. Add new empty `## [Unreleased]` section above it
3. Review and clean up the changes list

Format:
```markdown
## [Unreleased]

## [0.33.2] - 2025-12-21

### Added
- ...

### Changed
- ...

### Fixed
- ...
```


Work on beads-d8h: Fix prefix mismatch false positive wit...

Work on beads-d8h: Fix prefix mismatch false positive with multi-hyphen prefixes like 'asianops-audit-' (GH#422). When done, submit MR (not PR) to integration branch for Refinery.

Fixed multi-hyphen prefix false positive in ValidateIDFormat (GH#422)


False positive detection by Kaspersky Antivirus (Trojan)

Kaspersky Antivirus falsely detects beads (bd.exe v0.23.1) as a Trojan (PDM:Trojan.Win32.Generic) and removes it.
Event: Malicious object detected
Component: System Watcher
Object name: bd.exe


bd init UX Improvements

bd init leaves users with incomplete setup, requiring manual bd doctor --fix. Issues found: (1) git hooks not installed if user declines prompt, (2) no auto-migration when CLI is upgraded, (3) stale merge driver configs from old versions. Fix by making bd init more robust with better defaults and auto-migration.

Already implemented in commits ec4117d0 and 3a36d0b9 - hooks/merge driver install by default, doctor runs at end of init


Code Health Review Dec 2025: Technical Debt Cleanup

Epic grouping technical debt identified in the Dec 16, 2025 code health review.

## Overall Health Grade: B (Solid foundation, needs cleanup)

### P1 (High Priority):
- bd-74w1: Consolidate duplicate path-finding utilities
- bd-b6xo: Remove/fix ClearDirtyIssues() race condition
- bd-b3og: Fix TestImportBugIntegration deadlock

### P2 (Medium Priority):
- bd-05a8: Split large files (doctor.go, sync.go)
- bd-qioh: Standardize error handling patterns
- bd-rgyd: Split queries.go (1586 lines)
- bd-9g1z: Fix/remove TestFindJSONLPathDefault

### P3 (Low Priority):
- bd-ork0: Add comments to 30+ ignored errors
- bd-4nqq: Remove dead test code in info_test.go
- bd-dhza: Reduce global state in main.go

## Key Areas:
1. Code duplication in path utilities
2. Large monolithic files (5 files >1000 lines)
3. Global state (25+ variables, 3 deprecated)
4. Silent error suppression (30+ instances)
5. Test gaps and dead test code
6. Atomicity risks in batch operations


Improve test coverage for internal/compact (18.2% → 70%)

The compact package has only 18.2% test coverage. This is a core package handling issue compaction and should have at least 70% coverage.

Key functions needing tests:
- runCompactSingle (0%)
- runCompactAll (0%)
- runCompactRPC (0%)
- runCompactStatsRPC (0%)
- runCompactAnalyze (0%)
- runCompactApply (0%)
- pruneDeletionsManifest (0%)

Current coverage: 18.2%
Target coverage: 70%


Update local installation

go build -o ~/.local/bin/bd ./cmd/bd && codesign -s - ~/.local/bin/bd


Polecats get stuck on interactive shell prompts (cp/mv/rm -i)

During swarm operations, polecats frequently get stuck waiting for interactive prompts from shell commands like:
- cp prompting 'overwrite file? (y/n)'
- mv prompting 'overwrite file? (y/n)'
- rm prompting 'remove file?'

This happens because macOS aliases or shell configs may have -i flags set by default.

Root cause: Claude Code runs commands that trigger interactive confirmation prompts, but cannot respond to them, causing the agent to hang indefinitely.

Observed in: Multiple polecats during GH issues swarm (Dec 2024)
- Derrick, Roustabout, Prospector, Warboy all got stuck on y/n prompts

Suggested fixes:
1. AGENTS.md should instruct agents to always use -f flag with cp/mv/rm
2. Polecat startup could set shell aliases to use non-interactive versions
3. bd prime hook could include guidance about non-interactive commands
4. Consider detecting stuck prompts and auto-recovering


Run bump-version.sh test-squash

Run ./scripts/bump-version.sh test-squash to update version in all files


Test hook


Improve test coverage for internal/beads (48.1% → 70%)

The beads package is a core package with 48.1% coverage. As the primary package for issue management, it should have at least 70% coverage.

Current coverage: 48.1%
Target coverage: 70%


GH#405: Prefix parsing with hyphens treats first segment as prefix

Prefix me-py-toolkit gets parsed as just me- when detecting mismatches. Fix prefix parsing to handle multi-hyphen prefixes. See GitHub issue #405.


