Git Workflow Manager Skill

Purpose

Manage git worktrees following GitFlow conventions, enabling parallel development workflows. Create, list, switch between, and clean up worktrees with standardized naming and directory structure. Pure Git implementation, works with any project.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Need to work on multiple features/fixes in parallel
• Want to preserve working state while switching tasks
• Team members need separate worktrees for different features
• Need to quickly switch between features without stashing
• Want to maintain clean branch organization with GitFlow

GitFlow Branch Conventions

Branch Types

1. Feature Branches

• Pattern: feature/{feature-name}
• Purpose: New features, enhancements
• Base: Usually main or develop
• Example: feature/email-notifications, feature/user-dashboard

2. Fix Branches

• Pattern: fix/{fix-name} or bugfix/{fix-name}
• Purpose: Bug fixes
• Base: Usually main or develop
• Example: fix/login-timeout, bugfix/form-validation

3. Hotfix Branches

• Pattern: hotfix/{hotfix-name}
• Purpose: Critical production fixes
• Base: main
• Example: hotfix/security-patch, hotfix/data-corruption

4. Release Branches (optional)

• Pattern: release/{version}
• Purpose: Preparing releases
• Base: develop
• Example: release/1.2.0, release/v2.0.0-beta

Naming Conventions

Good Names:

• Descriptive: feature/email-notifications ✅
• Kebab-case: feature/user-profile-page ✅
• Concise: fix/timeout-error ✅

Bad Names:

• Too generic: feature/new-stuff ❌
• Spaces: feature/email notifications ❌
• Too long: feature/implement-email-notifications-with-microsoft-graph-for-form-submissions ❌

Worktree Directory Structure

Standard Location

Worktrees are created in a sibling directory to the main repository:

project-root/               ← Main repository
project-root-worktrees/     ← Worktree parent directory
├── feature/
│   ├── email-notifications/   ← Worktree for feature/email-notifications
│   └── user-dashboard/        ← Worktree for feature/user-dashboard
├── fix/
│   └── login-timeout/         ← Worktree for fix/login-timeout
└── hotfix/
    └── security-patch/        ← Worktree for hotfix/security-patch

Rationale:

• ✅ Keeps worktrees separate from main repo
• ✅ Easy to find and manage
• ✅ Mirrors branch structure visually
• ✅ Works across all projects (generic)

Path Calculation

Given repository at /path/to/my-project:

• Main repo: /path/to/my-project
• Worktrees: /path/to/my-project-worktrees

Example:

• Main: /d/bovis-creation-forms
• Worktrees: /d/bovis-creation-forms-worktrees

Worktree Operations

Creating a Worktree

Command:

# Usage: create-worktree <type> <name> [base-branch]
# Types: feature, fix, hotfix, release
# Name: descriptive name (kebab-case)
# Base: main, develop, etc. (default: main)

Examples:

# Create feature worktree
create-worktree feature email-notifications

# Result:
# - Branch: feature/email-notifications
# - Worktree: ../my-project-worktrees/feature/email-notifications/

# Create fix worktree from develop
create-worktree fix login-timeout develop

# Result:
# - Branch: fix/login-timeout (from develop)
# - Worktree: ../my-project-worktrees/fix/login-timeout/

Steps Performed:

1. Determine repository name
2. Calculate worktree parent path
3. Create worktree directory structure
4. Create git branch: {type}/{name}
5. Create worktree linked to branch
6. Output worktree path

Script: scripts/create_worktree.sh

Listing Worktrees

Command:

# List all worktrees
list-worktrees

# Output:
# Main: /d/bovis-creation-forms [main]
# Worktrees:
#   1. feature/email-notifications → ../bovis-creation-forms-worktrees/feature/email-notifications
#   2. fix/login-timeout → ../bovis-creation-forms-worktrees/fix/login-timeout

Information Displayed:

• Branch name
• Worktree path
• Commit hash (optional)
• Status (clean/dirty)

Script: scripts/list_worktrees.sh

Switching to Worktree

Manual Switch:

# Option 1: Change directory
cd ../project-worktrees/feature/email-notifications

# Option 2: Open in new terminal/IDE
code ../project-worktrees/feature/email-notifications

Note: Worktrees are independent directories. No special "switch" command needed, just cd to the path.

Removing Worktrees

When to Remove:

• Feature/fix is complete and merged
• Branch is no longer needed
• Want to clean up disk space

Command:

# Remove specific worktree
remove-worktree feature/email-notifications

# Or use git directly
git worktree remove ../project-worktrees/feature/email-notifications

Script: Part of scripts/cleanup_worktrees.sh

Cleaning Up Stale Worktrees

What are Stale Worktrees?

• Worktrees whose branches have been merged and deleted
• Worktrees manually deleted from filesystem but still registered

Command:

# Clean up stale worktrees
cleanup-worktrees

# Options:
# --merged: Remove worktrees for merged branches
# --stale: Remove worktree registrations for deleted directories
# --dry-run: Show what would be removed

Steps Performed:

1. List all worktrees
2. Check which branches are merged into main
3. Ask for confirmation
4. Remove worktree and delete directory
5. Prune git worktree list

Script: scripts/cleanup_worktrees.sh

Git Worktree Basics

What is a Worktree?

