beads

Multi-agent task coordination with file locking is managed through persistent graph-based workflows, allowing agents to claim tasks, reserve files, and prevent conflicts across sessions. The system tracks dependencies and hierarchical epics to keep work organized.

Dependency management in a multi-session workflow is handled using graph-based task tracking where tasks block or unblock each other. You can reserve specific files, add discovered work dynamically, and mark tasks done to automatically resolve dependencies.

Cross-team collaboration for complex software projects is supported through hierarchical epic and child task structures. Teams can coordinate backend, frontend, and documentation tasks while the system manages task dependencies and prevents file conflicts via locking.

To start a task in a multi-agent environment, initialize the workflow, claim an available task, and reserve the files you need to edit. This file locking prevents other agents from modifying the same files until your task is done.

Swarm-style coordination is available through an optional beads-bridge feature that enables visualization and coordination across multiple agents. It works alongside the core dependency management and file locking protocols to manage complex task graphs.

Persistent task tracking for multi-agent work is needed when projects span multiple sessions and require strict file locking to prevent conflicts. It ensures that claimed tasks, reserved files, and dependency states survive session restarts without losing progress.