Git Worktree

Git Worktree Skill

Manage parallel development environments using git worktrees with seamless terminal integration.

Overview

Git worktrees enable multiple working directories from a single repository:

• Isolated feature development without branch switching
• Run multiple Claude Code instances in parallel
• Context switching without stashing uncommitted changes
• Clean separation of experimental work

Quick Commands

wt - Worktree Manager

The wt command creates worktrees with automatic terminal integration:

# Create worktree with tmux window
wt add-new-feature

# This will:
# 1. Create git worktree named 'add-new-feature'
# 2. Create new tmux window in current session
# 3. Rename window to 'add-new-feature'
# 4. Change directory to the worktree

tmux Integration

Workflow: Create Worktree + tmux Window

# Function for ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc
wt() {
    local name="$1"
    local base_branch="${2:-main}"
    local repo_root=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)
    local worktree_path="$repo_root/.worktrees/$name"

    # Validate we're in a git repo
    if [[ -z "$repo_root" ]]; then
        echo "Error: Not in a git repository"
        return 1
    fi

    # Create worktree directory
    mkdir -p "$repo_root/.worktrees"

    # Create worktree with new branch
    if git worktree add -b "$name" "$worktree_path" "$base_branch" 2>/dev/null; then
        echo "Created worktree: $worktree_path"
    elif git worktree add "$worktree_path" "$name" 2>/dev/null; then
        echo "Attached to existing branch: $name"
    else
        echo "Error: Failed to create worktree"
        return 1
    fi

    # tmux integration
    if [[ -n "$TMUX" ]]; then
        # Create new window with worktree name
        tmux new-window -n "$name" -c "$worktree_path"
        echo "Created tmux window: $name"
    else
        # Not in tmux, just cd
        cd "$worktree_path"
        echo "Changed to: $worktree_path"
    fi
}

# Remove worktree and tmux window
wt-rm() {
    local name="$1"
    local repo_root=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)
    local worktree_path="$repo_root/.worktrees/$name"

    # Remove git worktree
    git worktree remove "$worktree_path" --force 2>/dev/null

    # Close tmux window if exists
    if [[ -n "$TMUX" ]]; then
        tmux kill-window -t "$name" 2>/dev/null
    fi

    # Optionally delete branch
    git branch -d "$name" 2>/dev/null

    echo "Removed worktree: $name"
}

# List all worktrees
wt-ls() {
    git worktree list
}

tmux Session Management

# Create dedicated tmux session per project
wt-session() {
    local name="$1"
    local repo_root=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)
    local worktree_path="$repo_root/.worktrees/$name"

    # Create worktree first
    wt "$name"

    # Create new tmux session (or attach if exists)
    if tmux has-session -t "$name" 2>/dev/null; then
        tmux attach-session -t "$name"
    else
        tmux new-session -d -s "$name" -c "$worktree_path"
        tmux attach-session -t "$name"
    fi
}

iTerm2 Integration

AppleScript for iTerm2 Tabs

# Function for ~/.zshrc
wt-iterm() {
    local name="$1"
    local base_branch="${2:-main}"
    local repo_root=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)
    local worktree_path="$repo_root/.worktrees/$name"

    # Create worktree
    mkdir -p "$repo_root/.worktrees"
    git worktree add -b "$name" "$worktree_path" "$base_branch" 2>/dev/null || \
    git worktree add "$worktree_path" "$name" 2>/dev/null

    # Open in new iTerm2 tab
    osascript <<EOF
tell application "iTerm2"
    tell current window
        create tab with default profile
        tell current session
            write text "cd '$worktree_path' && clear"
        end tell
    end tell
end tell
EOF

    echo "Created worktree with iTerm2 tab: $name"
}

# Open worktree in new iTerm2 window
wt-iterm-window() {
    local name="$1"
    local base_branch="${2:-main}"
    local repo_root=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)
    local worktree_path="$repo_root/.worktrees/$name"

    # Create worktree
    mkdir -p "$repo_root/.worktrees"
    git worktree add -b "$name" "$worktree_path" "$base_branch" 2>/dev/null || \
    git worktree add "$worktree_path" "$name" 2>/dev/null

    # Open in new iTerm2 window
    osascript <<EOF
tell application "iTerm2"
    create window with default profile
    tell current session of current window
        write text "cd '$worktree_path' && clear"
    end tell
end tell
EOF

    echo "Created worktree with iTerm2 window: $name"
}

iTerm2 Profile Integration

Create a dedicated iTerm2 profile for worktrees:

{
  "Name": "Worktree",
  "Badge Text": "WT: \\(session.name)",
  "Working Directory": "$HOME/.worktrees",
  "Custom Directory": "Yes"
}

Configuration

Environment Variables

# Add to ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc

# Preferred terminal for worktree operations (auto-detected if not set)
export WORKTREE_TERMINAL="tmux"  # or "iterm2" or "auto"

# Auto-install dependencies after creating worktree
export WORKTREE_AUTO_INSTALL=true

Worktree Location

Worktrees are stored inside the project directory:

~/Repos/github/my-project/
├── .worktrees/
│   ├── feature-auth/      # worktree for feature-auth branch
│   ├── bugfix-login/      # worktree for bugfix-login branch
│   └── add-new-skill/     # worktree for add-new-skill branch
├── src/
├── package.json
└── ...

