Beads (bd) is an open-source, distributed graph issue tracker that gives coding agents persistent, structured memory.
It replaces markdown plans with a dependency-aware graph stored in Dolt, so agents can find ready work, claim it and close it across long-horizon tasks without losing context.
- 01
Dependency-aware task graph with bd ready for claimable work
- 02
Dolt-backed storage with version control, branching, merge and remote sync
- 03
Hash-based IDs that avoid merge collisions across agents and branches
- 04
Semantic compaction of old closed tasks to save context window
- 05
bd setup integrations for Claude Code, Codex and Factory plus an MCP server
Open Source
Beads is open source under the MIT License and free to use; it runs locally as the bd CLI, with optional sync through Dolt remotes.
Best for
Developers running one or many coding agents on long-horizon projects who need durable, shared task tracking that agents can query and update themselves.
Not ideal for
Teams that want a hosted, human-first project-management UI; Beads is a CLI-first tool designed primarily for agents.
A widely used memory and task layer for coding agents that brings real dependency tracking and multi-agent safety to agent workflows.
Beads v1.3.1 shipped at the end of September 2026 following the v1.3.0 release, with pre-compiled binaries for Linux, macOS, Windows, Android/Termux and FreeBSD.
As of
Is Beads free?+
Yes - Beads is Open Source. Beads is open source under the MIT License and free to use; it runs locally as the bd CLI, with optional sync through Dolt remotes.
Is Beads open source?+
Yes - Beads is open source. Beads is open source under the MIT License and free to use; it runs locally as the bd CLI, with optional sync through Dolt remotes.
Who is Beads best for?+
Developers running one or many coding agents on long-horizon projects who need durable, shared task tracking that agents can query and update themselves.
Who is Beads not ideal for?+
Teams that want a hosted, human-first project-management UI; Beads is a CLI-first tool designed primarily for agents.
What are the best Beads alternatives?+
The closest Beads alternatives on ai.dosa.dev are Pieces for Developers, agenttrace, Vibe Kanban - all listed under Developer Productivity & Workflow.
Who makes Beads?+
Beads is developed by Steve Yegge. It is listed in the Developer Productivity & Workflow category on ai.dosa.dev.
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