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How to use beads with Junie (JetBrains AI Agent).

Setup

Quick Setup

This creates:
  • .junie/guidelines.md - Agent instructions for beads workflow
  • .junie/mcp/mcp.json - MCP server configuration

Verify Setup

How It Works

  1. Session starts → Junie reads .junie/guidelines.md for workflow context
  2. MCP tools available → Junie can use beads MCP tools directly
  3. You work → Use bd CLI commands or MCP tools
  4. Session ends → Run bd dolt push to push changes to Dolt remote

Configuration Files

Guidelines (.junie/guidelines.md)

Contains workflow instructions that Junie reads automatically:
  • Core workflow rules
  • Command reference
  • Issue types and priorities
  • MCP tool documentation

MCP Config (.junie/mcp/mcp.json)

bd setup junie currently writes an MCP config that invokes bd mcp, a command that does not exist in current bd builds — that config will not start a server. Until the recipe is fixed, point Junie at the standalone beads-mcp server instead:
See MCP Server for the server’s tool catalog and other install options (pip/pipx).

CLI Commands

You can also use the bd CLI directly:

Creating Issues

Working on Issues

Querying

Syncing

Best Practices

Always Use --json

Always Include Descriptions

Push Before Session End

Troubleshooting

Guidelines not loaded

MCP tools not available

Changes not syncing

Database not found

Removing Integration

This removes:
  • .junie/guidelines.md
  • .junie/mcp/mcp.json
  • Empty .junie/mcp/ and .junie/ directories

See Also