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Git Integration

How beads integrates with git.

Overview​

Beads uses git for:

  • Project hosting - Your code repository also hosts beads configuration
  • Hooks - Auto-sync on git operations

Data storage and sync are handled by Dolt (a version-controlled SQL database).

File Structure​

.beads/
├── config.yaml        # Project config (git-tracked)
├── metadata.json      # Backend metadata (git-tracked)
└── dolt/              # Dolt database and server data (gitignored)

Git Hooks​

Installation​

bd hooks install

Installs:

  • pre-commit - Triggers Dolt commit
  • post-merge - Triggers Dolt sync after pull
  • pre-push - Ensures Dolt sync before push

Status​

bd hooks status

Uninstall​

bd hooks uninstall

Conflict Resolution​

Dolt handles merge conflicts at the database level using its built-in merge capabilities. When conflicts arise during sync, Dolt identifies conflicting rows and allows resolution through SQL.

# Check for and fix conflicts
bd doctor --fix

Protected Branches​

Dolt stores data under refs/dolt/data, separate from Git refs. This means beads data doesn't conflict with protected Git branches — no special branch flag is needed. On new projects with a git origin, bd init configures that origin as the Dolt remote automatically.

Git Worktrees​

Beads works in git worktrees using embedded mode:

# In worktree — just run commands directly
bd create "Task"
bd list

Branch Workflows​

Feature Branch​

git checkout -b feature-x
bd create "Feature X" -t feature
# Work...
bd dolt push
git push

Fork Workflow​

# In fork
bd init --contributor
# Work in separate planning repo...
bd dolt push

Team Workflow​

bd init --team
# All team members share the Dolt database
bd dolt pull   # Pull latest changes from Dolt remote
bd dolt push   # Push your changes to Dolt remote

Duplicate Detection​

After merging branches:

bd duplicates --auto-merge

Best Practices​

  1. Install hooks - bd hooks install
  2. Push regularly - bd dolt push at session end
  3. Pull before work - bd dolt pull to get latest issues
  4. Worktrees use embedded mode automatically