Merge: bd-uqfn

branch: polecat/cheedo
target: main
source_issue: bd-uqfn
rig: beads


GH#692: Code quality and refactoring improvements

Epic for implementing refactoring suggestions from GitHub issue #692 (rsnodgrass). These are code quality improvements that don't change functionality but improve maintainability, type safety, and performance.

Original issue: https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/issues/692

High priority items:
1. Replace map[string]interface{} with typed structs for JSON output
2. Adopt slices.SortFunc instead of sort.Slice (Go 1.21+)
3. Split large files (sync.go, init.go, show.go)
4. Introduce slog for structured logging in daemon

Lower priority:
5. Further CLI helper extraction
6. Preallocate slices in hot paths
7. Polish items (error wrapping, table-driven parsing)


Replace map[string]interface{} with typed JSON response structs

Many CLI commands use map[string]interface{} for JSON output which loses type safety and compile-time error detection.

Files with map[string]interface{}:
- cmd/bd/compact.go (10+ instances)
- cmd/bd/cleanup.go
- cmd/bd/daemons.go
- cmd/bd/daemon_lifecycle.go

Example fix:
```go
// Before
result := map[string]interface{}{
    "status": "ok",
    "count": 42,
}

// After
type CompactResponse struct {
    Status string `json:"status"`
    Count  int    `json:"count"`
}
result := CompactResponse{Status: "ok", Count: 42}
```

Benefits:
- Compile-time type checking
- IDE autocompletion
- Easier refactoring
- Self-documenting API

Replaced map[string]interface{} with typed JSON response structs in compact.go, cleanup.go, daemons.go, and daemon_lifecycle.go. Created 15 typed response structs for improved type safety and compile-time error detection.


Migrate sort.Slice to slices.SortFunc

Go 1.21+ provides slices.SortFunc which is cleaner and slightly faster than sort.Slice.

Found 15+ instances of sort.Slice in:
- cmd/bd/autoflush.go
- cmd/bd/count.go
- cmd/bd/daemon_sync.go
- cmd/bd/doctor.go
- cmd/bd/export.go
- cmd/bd/import.go
- cmd/bd/integrity.go
- cmd/bd/jira.go
- cmd/bd/list.go
- cmd/bd/migrate_hash_ids.go
- cmd/bd/rename_prefix.go
- cmd/bd/show.go

Example migration:
```go
// Before
sort.Slice(issues, func(i, j int) bool {
    return issues[i].Priority < issues[j].Priority
})

// After
slices.SortFunc(issues, func(a, b *types.Issue) int {
    return cmp.Compare(a.Priority, b.Priority)
})
```

Benefits:
- Cleaner 3-way comparison
- Slightly better performance
- Modern idiomatic Go

Migrated all 19 instances of sort.Slice to slices.SortFunc across 17 files in cmd/bd/. Used cmp.Compare for orderable types, time.Compare for time comparisons, and cmp.Or for multi-field sorts.


Split large cmd/bd files into logical modules

Several cmd/bd files exceed 1000 lines and should be split for maintainability:

| File | Lines | Recommendation |
|------|-------|----------------|
| sync.go | 2201 | Split: sync_core.go, sync_branch.go, sync_remote.go |
| init.go | 1742 | Split: init.go, init_wizard.go, init_hooks.go |
| show.go | 1380 | Split: show.go, show_formatters.go, show_threads.go |
| compact.go | 1112 | Split: compact.go, compact_tiers.go |

Guidelines:
- Each file should focus on one aspect
- Keep public API in main file
- Move helpers/formatters to separate files
- Consider internal/ packages for complex logic

Note: This is a lower priority task - large files are inconvenient but not blocking.


Introduce slog for structured daemon logging

The daemon currently uses fmt.Fprintf for logging which produces unstructured output. Migrating to slog would provide:

- Structured, parseable logs (JSON format option)
- Log levels (debug, info, warn, error)
- Context propagation
- Better log aggregation

Files to update:
- cmd/bd/daemon_logger.go
- Debug output throughout daemon code

Example:
```go
// Before
fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Warning: failed to detect user role: %v\n", err)

// After
slog.Warn("failed to detect user role", "error", err)
```

This is particularly valuable for daemon troubleshooting since daemon logs are often reviewed after the fact.


Design contributor namespace isolation for beads pollution prevention

## Problem

When contributors work on beads-the-project using beads-the-tool, their personal work-tracking issues leak into PRs. The .beads/issues.jsonl is intentionally tracked (it's the project's issue database), but contributors' local issues pollute the diff.

This is a recursion problem unique to self-hosting projects.

