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Protected Branch Workflow

docs/PROTECTED_BRANCHES.md

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Protected Branch Workflow

This guide explains how to use beads with protected branches on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket.

Table of Contents

Overview

Note: This document describes a workflow that has been removed. Beads now stores data in Dolt under refs/dolt/data, separate from standard Git refs. Beads does not commit to any Git branch, so protected branch workflows are not affected.

Previous problem: GitHub and other platforms let you protect branches (like main) to require pull requests for all changes. Previously, beads committed issue data to Git branches, which conflicted with branch protection.

Current solution: Beads uses Dolt-native sync (bd dolt push / bd dolt pull). No Git branch commits are needed. The information below is retained for historical reference and for users migrating from older versions.

Benefits:

  • ✅ Works with any git platform's branch protection
  • ✅ Main branch stays protected
  • ✅ No disruption to your primary working directory
  • ✅ Backward compatible (opt-in via config)
  • ✅ Minimal disk overhead (uses sparse checkout)
  • ✅ Platform-agnostic solution

Quick Start

1. Initialize beads with a separate sync branch:

bash
cd your-project
bd init

This creates a .beads/ directory with a Dolt database. Sync is handled via bd dolt push / bd dolt pull.

Important: After initialization, you'll see some untracked files that should be committed to your protected branch:

bash
# Check what files were created
git status

# Commit the beads configuration to your protected branch
git add .beads/.gitignore .gitattributes
git commit -m "Initialize beads issue tracker"
git push origin main  # Or create a PR if required

Files created by bd init:

Files that should be committed to your protected branch (main):

  • .beads/.gitignore - Tells git what to ignore in .beads/ directory
  • .gitattributes - Configures merge driver for beads data

Files that are automatically gitignored (do NOT commit):

  • .beads/dolt/ - Dolt database directory (local only)
  • .beads/dolt/sql-server.pid, sql-server.log - Dolt server runtime files

The sync branch (beads-sync) will contain:

  • .beads/metadata.json - Metadata about the beads installation
  • .beads/config.yaml - Configuration template (optional)

2. Start the Dolt server:

bash
dolt sql-server

With git hooks installed (bd hooks install), issue changes are automatically committed to the beads-sync branch.

3. When ready, merge to main:

bash
# Check what's changed
bd dolt show

# Merge to main
git merge beads-sync

That's it! The complete workflow is described below.

How It Works

Git Worktrees

Beads uses git worktrees to maintain a lightweight checkout of your sync branch. Think of it as a mini git clone that shares the same repository history.

Directory structure:

your-project/
├── .git/                    # Main git directory
│   └── beads-worktrees/
│       └── beads-sync/  # Worktree (only .beads/ checked out)
│           └── .beads/
│               └── dolt/
├── .beads/                  # Your main copy
│   ├── dolt/
│   └── .gitignore
├── .gitattributes           # Merge driver config (in main branch)
└── src/                     # Your code (untouched)

What lives in each branch:

Main branch (protected):

  • .beads/.gitignore - Tells git what to ignore
  • .gitattributes - Merge driver configuration

Sync branch (beads-sync):

  • .beads/metadata.json - Repository metadata
  • .beads/config.yaml - Configuration template

Not tracked (gitignored):

  • .beads/dolt/ - Dolt database directory (local only)
  • .beads/dolt/sql-server.* - Dolt server runtime files

Key points:

  • The worktree is in .git/beads-worktrees/ (hidden from your workspace)
  • Only .beads/ is checked out in the worktree (sparse checkout)
  • Changes to issues are committed in the worktree
  • Your main working directory is never affected
  • Disk overhead is minimal (~few MB for the worktree)

Automatic Sync

When you update an issue:

  1. Issue is updated in the Dolt database (.beads/dolt/)
  2. Dolt automatically commits the change to its version history
  3. Changes are synced to remotes via bd dolt push
  4. Main branch stays untouched (no commits on main)

Setup

Option 1: Initialize New Project

bash
cd your-project
bd init

This will:

  • Create .beads/ directory with Dolt database
  • Prompt to install git hooks (recommended: say yes)

Option 2: Migrate Existing Project

If you already have beads set up and want to switch to a separate branch:

bash
# Set the sync branch
bd config set sync.branch beads-sync

# Start the Dolt server and install git hooks
bd dolt start
bd hooks install

Sync Configuration

For automatic commits to the sync branch, install git hooks:

bash
bd hooks install

Git hooks help maintain sync consistency. Use bd dolt push for manual sync when needed.

Environment Variables

You can also configure the sync branch via environment variable:

bash
export BEADS_SYNC_BRANCH=beads-sync

This is useful for CI/CD or temporary overrides.

