Worktree Skill

Git worktree automation for isolated feature development.

When This Skill Activates

Category	Trigger Phrases
Create worktree	/worktree create <name>, /worktree new <name>
List worktrees	/worktree list, /worktree ls
Remove worktree	/worktree remove <name>, /worktree rm <name>
Status	/worktree status

Commands

Create Worktree

/worktree create <feature-name>

Creates an isolated worktree for feature development.

Workflow:

1. Generate branch name: feat/<feature-name>
2. Create worktree: git worktree add .worktrees/<feature-name> -b feat/<feature-name>
3. Copy environment files (if they exist):
   • .env, .env.local, .env.development
   • .nvmrc, .node-version
   • .npmrc
4. Detect and run package manager install:
   • If package-lock.json → npm install
   • If yarn.lock → yarn install
   • If pnpm-lock.yaml → pnpm install
   • If bun.lockb → bun install
5. Add .worktrees/ to .gitignore if not present
6. Verify worktree creation:
   • Run git -C .worktrees/<name> status to confirm clean state
   • Run git worktree list to confirm worktree is registered
   • If verification fails, run cleanup and report error
7. Report path and instructions

Example:

git worktree add .worktrees/auth-feature -b feat/auth-feature
cp .env .worktrees/auth-feature/ 2>/dev/null || true
cp .nvmrc .worktrees/auth-feature/ 2>/dev/null || true
cd .worktrees/auth-feature && npm install

List Worktrees

/worktree list

Shows all active worktrees:

git worktree list

Remove Worktree

/worktree remove <name>

Removes a worktree and optionally its branch:

Workflow:

1. Confirm removal with user
2. Remove worktree: git worktree remove .worktrees/<name> --force
3. Ask if branch should be deleted
4. If yes: git branch -D feat/<name>

Status

/worktree status

Shows status of current worktree:

• Current branch
• Uncommitted changes
• Relationship to main worktree

Directory Structure

project/
├── .worktrees/           # All worktrees live here
│   ├── auth-feature/     # Isolated worktree
│   └── api-refactor/     # Another worktree
├── .gitignore           # Should include .worktrees/
└── ...

Environment Files

These files are copied to new worktrees if they exist:

File	Purpose
.env	Environment variables
.env.local	Local overrides
.env.development	Development config
.nvmrc	Node version
.node-version	Node version (alternative)
.npmrc	npm configuration
.tool-versions	asdf version manager

Behavior Rules

MUST DO

• Create worktrees under .worktrees/ directory
• Add .worktrees/ to .gitignore automatically
• Copy environment files to new worktrees
• Run package install in new worktrees
• Confirm before removing worktrees

MUST NOT

• Create worktrees outside .worktrees/
• Force delete branches without confirmation
• Leave orphaned worktrees

Safety

Before removal, check:

• No uncommitted changes in worktree
• No unpushed commits on branch
• Warn user if either condition exists

Recovery:

• Worktrees can be recovered with git worktree add if directory deleted manually
• Branches are not deleted unless explicitly requested

Decision Matrix: Worktree vs Branch

Situation	Use Worktree	Use Branch
Working on two features simultaneously	YES	NO
Quick hotfix while mid-feature	YES	NO
Sequential feature development	NO	YES
Code review while continuing work	YES	NO
Simple branch for later work	NO	YES
Different node_modules needed	YES	NO
Testing against different deps	YES	NO
Just want to save work in progress	NO	YES (stash or branch)

Rule of thumb:

• Parallel work = worktree (isolated directories, no context switching)
• Sequential work = branch (single directory, normal git workflow)
• Different dependencies = worktree (each has own node_modules)

Example Sessions

Create Worktree - Complete Session

User: /worktree create auth-refactor

Claude: Creating worktree for auth-refactor...

