Using Git Worktrees

Using Git Worktrees

Overview

Git worktrees create isolated workspaces sharing the same repository, allowing work on multiple branches simultaneously without switching.

Location: Always use .worktrees/ (per CLAUDE.md)

Announce at start: "I'm using the using-git-worktrees skill to set up an isolated workspace."

Safety Verification

Verify .worktrees/ is ignored before creating worktree:

git check-ignore -q .worktrees 2>/dev/null

If NOT ignored: Add to .gitignore and commit before proceeding.

Why critical: Prevents accidentally committing worktree contents to repository.

Creation Steps

1. Create Worktree

git worktree add .worktrees/$BRANCH_NAME -b $BRANCH_NAME $BASE_BRANCH
cd .worktrees/$BRANCH_NAME

2. Run Project Setup

Laravel:

Fresh worktrees don't have vendor/ or node_modules/. Install dependencies first:

# 1. Create bootstrap/cache (required for composer)
mkdir -p bootstrap/cache

# 2. Install PHP dependencies
composer install --no-interaction

# 3. Run Laravel setup (migrations, seeds, caches)
php artisan migrate --seed

# 4. Build frontend assets (Vite manifest required for tests)
npm install && npm run build

Why this order matters:

• bootstrap/cache must exist before composer runs post-install scripts
• vendor/ must exist before artisan commands work
• Vite manifest must exist or tests using views will fail

Other projects: Auto-detect from project files:

if [ -f package.json ]; then npm install; fi
if [ -f Cargo.toml ]; then cargo build; fi
if [ -f requirements.txt ]; then pip install -r requirements.txt; fi
if [ -f pyproject.toml ]; then poetry install; fi
if [ -f go.mod ]; then go mod download; fi

3. Verify Baseline

Run tests to ensure worktree starts clean:

# Laravel
php artisan test

# Other
npm test / cargo test / pytest / go test ./...

If tests fail: Verify setup completed correctly (vendor/, node_modules/, Vite manifest all exist). Compare with main worktree to identify if failures are pre-existing.

If tests pass: Report ready.

4. Report Location

Worktree ready at 
Branch: 
Tests:  passed ( pre-existing failures if any)
Ready to implement 

Quick Reference

| Situation | Action | |-----------|--------| | Creating worktree | git worktree add .worktrees/$BRANCH -b $BRANCH $BASE | | .worktrees/ not ignored | Add to .gitignore + commit first | | Laravel project | mkdir -p bootstrap/cache → composer install → php artisan migrate --seed → npm install && npm run build | | Other projects | Auto-detect from package.json, Cargo.toml, etc. | | Tests fail during baseline | Verify setup complete (vendor/, node_modules/, Vite manifest), compare with main |

Common Mistakes

Skipping ignore verification

• Problem: Worktree contents get tracked, pollute git status
• Fix: Always use git check-ignore before creating worktree

Running artisan commands before composer install

• Problem: Fresh worktrees have no vendor/ directory - artisan commands fail
• Fix: Run composer install first, then artisan commands

Missing bootstrap/cache directory

• Problem: Composer post-install scripts fail with "directory must be present and writable"
• Fix: Create mkdir -p bootstrap/cache before running composer install

Skipping npm build

• Problem: Tests that render views fail with "Vite manifest not found"
• Fix: Run npm install && npm run build after Laravel setup

Hardcoding setup commands

• Problem: Breaks on projects using different tools
• Fix: Use documented sequence for Laravel, auto-detect for others

Example Workflow

You: I'm using the using-git-worktrees skill to set up an isolated workspace.

[Verify ignored: git check-ignore .worktrees - confirmed]
[Create worktree: git worktree add .worktrees/issue-123 -b issue-123-feature aw-next]
[mkdir -p bootstrap/cache]
[composer install --no-interaction]
[php artisan migrate --seed]
[npm install && npm run build]
[php artisan test - all tests passed]

Worktree ready at /home/user/project/.worktrees/issue-123
Branch: issue-123-feature
Tests: 639 passed (0 failures)
Ready to implement feature

Red Flags

Never:

• Create worktree without verifying .worktrees/ is ignored
• Run artisan commands before composer install in fresh worktree
• Skip npm run build - tests will fail on missing Vite manifest

Always:

• Use .worktrees/ directory
• Verify directory is ignored
• Create bootstrap/cache before composer install
• Follow setup order: composer → artisan migrate → npm build

Integration

Called by:

• brainstorming (Phase 4) - when design is approved
• implement-issue - for isolated feature work

Pairs with:

• finishing-a-development-branch - cleanup after work complete
• subagent-driven-development - work happens in this worktree

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: aaddrick
• Source: aaddrick/claude-pipeline
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.