## Possible Solutions to Explore

1. **Contributor namespaces** - Each contributor gets a private prefix (e.g., `bd-steve-xxxx`) that's gitignored or filtered
2. **Separate database** - Contributors use BEADS_DIR pointing elsewhere for personal tracking
3. **Issue ownership/visibility flags** - Mark issues as "local-only" vs "project"
4. **Prefix-based filtering** - Configure which prefixes are committed vs ignored

## Design Considerations

- Should be zero-friction for contributors (no manual setup)
- Must not break existing workflows
- Needs to work with sync/collaboration features
- Consider: what if a "personal" issue graduates to "project" issue?

## Expansion Needed

This is a placeholder. Needs detailed design exploration before implementation.


Work on beads-wkt: Output control parameters for MCP tool...

Work on beads-wkt: Output control parameters for MCP tools (GH#622). Add brief, fields, max_description_length params to ready/list/show. When done, submit MR (not PR) to integration branch for Refinery.

Implemented output control parameters for MCP tools (GH#622)


Rename 'template instantiate' to 'mol bond'

Rename the template instantiation command to match molecule metaphor.

Current: bd template instantiate <id> --var key=value
Target:  bd mol bond <id> --var key=value

Changes needed:
- Add 'mol' command group (or extend existing)
- Add 'bond' subcommand that wraps template instantiate logic
- Keep 'template instantiate' as deprecated alias for backward compat
- Update help text and docs to use molecule terminology

The 'bond' verb captures:
1. Chemistry metaphor (molecules bond to form structures)
2. Dependency linking (child issues bonded in a DAG)
3. Short and active

See also: molecule execution model in Gas Town

Implemented mol command: catalog, show, bond


Work on beads-rs0: Namepool configuration for themed pole...

Work on beads-rs0: Namepool configuration for themed polecat names. See bd show beads-rs0 for full details.

Completed work on beads-rs0: Implemented themed namepool feature


Phase 2.4: Git merge driver optimization for TOON format

Optimize git 3-way merge for TOON line-oriented format.

## Overview
TOON is line-oriented (unlike binary formats), enabling smarter git merge strategies. Implement custom merge driver to handle TOON-specific merge patterns.

## Required Work

### 2.4.1 TOON Merge Driver
- [ ] Create .git/info/attributes entry for *.toon files
- [ ] Implement custom merge driver script/command
- [ ] Handle tabular format row merges (line-based 3-way)
- [ ] Handle YAML-style format merges
- [ ] Conflict markers for unsolvable conflicts

### 2.4.2 Merge Patterns
- [ ] Row addition: both branches add different rows → union
- [ ] Row deletion: one branch deletes, other modifies → conflict (manual review)
- [ ] Row modification: concurrent field changes → intelligent merge or conflict
- [ ] Field ordering changes: ignore (TOON format resilient to order)

### 2.4.3 Testing & Documentation
- [ ] Unit tests for merge scenarios (3-way merge logic)
- [ ] Integration tests with actual git merges
- [ ] Conflict scenario testing
- [ ] Documentation of merge strategy

## Success Criteria
- Git merge handles TOON conflicts intelligently
- Fewer manual merge conflicts than JSONL
- Round-trip preserved through merges
- All 70+ tests still passing
- Git history stays clean (minimal conflict markers)


Phase 2.3: TOON deletion tracking

Implement deletion tracking in TOON format.

## Overview
Phase 2.2 switched storage to TOON format. Phase 2.3 adds deletion tracking in TOON format for propagating deletions across clones.

## Required Work

### 2.3.1 Deletion Tracking (TOON Format)
- [ ] Implement deletions.toon file (tracking deleted issue records)
- [ ] Add DeleteTracker struct to record deleted issue IDs and metadata
- [ ] Update bdt delete command to record in deletions.toon
- [ ] Design deletion record format (ID, timestamp, reason, hash)
- [ ] Implement auto-prune of old deletion records (configurable TTL)

### 2.3.2 Sync Propagation
- [ ] Load deletions.toon during import
- [ ] Remove deleted issues from local database when imported from remote
- [ ] Handle edge cases (delete same issue in multiple clones)
- [ ] Deletion ordering and conflict resolution

### 2.3.3 Testing
- [ ] Unit tests for deletion tracking
- [ ] Integration tests for deletion propagation
- [ ] Multi-clone deletion scenarios
- [ ] TTL expiration tests

## Success Criteria
- deletions.toon stores deletion records in TOON format
- Deletions propagate across clones via git sync
- Old records auto-prune after TTL
- All 70+ tests still passing
- bdt delete command works seamlessly


Push version bump to GitHub

git push origin main - triggers CI but no release yet.


bd dep tree doesn't display external dependencies

GetDependencyTree (dependencies.go:464-624) uses a recursive CTE that JOINs with the issues table, which means external refs (external:project:capability) are invisible in the tree output.