# Step 1: Verify we're in a git repo and check current state
$ git rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree
true

$ git worktree list
/Users/dev/myapp  abc1234 [main]

# Step 2: Check if branch already exists
$ git branch --list 'feat/auth-refactor'
(no output = branch doesn't exist, safe to proceed)

# Step 3: Create the worktree with new branch
$ git worktree add .worktrees/auth-refactor -b feat/auth-refactor
Preparing worktree (new branch 'feat/auth-refactor')
HEAD is now at abc1234 feat: add user dashboard

# Step 4: Copy environment files
$ cp .env .worktrees/auth-refactor/ 2>/dev/null && echo "Copied .env" || echo "No .env found"
Copied .env

$ cp .nvmrc .worktrees/auth-refactor/ 2>/dev/null && echo "Copied .nvmrc" || echo "No .nvmrc found"
Copied .nvmrc

# Step 5: Detect package manager and install
$ ls .worktrees/auth-refactor/package-lock.json
.worktrees/auth-refactor/package-lock.json

$ cd .worktrees/auth-refactor && npm install
added 847 packages in 32s

# Step 6: Ensure .worktrees/ is in .gitignore
$ grep -q "^\.worktrees/$" .gitignore || echo ".worktrees/" >> .gitignore
(added to .gitignore)

# Step 7: Verify worktree is functional
$ git -C .worktrees/auth-refactor status
On branch feat/auth-refactor
nothing to commit, working tree clean

$ git worktree list
/Users/dev/myapp                      abc1234 [main]
/Users/dev/myapp/.worktrees/auth-refactor  abc1234 [feat/auth-refactor]

Output to user:

Worktree created successfully.

Location: .worktrees/auth-refactor
Branch:   feat/auth-refactor
Base:     main (abc1234)

Environment files copied:
  - .env
  - .nvmrc

Dependencies installed via npm.

To work in this worktree:
  cd .worktrees/auth-refactor

To open in new terminal/editor:
  code .worktrees/auth-refactor

List Worktrees - Complete Session

User: /worktree list

Claude: Current worktrees:

$ git worktree list
/Users/dev/myapp                          abc1234 [main]
/Users/dev/myapp/.worktrees/auth-refactor def5678 [feat/auth-refactor]
/Users/dev/myapp/.worktrees/api-cache     ghi9012 [feat/api-cache]

Output to user:

Active Worktrees:

1. main (primary)
   Path:   /Users/dev/myapp
   Commit: abc1234

2. auth-refactor
   Path:   .worktrees/auth-refactor
   Branch: feat/auth-refactor
   Commit: def5678

3. api-cache
   Path:   .worktrees/api-cache
   Branch: feat/api-cache
   Commit: ghi9012

Remove Worktree - Complete Session (With Warning)

User: /worktree remove auth-refactor

Claude: Checking worktree status before removal...

# Step 1: Check for uncommitted changes
$ git -C .worktrees/auth-refactor status --porcelain
 M src/auth/login.ts
?? src/auth/temp.ts

# Step 2: Check for unpushed commits
$ git -C .worktrees/auth-refactor log origin/feat/auth-refactor..HEAD --oneline 2>/dev/null || git -C .worktrees/auth-refactor log origin/main..HEAD --oneline
a1b2c3d feat(auth): add session validation
d4e5f6g feat(auth): refactor token storage

Output to user:

WARNING: This worktree has uncommitted changes:

Modified:  src/auth/login.ts
Untracked: src/auth/temp.ts

WARNING: This worktree has 2 unpushed commits:

a1b2c3d feat(auth): add session validation
d4e5f6g feat(auth): refactor token storage

Are you sure you want to remove this worktree?
This will DELETE all uncommitted changes permanently.

Options:
1. Commit and push changes first, then remove
2. Force remove (loses uncommitted changes)
3. Cancel

User: force remove, I don't need those changes

Claude: Removing worktree...

# Step 3: Force remove the worktree
$ git worktree remove .worktrees/auth-refactor --force
Removing worktree directory .worktrees/auth-refactor

# Step 4: Ask about branch deletion

Output to user:

Worktree removed.

The branch 'feat/auth-refactor' still exists with 2 commits.
Delete the branch as well? (y/n)

User: yes

Claude: Deleting branch...

$ git branch -D feat/auth-refactor
Deleted branch feat/auth-refactor (was a1b2c3d).

$ git worktree list
/Users/dev/myapp                      abc1234 [main]
/Users/dev/myapp/.worktrees/api-cache ghi9012 [feat/api-cache]

Output to user:

Cleanup complete.
- Worktree directory removed
- Branch feat/auth-refactor deleted

Error Handling

Error: Branch Already Exists

$ git worktree add .worktrees/auth-feature -b feat/auth-feature
fatal: a branch named 'feat/auth-feature' already exists

Recovery:

# Option 1: Use existing branch (if worktree doesn't exist for it)
$ git worktree add .worktrees/auth-feature feat/auth-feature

# Option 2: Choose a different name
$ git worktree add .worktrees/auth-feature-v2 -b feat/auth-feature-v2

# Option 3: Delete the old branch first (if safe)
$ git branch -d feat/auth-feature  # safe delete (fails if unmerged)
$ git worktree add .worktrees/auth-feature -b feat/auth-feature

User message: "Branch 'feat/auth-feature' already exists. Would you like to: (1) use the existing branch, (2) choose a different name, or (3) delete the old branch first?"

