Beads Create

Use this skill to create Beads from a plan/spec and do the review pass so implementers can just pick up issues and ship. This skill must work with either classic Beads (bd) or beads_rust (br).

Workflow

1. Resolve the tracker first

   • If the user explicitly says bd, br, beads, or beads_rust, obey that.
   • Otherwise detect what is actually installed:
     • If only br is installed, use br.
     • If only bd is installed, use bd.
     • If both are installed, prefer the tracker that already owns the current workspace/history. Check the local .beads/ state and the existing workflow docs before guessing.
     • If both are installed and the workspace is still ambiguous, ask one targeted question instead of winging it.
   • Do not mix commands from both trackers in the same run.

2. Load the right local guidance if needed

   • Look for a loaded local skill on the user's machine that covers the chosen tracker and use that first.
   • For bd, prefer the local beads skill if it is available.
   • For br, prefer any loaded local br, beads_rust, or equivalent tracker skill if it is available.
   • If no local skill exists, rely on local CLI help and the installed tool itself:
     • bd --help, bd create --help, bd update --help
     • br --help, br create --help, br update --help
   • Do not send the user to public web docs from this skill.
   • For br, use --json on agent-facing commands whenever available.

3. Decide which mode you are in

   • If the user has a finalized plan/spec and wants Beads filed: do Create mode.
   • If the user already has Beads and wants them improved: do Review mode (skip straight to step 6).

4. Confirm the plan is ready (Create mode)

   • Ensure there is a finalized plan or spec outside Beads.
   • If the plan is still fuzzy, ask for revisions first and iterate up to 5 times before importing.

5. Translate the plan into tracker structure (Create mode)

   • Create epics that map to major milestones or deliverables.
   • Create issues for concrete, implementable tasks.
   • For bd:
     • When an epic has child milestones/tasks, create them as hierarchical children with dotted IDs like EPIC.1, EPIC.2, not as loose top-level issues.
     • Follow the bd create ... --parent <epic-id> flow so bd auto-assigns EPIC.N IDs.
     • Verify the returned IDs. If bd does not assign dotted IDs, stop and ask the user how to proceed.
   • For br:
     • Use the epic/parent relationship, but do not require dotted child IDs. br supports parent-child structure without the old bd dotted-ID contract.
     • Create the epic first, then create or update child issues with --parent <epic-id>.
     • Add explicit dependencies where sequencing matters, and keep the graph acyclic with br dep cycles --json.
   • Add dependencies, ordering constraints, and opportunities for parallel work.

6. Review and polish (Create mode + Review mode)

   • Fix vague titles, missing acceptance criteria, or unclear scope.
   • Ensure each issue is something one agent can do in a single task.
   • Verify dependencies, sequencing, and opportunities for parallel work.
   • Add missing design notes / decision context.
   • Split oversized issues; merge duplicates; delete fluff.
   • For br, prefer structured updates over freeform ambiguity:
     • br update ... --description
     • br update ... --design
     • br update ... --acceptance-criteria
     • br update ... --notes
   • For bd, use the locally available bd fields/workflow for description, design, notes, and acceptance criteria on the installed version.

7. Add implementation detail

   • Include design notes, assumptions, and acceptance criteria on each issue.
   • Make tasks small and unambiguous so a fresh agent can pick up a single issue.

8. Validate tracker state before leaving

   • For br, run br dep cycles --json and make sure it is empty.
   • For br, remember sync is explicit. If you changed tracker state and need the JSONL export updated, run br sync --flush-only.
   • For bd, follow the local sync/export workflow supported by the installed version.

9. Single-pass

   • Do one focused pass in the current context.
   • If another pass is needed, say so explicitly and recommend a separate follow-up run.

10. Restart the agent

• Finish this task, then stop. Encourage a fresh agent for the next task to keep sessions small.

Output expectations

• Provide a concise mapping of epics and issues you created.
• State which tracker you used: bd or br.
• Call out any dependencies or blockers that need user confirmation.
• If asked to iterate beyond 5 plan revisions, say you do not think it can be improved further.