git-worktree

Default output: return only the result, blockers, and required evidence. Omit preambles, process narration, repeated context, confidence scores, and follow-up offers. Use at most five bullets unless a required artifact or schema needs more.

Git Worktree Skill

Systematic Approach

Core Commands

Create a Worktree

# Create worktree with new branch
git worktree add ../project-feature -b feature/user-auth

# Create worktree on existing branch
git worktree add ../project-bugfix hotfix/critical-fix

Create worktree at specific commit

git worktree add ../project-v1 release/v1.0

### List Worktrees

```bash
git worktree list
# Output:
# /path/to/repo          abc1234 [main]
# /path/to/project-feature def5678 [feature/user-auth]
# /path/to/project-bugfix  ghi9012 [hotfix/critical-fix]

Remove Worktrees

# Remove worktree (after merging branch)
git worktree remove ../project-feature

# Force remove if worktree has uncommitted changes
git worktree remove --force ../project-feature

# Prune stale worktree references
git worktree prune

Naming Conventions

Use consistent, descriptive names:

# Good: describes the work
git worktree add ../myapp-feature-auth -b feature/auth
git worktree add ../myapp-bugfix-login -b hotfix/login-error
git worktree add ../myapp-experiment-v2 -b experiment/v2-redesign

# Bad: ambiguous names
git worktree add ../temp -b stuff
git worktree add ../test -b wip

Integration with ai-eng-system

Worktrees enable running multiple Claude sessions in parallel:

# Terminal 1: Feature implementation
git worktree add ../project-auth -b feature/auth
cd ../project-auth
claude  # Run /ai-eng/work "implement authentication"

# Terminal 2: Bug fix (parallel)
git worktree add ../project-bugfix -b hotfix/critical-fix
cd ../project-bugfix
claude  # Run /ai-eng/work "fix login timeout"

# Terminal 3: Code review
cd ../project
claude  # Run /ai-eng/review

Best Practices

1. Create one worktree per task — Keep worktrees focused
2. Name descriptively — Include project prefix and purpose
3. Clean up after merge — Remove worktrees when done
4. Prune regularly — Run git worktree prune to clean references
5. Use sibling directories — Keep worktrees next to main repo, not nested
6. Don't share worktrees — Each session gets its own worktree

Common Workflows

Feature Development with Review

# 1. Create feature worktree
git worktree add ../myapp-feature -b feature/new-api
cd ../myapp-feature

# 2. Develop the feature
# ... make changes, commit ...

# 3. Push and create PR
git push -u origin feature/new-api
gh pr create --title "Add new API" --body "..."

# 4. Switch back to main
cd ../myapp

# 5. Clean up after merge
git worktree remove ../myapp-feature
git branch -d feature/new-api

Running Tests in Isolation

# Create worktree for test runs (won't affect main)
git worktree add ../myapp-tests -b test/run
cd ../myapp-tests
[run tests for your project]
cd ../myapp
git worktree remove ../myapp-tests

Troubleshooting

Stale Worktrees

# List all worktrees including stale ones
git worktree list --verbose

# Prune stale references
git worktree prune

# Manually remove if prune doesn't work
rm -rf ../path-to-stale-worktree
git worktree prune

Worktree Won't Remove

# Force remove with uncommitted changes
git worktree remove --force ../project-feature

# If still failing, remove manually
rm -rf ../project-feature
git worktree prune

Anti-Rationalization Table

Excuse	Counter
"I'll just switch branches instead of creating a worktree"	Switching branches loses uncommitted work and breaks running processes. Worktrees enable true parallelism.
"I don't need to clean up old worktrees"	Stale worktrees clutter the filesystem and confuse branch state. Prune regularly.
"Naming doesn't matter, I'll remember what it's for"	You won't. Descriptive names prevent confusion when juggling multiple worktrees.
"I can share this worktree with another session"	Shared worktrees cause git lock conflicts. Each session gets its own worktree.
"The worktree won't remove, I'll just leave it"	Force remove or manually delete. Stale worktrees cause git warnings and confusion.