Daily Workflow

For AI Agents

AI agents work exactly the same way as before:

bash
# Create issues
bd create "Implement user authentication" -t feature -p 1

# Update issues
bd update bd-a1b2 --claim

# Close issues
bd close bd-a1b2 "Completed authentication"

All changes are automatically committed to the beads-sync branch via git hooks. No changes are needed to agent workflows!

For Humans

Check status:

bash
# See what's changed on the sync branch
bd dolt show

This shows the current Dolt configuration and connection status.

Manual commit:

bash
bd dolt commit  # Commit pending changes

Pull changes from remote:

bash
# Pull updates from other collaborators
bd dolt pull

This pulls changes from the remote and imports them to your local database.

Merging Changes

Option 1: Via Pull Request (Recommended)

For protected branches with required reviews:

bash
# 1. Push your sync branch
git push origin beads-sync

# 2. Create PR on GitHub/GitLab/etc.
#    - Base: main
#    - Compare: beads-sync

# 3. After PR is merged, update your local main
git checkout main
git pull
bd dolt pull  # Pull latest changes

Option 2: Direct Merge (If Allowed)

If you have push access to main:

bash
# Sync via Dolt (no git branch merge needed)
bd dolt push
bd dolt pull

Safety checks:

  • ✅ Verifies you're not on the sync branch
  • ✅ Checks for uncommitted changes in working tree
  • ✅ Detects merge conflicts and provides resolution steps
  • ✅ Uses --no-ff for clear history

Merge Conflicts

If you encounter conflicts during merge:

bash
# git merge may detect conflicts and show:
Auto-merging .beads/...
CONFLICT (content): Merge conflict in .beads/...

To resolve:
1. Use bd vc conflicts to view conflicts
2. Resolve conflicts
3. Commit the resolution

Resolving merge conflicts:

Dolt handles merge conflicts natively with cell-level merge. When concurrent changes affect the same issue field, Dolt detects the conflict and allows resolution:

bash
# After a Dolt pull with conflicts
bd vc conflicts     # View conflicts
bd vc resolve       # Resolve conflicts

Troubleshooting

"fatal: refusing to merge unrelated histories"

This happens if you created the sync branch independently. Merge with --allow-unrelated-histories:

bash
git merge beads-sync --allow-unrelated-histories --no-ff

Or merge manually with git merge beads-sync --allow-unrelated-histories --no-ff.

"worktree already exists"

If the worktree is corrupted or in a bad state:

bash
# Remove the worktree
rm -rf .git/beads-worktrees/beads-sync

# Prune stale worktree entries
git worktree prune

# Restart Dolt server (it will recreate the worktree)
bd dolt stop && bd dolt start

"branch 'beads-sync' not found"

The sync branch doesn't exist yet. It will be created on the first commit. Create it manually:

bash
git checkout -b beads-sync
git checkout main  # Switch back

"Cannot push to protected branch"

If the sync branch itself is protected:

  1. Option 1: Unprotect the sync branch (it's metadata, doesn't need protection)
  2. Option 2: Use --auto-commit without --auto-push, and push manually when ready
  3. Option 3: Use a different branch name that's not protected

Dolt server won't start

Check server status and logs:

bash
# Check status
bd dolt status

# View logs
tail -f .beads/dolt/sql-server.log

# Restart server
bd dolt stop && bd dolt start

Common issues:

  • Port already in use: Another Dolt server is running
  • Permission denied: Check .beads/ directory permissions
  • Git errors: Ensure git is installed and repository is initialized

Changes not syncing between clones

Ensure all clones are configured the same way:

bash
# On each clone, verify:
bd config get sync.branch  # Should be the same (e.g., beads-sync)

# Pull latest changes
bd dolt pull

# Check Dolt server is running
bd dolt status

FAQ

Do I need to configure anything on GitHub/GitLab?

No! This is a pure git solution that works on any platform. Just protect your main branch as usual.

Can I use a different branch name?

Yes! Use any branch name except main or master (git worktrees cannot checkout the same branch in multiple locations):

bash
bd dolt remote add origin <remote-url>
bd dolt push

Can I change the branch name later?

Yes:

bash
bd config set sync.branch new-branch-name
bd dolt stop && bd dolt start

The old worktree will remain (no harm), and a new worktree will be created for the new branch.

What if I want to go back to committing to main?

Unset the sync branch config:

bash
bd config set sync.branch ""
bd dolt stop && bd dolt start

Beads will go back to committing directly to your current branch.

Does this work with multiple collaborators?

Yes! Each collaborator configures their own sync branch:

bash
# All collaborators use the same branch
bd config set sync.branch beads-sync

Everyone's changes sync via the beads-sync branch. Periodically merge to main via PR.

How often should I merge to main?

