> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/steveyegge/beads/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# bd mol seed

> Verify formula accessibility or seed patrol formulas

## Overview

The `bd mol seed` command verifies that formulas are accessible and can be cooked (instantiated). This is useful for verifying system health before patrols or agents attempt to spawn work.

## Usage

```bash theme={null}
# Verify all patrol formulas
bd mol seed --patrol

# Verify specific formula
bd mol seed <formula-name>

# Verify with variable substitution
bd mol seed mol-review --var name=test
```

## Arguments

* `[formula-name]` - Optional formula name to verify. Required unless using `--patrol` flag.

## Options

* `--patrol` - Verify all patrol formulas (mol-deacon-patrol, mol-witness-patrol, mol-refinery-patrol)
* `--var key=value` - Variable substitution for condition filtering (can be specified multiple times)
* `--json` - Output results in JSON format

## Formula Search Paths

Formulas are searched in the following order:

1. `.beads/formulas/` (project level)
2. `~/.beads/formulas/` (user level)
3. `$GT_ROOT/.beads/formulas/` (orchestrator level, if GT\_ROOT is set)

## What Gets Verified

The seed command checks that:

1. Formula exists in the search path
2. Formula syntax is valid
3. Formula can be resolved (including extends/inheritance)
4. Formula can be cooked to a subgraph structure

## Examples

### Verify Patrol Formulas

Before starting automated patrols, verify all patrol formulas are accessible:

```bash theme={null}
bd mol seed --patrol
```

Output:

```
✓ All patrol formulas accessible
```

### Verify Specific Formula

Check if a custom formula can be used:

```bash theme={null}
bd mol seed mol-feature-workflow
```

Output:

```
✓ Formula "mol-feature-workflow" accessible
```

### Verify with Variables

Test formula with specific variable values for condition filtering:

```bash theme={null}
bd mol seed mol-deploy --var environment=production --var region=us-west
```

## JSON Output

With `--json` flag:

```json theme={null}
{
  "status": "ok",
  "formula": "mol-feature-workflow"
}
```

For patrol verification:

```json theme={null}
{
  "status": "ok",
  "formulas": [
    "mol-deacon-patrol",
    "mol-witness-patrol",
    "mol-refinery-patrol"
  ]
}
```

## Use Cases

### Pre-Flight Checks

Use in CI/CD pipelines or agent startup scripts to verify formulas are available:

```bash theme={null}
#!/bin/bash
if bd mol seed --patrol --json | jq -e '.status == "ok"' > /dev/null; then
  echo "Formulas ready, starting patrol"
  bd patrol start
else
  echo "Formula verification failed"
  exit 1
fi
```

### Development Workflow

When developing new formulas, verify they can be loaded before attempting to use them:

```bash theme={null}
# After editing .beads/formulas/mol-custom.formula.json
bd mol seed mol-custom

# If successful, try instantiating
bd mol pour mol-custom --var feature=auth
```

### Debugging Formula Issues

If a formula fails to instantiate, use seed to isolate whether the issue is:

* Formula not found (check search paths)
* Invalid syntax (JSON parsing error)
* Resolution failure (extends chain broken)
* Cooking failure (invalid step structure)

## Exit Codes

* `0` - Formula(s) successfully verified
* `1` - Formula not found, invalid syntax, or verification failed

## Related Commands

* [bd mol show](/cli/mol-show) - Display formula structure after cooking
* [bd mol pour](/cli/mol-pour) - Instantiate formula as persistent molecule
* [bd mol wisp](/cli/mol-wisp) - Instantiate formula as ephemeral wisp
* [bd formula list](/cli/formula-list) - List available formulas