When an issue has an external blocking dependency, running 'bd dep tree <id>' won't show it.

Options:
1. Query dependencies table separately for external refs and display them as leaf nodes
2. Add a synthetic 'external' node type that shows the ref and resolution status
3. Document that external deps aren't shown in tree view (use bd show for full deps)

Lower priority since bd show <id> displays all dependencies including external refs.

Implemented: GetDependencyTree now fetches external deps and adds them as synthetic leaf nodes with resolution status. Added test TestGetDependencyTreeExternalDeps. Updated formatTreeNode to display external deps specially.


Re: Thread Test 2

Got your message. Testing reply feature.


Fix unparam unused parameter in cmd/bd/doctor.go:541

Linting issue: checkHooksQuick - path is unused (unparam) at cmd/bd/doctor.go:541:22. Error: func checkHooksQuick(path string) string {


Create git tag v0.33.2

Create the release tag:

```bash
git tag v0.33.2
```

Verify: `git tag | grep 0.33.2`


Work on beads-399: Add omitempty to JSONL fields for smal...

Work on beads-399: Add omitempty to JSONL fields for smaller notifications. When done, submit MR (not PR) to integration branch for Refinery.

Added omitempty to Description and Dependency.CreatedBy fields in types.go


test pin issue


Test body-file

This is a test description from a file.

It has multiple lines.


Merge: bd-401h

branch: polecat/rictus
target: main
source_issue: bd-401h
rig: beads


Work on beads-1ra: Add molecules.jsonl as separate catalo...

Work on beads-1ra: Add molecules.jsonl as separate catalog file for template molecules

Implemented: molecules.jsonl loading, is_template column, template filtering in bd list (excluded by default), --include-templates flag, bd mol list catalog view


Thread Test 2

Testing direct mode


Support redirect files in .beads/ directory

Gas Town creates polecat worktrees with .beads/redirect files that point to a shared beads database. The bd CLI should:

1. When finding a .beads/ directory, check if it contains a 'redirect' file
2. If redirect exists, read the relative path and use that as the beads directory
3. This allows multiple git worktrees to share a single beads database

Example:
- polecats/alpha/.beads/redirect contains '../../mayor/rig/.beads'
- bd commands from alpha should use mayor/rig/.beads

Currently bd ignores redirect files and either uses the local .beads/ or walks up to find a parent .beads/.

Related: gt-nriy (test message that can't be retrieved due to missing redirect support)

Not applicable - filed against stale bd v0.30.6


Update info.go versionChanges

Add 0.32.1 entry to versionChanges map in cmd/bd/info.go


Create and push git tag v0.33.2

Create the release tag and push it:

```bash
git tag v0.33.2
git push origin v0.33.2
```

This triggers the GoReleaser GitHub Action to build release binaries.


GH#519: bd sync fails when sync.branch is currently checked-out branch


GH#522: Add --type flag to bd update command

Add --type flag to bd update for changing issue type (task/epic/bug/feature). Storage layer already supports it. See GitHub issue #522.


Dynamic Molecule Bonding: Fanout patterns for patrol molecules

## Vision

Enable molecules to dynamically spawn child molecules at runtime based on discovered
work. This is the foundation for the "Christmas Ornament" pattern where a patrol
molecule grows arms per-polecat.

## The Activity Feed Vision

Instead of parsing agent logs, users see structured work state:

```
[14:32:08] + patrol-x7k.arm-ace bonded (5 steps)
[14:32:08] + patrol-x7k.arm-nux bonded (5 steps)
[14:32:09] → patrol-x7k.arm-ace.capture in_progress
[14:32:10] ✓ patrol-x7k.arm-ace.capture completed
[14:32:14] ✓ patrol-x7k.arm-ace.decide completed (action: nudge-1)
```

This requires beads to track molecule step state transitions in real-time.

## Key Primitives Needed

### 1. Dynamic Bond with Variables
```bash
bd mol bond mol-polecat-arm <parent-wisp-id> \
  --var polecat_name=ace \
  --var rig=gastown
```

Creates wisp children under the parent:
- parent-id.arm-ace
- parent-id.arm-ace.capture
- parent-id.arm-ace.assess
- etc.

### 2. WaitsFor Directive
```markdown
## Step: aggregate
Collect outcomes from all dynamically-bonded children.
WaitsFor: all-children
Needs: survey-workers
```

The `WaitsFor: all-children` directive makes this a fanout gate - it can't
proceed until ALL dynamically-bonded children complete.

### 3. Activity Feed Query
```bash
bd activity --follow              # Real-time state stream
bd activity --mol <id>            # Activity for specific molecule
bd activity --since 5m            # Last 5 minutes
```

### 4. Parallel Step Detection
Steps with no inter-dependencies should be flagged as parallelizable.
When arms are bonded, their steps can run in parallel across arms.

