diff --git a/.devcontainer/Dockerfile b/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
index 6ef1ca2..3be7b42 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
+++ b/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ ARG AGENT_PLATFORM_CLAUDE_CODE_VERSION
 ARG AGENT_PLATFORM_CODEX_VERSION
 ARG AGENT_PLATFORM_OPENCODE_VERSION
 ARG AGENT_PLATFORM_BACKLOG_MD_VERSION
+ARG AGENT_PLATFORM_BACKLOG_MD_MCP_VERSION
+ARG AGENT_PLATFORM_BEADS_VERSION
 ARG AGENT_PLATFORM_CONTEXT7_VERSION
 ARG AGENT_PLATFORM_PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_VERSION
 ARG AGENT_PLATFORM_ZSH_IN_DOCKER_VERSION
@@ -22,7 +24,8 @@ ENV \
   LANGUAGE='en_US:en' \
   LC_ALL='en_US.UTF-8' \
   PLAYWRIGHT_SKIP_BROWSER_DOWNLOAD="1" \
-  PLAYWRIGHT_CHROMIUM_EXECUTABLE_PATH="/usr/bin/chromium"
+  PLAYWRIGHT_CHROMIUM_EXECUTABLE_PATH="/usr/bin/chromium" \
+  OPENCODE_CONFIG="/etc/opencode/managed_config.json"
 
 COPY --chmod=0555 "init-firewall.sh" "/usr/local/bin/init-firewall.sh"
 COPY --chmod=0555 "access.sh" "/usr/local/bin/access.sh"
@@ -64,10 +67,11 @@ RUN \
   chown --recursive node:node "/usr/local/share" "/workspace" "/commandhistory" "/home/node/.claude" "/home/node/.codex" "/home/node/.opencode" && \
   chown --recursive root:root "/etc/claude-code/" "/etc/codex" "/etc/opencode" && \
   mv "/home/node/.claude/managed-settings.json" "/etc/claude-code/" && \
+  mv "/home/node/.claude/managed-mcp.json" "/etc/claude-code/" && \
   mv "/home/node/.codex/managed_config.toml" "/etc/codex/" && \
   mv "/home/node/.opencode/managed_config.json" "/etc/opencode/" && \
-  chmod 0664 "/etc/claude-code/managed-settings.json" "/etc/codex/managed_config.toml" "/etc/opencode/managed_config.json" && \
-  chown root:root "/etc/claude-code/managed-settings.json" "/etc/codex/managed_config.toml" "/etc/opencode/managed_config.json" && \
+  chmod 0664 "/etc/claude-code/managed-settings.json" "/etc/claude-code/managed-mcp.json" "/etc/codex/managed_config.toml" "/etc/opencode/managed_config.json" && \
+  chown root:root "/etc/claude-code/managed-settings.json" "/etc/claude-code/managed-mcp.json" "/etc/codex/managed_config.toml" "/etc/opencode/managed_config.json" && \
   ln --symbolic "/etc/opencode/managed_config.json" "/home/node/.opencode/managed_config.json"
 
 USER node
@@ -92,6 +96,8 @@ RUN \
   npm install --global "@openai/codex@${AGENT_PLATFORM_CODEX_VERSION}" && \
   npm install --global "opencode-ai@${AGENT_PLATFORM_OPENCODE_VERSION}" && \
   npm install --global "backlog.md@${AGENT_PLATFORM_BACKLOG_MD_VERSION}" && \
+  npm install --global "@radleta/backlog-md-mcp@${AGENT_PLATFORM_BACKLOG_MD_MCP_VERSION}" && \
+  npm install --global "@beads/bd@${AGENT_PLATFORM_BEADS_VERSION}" && \
   npm install --global "@upstash/context7-mcp@${AGENT_PLATFORM_CONTEXT7_VERSION}" && \
   npm install --global "@playwright/mcp@${AGENT_PLATFORM_PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_VERSION}" && \
   rm --recursive --force "/home/node/.claude/plugins" && \
diff --git a/.devcontainer/capability-check.sh b/.devcontainer/capability-check.sh
index a1d722b..5b0ab59 100755
--- a/.devcontainer/capability-check.sh
+++ b/.devcontainer/capability-check.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 set -o pipefail
 
