SKILL: Using Git Worktrees

Purpose: Parallel development using isolated workspaces for concurrent feature branches Target: Developers working on multiple features simultaneously

Quick Start

When to Use This Skill

•Developing multiple features concurrently
•Running long-running tests on one branch while working on another
•Isolating experimental changes without stash/commit dance
•Hotfix production while continuing feature work

Quick Reference

bash

# Create new worktree
git worktree add ../project-feature-1 feature-1
git worktree add ../project-feature-2 feature-2

# List worktrees
git worktree list

# Remove worktree after merge
git worktree remove ../project-feature-1

Core Concepts

Worktree Creation

Basic Syntax:

bash

git worktree add <path> <branch> [<start-point>]

Examples:

bash

# Create worktree for existing branch
git worktree add ../myproject-feature feature-x

# Create worktree for new branch
git worktree add ../myproject-experiment -b experiment-branch

# Create worktree at specific commit
git worktree add ../myproject-v1.0 -b v1.0-fixes a1b2c3d

Worktree Management

List worktrees:

bash

git worktree list
# Output:
# /path/to/main              abc1234 [main]
# /path/to/feature-1         def5678 [feature-1]
# /path/to/hotfix            ghi9012 [hotfix/security-fix]

Remove worktree:

bash

# Prune after deleting directory manually
rm -rf ../myproject-feature
git worktree prune

# Remove directly
git worktree remove ../myproject-feature

Lock worktree (prevent cleanup):

bash

git worktree lock ../myproject-critical
git worktree unlock ../myproject-critical

Workflow Integration

Parallel Development Pattern:

bash

# Main workspace: feature work
cd ~/project-main
git checkout -b feature-auth

# Worktree 1: Hotfix
git worktree add ../project-hotfix -b hotfix-login
cd ../project-hotfix
# Fix hotfix, test, commit, push

# Worktree 2: Experiment
git worktree add ../project-experiment -b experiment-ui
cd ../project-experiment
# Try new UI approach, discard if fails

# Return to main workspace
cd ~/project-main
# Continue feature work, merge hotfix when ready

Cleanup

After Feature Merge

bash

# 1. Merge feature branch to main
git checkout main
git merge feature-1

# 2. Remove worktree
git worktree remove ../project-feature-1

# 3. Delete branch (optional)
git branch -d feature-1

# 4. Prune stale worktrees
git worktree prune

Automated Cleanup

bash

# Remove all worktrees for merged branches
git worktree list | while read path commit branch; do
  if git merge-base --is-ancestor "${branch:0:-1}" main 2>/dev/null; then
    git worktree remove "$path"
  fi
done

Verification

Test Worktree Operations

bash

# Create test worktree
git worktree add /tmp/test-worktree -b test-worktree-branch

# Verify it exists
git worktree list | grep test-worktree-branch

# Verify isolation
cd /tmp/test-worktree
git status  # Should show test-worktree-branch, not main

# Cleanup
git worktree remove /tmp/test-worktree

Troubleshooting

Worktree Already Registered

Error: working tree '.claude' already exists

Solution: Remove existing worktree first

bash

git worktree list  # Find the worktree
git worktree remove <path>  # Remove it

Detached HEAD in Worktree

Issue: Worktree showing commit hash instead of branch

Fix: Create local branch

bash

cd ../project-worktree
git checkout -b local-branch-name

Related Skills

•git-operations: Push/pull/merge operations across worktrees
•parallel-subagents: Coordinate work across multiple worktrees
•git-master: Git workflow mastery including worktrees

Version: claude-pilot 4.3.0