## Use Case: mol-witness-patrol

The Witness monitors N polecats where N varies at runtime:

```
survey-workers discovers: [ace, nux, toast]
For each polecat:
  bd mol bond mol-polecat-arm <patrol-id> --var polecat_name=<name>
aggregate step waits for all arms to complete
```

This creates the Christmas Ornament shape:
- Trunk: preflight steps
- Arms: per-polecat inspection molecules
- Base: cleanup after all arms complete

## Design Docs

See Gas Town docs:
- docs/molecular-chemistry.md (updated with Christmas Ornament pattern)
- docs/architecture.md (activity feed section)

## Dependencies

This epic may depend on:
- Wisp storage (.beads-wisp/) - already implemented
- Variable substitution in molecules - may need enhancement

All subtasks completed: dynamic bonding (.1), waits-for gates (.2), activity feed (.3), parallel detection (.4)


bd mol bond: Dynamic bond with variable substitution

Implement dynamic molecule bonding with runtime variable substitution.

## Command
```bash
bd mol bond <proto-id> <parent-wisp-id> --var key=value --var key2=value2
```

## Behavior
1. Parse proto molecule template
2. Substitute {{key}} placeholders with provided values
3. Create wisp children under the parent molecule
4. Child IDs follow pattern: parent-id.child-ref (e.g., patrol-x7k.arm-ace)
5. Nested children: parent-id.child-ref.step-ref (e.g., patrol-x7k.arm-ace.capture)

## Variable Substitution
- In step titles: "Inspect {{polecat_name}}" -> "Inspect ace"
- In descriptions: Full template substitution
- In Needs directives: Allow referencing parent steps

## Output
```
✓ Bonded mol-polecat-arm to patrol-x7k
  Created: patrol-x7k.arm-ace (5 steps)
```

Implemented dynamic molecule bonding with --ref flag for custom child IDs (Christmas Ornament pattern)


WaitsFor directive: Fanout gate for dynamic children

Implement WaitsFor directive for molecules that spawn dynamic children.

## Syntax
```markdown
## Step: aggregate
Collect outcomes from all dynamically-bonded children.
WaitsFor: all-children
Needs: survey-workers
```

## Behavior
1. Parse WaitsFor directive during molecule step parsing
2. Track which steps spawn dynamic children (the spawner)
3. Gate step waits until ALL children of the spawner complete
4. Works with bd ready - gate step not ready until children done

## Gate Types
- `WaitsFor: all-children` - Wait for all dynamic children
- `WaitsFor: any-children` - Proceed when first child completes (future)
- `WaitsFor: <step-ref>.children` - Wait for specific spawner's children

## Integration
- bd ready should skip gate steps until children complete
- bd show <mol> should display gate status and child count

Implemented waits-for dependency type with all-children and any-children gates, --waits-for flags, and full test coverage


bd activity: Real-time molecule state feed

Implement activity feed command for watching molecule state transitions.

## Commands
```bash
bd activity --follow              # Real-time streaming
bd activity --mol <id>            # Activity for specific molecule
bd activity --since 5m            # Last 5 minutes
bd activity --type step           # Only step transitions
```

## Output Format
```
[14:32:01] ✓ patrol-x7k.inbox-check completed
[14:32:03] ✓ patrol-x7k.check-refinery completed
[14:32:08] + patrol-x7k.arm-ace bonded (5 steps)
[14:32:09] → patrol-x7k.arm-ace.capture in_progress
[14:32:10] ✓ patrol-x7k.arm-ace.capture completed
[14:32:14] ✓ patrol-x7k.arm-ace.decide completed (action: nudge-1)
[14:32:17] ✓ patrol-x7k.arm-ace COMPLETE
[14:32:23] ✓ patrol-x7k SQUASHED → digest-x7k
```

## Event Types
- `+` bonded - New molecule/step created
- `→` in_progress - Step started
- `✓` completed - Step/molecule finished
- `✗` failed - Step failed
- `⊘` burned - Wisp discarded
- `◉` squashed - Wisp condensed to digest

## Implementation
- Could use SQLite triggers or polling
- --follow uses OS file watching or polling
- Filter by mol ID, type, time range

Implemented bd activity command with real-time feed, filtering, and new mutation event types


Parallel step detection in molecules

Detect and flag parallelizable steps in molecules.