-expected_mcp_claude="$(jq -r '.mcpServers // {} | keys | join(" ")' /etc/claude-code/managed-settings.json)"
+expected_mcp_claude="$(jq -r '.mcpServers // {} | keys | join(" ")' /etc/claude-code/managed-mcp.json 2>/dev/null)"
 expected_plugins_claude="$(jq -r '(.enabledPlugins // .plugins // {}) | keys | join(" ")' /etc/claude-code/managed-settings.json)"
 expected_mcp_codex="$(grep -oE '^\[mcp_servers\.[^]]+\]' /etc/codex/managed_config.toml | sed -E 's/^\[mcp_servers\.(.+)\]$/\1/' | paste -sd' ')"
 expected_mcp_opencode="$(jq -r '.mcp // {} | keys | join(" ")' /etc/opencode/managed_config.json)"
diff --git a/.devcontainer/config/claude/managed-mcp.json b/.devcontainer/config/claude/managed-mcp.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..09295fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.devcontainer/config/claude/managed-mcp.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "mcpServers": {
+    "backlog-md": {
+      "command": "backlog-mcp",
+      "args": ["start"]
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/.devcontainer/config/claude/managed-settings.json b/.devcontainer/config/claude/managed-settings.json
index 62109fb..de49a86 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/config/claude/managed-settings.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/config/claude/managed-settings.json
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@
     "defaultMode": "bypassPermissions"
   },
   "forceLoginMethod": "claudeai",
-  "mcpServers": {},
   "enabledPlugins": {
     "frontend-design@claude-plugins-official": true,
     "playwright@claude-plugins-official": true,
diff --git a/.devcontainer/config/codex/managed_config.toml b/.devcontainer/config/codex/managed_config.toml
index 65c6f42..72accfd 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/config/codex/managed_config.toml
+++ b/.devcontainer/config/codex/managed_config.toml
@@ -21,3 +21,7 @@ set = { CODEX_HOME = "/home/node/.codex" }
 [mcp_servers.context7]
 command = "context7-mcp"
 args = []
+
+[mcp_servers.backlog-md]
+command = "backlog-mcp"
+args = ["start"]
diff --git a/.devcontainer/config/opencode/managed_config.json b/.devcontainer/config/opencode/managed_config.json
index 883d60d..26e7f6c 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/config/opencode/managed_config.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/config/opencode/managed_config.json
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
     "context7": {
       "type": "local",
       "command": ["context7-mcp"]
+    },
+    "backlog-md": {
+      "type": "local",
+      "command": ["backlog-mcp", "start"]
     }
   },
   "permission": {
diff --git a/.devcontainer/config/shared/skills/public/instructions/SKILL.md b/.devcontainer/config/shared/skills/public/instructions/SKILL.md
index 981973a..554eaee 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/config/shared/skills/public/instructions/SKILL.md
+++ b/.devcontainer/config/shared/skills/public/instructions/SKILL.md
@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ Generate the rest of the content ensuring user get's up to date information:
 | MCP | Description | How to invoke |
 |-----|-------------|---------------|
 | `context7` | Upstash Context7 — live, version-specific library documentation lookup (https://github.com/upstash/context7). On Claude, surfaced via the `context7` plugin (see table below). On Codex and Opencode, surfaced via the standalone `@upstash/context7-mcp` MCP server. | Read how to use it from https://github.com/upstash/context7, summarize. |
+| `backlog-md` | Backlog.md task management via MCP (https://github.com/radleta/Backlog.md-mcp). Replaces the prior CLI + embedded-docs approach; exposes `task_create`, `task_list`, `task_edit`, `board_show`, `overview`, etc. as typed tools. | Call the MCP tools directly from any agent (e.g., `task_create`, `task_list`); no need for embedded instructions. |
+
+## CLIs available for each agent
+
+| CLI | Description | How to invoke |
+|-----|-------------|---------------|
+| `bd` | Beads graph issue tracker / agentic memory system (https://github.com/gastownhall/beads). Per upstream guidance, shell-capable agents (Claude Code, Codex, Opencode) use the CLI directly rather than an MCP wrapper — lower token cost and latency. | From a shell in the devcontainer: `bd init`, `bd create "Title"`, `bd ready`, `bd update <id> --claim`, `bd show <id>`. |
 
