---
name: worktrees
description: >
  Git worktree patterns for parallel development workflows. Use when managing
  multiple concurrent branches, implementing issues in parallel, or isolating
  work contexts.
user-invocable: false
---

# Git Worktrees

Patterns and scripts for managing git worktrees in parallel development workflows.

## What are Worktrees?

Git worktrees allow multiple working directories from a single repository. Each worktree can have a different branch checked out, enabling true parallel development.

**Use cases:**
- Implementing multiple issues simultaneously
- Isolated review environments for PRs
- Switching contexts without stashing

## Naming Conventions

**Directory structure:**
```
project/
├── .git/                    # Main repo
├── src/                     # Main working tree
└── ../worktrees/            # Sibling worktrees directory
    ├── project-issue-42/    # Issue implementation
    ├── project-issue-43/    # Another issue
    └── project-review-55/   # PR review
```

**Naming patterns:**
- Issue work: `${REPO_NAME}-issue-${ISSUE_NUMBER}`
- PR review: `${REPO_NAME}-review-${PR_NUMBER}`
- Feature work: `${REPO_NAME}-feature-${FEATURE_NAME}`

**Why sibling directory:**
- Keeps main repo clean
- Easy to identify worktrees
- Simple bulk operations
- Works with tooling that scans parent directories

## Creating Worktrees

### For Issue Implementation

```bash
REPO_PATH=$(pwd)
REPO_NAME=$(basename "$REPO_PATH")
WORKTREES_DIR="${REPO_PATH}/../worktrees"
ISSUE_NUMBER=42

# Create worktrees directory
mkdir -p "$WORKTREES_DIR"

# Fetch latest
git fetch origin

# Get issue title for branch name
ISSUE_TITLE=$(tea issues $ISSUE_NUMBER | grep -i "title" | head -1 | cut -d: -f2- | xargs)
BRANCH_NAME="issue-${ISSUE_NUMBER}-$(echo "$ISSUE_TITLE" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]' | tr ' ' '-' | tr -cd '[:alnum:]-' | cut -c1-50)"

# Create worktree with new branch from main
git worktree add "${WORKTREES_DIR}/${REPO_NAME}-issue-${ISSUE_NUMBER}" \
  -b "$BRANCH_NAME" origin/main
```

### For PR Review

```bash
# For reviewing existing PR branch
PR_NUMBER=55
BRANCH_NAME="issue-42-feature-name"  # Get from PR details

git fetch origin
git worktree add "${WORKTREES_DIR}/${REPO_NAME}-review-${PR_NUMBER}" \
  "origin/${BRANCH_NAME}"
```

## Bundled Scripts

Use bundled scripts for error-prone operations. Scripts are located in `~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/`:

### Create Worktree

```bash
# Usage: ~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/create-worktree.sh issue <issue-number>
# Usage: ~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/create-worktree.sh review <pr-number> <branch-name>

~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/create-worktree.sh issue 42
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/create-worktree.sh review 55 issue-42-feature-name
```

Returns worktree path on success.

### List Worktrees

```bash
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/list-worktrees.sh
```

Shows all active worktrees with their branches.

### Cleanup Worktrees

```bash
# Remove specific worktree
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/cleanup-worktrees.sh "${WORKTREES_DIR}/${REPO_NAME}-issue-42"

# Remove all worktrees in directory
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/cleanup-worktrees.sh "${WORKTREES_DIR}"

# Force remove even if dirty
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/cleanup-worktrees.sh --force "${WORKTREES_DIR}"
```

## Patterns

### Pattern: Parallel Issue Implementation

**Orchestrator creates all worktrees upfront:**
```bash
for issue in 42 43 44; do
  worktree_path=$(~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/create-worktree.sh issue $issue)
  # Spawn worker with worktree_path
done
```

**Worker uses provided worktree:**
```bash
cd "$WORKTREE_PATH"  # Provided by orchestrator
# Do work
git add -A && git commit -m "..."
git push -u origin $(git branch --show-current)
```

**Orchestrator cleans up after all complete:**
```bash
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/cleanup-worktrees.sh "${WORKTREES_DIR}"
```

### Pattern: Review in Isolation

**Create review worktree:**
```bash
worktree_path=$(~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/create-worktree.sh review $PR_NUMBER $BRANCH_NAME)
cd "$worktree_path"
git diff origin/main...HEAD  # Review changes
```

### Pattern: Error Recovery

**List stale worktrees:**
```bash
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/list-worktrees.sh
```

**Force cleanup:**
```bash
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/cleanup-worktrees.sh --force "${WORKTREES_DIR}"
```

## Best Practices

**Always provide worktree paths to agents:**
- Orchestrator creates worktrees
- Agents receive path as parameter
- Agents work in provided path
- Orchestrator handles cleanup

**Never nest cleanup:**
- Only orchestrator cleans up
- Agents never remove their own worktree
- Cleanup happens after all work complete

**Track worktree paths:**
```bash
# In orchestrator
declare -A worktrees
worktrees[42]=$(~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/create-worktree.sh issue 42)
worktrees[43]=$(~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/create-worktree.sh issue 43)

# Pass to agents
spawn_agent --worktree="${worktrees[42]}"
```

**Handle errors gracefully:**
- Use scripts (they handle errors)
- Always cleanup, even on failure
- Force-remove if necessary

## Common Issues

**Worktree already exists:**
```bash
# Remove old worktree first
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/cleanup-worktrees.sh "${WORKTREES_DIR}/${REPO_NAME}-issue-42"

# Then create new one
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/create-worktree.sh issue 42
```

**Branch already exists:**
```bash
# Delete branch if safe
git branch -d issue-42-old-name

# Or force delete
git branch -D issue-42-old-name
```

**Stale worktrees after crash:**
```bash
# List and force remove
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/list-worktrees.sh
~/.claude/skills/worktrees/scripts/cleanup-worktrees.sh --force "${WORKTREES_DIR}"
```

## Tips

- Keep worktrees short-lived (hours, not days)
- Clean up regularly to avoid clutter
- Use scripts for reliability
- Let orchestrator manage lifecycle
- Check `git worktree list` if unsure about state