## Detection Rules
Steps can run in parallel when:
1. No Needs dependencies between them
2. Not in same sequential chain
3. Across dynamic arms (arm-ace and arm-nux can parallelize)

## Output in bd mol show
```
patrol-x7k (mol-witness-patrol)
├── inbox-check [completed]
├── survey-workers [completed]
│   ├── arm-ace [parallel group A]
│   │   ├── capture [can parallelize]
│   │   ├── assess [needs: capture]
│   │   └── execute [needs: assess]
│   └── arm-nux [parallel group A]
│       ├── capture [can parallelize]
│       └── ...
├── aggregate [gate: waits for all-children]
```

## Flags
- `bd mol show <id> --parallel` - Highlight parallel opportunities
- `bd ready --mol <id>` - List all steps that can run now

## Future: Parallel Execution Hints
For agents using Task tool subagents:
- Identify independent arms that can run simultaneously
- Suggest parallelization strategy

Implemented --parallel flag for bd mol show and --mol flag for bd ready


Remove legacy autoflush code paths

## Problem

The autoflush system has dual code paths - an old timer-based approach and a new FlushManager. Both are actively used based on whether flushManager is nil.

## Locations

- main.go:78-81: isDirty, needsFullExport, flushTimer marked 'used by legacy code'
- autoflush.go:291-369: Functions with 'Legacy path for backward compatibility with tests'

## Current Behavior

```go
// In markDirtyAndScheduleFlush():
if flushManager != nil {
    flushManager.MarkDirty(false)
    return
}
// Legacy path for backward compatibility with tests
```

## Proposed Fix

1. Ensure flushManager is always initialized (even in tests)
2. Remove the legacy timer-based code paths
3. Remove isDirty, needsFullExport, flushTimer globals
4. Update tests to use FlushManager

## Risk

Low - the FlushManager is the production path. Legacy code only runs when flushManager is nil (test scenarios).

Removed legacy autoflush code: isDirty, needsFullExport, flushTimer globals and flushToJSONL() wrapper. FlushManager is now the only code path.


Restart daemon with 0.33.2

Restart the bd daemon to pick up new version:

```bash
bd daemon --stop
bd daemon --start
bd daemon --health  # Verify Version: 0.33.2
```


Issue lifecycle hooks (on-close, on-complete)

Add hooks that fire on issue state transitions, enabling automation like closing linked GitHub issues.

## Problem

We have `external_ref` to link beads issues to external systems (GitHub, Linear, Jira), but no mechanism to trigger actions when issues close. Currently:

```
bd-u2sc (external_ref: gh-692) closes → nothing happens
```

## Proposed Solution

### Phase 1: Shell Hooks

Add `.beads-hooks/on-close.sh` (and similar lifecycle hooks):

```bash
# .beads-hooks/on-close.sh
# Called by bd close with issue JSON on stdin
#\!/bin/bash
issue=$(cat)
external_ref=$(echo "$issue" | jq -r '.external_ref // empty')
if [[ "$external_ref" == gh-* ]]; then
    number="${external_ref#gh-}"
    gh issue close "$number" --repo steveyegge/beads \
      --comment "Completed via beads epic $(echo $issue | jq -r .id)"
fi
```

### Lifecycle Events

| Event | Trigger | Use Cases |
|-------|---------|-----------|
| `on-close` | Issue closed | Close external refs, notify, archive |
| `on-complete` | Epic children all done | Roll-up completion, close parent refs |
| `on-status-change` | Any status transition | Sync to external systems |

### Phase 2: Molecule Completion Handlers

Molecules could define completion actions:

```yaml
name: github-issue-tracker
on_complete:
  - action: shell
    command: gh issue close {{external_ref}} --repo {{repo}}
  - action: mail
    to: mayor/
    subject: "Epic {{id}} completed"
```

### Phase 3: Gas Town Integration

For full Gas Town deployments:
- Witness observes closures via beads events
- Routes to integration agents via mail
- Agents handle external system interactions

## Implementation Notes

- Hooks should be async (don't block bd close)
- Pass full issue JSON to hook via stdin
- Support hook timeout and failure handling
- Consider `--no-hooks` flag for bulk operations

## Related

- `external_ref` field already exists (GH#142)
- Cross-project deps: bd-h807, bd-d9mu
- Git hooks: .beads-hooks/ pattern established

## Use Cases

1. **GitHub integration**: Close GH issues when beads epic completes
2. **Linear sync**: Update Linear status when beads status changes
3. **Notifications**: Send mail/Slack when high-priority issues close
4. **Audit**: Log all closures to external system

Molecules already cover this use case. Completion actions should be encoded as tail steps in molecules rather than lifecycle hooks. This keeps everything in the beads data plane, makes it resumable/auditable, and allows tiered delegation (haiku for simple steps). Hooks would escape the ledger and add a parallel system without clear benefit.


