Branches Clean

Branches Clean (Gait)

Execute this workflow when asked to clean up branches by deleting all non-main branches locally and on a configured remote (default origin).

Scope

• Repository: /Users/tr/gait
• Target: all non-main branches
• Deletion style: one-by-one only (no grouped delete commands)
• Applies to:
• local branches
• remote <remote>/* branches (default origin)

Input Contract

• mode: execute only
• force_local_delete: always true for this skill
• Optional:
• remote: defaults to origin

Safety Rules

• Never delete main.
• Always switch to main before deletion.
• Always sync main before deletion:
• git fetch <remote> main
• git checkout main
• git pull --ff-only <remote> main
• No grouped branch deletion commands.
• Delete branches one-by-one only.

Command Anchors (JSON Required)

• Capture machine-readable diagnostics before destructive actions:
  • gait doctor --json
  • gait gate eval --policy examples/policy/base_low_risk.yaml --intent examples/policy/intents/intent_read.json --json

Workflow

1. Preflight:

• confirm repo is valid git repo
• resolve current branch
• verify <remote>/main exists
• switch to main and sync fast-forward
• fetch/prune remote refs (git fetch --prune <remote>)

2. Build delete candidates:

• Local candidates: all local branches except main
• Remote candidates: all <remote>/<branch> except <remote>/main
• Exclude symbolic refs (<remote>/HEAD) and <remote> root alias (<remote>) if present.

3. Execute deletion (always):

• Local deletion one-by-one:
• git branch -D <branch>
• Remote deletion one-by-one:
• git push <remote> --delete <branch>
• Never run git push <remote> --delete <remote>; <remote> is not a branch.
• if already deleted/not found, record as skipped and continue

4. Final reconciliation:

• git fetch --prune <remote>
• list remaining local branches
• list remaining <remote>/* branches

5. Output summary:

• deleted local branches
• deleted remote branches
• skipped/failed branches with reasons
• final remaining branch lists

Command Discipline

Use one-by-one commands only, such as:

• git branch -D <name>
• git push <remote> --delete <name>

Do not use batched deletion forms.

Shell Portability

• Do not rely on mapfile.
• Build branch candidate lists with portable while IFS= read -r loops.
• Ensure commands work under default macOS shell environments (zsh, older bash).

Failure Handling

• Continue on per-branch failures; do not abort whole run.
• Record each failure with command + stderr reason.
• If remote delete returns remote ref does not exist, record as skipped and continue.
• If <remote>/main is missing, or if cannot switch/sync main, stop immediately.

Expected Output

• Mode: execute
• Local candidates: list + count
• Remote candidates: list + count
• Deleted local: list
• Deleted remote: list
• Skipped/failed: list with reasons
• Remaining local: list
• Remaining remote: list

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