Ring:creating Worktrees

Using Git Worktrees

When to use

• Starting feature that needs isolation from main workspace
• Before executing implementation plan
• Working on multiple features simultaneously

Skip when

• Quick fix in current branch → stay in place
• Already in isolated worktree for this feature → continue
• Repository doesn't use worktrees → use standard branch workflow

Sequence

Runs before: ring:writing-plans

Git worktrees create isolated workspaces sharing the same repository for parallel branch work.

Announce at start: "Using ring:creating-worktrees skill to set up isolated workspace."

Directory Selection (priority order)

1. Existing .worktrees/ or worktrees/ directory
2. CLAUDE.md preference (grep -i "worktree.*director" CLAUDE.md)
3. Ask user: .worktrees/ (project-local, hidden) OR ~/.config/ring/worktrees// (global)

ls -d .worktrees worktrees 2>/dev/null

Safety Verification

Project-local directories only: Verify .gitignore before creating:

grep -q "^\.worktrees/$\|^worktrees/$" .gitignore

Not in .gitignore → add it → commit → proceed. (Prevents accidentally tracking worktree contents.)

Global directory (~/.config/ring/worktrees): No verification needed.

Creation Steps

# 1. Detect project name
project=$(basename "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)")

# 2. Create worktree
git worktree add "$path" -b "$BRANCH_NAME" && cd "$path"

# 3. Auto-detect and run setup
[ -f package.json ] && npm install
[ -f Cargo.toml ] && cargo build
[ -f requirements.txt ] && pip install -r requirements.txt
[ -f pyproject.toml ] && poetry install
[ -f go.mod ] && go mod download

# 4. Verify clean baseline
npm test / cargo test / pytest / go test ./...

If tests fail: Report failures, ask whether to proceed. If tests pass: Report: Worktree ready at | Tests passing ( tests) | Ready to implement

Quick Reference

| Situation | Action | |-----------|--------| | .worktrees/ exists | Use it (verify .gitignore) | | Both .worktrees/ and worktrees/ exist | Use .worktrees/ | | Neither exists | Check CLAUDE.md → ask user | | Directory not in .gitignore | Add immediately + commit | | Tests fail during baseline | Report failures + ask |

Non-Negotiables

• Project-local directories MUST be in .gitignore before creation
• Baseline test verification REQUIRED before proceeding with work
• Directory selection MUST follow priority order
• Dependency installation MUST run (auto-detect from project files)

Integration

Pairs with finishing-a-development-branch for cleanup and ring:running-dev-cycle for work.

Source & license

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

• Author: LerianStudio
• Source: LerianStudio/ring
• License: Apache-2.0
• Homepage: https://lerian.studio

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