Git Worktree Manager

Manage git worktrees to enable parallel multi-branch development while keeping the main working directory clean.

Recommended Directory Structure

project/
├── main-repo/          # Main working directory
└── worktrees/          # All worktrees here
    ├── feature/name/
    ├── bugfix/name/
    └── experiment/name/

Core Commands

Create Worktree

# From existing branch
git worktree add ../worktrees/feature-name feature-branch

# Create new branch
git worktree add -b feature/new ../worktrees/new-feature

# Detached HEAD (specific commit)
git worktree add ../worktrees/temp HEAD~5

List Worktrees

git worktree list
git worktree list --porcelain  # Machine-readable

Remove Worktree

git worktree remove ../worktrees/name        # Safe (clean only)
git worktree remove --force ../worktrees/name  # Force removal
git worktree prune                           # Clean administrative data

Lock/Unlock

git worktree lock ../worktrees/name    # Prevent operations
git worktree unlock ../worktrees/name

Workflow Patterns

Feature Development

git worktree add -b feature/new ../worktrees/feature/new
cd ../worktrees/feature/new
# ... develop ...
cargo test  # Test in isolation
git push
cd /path/to/main && git merge feature/new
git worktree remove ../worktrees/feature/new

Parallel Testing

for branch in feature/a feature/b; do
  git worktree add ../worktrees/$branch $branch
  cd ../worktrees/$branch && cargo test &
done
wait

Code Review

git worktree add ../worktrees/review/pr-123 origin/pr-123
cd ../worktrees/review/pr-123
cargo test
git worktree remove ../worktrees/review/pr-123

Find Orphaned Worktrees

git worktree list | while read path commit branch; do
  if ! git show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/heads/${branch#*/}"; then
    echo "Orphaned: $path"
  fi
done

Best Practices

DO

• Organize in ../worktrees/ directory
• Use descriptive branch-based names
• Clean up after merging
• Test before merging to main
• Prune regularly to remove orphaned data

DON'T

• Create in random locations
• Leave with uncommitted changes
• Forget to prune administrative data
• Create conflicting branches
• Mix worktree/non-worktree workflows