 ## Plugins available for Claude Code
 
diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
index 6bb939d..0790745 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
       "AGENT_PLATFORM_CODEX_VERSION": "${localEnv:AGENT_PLATFORM_CODEX_VERSION:latest}",
       "AGENT_PLATFORM_OPENCODE_VERSION": "${localEnv:AGENT_PLATFORM_OPENCODE_VERSION:latest}",
       "AGENT_PLATFORM_BACKLOG_MD_VERSION": "${localEnv:AGENT_PLATFORM_BACKLOG_MD_VERSION:latest}",
+      "AGENT_PLATFORM_BACKLOG_MD_MCP_VERSION": "${localEnv:AGENT_PLATFORM_BACKLOG_MD_MCP_VERSION:latest}",
+      "AGENT_PLATFORM_BEADS_VERSION": "${localEnv:AGENT_PLATFORM_BEADS_VERSION:latest}",
       "AGENT_PLATFORM_CONTEXT7_VERSION": "${localEnv:AGENT_PLATFORM_CONTEXT7_VERSION:latest}",
       "AGENT_PLATFORM_PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_VERSION": "${localEnv:AGENT_PLATFORM_PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_VERSION:latest}",
       "AGENT_PLATFORM_ZSH_IN_DOCKER_VERSION": "${localEnv:AGENT_PLATFORM_ZSH_IN_DOCKER_VERSION:1.2.0}",
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1090f28..6d9f960 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - `instructions` public skill documenting installed plugins, MCP servers, and skills with invocation guidance.
 - Five curated Claude plugins from the `claude-plugins-official` marketplace, pre-enabled via managed settings: `frontend-design`, `playwright`, `feature-dev`, `ralph-loop`, `context7`.
 - System-wide Chromium (via apt) and `@playwright/mcp` (pinned by new `AGENT_PLATFORM_PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_VERSION` build arg) so the Playwright plugin has a usable browser. Dockerfile exports `PLAYWRIGHT_CHROMIUM_EXECUTABLE_PATH=/usr/bin/chromium` and `PLAYWRIGHT_SKIP_BROWSER_DOWNLOAD=1` to skip runtime browser downloads.
+- `@radleta/backlog-md-mcp` MCP server (`backlog-md`) registered for Claude, Codex, and Opencode — exposes Backlog.md task/draft/doc/decision/board tools via typed MCP schemas so embedded CLI docs are no longer needed.
+- `@beads/bd` CLI installed globally for all three agents (graph issue tracker / agentic memory system from https://github.com/gastownhall/beads); shell-capable agents use it directly per upstream guidance. New build args `AGENT_PLATFORM_BACKLOG_MD_MCP_VERSION` and `AGENT_PLATFORM_BEADS_VERSION`.
+- `/etc/claude-code/managed-mcp.json` managed MCP config for Claude (the documented location for enterprise-deployed MCP servers). `claude mcp list` reads from this file, not from `mcpServers` in `managed-settings.json`.
+- `OPENCODE_CONFIG=/etc/opencode/managed_config.json` exported as a container-wide environment variable so the managed Opencode config is picked up under bash (capability-check) as well as zsh (interactive sessions).
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -23,6 +27,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - `deployment.yml` now resolves `EXPECTED_SKILLS` from the canonical catalog.
 - Slimmed the always-loaded agent root files to a short numbered behavioral preamble modeled on [forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills](https://github.com/forrestchang/andrej-karpathy-skills/blob/main/CLAUDE.md) and deduplicated them into a single canonical `AGENTS.md` (plus canonical `TOOLS.md` and `SECURITY.md`) under `.devcontainer/config/shared/`, distributed to all three agents by the Dockerfile via symlinks. Inline security sections previously embedded in Codex and Opencode `AGENTS.md` were extracted into the canonical `SECURITY.md`.
 - Claude receives Context7 via the `context7` plugin instead of the standalone `@upstash/context7-mcp` MCP server. Codex and Opencode continue to use the standalone MCP.
+- Backlog.md integration moved from per-agent CLI + embedded markdown instructions to a dedicated `backlog-md` MCP server.
 
 ### Removed
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4090e22..e663f06 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ Configuration is managed through environment variables.
 | `AGENT_PLATFORM_CODEX_VERSION` | `latest` | Devcontainer build arg that selects the Codex version. | No | String (version tag, e.g. `latest` or `1.2.3`) |
 | `AGENT_PLATFORM_OPENCODE_VERSION` | `latest` | Devcontainer build arg that selects the Opencode version. | No | String (version tag, e.g. `latest` or `1.3.0`) |
 | `AGENT_PLATFORM_BACKLOG_MD_VERSION` | `latest` | Devcontainer build arg that selects the Backlog.md CLI version. | No | String (version tag, e.g. `latest` or `1.40.0`) |
+| `AGENT_PLATFORM_BACKLOG_MD_MCP_VERSION` | `latest` | Devcontainer build arg that selects the `@radleta/backlog-md-mcp` MCP server version. | No | String (version tag, e.g. `latest` or `0.1.10`) |
+| `AGENT_PLATFORM_BEADS_VERSION` | `latest` | Devcontainer build arg that selects the `@beads/bd` CLI version. | No | String (version tag, e.g. `latest` or `1.0.2`) |
 | `AGENT_PLATFORM_CONTEXT7_VERSION` | `latest` | Devcontainer build arg that selects the Context7 MCP server version (used by Codex and Opencode; Claude now gets Context7 via the `context7` plugin). | No | String (version tag, e.g. `latest` or `1.0.0`) |
 | `AGENT_PLATFORM_PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_VERSION` | `latest` | Devcontainer build arg that selects the `@playwright/mcp` server version backing the `playwright` Claude plugin. | No | String (version tag, e.g. `latest` or `0.0.43`) |
 | `AGENT_PLATFORM_ZSH_IN_DOCKER_VERSION` | `1.2.0` | Devcontainer build arg that selects the zsh-in-docker version. | No | String (version tag, e.g. `1.2.0`) |
diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index 706be29..e68f938 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ Agent Platform is a devcontainer-first runtime for configuring and running AI ag
 |   |-- access.sh -> Runtime access test setup for the container.
 |   |-- config
 |   |   |-- claude
-|   |   |   `-- managed-settings.json -> Managed (immutable) settings applied to Claude.
+|   |   |   |-- managed-settings.json -> Managed (immutable) settings applied to Claude.
+|   |   |   `-- managed-mcp.json -> Managed (immutable) MCP server definitions for Claude (deployed to /etc/claude-code/).
 |   |   |-- codex
 |   |   |   `-- managed_config.toml -> Managed (immutable) Codex configuration.
 |   |   |-- opencode