Refactor duplicate JSONL-from-git parsing code

Both readFirstIssueFromGit() in init.go and importFromGit() in autoimport.go have similar code patterns for:
1. Running git show <ref>:<path>
2. Scanning the output with bufio.Scanner
3. Parsing JSON lines

Could be refactored to share a helper like:
- readJSONLFromGit(gitRef, path string) ([]byte, error)
- Or a streaming version: streamJSONLFromGit(gitRef, path string) (io.Reader, error)

Files:
- cmd/bd/autoimport.go:225-256 (importFromGit)
- cmd/bd/init.go:1212-1243 (readFirstIssueFromGit)

Priority is low since code duplication is minimal and both functions work correctly.


Work on beads-eub: Consolidated context tool for MCP serv...

Work on beads-eub: Consolidated context tool for MCP server (GH#636). Merge set_context, where_am_i, init into single 'context' tool. When done, submit MR (not PR) to integration branch for Refinery.

Completed: Consolidated set_context, where_am_i, init into unified context tool


Update info.go versionChanges

Add entry to versionChanges in cmd/bd/info.go with agent-actionable changes for test-squash


Auto-detect identity from directory context for bd mail

Currently bd mail inbox defaults to git user name, requiring --identity flag with exact format.

## Problem
- Mail sent to `gastown/crew/max`
- Max runs `bd mail inbox` → defaults to 'Steve Yegge' (git user)
- Max must know to use `--identity 'gastown/crew/max'` with exact slashes

## Proposed Fix
Auto-detect identity from directory context when in a Gas Town workspace:
- In `/Users/stevey/gt/gastown/crew/max`, infer identity = `gastown/crew/max`
- Pattern: `<town>/<rig>/<role>/<name>` → `<rig>/<role>/<name>`

## Additional Improvements
1. Support GT_IDENTITY env var (set by gt crew at / session spawning)
2. Support identity in .beads/config.yaml
3. Normalize format: accept both slashes and dashes as equivalent

## Context
Discovered during crew-to-crew work assignment. Max couldn't see mail despite correct nudge because identity defaulted wrong.


Test Molecule

A test molecule


Fix checkExistingBeadsData to be worktree-aware

The checkExistingBeadsData function in cmd/bd/init.go checks for .beads in the current working directory, but for worktrees it should check the main repository root instead. This prevents proper worktree compatibility.


Add bd doctor --fix flag to automatically repair issues

Implement a --fix flag for bd doctor that can automatically repair detected issues.

Requirements:
- Add --fix flag to bd doctor command
- Show all fixable issues and prompt for confirmation before applying fixes
- Organize fix implementations under doctor/fix/<type_of_fix>.go
- Each fix type should have its own file (e.g., doctor/fix/hooks.go, doctor/fix/sync.go)
- Display what will be fixed and ask user to confirm (Y/n) before proceeding
- Support fixing issues like:
  - Missing or broken git hooks
  - Sync problems with remote
  - File permission issues
  - Any other auto-repairable issues doctor detects

Implementation notes:
- Maintain separation between detection (existing doctor code) and repair (new fix code)
- Each fix should be idempotent and safe to run multiple times
- Provide clear output about what was fixed
- Log any fixes that fail with actionable error messages


Code review: bd mol bond --ref and bd activity (bd-xo1o work)

Review dave's recent commits for bd-xo1o (Dynamic Molecule Bonding):

## Commits to Review
- ee04b1ea: feat: add dynamic molecule bonding with --ref flag (bd-xo1o.1)
- be520d90: feat: add bd activity command for real-time state feed (bd-xo1o.3)

## Review Focus
1. Code quality and correctness
2. Error handling
3. Edge cases
4. Test coverage
5. Documentation

## Deliverables
- File beads for any issues found
- Note any concerns or suggestions
- Verify the implementation matches the bd-xo1o epic requirements


bd list --parent: filter by parent issue

Add --parent flag to bd list to filter issues by parent.

Example:
```bash
bd list --parent=gt-h5n --status=open
```

Would show all open children of gt-h5n.

Useful for:
- Checking epic progress
- Finding swarmable work within an epic
- Molecule step listing

Implemented --parent flag for bd list. Filters children by parent issue using parent-child dependencies.


dave Handoff

attached_molecule: bd-ifuw
attached_at: 2025-12-23T12:45:33Z


Code Review: PR #551 - Persist close_reason to issues table

Code review of PR #551 which fixes close_reason persistence bug.

## Summary
The PR correctly fixes a bug where close_reason was only stored in the events table, not in the issues.close_reason column. This caused `bd show --json` to return empty close_reason.

