# Laravel Herd Worktrees

> Create, list, or remove git worktrees for Laravel projects served by Laravel Herd on macOS. Use when the user needs a branch worktree, .test URL, or per-worktree PHP/composer isolation.

- Skill: `leek/laravel-herd-worktrees` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 7 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add leek/laravel-herd-worktrees`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/leek/laravel-herd-worktrees/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: leek (https://skillmd.com/u/leek)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/leek/laravel-herd-worktrees

---


# Laravel Herd + Git Worktrees

Run multiple branches of a Laravel project in parallel, each reachable at its own `*.test` URL through Laravel Herd, with isolated dependencies, env, database, and caches.

## Mental Model

- A **worktree** is a sibling directory of the main checkout with its own `HEAD`. Composer/Node deps, `vendor/`, `node_modules/`, `storage/`, and `bootstrap/cache/` are **per-worktree**: never share via symlink.
- Herd's **parked directory** auto-serves every immediate subdirectory as `<dir>.test`. Park the *parent* of all worktrees once and every new worktree gets a URL for free.
- `.env` is **untracked**, so it must be re-created in each worktree. `APP_URL`, `DB_DATABASE`, cache prefixes must differ per worktree to prevent cross-branch bleed.

## When to Use This Skill

- User asks to create a worktree for a Laravel app served by Herd.
- User reports `vendor/`, migrations, cache, or `.env` problems after switching worktrees.
- User wants per-branch URL like `myapp-feat.test` without manual Nginx/Valet config.
- User wants the same Laravel project on multiple PHP versions simultaneously.

## Workflow

### 1. One-time setup

Park the **parent** directory that holds the main checkout (worktrees become siblings of the main checkout, so they land in the same parked dir):

```bash
cd ~/Code           # parent of your laravel project
herd park
```

Verify:

```bash
herd parked
```

Each immediate subdir is now `<name>.test`. Adding a worktree at `~/Code/myapp-feat` makes `myapp-feat.test` resolve immediately.

If parking the parent is not desired (other non-Laravel dirs live there), use explicit `herd link` per worktree instead: see [references/herd-commands.md](./references/herd-commands.md).

### 2. Create a new worktree

Use the helper script. It creates the worktree, copies `.env`, rewrites `APP_URL` + `DB_DATABASE` + cache prefixes, installs deps, generates app key, and runs migrations.

```bash
bash scripts/worktree-new.sh <branch-suffix> <base-branch> [--driver sqlite|mysql|pgsql]
```

Example:

```bash
bash scripts/worktree-new.sh feat-billing main --driver sqlite
```

Result: `../myapp-feat-billing/` exists, `myapp-feat-billing.test` works, isolated DB.

See [scripts/worktree-new.sh](./scripts/worktree-new.sh) for the exact transformations applied to `.env`.

### 3. Remove a worktree

```bash
bash scripts/worktree-rm.sh <branch-suffix> [--drop-db]
```

Runs `git worktree remove`, optionally drops the per-worktree DB, and `herd unlink`s if a manual link exists.

### 4. Switch PHP version per worktree (optional)

```bash
cd ../myapp-legacy
herd isolate php@8.1
```

Site uses 8.1; sibling worktrees keep their isolated or default version. `herd isolated` lists all overrides. `herd unisolate` reverts.

## Per-Worktree Isolation Rules

| Concern | Rule |
|---|---|
| `vendor/` | Always per-worktree. Never symlink. |
| `node_modules/` | Always per-worktree. Never symlink. Use `pnpm` for fastest installs (content-addressable store). |
| `.env` | Copy from main, rewrite `APP_URL`, `DB_DATABASE`, `CACHE_PREFIX`, `SESSION_COOKIE`, `REDIS_PREFIX`. |
| `APP_KEY` | Run `php artisan key:generate` in each worktree. |
| Database | SQLite: per-worktree file. MySQL/Postgres: per-worktree DB name `<app>_<suffix>`. |
| Redis | Set unique `REDIS_PREFIX` (or different `REDIS_DB` index). |
| `storage/`, `bootstrap/cache/` | Per-worktree. Run `php artisan optimize:clear` after install. |
| `storage/app/public` symlink | Re-run `php artisan storage:link` in the new worktree. |

Full rationale: [references/isolation.md](./references/isolation.md).
DB strategy details (sharing seeds, schema dumps, fresh vs. migrate): [references/db-strategies.md](./references/db-strategies.md).

## Common Pitfalls

- **Sharing `vendor/` via symlink**: breaks when branches have different package versions; autoload class maps drift.
- **Forgetting `php artisan key:generate`**: encrypted cookies/sessions fail silently across worktrees that share `APP_KEY`.
- **Same `SESSION_COOKIE` across `*.test` siblings**: cookies leak between branches because they share the `.test` parent domain. Set a unique `SESSION_COOKIE` per worktree.
- **Same Redis DB without prefix**: cache keys collide; one branch invalidates another's cache.
- **Running `composer install` against a stale `composer.lock`** after rebasing: always re-run install after switching base branches inside a worktree.
- **Herd not picking up new worktree**: happens if the parent isn't parked or if the worktree directory name contains characters Herd rejects (stick to `[a-z0-9-]`).

## Quick Diagnostics

```bash
herd parked              # confirm parent is parked
herd isolated            # list per-site PHP overrides
herd which-php           # PHP version Herd resolves for current dir
git worktree list        # all worktrees + branches
ls -1 ../ | grep <app>   # worktree dirs as Herd sees them
```

If a `.test` URL 404s: check `herd parked` includes the parent, dir name is lowercase, and `php artisan route:list` works inside the worktree.

## Out of Scope

- **Valet**: different tool. Herd-only here.
- **Linux Herd**: paths and CLI differ; this skill assumes macOS Herd.
- **Docker / Sail**: covered by other workflows. Worktrees still work but routing is via Docker, not Herd.