Beads provides a persistent, structured memory for coding agents. It replaces messy markdown plans with a dependency-aware graph, allowing agents to handle long-horizon tasks without losing context.
Publisher’s description
What is Beads?
Beads is an open-source ides & code editor program for Windows from Steve Yegge. It is written in Go.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit and ARM64 as Portable. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.3.2, released on October 24, 2026. 21 versions are listed since February 23, 2026, each with links to its own installer files. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (gastownhall/beads) has 28,095 stars. Similar programs include OpenCode, Apache NetBeans and Node.js (LTS).
Project description on GitHub: “Beads - A memory upgrade for your coding agent”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
- Updated in the last two months
- Large user base
In short: Beads is an open-source ides & code editor tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs.
Is Beads safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
E59CB7742278185493E30C2EB97CB318DB8D7A58C28EE5E88C2A30C7630C0975· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 21 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3.2Latest | October 24, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.3.1 | September 30, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 1.3.0 | September 15, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 1.2.2 | August 15, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.2.1 | August 11, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.1.2 | July 26, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.1.0 | July 4, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 1.0.5 | May 29, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id GasTownHall.Beads -eProgram files (.exe): bd.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install beadsInformation
- Publisher
- Steve Yegge
- Category
- IDEs & code editors
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/gastownhall/beads
- Written in
- Go
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 1.3.2
- Released
- October 24, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- April 3, 2026
- Versions listed
- 21
- GitHub stars
- 28,095
- GitHub forks
- 1,896
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- GasTownHall.Beads
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Beads
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Frequently asked questions
Is Beads free?
Yes. Beads is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is Beads safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Beads with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does Beads run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of Beads?
The versions page lists all 21 versions with links to their official installer files, back to February 23, 2026.
Can I use Beads without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to Beads?
OpenCode, Apache NetBeans, Node.js (LTS), RStudio and Haxe. The alternatives page compares them.