Error: Worktree Directory Already Exists

$ git worktree add .worktrees/auth-feature -b feat/auth-feature
fatal: '.worktrees/auth-feature' already exists

Recovery:

# Check if it's a valid worktree
$ git worktree list | grep auth-feature

# If listed: worktree exists, inform user
# If not listed: orphaned directory, safe to remove
$ rm -rf .worktrees/auth-feature
$ git worktree prune
$ git worktree add .worktrees/auth-feature -b feat/auth-feature

User message: "Directory '.worktrees/auth-feature' already exists. This appears to be an orphaned directory (not a valid worktree). Remove it and retry?"

Error: Package Install Fails

$ cd .worktrees/auth-feature && npm install
npm ERR! code ERESOLVE
npm ERR! ERESOLVE could not resolve
npm ERR! peer dep missing: react@^17.0.0

Recovery:

# Worktree is created but deps failed
# Option 1: Try with legacy peer deps
$ cd .worktrees/auth-feature && npm install --legacy-peer-deps

# Option 2: Use different package manager
$ cd .worktrees/auth-feature && yarn install

# Option 3: Skip install, let user handle

User message: "Worktree created successfully, but npm install failed with dependency conflicts. The worktree is ready at .worktrees/auth-feature. You may need to run npm install --legacy-peer-deps or resolve the conflicts manually."

Error: Disk Space Insufficient

$ cd .worktrees/auth-feature && npm install
npm ERR! code ENOSPC
npm ERR! syscall write
npm ERR! errno -28
npm ERR! ENOSPC: no space left on device

Recovery:

# Clean up the partial worktree
$ git worktree remove .worktrees/auth-feature --force
$ git branch -D feat/auth-feature

# Check disk space
$ df -h .

User message: "Disk space insufficient. The partial worktree has been cleaned up. Free up disk space and try again. Current usage: [show df output]"

Error: Invalid Worktree Name

$ git worktree add ".worktrees/my feature" -b "feat/my feature"
fatal: 'feat/my feature' is not a valid branch name

Prevention: Validate names before attempting creation.

# Valid patterns: alphanumeric, hyphens, underscores
# Invalid: spaces, special chars, starting with hyphen

# Sanitize input
name="my feature"
sanitized=$(echo "$name" | tr ' ' '-' | tr -cd 'a-zA-Z0-9-_')
# Result: my-feature

User message: "Invalid name 'my feature'. Branch names cannot contain spaces. Using 'my-feature' instead."

Error: Worktree Locked

$ git worktree remove .worktrees/auth-feature
fatal: '.worktrees/auth-feature' is locked

Recovery:

# Check why it's locked
$ cat .git/worktrees/auth-feature/locked
Process still running or editor has files open

# Unlock if safe
$ git worktree unlock .worktrees/auth-feature
$ git worktree remove .worktrees/auth-feature

User message: "Worktree is locked (possibly by another process or editor). Close any editors with files from this worktree open, then retry."

Cleanup Instructions for Partial Failures

If worktree creation fails partway through, clean up in reverse order:

# 1. Remove node_modules if install started
$ rm -rf .worktrees/<name>/node_modules 2>/dev/null

# 2. Remove the worktree directory
$ git worktree remove .worktrees/<name> --force 2>/dev/null || rm -rf .worktrees/<name>

# 3. Prune worktree references
$ git worktree prune

# 4. Delete the branch if it was created
$ git branch -D feat/<name> 2>/dev/null

# 5. Verify clean state
$ git worktree list
$ git branch --list 'feat/<name>'

Automated cleanup function:

cleanup_failed_worktree() {
    local name="$1"
    rm -rf ".worktrees/${name}/node_modules" 2>/dev/null
    git worktree remove ".worktrees/${name}" --force 2>/dev/null || rm -rf ".worktrees/${name}"
    git worktree prune
    git branch -D "feat/${name}" 2>/dev/null
    echo "Cleaned up failed worktree: ${name}"
}

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Note: This skill manages worktrees only. Use standard git commands for commits, pushes, and merges within worktrees.