# Git Worktrees

> Isolates feature work in a dedicated git worktree with directory selection, gitignore checks, setup, and baseline tests. Use this skill when starting isolated feature work, before multi-task plans, parallel branches, or discardable experiments. Do not use when/for finishing and merging work (use branch-completion) or dispatching parallel agents without a worktree need (use parallel-agent-dispatch).

- Skill: `jagreehal/git-worktrees` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add jagreehal/git-worktrees`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/jagreehal/git-worktrees/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: jagreehal (https://skillmd.com/u/jagreehal)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/jagreehal/git-worktrees

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# Git Worktrees

## Critical rules

- Prefer the bundled script over hand-rolled commands.
- Project-local worktree dirs must be git-ignored before use.
- Run baseline tests before starting work; ask before proceeding on failure.
- Directory priority: existing `.worktrees/` > `worktrees/` > CLAUDE.md > ask. Never guess.
- Always report the worktree path when ready.
- Before manual flows or directory edge cases, read [references/directory-and-setup.md](references/directory-and-setup.md).

## Workflow

1. Prefer: `scripts/create-worktree.sh <branch-name> [base-dir]` (from this skill). Exit 2 = not ignored; exit 3 = baseline tests failed.
2. If the script cannot run or you must deviate: follow directory priority, gitignore check, create branch worktree, project setup, baseline tests (see reference).
3. Report location and baseline status; only then implement.
4. Cleanup via `git worktree remove` (or `branch-completion` for land/discard options).

## Resources

- [scripts/create-worktree.sh](scripts/create-worktree.sh) — deterministic create + setup + baseline. Run when creating a worktree; use `--help` for usage and exit codes.
- [references/directory-and-setup.md](references/directory-and-setup.md) — directory priority, gitignore, manual steps, cleanup. Read when not using the script or on edge cases.

## Validation

- [ ] Directory chosen by priority order
- [ ] Project-local dir git-ignored
- [ ] Setup ran; baseline tests pass (or failures reported and approved)
- [ ] Worktree path reported

## Constraints

- Skip for trivial one-line fixes on the current branch.
- Related: `design-exploration`, `implementation-planning`, `parallel-agent-dispatch`, `branch-completion`.