Shell Configuration

Functions are defined in ~/.zsh/functions.zsh (already loaded by your zshrc):

# Functions location: ~/.zsh/functions.zsh

# Aliases
alias wt='wt'
alias wtl='wt-ls'
alias wtr='wt-rm'
alias wts='wt-session'

# Completion for wt commands
_wt_completion() {
    local branches=$(git branch --format='%(refname:short)' 2>/dev/null)
    local worktrees=$(git worktree list --porcelain 2>/dev/null | grep '^worktree' | cut -d' ' -f2 | xargs -I{} basename {})
    _alternative \
        "branches:branch:($branches)" \
        "worktrees:worktree:($worktrees)"
}
compdef _wt_completion wt wt-rm

Git Worktree Commands Reference

Creating Worktrees

# Create worktree with new branch from current HEAD
git worktree add ../feature-x -b feature-x

# Create worktree from specific branch
git worktree add ../hotfix hotfix-branch

# Create worktree from remote branch
git worktree add ../upstream upstream/main

# Create worktree at specific commit
git worktree add ../review abc123

Managing Worktrees

# List all worktrees
git worktree list

# Show worktree details (porcelain format)
git worktree list --porcelain

# Lock worktree (prevent pruning)
git worktree lock ../feature-x --reason "WIP"

# Unlock worktree
git worktree unlock ../feature-x

# Remove worktree
git worktree remove ../feature-x

# Force remove (discards changes)
git worktree remove ../feature-x --force

# Prune stale worktrees
git worktree prune

Advanced Operations

# Move worktree to new location
git worktree move ../old-path ../new-path

# Repair worktree after manual move
git worktree repair ../moved-worktree

Parallel Claude Development

Running Multiple Instances

# Create worktrees for parallel development
wt feature-auth
wt feature-api
wt bugfix-login

# Each worktree gets its own:
# - tmux window / iTerm2 tab
# - Git index and working directory
# - Port allocation (if configured)
# - Claude Code instance

Port Management

# Configure port pools per worktree
export WORKTREE_PORT_BASE=8100
export WORKTREE_PORTS_PER_TREE=2

# Calculate ports for worktree
get_worktree_ports() {
    local index=$(git worktree list | grep -n "$PWD" | cut -d: -f1)
    local base=$((WORKTREE_PORT_BASE + (index - 1) * WORKTREE_PORTS_PER_TREE))
    echo "Dev server: $base, API: $((base + 1))"
}

Cleanup Workflows

Merge and Cleanup

# After PR merge, clean up worktree
wt-cleanup() {
    local name="$1"
    local repo_root=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)
    local worktree_path="$repo_root/.worktrees/$name"

    # Switch to main worktree
    cd "$repo_root"

    # Update main
    git fetch origin
    git pull origin main

    # Remove worktree
    git worktree remove "$worktree_path" --force

    # Delete branch if merged
    if git branch --merged | grep -q "$name"; then
        git branch -d "$name"
        echo "Branch $name was merged and deleted"
    else
        echo "Branch $name not yet merged, kept locally"
    fi

    # Close tmux window
    [[ -n "$TMUX" ]] && tmux kill-window -t "$name" 2>/dev/null
}

Bulk Cleanup

# Remove all worktrees with merged branches
wt-cleanup-merged() {
    local main_dir=$(git worktree list | head -1 | awk '{print $1}')

    git worktree list | tail -n +2 | while read -r line; do
        local wt_path=$(echo "$line" | awk '{print $1}')
        local wt_branch=$(echo "$line" | awk '{print $3}' | tr -d '[]')

        if git branch --merged main | grep -q "$wt_branch"; then
            echo "Removing merged worktree: $wt_branch"
            git worktree remove "$wt_path" --force
            git branch -d "$wt_branch"
        fi
    done
}

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Worktree already exists:

# List existing worktrees
git worktree list

# Remove stale entry
git worktree prune

Branch already checked out:

# Error: 'branch' is already checked out at '/path'
# Solution: Use a different branch name or remove existing worktree
git worktree remove /path/to/existing

tmux window naming conflicts:

# Rename existing window first
tmux rename-window -t old-name new-name

# Or kill conflicting window
tmux kill-window -t conflicting-name

iTerm2 AppleScript errors:

# Ensure iTerm2 is running
open -a iTerm

# Grant automation permissions
# System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Automation

References

• references/tmux-config.md - tmux configuration for worktrees
• references/iterm2-config.md - iTerm2 profile setup
• Shell functions: ~/.zsh/functions.zsh

External Links

• Git Worktree Documentation: https://git-scm.com/docs/git-worktree
• tmux Manual: https://man.openbsd.org/tmux
• iTerm2 Documentation: https://iterm2.com/documentation.html

Gotchas

• Worktree paths inside the main repo's working tree confuse the outer git status — files in the inner worktree show as untracked in the parent.
• A branch checked out in any worktree refuses git branch -d — must remove the worktree first.
• Worktrees share .git/config — per-worktree config needs explicit git config --worktree.
• git worktree prune removes orphaned records but does NOT delete the directory — clean up the dir manually after pruning.
• Locking a worktree doesn't prevent fs operations — git worktree lock only blocks git worktree remove; rm -rf still works.
• macOS case-insensitive fs + worktrees: two worktrees with case-only-different paths cause unpredictable git behavior.