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

# dep add

> Add a dependency between issues

## Syntax

```bash theme={null}
tracer dep add <issue_id> <depends_on_id> [OPTIONS]
```

## Parameters

<ParamField path="issue_id" type="string" required>
  The issue ID that depends on another issue
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="depends_on_id" type="string" required>
  The issue ID that is depended on
</ParamField>

## Options

<ParamField path="--type" type="string" default="blocks">
  Dependency type. Available values:

  * `blocks` - Issue is blocked by the dependency
  * `related` - Issues are related but don't block
  * `parent-child` - Parent-child relationship (for epics)
  * `discovered-from` - Issue was discovered while working on another

  Short flag: `-t`
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--json" type="boolean">
  Output result in JSON format
</ParamField>

## Examples

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Basic Usage theme={null}
  # Add a blocking dependency
  tracer dep add bd-2 bd-1
  ```

  ```bash Parent-Child Relationship theme={null}
  # Mark bd-3 as a subtask of epic bd-1
  tracer dep add bd-3 bd-1 --type parent-child
  ```

  ```bash Track Discovered Work theme={null}
  # Link a bug discovered while working on bd-5
  tracer dep add bd-7 bd-5 --type discovered-from
  ```

  ```bash JSON Output theme={null}
  # Get JSON response
  tracer dep add bd-2 bd-1 --json
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Output

### Human-Readable Format

```
✓ Added dependency: bd-2 --blocks--> bd-1
```

### JSON Format

```json theme={null}
{
  "issue_id": "bd-2",
  "depends_on_id": "bd-1",
  "type": "blocks",
  "created_at": "2025-03-04T10:30:00Z",
  "created_by": "user@example.com"
}
```

<Note>
  Both issues must exist before creating a dependency. The command will fail if either issue ID is not found.
</Note>

<Tip>
  Use `tracer dep tree <issue_id>` to visualize the complete dependency graph after adding dependencies.
</Tip>