A git worktree is a linked working tree that allows you to have multiple branches checked out simultaneously.

Without Worktrees:

project/     ← Only one branch at a time
  (on main)  ← Must switch branches, stash changes

With Worktrees:

project/              ← Main worktree (main branch)
project-worktrees/
  feature/
    email-notif/      ← feature/email-notifications branch
  fix/
    login-timeout/    ← fix/login-timeout branch

Each worktree is independent, allowing simultaneous work.

Benefits of Worktrees

✅ Parallel Development: Work on multiple features simultaneously ✅ No Stashing: Each worktree has its own working directory ✅ Fast Switching: Just cd to different directory ✅ Isolated Builds: Build artifacts don't interfere ✅ Team Collaboration: Easy to share specific feature states

Git Worktree Commands

Core Commands Used:

# Create worktree
git worktree add <path> -b <branch>

# List worktrees
git worktree list

# Remove worktree
git worktree remove <path>

# Prune stale worktree entries
git worktree prune

Integration with Feature Implementation Workflow

Typical Workflow

1. Start Feature:

   # Create worktree
   create-worktree feature email-notifications
   cd ../bovis-worktrees/feature/email-notifications
   

2. Implement:

   # Make changes, commit
   git add .
   git commit -m "Implement email service"
   git push -u origin feature/email-notifications
   

3. Complete:

   # Create PR, get merged
   # Switch back to main worktree
   cd /d/bovis-creation-forms
   
   # Clean up
   cleanup-worktrees --merged
   

Multiple Parallel Features

Scenario: Working on 3 features simultaneously

# Developer A
create-worktree feature email-notifications
cd ../proj-worktrees/feature/email-notifications
# [work on feature A]

# Developer A (or B)
create-worktree feature user-dashboard
cd ../proj-worktrees/feature/user-dashboard
# [work on feature B]

# Developer C
create-worktree fix login-timeout
cd ../proj-worktrees/fix/login-timeout
# [work on fix]

All three can progress independently without conflicts.

Best Practices

1. One Feature Per Worktree

Don't mix multiple features in one worktree. Keep focused.

2. Regular Cleanup

Clean up merged worktrees regularly to avoid clutter:

# Weekly cleanup
cleanup-worktrees --merged

3. Descriptive Names

Use clear, descriptive names:

• ✅ feature/real-time-notifications
• ❌ feature/stuff

4. Commit Before Switching

Always commit or stash before switching worktrees (though each is independent):

git add .
git commit -m "WIP: partial implementation"

5. Push Regularly

Push worktree branches to remote for backup:

git push -u origin feature/my-feature

6. Keep Main Worktree Clean

Use main worktree for stable work, use feature worktrees for active development.

Troubleshooting

Issue: "Worktree already exists"

Cause: Branch already has a worktree

Solution:

# List worktrees to find existing one
git worktree list

# Use existing worktree or remove it first
git worktree remove <path>

Issue: "Branch already exists"

Cause: Branch name conflicts with existing branch

Solution:

# Choose different name or delete old branch
git branch -d feature/old-name

# Or use existing branch
git worktree add <path> feature/existing-name

Issue: "Cannot remove worktree (dirty)"

Cause: Uncommitted changes in worktree

Solution:

# Commit changes
cd <worktree-path>
git add .
git commit -m "Final changes"

# Or stash
git stash

# Then remove
git worktree remove <path>

Issue: Orphaned Worktree Directory

Cause: Worktree directory deleted manually without git worktree remove

Solution:

# Prune stale worktree entries
git worktree prune

Advanced Usage

Creating Worktree from Specific Commit

# Create worktree at specific commit
git worktree add <path> -b <branch> <commit-hash>

Creating Worktree without Creating Branch

# Checkout existing remote branch
git worktree add <path> existing-branch

Detached HEAD Worktree

# Create worktree in detached HEAD state
git worktree add <path> <commit-hash>

GitFlow Integration

This skill implements a simplified GitFlow:

main
  ├── feature/A ──┐
  ├── feature/B ──┤
  └── fix/C ───────┤
                   ├──> merge to main
  hotfix/D ────────┘

Standard Flow:

1. Create feature/fix branch from main
2. Develop in worktree
3. Create PR to merge back to main
4. Clean up worktree after merge

Cross-Project Usage

This skill is 100% generic:

# Project A
cd /path/to/project-a
create-worktree feature new-feature

# Project B
cd /path/to/project-b
create-worktree feature another-feature

# Both use same workflow and conventions

Bundled Resources

• scripts/create_worktree.sh - Create worktree with GitFlow conventions
• scripts/list_worktrees.sh - List all worktrees with status
• scripts/cleanup_worktrees.sh - Clean up merged and stale worktrees
• references/gitflow-conventions.md - Complete GitFlow reference