Beads
Issue-tracking memory for coding agents so they can keep track of long-running work.
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Use cases
About Beads
Beads is listed in our coding category and is aimed at builders. Issue-tracking memory for coding agents so they can keep track of long-running work. Pricing, as the maker states it: Open source. Maturity: Mature. We last checked the official link on 2026-10-16.
What is Beads?
Beads (bd) is a distributed, graph-based issue tracker for AI agents, powered by Dolt. It gives coding agents persistent, structured memory by replacing messy Markdown plans with a dependency-aware graph.
That lets agents handle long-horizon tasks without losing context. It is a CLI you install once and use everywhere, and bd init sets up AGENTS.md so agents can discover the workflow, with project setup for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor. It runs on macOS, Linux, Windows and FreeBSD.
Sources: the official README and our directory listing, checked 2026-10-18. Official site: beads.gascity.com.
Who is Beads for?
Developers who give coding agents long-running, multi-step work and want the plan stored as a structured graph rather than ad hoc notes.
Beads at a glance
- Open source: Yes (MIT License)
- GitHub: gastownhall/beads · 28,068 stars (as of Oct 21, 2026)
Key features
- Dependency-aware issue graph for agents
- Powered by Dolt
- bd init writes AGENTS.md
- Claude Code, Codex and Cursor setup
- macOS, Linux, Windows, FreeBSD
Beads FAQ
What is Beads?
Beads (bd) is a distributed, graph-based issue tracker for AI agents, powered by Dolt. It gives coding agents persistent, structured memory by replacing messy Markdown plans with a dependency-aware graph.
Who is Beads for?
Developers who give coding agents long-running, multi-step work and want the plan stored as a structured graph rather than ad hoc notes.
Is Beads free?
Beads's pricing, as the maker states it: Open source. Open-source tools are free to use, though you may still pay for model API usage or a hosted plan. Check the official site for current plans.
Is Beads open source?
Yes. Beads is released under the MIT License, according to its GitHub repository.
What are alternatives to Beads?
Similar tools include Orca, Tokscale, Dosu, Cypress Cloud MCP, React Doctor and LazyCodex.
Beads ratings and reviews
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