diff --git a/conductor/tracks.md b/conductor/tracks.md
index 2f29c58..050ce51 100644
--- a/conductor/tracks.md
+++ b/conductor/tracks.md
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ This file tracks all major tracks for the project. Each track has its own detail
 6. [ ] **Track: Expanded Test Coverage and Stress Testing**
    *Link: [./tracks/test_coverage_expansion_20260309/](./tracks/test_coverage_expansion_20260309/)*
 
+7. [ ] **Track: Beads Mode Integration**
+   *Link: [./tracks/beads_mode_20260309/](./tracks/beads_mode_20260309/)*
+   *Goal: Integrate Beads (git-backed graph issue tracker) as an alternative backend for MMA implementation tracks and tickets.*
+
 ---
 
 ### GUI Overhauls & Visualizations
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/index.md b/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/index.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8065600
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/index.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Track beads_mode_20260309 Context
+
+- [Specification](./spec.md)
+- [Implementation Plan](./plan.md)
+- [Metadata](./metadata.json)
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/metadata.json b/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f09c557
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "track_id": "beads_mode_20260309",
+  "type": "feature",
+  "status": "new",
+  "created_at": "2026-03-09T23:45:00Z",
+  "updated_at": "2026-03-09T23:45:00Z",
+  "description": "Add support for beads as a git-backed graph issue tracker alternative to native MMA tracking."
+}
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/plan.md b/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/plan.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3202a93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Implementation Plan: Beads Mode Integration
+
+## Phase 1: Environment & Core Configuration
+- [ ] Task: Audit existing `AppController` and `project_manager.py` for project mode handling.
+- [ ] Task: Write Tests: Verify `manual_slop.toml` can parse and store the `execution_mode` (native/beads).
+- [ ] Task: Implement: Add `execution_mode` toggle to `AppController` state and persistence logic.
+- [ ] Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 1: Environment & Core Configuration' (Protocol in workflow.md)
+
+## Phase 2: Beads Backend & Tooling
+- [ ] Task: Write Tests: Verify a basic Beads/Dolt repository can be initialized and queried via a Python wrapper.
+- [ ] Task: Implement: Create `src/beads_client.py` to interface with the `bd` CLI or direct Dolt SQL backend.
+- [ ] Task: Write Tests: Verify agents can create and update Beads using a mock Beads environment.
+- [ ] Task: Implement: Add a suite of MCP tools (`bd_create`, `bd_update`, `bd_ready`, `bd_list`) to `src/mcp_client.py`.
+- [ ] Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 2: Beads Backend & Tooling' (Protocol in workflow.md)
+
+## Phase 3: GUI Integration & Visual DAG
+- [ ] Task: Write Tests: Verify the Visual DAG can load node data from a non-markdown source (Beads graph).
+- [ ] Task: Implement: Refactor `_render_mma_dashboard` and the DAG renderer to pull from the active mode's backend.
+- [ ] Task: Implement: Add a "Beads" tab to the MMA Dashboard for browsing the raw Dolt-backed issue graph.
+- [ ] Task: Implement: Update Tier Streams to include metadata for Beads-specific status changes.
+- [ ] Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 3: GUI Integration & Visual DAG' (Protocol in workflow.md)
+
+## Phase 4: Context Optimization & Polish
+- [ ] Task: Write Tests: Verify that "Compaction" correctly summarizes completed Beads into a concise text block.
+- [ ] Task: Implement: Add Compaction logic to the context aggregation pipeline for Beads Mode.
+- [ ] Task: Implement: Final UI polish, icons for Bead nodes, and robust error handling for missing `dolt`/`bd` binaries.
+- [ ] Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 4: Context Optimization & Polish' (Protocol in workflow.md)
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/spec.md b/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/spec.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27eca2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conductor/tracks/beads_mode_20260309/spec.md
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# Specification: Beads Mode Integration
+
+## Overview
+Introduce "Beads Mode" as a first-class, project-specific alternative to the current markdown-based implementation tracking (Native Mode). By integrating with [Beads](https://github.com/steveyegge/beads), Manual Slop will gain a distributed, git-backed graph issue tracker that allows Implementation Tracks and Tickets to be versioned alongside the codebase using Dolt.
+
+## Functional Requirements
+- **Execution Modes:**
+  - **Native Mode (Default):** Continues using `conductor/tracks.md` and `<track_id>/plan.md` for task management.
+  - **Beads Mode:** Uses a local `.beads` repository (backed by Dolt) to store the task graph.
+- **Project-Level Configuration:**
+  - Add a `mode = "native" | "beads"` toggle to the `[project]` section of `manual_slop.toml`.
+  - This setting is intended to be set during project initialization and remain stable.
+- **Data Mapping:**
+  - **Tracks as Epics:** Each implementation track maps to a top-level Bead.
+  - **Tickets as Sub-beads:** Plan tasks and sub-tasks map to hierarchical Beads (using dot notation).
+  - **Dependencies:** Map task dependencies to Beads' semantic relationships (`blocks`, `relates_to`).
+- **Agent Integration:**
+  - **Beads Toolset:** Implement a new MCP toolset (e.g., `bd_create`, `bd_update`, `bd_ready`, `bd_list`) that allows agents to interact directly with the Beads graph.
+  - **Compaction Logic:** Utilize Beads' compaction/summarization feature to feed agents a concise summary of completed work while keeping the context window focused on the active task.
+- **GUI Integration (MMA Dashboard):**
+  - **Augmented Visual DAG:** Ensure the `imgui-node-editor` can visualize nodes from the Beads graph when in Beads Mode.
+  - **Beads Tab:** Add a dedicated "Beads" panel/tab within the Operations Hub or MMA Dashboard to browse the Dolt-backed graph.
+  - **Stream Integration:** Tier streams should display Bead IDs and status updates in real-time.
+
+## Non-Functional Requirements
+- **Prerequisites:** Users must have the `bd` CLI and `dolt` installed to use Beads Mode.
+- **Sync Integrity:** Ensure the GUI state remains synchronized with the local Dolt database.
+- **Performance:** Browsing large task graphs must not impact GUI responsiveness.
+
+## Acceptance Criteria
+- [ ] A project can be toggled to "Beads Mode" in its TOML configuration.
+- [ ] Creating a new track in Beads Mode initializes a corresponding Epic Bead.
+- [ ] The Visual DAG correctly renders nodes and links queried from the Beads backend.
+- [ ] Agents can successfully query for "ready" tasks and update their status using Beads-specific tools.
+- [ ] Completed tasks are automatically summarized using the compaction protocol before being sent to agent context.
+
+## Out of Scope
+- Hosting a central Beads/Dolt server (focus is on local distributed tracking).
+- Converting existing Native Mode projects to Beads Mode automatically (initial implementation focus).