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

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 3 (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 3.

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 3.

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.

If the native flow does not propagate Claude/Cursor settings and the user expects parity with the main checkout, copy .claude/settings.json and .claude/settings.local.json from the primary workspace using the same loop as Step 1b after the native tool finishes—only when files exist on disk.

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

Use a single location: .worktrees/ inside the repository root.

1. Set the repository root and worktree base directory:

   SOURCE_ROOT=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
   LOCATION="$SOURCE_ROOT/.worktrees"
   

2. Ensure the directory exists:

   mkdir -p "$LOCATION"
   

3. Always create the worktree at:

   path="$LOCATION/$BRANCH_NAME"
   

No global/sibling alternatives should be used unless the user explicitly overrides this rule for a one-off task.

Safety Verification

MUST verify .worktrees/ is ignored before creating worktree:

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

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

Why critical: Prevents accidentally committing worktree contents to repository.

Create the Worktree

Capture the main checkout root before git worktree add. After cd into the new worktree, git rev-parse --show-toplevel points at the worktree directory, not the checkout where .claude/settings*.json usually lives.

project=$(basename "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)")
SOURCE_ROOT=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)

# Path is always inside repo-local .worktrees/
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.

Copy Claude configuration (Step 1b only)

After creating the worktree with git (Step 1b), copy local Claude settings from the main checkout so Cursor/Claude CLI behavior matches the primary workspace. These files are often untracked.

Do not copy if the user declines or if a native tool (Step 1a) already propagates settings—respect the harness.

Run after cd "$path" (still using SOURCE_ROOT captured above):

copied_claude_settings=false
for claude_settings in ".claude/settings.json" ".claude/settings.local.json"; do
    if [ -f "$SOURCE_ROOT/$claude_settings" ]; then
        mkdir -p ".claude"
        cp -p "$SOURCE_ROOT/$claude_settings" "./$claude_settings"
        echo "Copied $claude_settings to worktree"
        copied_claude_settings=true
    fi
done

if [ "$copied_claude_settings" = false ]; then
    echo "No local Claude settings found (.claude/settings.json or .claude/settings.local.json)"
fi

Symlinks: If the source tree uses symlinks for .claude (e.g. .claude/skills → ../../ai-specs/skills), copying only these JSON files does not recreate symlink targets. Either repeat the same symlink layout in the worktree or rely on project-relative paths inside settings.json.

Step 3: 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 4: 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>
Claude settings copied (or none found / skipped per harness)
Tests passing (<N> tests, 0 failures)
Ready to implement <feature-name>

Step 5: Cleanup — Remove the Worktree When Done

Run cleanup once the work is complete. "Done" means: branch merged, PR closed, the experiment was discarded, or the user has explicitly confirmed they no longer need the isolated workspace. Never remove a worktree that still contains uncommitted, unpushed, or unmerged changes the user may want.

5.0 Detect Cleanup Mode

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)

• If GIT_DIR == GIT_COMMON: You were never in a linked worktree (Step 0 sent you straight to Step 3). There is nothing to clean up — skip Step 5 entirely.
• If GIT_DIR != GIT_COMMON: You are inside a linked worktree. Continue with cleanup.

5.1 Verify Work Is Saved

Before removing anything, confirm there is no work to lose:

git status --porcelain                 # Must be empty (no uncommitted changes)
git log @{u}.. 2>/dev/null             # Must be empty (no unpushed commits)

If either command returns output: Stop. Report the unsaved work to the user and ask how to proceed (commit/push, stash, or force discard). Never delete a worktree with unsaved work without explicit user confirmation.

Capture the worktree path and branch name before leaving the directory:

WORKTREE_PATH=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
BRANCH_NAME=$(git branch --show-current)

5.2 Native Worktree Tools (preferred)

If you used a native worktree tool in Step 1a (EnterWorktree, WorktreeCreate, /worktree, etc.), use the matching native command to remove the worktree (e.g. LeaveWorktree, WorktreeRemove, /worktree remove). Native tools clean up directories, branches, and harness state consistently.