## What Was Fixed
- ✅ CloseIssue now updates both close_reason and closed_at
- ✅ ReOpenIssue clears both close_reason and closed_at
- ✅ Comprehensive tests added for both storage and CLI layers
- ✅ Clear documentation in queries.go about dual storage strategy

## Quality Assessment
✅ Tests cover both storage layer and CLI JSON output
✅ Handles reopen case (clearing close_reason)
✅ Good comments explaining dual-storage design
✅ No known issues

## Potential Followups
See linked issues for suggestions.


bd delete --from-file should add deleted issues to deletions manifest

When using bd delete --from-file to bulk delete issues, the deleted issue IDs are not being added to the deletions.jsonl manifest.

This causes those issues to be resurrected during bd sync when git history scanning finds them in old commits.

Expected: All deleted issues should be added to deletions.jsonl so they wont be reimported from git history.

Workaround: Manually add deletion records to deletions.jsonl.


Add --pinned and --no-pinned flags to bd list

Add filtering flags to bd list: --pinned shows only pinned issues, --no-pinned excludes pinned issues. Default behavior shows all issues with a pin indicator.

Already implemented - --pinned and --no-pinned flags exist in bd list


bd mail uses git user.name for sender instead of BEADS_AGENT_NAME

When sending mail via `bd mail send`, the sender field in the stored issue uses git config user.name instead of the BEADS_AGENT_NAME environment variable.

Reproduction:
1. Set BEADS_AGENT_NAME=gastown-alpha
2. Run: bd mail send mayor/ -s 'Test' -m 'Body'
3. Check the issue.jsonl: sender is 'Steve Yegge' (git user.name) not 'gastown-alpha'

Expected: The sender field should use BEADS_AGENT_NAME when set.

This breaks the mail system for multi-agent workflows where agents need to identify themselves by their role (polecat, refinery, etc.) rather than the human user's git identity.

Related: gt mail routing integration with Gas Town


gt polecat done should auto-stop running session

Currently 'gt polecat done' fails if session is running, requiring a separate 'gt session stop' first. This is unnecessary friction - done should just stop the session automatically since that's always what you want.

Moving to gastown - this is a gt issue not bd


GH#409: bd init uses issues.jsonl but docs say beads.jsonl

bd init creates config referencing issues.jsonl but README/docs reference beads.jsonl as canonical. Standardize naming. See GitHub issue #409.


bd ready resolves external dependencies

Extend bd ready to check external blocked_by references:

1. Parse external:<project>:<capability> from blocked_by
2. Look up project path from external_projects config
3. Check if target project has provides:<capability> label on a closed issue
4. If not satisfied, issue is blocked

Example output:
```bash
bd ready
# gt-xyz: blocked by external:beads:mol-run-assignee (not provided)
# gt-abc: ready
```

Depends on: bd-om4a (external: prefix), bd-66w1 (config)

Part of cross-project dependency system.
See: gastown/docs/cross-project-deps.md

Implemented external dep resolution in GetReadyWork - filters issues with unsatisfied external:project:capability deps


Deferred HOP schema additions (P2/P3)

Deferred from bd-7pwh after review. Add when semantics are clearer and actually needed:

- assignee_ref: Structured EntityRef alongside string assignee
- work_type: 'mutex' vs 'open_competition' (everything is mutex in v0.1)
- crystallizes: bool for work that compounds vs evaporates (can derive from issue_type)
- cross_refs: URIs to beads in other repos (needs federation first)
- skill_vector: []float32 embeddings placeholder (YAGNI)

These can be added later without breaking changes (all optional fields).


Investigate incremental blocked_issues_cache updates at scale

Current blocked_issues_cache strategy does full DELETE + INSERT on every dependency/status change.

**Problem at scale:**
- 10K issues: ~50ms rebuild (acceptable)
- 100K issues: ~500ms rebuild (noticeable)
- 1M issues: multi-second rebuilds (problematic)

**Current implementation (blocked_cache.go:104-154):**
- DELETE FROM blocked_issues_cache
- INSERT with recursive CTE

**Potential optimizations:**
1. **Incremental updates:** Only add/remove affected issue IDs instead of full rebuild
2. **Dirty tracking:** Skip rebuild if cache is already valid
3. **Async rebuild:** Rebuild in background, serve stale cache briefly
4. **Partial invalidation:** Only invalidate affected subtree

**Decision needed:** Is this premature optimization? Current target is <100K issues.

**Benchmark:** Add benchmark for cache rebuild at 100K scale to measure actual impact.


Run bd doctor at end of bd init to verify setup

Run bd doctor diagnostics at end of bd init (after line 398 in init.go). If issues found, warn user immediately: '⚠ Setup incomplete. Run bd doctor --fix to complete setup.' Catches configuration problems before user encounters them in normal workflow.

Already implemented in commits ec4117d0 and 3a36d0b9 - hooks/merge driver install by default, doctor runs at end of init