Worktree Ops

Worktree Management

Git worktrees let you check out multiple branches of the same repository into separate directories simultaneously. Each worktree has its own working directory and index while sharing the same .git object store and history. This is useful for running parallel development sessions, reviewing a PR while mid-feature, or isolating experimental changes without stashing or committing half-finished work.

Core Principles

| Principle | Meaning | |---|---| | Isolation without duplication | Worktrees share git history but keep working directories separate - no need to clone the repo again | | Safety first | Always check for uncommitted changes and unpushed commits before removing a worktree | | Clean up after yourself | Stale worktree entries and orphaned branches accumulate - prune regularly | | Convention over configuration | Use a consistent directory layout (.worktrees//) and branch naming (worktree-) |

Quick Reference

| Command | What it does | When to use | |---|---|---| | git worktree add -b | Create a new worktree with a new branch | Starting parallel work on a new task | | git worktree list | Show all worktrees with their branches and paths | Checking what is active | | git worktree list --porcelain | Machine-readable worktree listing | Scripting or enriching with status info | | git worktree remove | Remove a worktree directory and its admin files | Done with a parallel task | | git worktree remove --force | Force-remove even with uncommitted changes | After explicit user confirmation | | git worktree prune | Clean up stale worktree entries | After manual directory deletion or errors | | git branch -D worktree- | Delete the orphaned branch after worktree removal | Keeping branches clean |

Create

Create a new worktree for an isolated parallel development session.

Workflow

1. Confirm the current directory is a git repository.
2. Confirm the current session is NOT already inside a worktree:

``bash git rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree && git worktree list `` If the current working directory is already a worktree (not the main working tree), warn the user and stop.

1. If a name was provided as an argument, use it. Otherwise, present an interactive prompt (or the platform's equivalent): "What name should I use for this worktree? (e.g., feature-auth, bugfix-123)"
2. Create the worktree:

``bash git worktree add .worktrees/ -b worktree- ``

1. Change your working directory to the new worktree path.
2. Report to the user:

`` Worktree created: Directory: .worktrees// Branch: worktree- Based on: ``

1. Remind the user:

• Run your stack's dependency installation command (e.g., composer install, npm install, pip install -r requirements.txt)
• The worktree shares git history with the main repo but has its own working directory
• Use the list command to see all active worktrees
• Use the remove command to clean up when done

List

List all active worktrees with their branches, paths, and status.

Workflow

1. Confirm the current directory is inside a git repository.
2. Run:

``bash git worktree list --porcelain ``

1. For each worktree, gather uncommitted change count:

``bash git -C status --short 2>/dev/null ``

1. Display a clean table:

``` Active worktrees:

| # | Name | Branch | Path | Status | |---|--------------|----------------------|-------------------------------|---------------| | 1 | (main) | main | /path/to/repo | clean | | 2 | feature-auth | worktree-feature-auth| .worktrees/feature-auth | 3 uncommitted | | 3 | bugfix-123 | worktree-bugfix-123 | .worktrees/bugfix-123 | clean | ```

1. If no worktrees exist beyond the main working tree, say: "No additional worktrees found. Use the create command to create one."

Switch

Switch your working directory to a different existing worktree.

Workflow

1. Confirm the current directory is inside a git repository.
2. Run:

``bash git worktree list ` If only the main working tree exists, say: "No worktrees available to switch to. Use the create` command to create one." and stop.

1. If a name was provided as an argument, find the matching worktree path. Otherwise, show the list and present an interactive prompt (or the platform's equivalent): "Which worktree do you want to switch to?"
2. If the name does not match any existing worktree, say: "Worktree `` not found." and show the available list.
3. Open a terminal in the worktree path, or switch your editor to the worktree directory.
4. Report to the user:

`` Switched to worktree: Directory: Branch: ``

1. Show a quick status:

``bash git status --short ``

Remove

Remove one or all worktrees from the current repository.

Workflow

1. Confirm the current directory is inside a git repository.
2. Run:

``bash git worktree list `` If no worktrees exist beyond the main working tree, say: "No worktrees to clean up." and stop.

1. Determine what to remove:

• If argument is all - remove all worktrees (except the main working tree).
• If a specific name was provided - remove only that worktree.
• If no argument - show the list and present an interactive prompt (or the platform's equivalent): "Which worktree should I remove? Enter the name, or type all to remove everything."

1. Safety check - for each worktree being removed:

``bash git -C status --short git -C log --oneline @{upstream}..HEAD 2>/dev/null ` If there are uncommitted changes or unpushed commits, warn the user: `` WARNING: Worktree "" has uncommitted changes / unpushed commits:

• 2 modified files
• 1 unpushed commit

These will be permanently lost. Continue? (yes/no) ``` Wait for explicit confirmation before proceeding.

1. For each worktree to remove:

``bash git worktree remove --force git branch -D worktree- 2>/dev/null ` Use --force` only after the user has confirmed in step 4.

1. Prune stale entries:

``bash git worktree prune ``

1. Report what was removed:

``` Removed worktrees:

• feature-auth (branch worktree-feature-auth deleted)
• bugfix-123 (branch worktree-bugfix-123 deleted)

Remaining worktrees: 1 (main working tree only) ```

Troubleshooting

| Problem | Cause | Fix | |---|---|---| | fatal: '' is a missing but locked worktree | Worktree directory was deleted manually but the lock file remains | Run git worktree unlock then git worktree prune | | Stale entries in git worktree list | Worktree directory was deleted without using git worktree remove | Run git worktree prune to clean up admin files | | fatal: '' is already checked out | Branch is active in another worktree | Switch the other worktree to a different branch first, or remove it | | Worktree path exists but is empty | Interrupted creation or corrupted state | Run git worktree remove --force then git worktree prune |

Integration with Other Skills

| Situation | Recommended Skill | |---|---| | When managing branches and commits | git-workflow | | When executing a TDD implementation in an isolated worktree | test-driven-development | | When following a full ticket workflow that uses worktrees | ticket-delivery |

Source & license

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

• Author: krzysztofsurdy
• Source: krzysztofsurdy/code-virtuoso
• License: MIT

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