Using Git Worktrees

Using Git Worktrees

Overview

Ensure work happens in an isolated workspace. Prefer your platform's native worktree tools. Fall back to manual git worktrees only when no native tool is available.

Core principle: Detect existing isolation first. Then use native tools. Then fall back to git. Never fight the harness.

Announce at start: "I'm using the using-git-worktrees skill to set up an isolated workspace."

Step 0: Detect Existing Isolation

Astah design model gate — check this before anything else

git ls-files 'docs/superpowers/specs/*.asta'   # the workflow's design model

The gate is about a model this work edits, not any .asta that happens to be tracked. It opens if any of these hold:

• the command above returns a file, or
• the plan you are about to execute names a .asta inside this repository in its Global Constraints **Design model:** line, or
• get_proj_path returns a path inside this repository.

A tracked .asta nobody edits — a demo fixture, a test resource — does not open the gate.

When the gate opens, do NOT create a worktree. Astah keeps exactly one project open, shared by every agent and subagent, and it stays pointed at the copy it opened — save_proj writes to that copy no matter which working directory the caller is in. A worktree puts a second .asta on disk that Astah never opens, so model edits land outside your branch while git status in the worktree reports nothing to commit. The Iron Law check at finish time then compares this branch's code against a model file the branch does not carry.

Work in place on a feature branch instead. Branch isolation survives; only directory isolation is given up, and directory isolation was already a fiction for a model living in a single shared Astah instance.

git branch --show-current            # if main/master, create a feature branch
git switch -c <branch-name>

Then skip to Step 2 (Project Setup). Tell your human partner:

"This repo tracks an Astah design model, so I'm working on branch <name> in place rather than in a worktree — Astah shares one open project across all agents, and a worktree would split the model into two copies."

If the gate is open but you are already in a worktree (harness-created — the detection below will confirm it): you cannot undo that here. Say so, and have your human partner confirm which copy Astah has open (get_proj_path) before any model editing begins.

Detect the workspace

Before creating anything, check if you are already in an isolated workspace.

GIT_DIR=$(cd "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)" 2>/dev/null && pwd -P)
GIT_COMMON=$(cd "$(git rev-parse --git-common-dir)" 2>/dev/null && pwd -P)
BRANCH=$(git branch --show-current)

Submodule guard: GIT_DIR != GIT_COMMON is also true inside git submodules. Before concluding "already in a worktree," verify you are not in a submodule:

# If this returns a path, you're in a submodule, not a worktree — treat as normal repo
git rev-parse --show-superproject-working-tree 2>/dev/null

If GIT_DIR != GIT_COMMON (and not a submodule): You are already in a linked worktree. Skip to Step 2 (Project Setup). Do NOT create another worktree.

Report with branch state:

• On a branch: "Already in isolated workspace at <path> on branch <name>."
• Detached HEAD: "Already in isolated workspace at <path> (detached HEAD, externally managed). Branch creation needed at finish time."

If GIT_DIR == GIT_COMMON (or in a submodule): You are in a normal repo checkout.

Has the user already indicated their worktree preference in your instructions? If not, ask for consent before creating a worktree:

"Would you like me to set up an isolated worktree? It protects your current branch from changes."

Honor any existing declared preference without asking. If the user declines consent, work in place and skip to Step 2.

Step 1: Create Isolated Workspace

You have two mechanisms. Try them in this order.

1a. Native Worktree Tools (preferred)

The user has asked for an isolated workspace (Step 0 consent). Do you already have a way to create a worktree? It might be a tool with a name like EnterWorktree, WorktreeCreate, a /worktree command, or a --worktree flag. If you do, use it and skip to Step 2.

Native tools handle directory placement, branch creation, and cleanup automatically. Using git worktree add when you have a native tool creates phantom state your harness can't see or manage.

Only proceed to Step 1b if you have no native worktree tool available.

1b. Git Worktree Fallback

Only use this if Step 1a does not apply — you have no native worktree tool available. Create a worktree manually using git.

Directory Selection

Follow this priority order. Explicit user preference always beats observed filesystem state.

1. Check your instructions for a declared worktree directory preference. If the user has already specified one, use it without asking.

2. Check for an existing project-local worktree directory:

   ls -d .worktrees 2>/dev/null     # Preferred (hidden)
   ls -d worktrees 2>/dev/null      # Alternative
   

   If found, use it. If both exist, .worktrees wins.

3. If there is no other guidance available, default to .worktrees/ at the project root.

Safety Verification (project-local directories only)

MUST verify directory is ignored before creating worktree:

git check-ignore -q .worktrees 2>/dev/null || git check-ignore -q worktrees 2>/dev/null

If NOT ignored: Add to .gitignore, commit the change, then proceed.

Why critical: Prevents accidentally committing worktree contents to repository.

Create the Worktree

# Determine path based on chosen location
path="$LOCATION/$BRANCH_NAME"

git worktree add "$path" -b "$BRANCH_NAME"
cd "$path"

Sandbox fallback: If git worktree add fails with a permission error (sandbox denial), tell the user the sandbox blocked worktree creation and you're working in the current directory instead. Then run setup and baseline tests in place.

Step 2: Project Setup

Auto-detect and run appropriate setup:

# Node.js
if [ -f package.json ]; then npm install; fi

# Rust
if [ -f Cargo.toml ]; then cargo build; fi

# Python
if [ -f requirements.txt ]; then pip install -r requirements.txt; fi
if [ -f pyproject.toml ]; then poetry install; fi

# Go
if [ -f go.mod ]; then go mod download; fi

Step 3: Verify Clean Baseline

Run tests to ensure workspace starts clean:

# Use project-appropriate command
npm test / cargo test / pytest / go test ./...

If tests fail: Report failures, ask whether to proceed or investigate.

If tests pass: Report ready.

Report

Worktree ready at <full-path>
Tests passing (<N> tests, 0 failures)
Ready to implement <feature-name>

Quick Reference

Common Rationalizations