How do I install the Worktrees skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add dmmulroy/worktrees in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Worktrees safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Worktrees?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Worktrees free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Worktrees?

dmmulroy (@dmmulroy) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Worktrees by dmmulroy — Agent Skill

Name: Worktrees
Author: dmmulroy

File contents

Git worktrees

Use one root per repository:

<repo>/
  .git       # gitdir: ./.bare
  .bare/     # shared repository and object store
  main/      # linked worktree
  <topic>/   # linked worktree

Run repository-wide commands from <repo> and development commands from a linked worktree. Keep every checkout under <repo>.

Create or reuse a worktree

From any linked worktree or the canonical root, run scripts/new-worktree.sh:
```
scripts/new-worktree.sh <local-dir> <branch> [base]
```
Set WORKTREE_ROOT only when root discovery is unavailable. Set WORKTREE_REMOTE when the remote is not origin.
Enter <repo>/<local-dir> and run:
```
git status --short --branch
```

Creation is complete when git worktree list contains the path and its expected branch, and status is clean unless the branch already carried changes.

The helper fetches and prunes, reuses an existing local branch, tracks a matching remote branch, or creates a new branch from [base]. Run it with --help for the exact decision order and defaults.

Remove a worktree

Account for every staged, unstaged, and untracked change:
```
git -C <repo>/<local-dir> status --short --branch
```

Remove the checkout through Git:

git -C <repo> worktree remove <local-dir>

Delete the local branch only when its commits are integrated or intentionally discarded:
```
git -C <repo> branch -d <branch>
```

Removal is complete when the path is absent from both the filesystem and git -C <repo> worktree list.

Setup and recovery

Read references/canonical-root.md when converting a repository to this layout, validating its invariants, cleaning stale registrations, or repairing moved worktrees.

---name: worktreesdescription: Manage Git worktrees in a canonical `.bare` repository root. Use when creating, reusing, listing, removing, or repairing worktrees, or when setting up a repository to keep all branch checkouts under one root.---# Git worktreesUse one root per repository:```text<repo>/ .git # gitdir: ./.bare .bare/ # shared repository and object store main/ # linked worktree <topic>/ # linked worktree```Run repository-wide commands from `<repo>` and development commands from a linked worktree. Keep every checkout under `<repo>`.## Create or reuse a worktree1. From any linked worktree or the canonical root, run [`scripts/new-worktree.sh`](scripts/new-worktree.sh): ```bash scripts/new-worktree.sh <local-dir> <branch> [base] ``` Set `WORKTREE_ROOT` only when root discovery is unavailable. Set `WORKTREE_REMOTE` when the remote is not `origin`.2. Enter `<repo>/<local-dir>` and run: ```bash git status --short --branch ```Creation is complete when `git worktree list` contains the path and its expected branch, and status is clean unless the branch already carried changes.The helper fetches and prunes, reuses an existing local branch, tracks a matching remote branch, or creates a new branch from `[base]`. Run it with `--help` for the exact decision order and defaults.## Remove a worktree1. Account for every staged, unstaged, and untracked change: ```bash git -C <repo>/<local-dir> status --short --branch ```2. Remove the checkout through Git: ```bash git -C <repo> worktree remove <local-dir> ```3. Delete the local branch only when its commits are integrated or intentionally discarded: ```bash git -C <repo> branch -d <branch> ```Removal is complete when the path is absent from both the filesystem and `git -C <repo> worktree list`.## Setup and recoveryRead [`references/canonical-root.md`](references/canonical-root.md) when converting a repository to this layout, validating its invariants, cleaning stale registrations, or repairing moved worktrees.

Frequently asked questions

Worktrees