wtp Git Worktrees

Based on satococoa's wtp workflow: https://dev.to/satococoa/wtp-a-better-git-worktree-cli-tool-4i8l

Use wtp instead of raw git worktree when you want predictable paths, easier branch handling, setup hooks, and fast navigation.

Why use it

• wtp init creates a starter .wtp.yml in the repo root
• wtp add feature/auth creates ../worktrees/feature/auth automatically
• wtp add can create or reuse local/remote branches
• .wtp.yml can copy .env, create symlinks, and run bootstrap commands
• wtp cd and wtp exec make navigation and command execution easier
• wtp remove --with-branch cleans up both the worktree and its branch

Install

brew install satococoa/tap/wtp

Alternative:

go install github.com/satococoa/wtp/v2/cmd/wtp@latest

Quick start

# Create a starter .wtp.yml in the repository root
wtp init

# Create a worktree from an existing branch
wtp add feature/auth

# Create a new branch + worktree
wtp add -b feature/new-ui

# Create from a specific base ref
wtp add -b hotfix/login origin/main

# List all worktrees
wtp list

# Print the absolute path for a worktree
wtp cd feature/auth
wtp cd @

# Run a command inside a worktree
wtp exec feature/auth -- npm test

# Remove a worktree
wtp remove feature/auth

# Remove a worktree and delete its branch too
wtp remove --with-branch feature/auth

Agent workflow

When the user asks to work in a separate branch or isolated checkout:

1. Check whether the repo already has .wtp.yml; if not, prefer wtp init
2. Inspect repo lockfiles before editing hooks:
   • if bun.lock or bun.lockb exists, use bun install
   • if pnpm-lock.yaml exists, use pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
   • otherwise, if the repo has a package-lock.json and no Bun lockfile, use pnpm install by default, and prefer pnpm install --frozen-lockfile when reproducibility matters
3. Check the current worktrees with wtp list
4. Create or open the target worktree with wtp add ...
5. Run commands inside it with either:
   • cd "$(wtp cd <name>)" && ...
   • wtp exec <name> -- <command>
6. When the work is done and merged, clean up with wtp remove --with-branch <name>

Prefer:

• wtp add -b <branch> for new work
• wtp add <branch> when the branch already exists locally or remotely
• wtp exec <name> -- <command> for one-off commands

Avoid force removal of dirty worktrees unless the user explicitly asks.

wtp init

Use this first in repos that do not have a config yet:

wtp init

It creates .wtp.yml in the repository root with a starter configuration and example hooks. If .wtp.yml already exists, wtp init errors instead of overwriting it.

Recommended .wtp.yml

wtp init gives you a starter file. Customize the post_create install command based on the repo lockfile:

• bun.lock or bun.lockb present → bun install
• pnpm-lock.yaml present → pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
• otherwise, package-lock.json present and no Bun lockfile → pnpm install by default, or pnpm install --frozen-lockfile for stricter reproducible installs

Example for a Bun repo:

version: "1.0"
defaults:
  base_dir: "../worktrees"

hooks:
  post_create:
    - type: copy
      from: ".env"
      to: ".env"

    - type: symlink
      from: ".bin"
      to: ".bin"

    - type: command
      command: "bun install"

    - type: command
      command: "npm run db:setup"

Example for a repo with pnpm-lock.yaml:

version: "1.0"
defaults:
  base_dir: "../worktrees"

hooks:
  post_create:
    - type: copy
      from: ".env"
      to: ".env"

    - type: symlink
      from: ".bin"
      to: ".bin"

    - type: command
      command: "pnpm install --frozen-lockfile"

    - type: command
      command: "npm run db:setup"

Example for a repo with a pure package-lock.json setup:

version: "1.0"
defaults:
  base_dir: "../worktrees"

hooks:
  post_create:
    - type: copy
      from: ".env"
      to: ".env"

    - type: symlink
      from: ".bin"
      to: ".bin"

    - type: command
      command: "pnpm install"

    - type: command
      command: "npm run db:setup"

This is especially useful for repos that need local env files, shared tool directories, or bootstrap commands in every new worktree.

Shell integration

For interactive shells, enable completions and navigation hooks:

eval "$(wtp shell-init zsh)"
# or
# eval "$(wtp shell-init bash)"
# wtp shell-init fish | source

Then wtp cd feature/auth can switch directly in the shell, and interactive wtp add can auto-switch into the new worktree.

Useful patterns

# Return to the main worktree
wtp cd @

# Run tests in the main worktree
wtp exec @ -- npm test

# Force remove a dirty worktree only when you are sure
wtp remove --force feature/auth

# Remove worktree and force-delete its branch
wtp remove --with-branch --force-branch feature/auth

Notes

• Default generated paths are based on branch names under ../worktrees
• Remote-only branches are tracked automatically when unambiguous
• If multiple remotes contain the same branch name, create a local tracking branch first
• wtp cd is also useful in scripts because it prints the resolved absolute path