> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://yellowhammer.dev/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Rehearse before scheduling

> Learn what a rehearsal Night can reveal before unattended runs.

Run a Yellowhammer [Rehearsal Night](https://yellowhammer.dev/docs/reference/statuses-and-glossary.md#rehearsal-night) to exercise setup, board updates, Worktrees, and reporting before scheduling real work.

## Before you begin

Complete [Project setup](https://yellowhammer.dev/docs/setup/overview.md). A rehearsal uses a separate Linear project and a separate Journal. Board writes and Worktree operations are real. It never dispatches an agent CLI, pushes code, or opens a pull request.

In the Project's TOML file under `~/.config/yellowhammer/projects/`, declare the rehearsal Linear project as `rehearsal_project` in the existing `[board.linear]` section, and declare the rehearsal Journal in `[rehearsal]`. The following values are illustrative; replace the Linear project id and path for your Mac:

```toml theme={null}
# Add this key inside the existing [board.linear] section:
rehearsal_project = "YOUR_REHEARSAL_LINEAR_PROJECT_ID"

[rehearsal]
journal = "~/.config/yellowhammer/rehearsals/acme-checkout.sqlite"
```

The rehearsal project must differ from the real Linear project. The Journal must resolve to an absolute path outside the real Journals directory and must differ from the real Journal. A relative path does not qualify. Keep the rehearsal board in the workspace reached through this Project's Board Connection.

## Run the rehearsal

1. Open **Settings**, choose the Project, and select **Recalibrate**.
2. In **Rehearsal Night**, choose **Run a Rehearsal Night…**.
3. Read the confirmation and choose **Run Rehearsal Night**. The engine runs author, build, and land in that order; it keeps running if you quit the app.
4. Use **Show Log** after launch to inspect the output. Review the Night Card and Summary in the rehearsal Linear project.

With the [command-line tool installed](https://yellowhammer.dev/docs/reference/yh-command-line.md), the equivalent invocation for the illustrative Project id is:

```bash theme={null}
yh rehearse --project acme-checkout
```

## Confirm it worked

Inspect the rehearsal log and the rehearsal board's Night records. Resolve reported configuration or board failures before real scheduling. A successful rehearsal exercises coordination and reporting; it cannot establish that a real agent will implement the Feature, that its Check will pass, or that publication will succeed.

## Common problems

If the button is unavailable, read the reason beside it. Missing `rehearsal_project`, a reused real Linear project, a missing Journal declaration, or a Journal among the real Journals are refused before any Act writes. Correct the named declaration and refresh the Project settings.

If a rehearsal stops later, preserve its log and review the failed Act and linked Linear records. Use [setup diagnostics](https://yellowhammer.dev/docs/reference/troubleshoot-setup-and-connections.md) to repair the underlying connection or repository problem.

## Next steps

[Configure the schedule](https://yellowhammer.dev/docs/run/configure-the-schedule.md) · [The lifecycle of a Night](https://yellowhammer.dev/docs/concepts/lifecycle-of-a-night.md)


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