This depends on your workflow:

  • Daily: If you want issue history in main frequently
  • Per sprint: If you batch metadata updates
  • As needed: Only when you need others to see issue updates

There's no "right" answer - choose what fits your team.

Can I review changes before merging?

Yes! Use bd dolt show to check current status, or use git to compare branches:

bash
git log main..beads-sync --oneline
# Shows commits on beads-sync not yet in main

Or create a pull request and review on GitHub/GitLab.

What about disk space?

Worktrees are very lightweight:

  • Sparse checkout means only .beads/ is checked out
  • Typically < 1 MB for the worktree
  • Shared git history (no duplication)

Can I delete the worktree?

Yes, but it may be recreated on next sync. If you want to clean up permanently:

bash
# Stop Dolt server
bd dolt stop

# Remove worktree
git worktree remove .git/beads-worktrees/beads-sync

# Unset sync branch
bd config set sync.branch ""

Does this work with bd dolt push?

Yes! bd dolt push works normally. Related commands for the merge workflow:

  • bd dolt show - Show current Dolt configuration and connection status
  • git merge beads-sync - Merge sync branch to main

Can AI agents merge automatically?

Not recommended! Merging to main is a deliberate action that should be human-reviewed, especially with protected branches. Agents should create issues and update them; humans should merge to main.

However, if you want fully automated sync:

bash
# WARNING: This bypasses branch protection!
git merge beads-sync  # Run periodically (e.g., via cron)

What if I forget to merge for a long time?

No problem! The sync branch accumulates all changes. When you eventually merge:

bash
git checkout main
git merge beads-sync --no-ff
git push

All accumulated changes will be merged at once. Git history will show the full timeline.

Can I use this with GitHub Actions or CI/CD?

Yes! Example GitHub Actions workflow:

yaml
name: Sync Beads Metadata

on:
  schedule:
    - cron: '0 0 * * *'  # Daily at midnight
  workflow_dispatch:     # Manual trigger

jobs:
  sync:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0  # Full history

      - name: Install bd
        run: |
          curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gastownhall/beads/main/scripts/install.sh | bash

      - name: Pull changes
        run: |
          git fetch origin beads-sync
          bd dolt pull

      - name: Merge to main (if changes)
        run: |
          if git log main..beads-sync --oneline | grep -q '.'; then
            git merge beads-sync --no-ff -m "Merge beads-sync metadata"
            git push origin main
          fi

Note: Make sure the GitHub Action has write permissions to push to main.

Platform-Specific Notes

GitHub

Protected branch settings:

  1. Go to Settings → Branches → Add rule
  2. Branch name pattern: main
  3. Check "Require pull request before merging"
  4. Save

Create sync branch PR:

bash
git push origin beads-sync
gh pr create --base main --head beads-sync --title "Update beads metadata"

GitLab

Protected branch settings:

  1. Settings → Repository → Protected Branches
  2. Branch: main
  3. Allowed to merge: Maintainers
  4. Allowed to push: No one

Create sync branch MR:

bash
git push origin beads-sync
glab mr create --source-branch beads-sync --target-branch main

Bitbucket

Protected branch settings:

  1. Repository settings → Branch permissions
  2. Branch: main
  3. Check "Prevent direct pushes"

Create sync branch PR:

bash
git push origin beads-sync
# Create PR via Bitbucket web UI

Advanced Topics

Multiple Sync Branches

You can use different sync branches for different purposes:

bash
# Development branch
bd config set sync.branch beads-dev

# Production branch
bd config set sync.branch beads-prod

Switch between them as needed.

Syncing with Upstream

If you're working on a fork:

bash
# Add upstream
git remote add upstream https://github.com/original/repo.git

# Fetch upstream changes
git fetch upstream

# Merge upstream beads-sync to yours
git checkout beads-sync
git merge upstream/beads-sync
bd dolt pull  # Pull merged changes

Custom Worktree Location

By default, worktrees are in .git/beads-worktrees/. This is hidden and automatic. If you need a custom location, you'll need to manage worktrees manually (not recommended).

Migration Guide

From Direct Commits to Sync Branch

If you have an existing beads setup committing to main:

  1. Set sync branch:

    bash
    bd config set sync.branch beads-sync

  2. Restart Dolt server:

    bash
    bd dolt stop && bd dolt start

  3. Verify:

    bash
    bd config get sync.branch  # Should show: beads-sync

Future commits will go to beads-sync. Historical commits on main are preserved.

From Sync Branch to Direct Commits

If you want to stop using a sync branch:

  1. Unset sync branch:

    bash
    bd config set sync.branch ""

  2. Restart Dolt server:

    bash
    bd dolt stop && bd dolt start

Future commits will go to your current branch (e.g., main).

Need help? Open an issue at https://github.com/gastownhall/beads/issues