Only proceed to 5.3 if no native cleanup tool is available.

5.3 Git Worktree Fallback Cleanup

Only use this if Step 5.2 does not apply — you created the worktree manually in Step 1b.

# 1. Move out of the worktree before deleting it
cd "$GIT_COMMON/.."   # or any path inside the main checkout

# 2. Remove the worktree
git worktree remove "$WORKTREE_PATH"

# 3. If files are still present (e.g. ignored artifacts blocking removal),
#    confirm with the user, then force-remove
git worktree remove --force "$WORKTREE_PATH"

# 4. Delete the local branch only if it was created for this worktree
#    AND has been merged or is no longer needed
git branch -d "$BRANCH_NAME"            # safe delete (refuses if unmerged)
git branch -D "$BRANCH_NAME"            # force delete (only with user confirmation)

# 5. Prune stale worktree metadata if the directory was deleted manually
git worktree prune

Sandbox fallback: If removal fails due to permissions, report the failure and the path that needs manual cleanup. Do not retry destructively.

5.4 Verify Cleanup

git worktree list                      # WORKTREE_PATH must no longer appear
ls -d "$WORKTREE_PATH" 2>/dev/null     # Must return nothing

Report

Worktree removed: <full-path>
Branch <name> deleted (or kept, if still needed)
Main checkout left untouched

Quick Reference

Situation	Action
Already in linked worktree	Skip creation (Step 0)
In a submodule	Treat as normal repo (Step 0 guard)
Native worktree tool available	Use it (Step 1a)
No native tool	Git worktree fallback (Step 1b)
Need a worktree location	Use <repo>/.worktrees/<branch>
Directory not ignored	Add to .gitignore + commit
Permission error on create	Sandbox fallback, work in place
Tests fail during baseline	Report failures + ask
No package.json/Cargo.toml	Skip dependency install
Work complete, in linked worktree	Run Step 5 cleanup
Never created a worktree	Skip Step 5
Uncommitted/unpushed changes at cleanup	Stop and ask user
Native cleanup tool available	Use it (Step 5.2)
No native cleanup tool	git worktree remove (Step 5.3)
Worktree directory deleted manually	git worktree prune
Git fallback: clone Claude behavior into worktree	Copy .claude/settings*.json from SOURCE_ROOT (Step 1b)
Repo uses .claude symlinks	Copy JSON only is not enough—recreate symlinks or paths

Common Mistakes

Fighting the harness

• Problem: Using git worktree add when the platform already provides isolation
• Fix: Step 0 detects existing isolation. Step 1a defers to native tools.

Skipping detection

• Problem: Creating a nested worktree inside an existing one
• Fix: Always run Step 0 before creating anything

Skipping ignore verification

• Problem: Worktree contents get tracked, pollute git status
• Fix: Always use git check-ignore before creating project-local worktree

Assuming directory location

• Problem: Creates inconsistency, violates project conventions
• Fix: Always use <repo>/.worktrees/<branch> unless user explicitly overrides for one task

Proceeding with failing tests

• Problem: Can't distinguish new bugs from pre-existing issues
• Fix: Report failures, get explicit permission to proceed

Removing a worktree with unsaved work

• Problem: git worktree remove --force discards uncommitted/unpushed changes silently
• Fix: Always run git status --porcelain and git log @{u}.. before removal; stop and ask if either is non-empty

Deleting the branch before it is merged

• Problem: git branch -D destroys commits that were never merged or pushed
• Fix: Prefer git branch -d (safe delete); only force-delete after explicit user confirmation

Mixing native and manual cleanup

• Problem: Running git worktree remove on a worktree created by a native tool leaves phantom harness state
• Fix: Whatever created the worktree must remove it (native tool ↔ native tool, git ↔ git)

Copying Claude settings from the wrong directory

• Problem: Using git rev-parse --show-toplevel after cd into the new worktree resolves to the worktree path, so copies find no settings or copy from the wrong place
• Fix: Set SOURCE_ROOT=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel) in the main checkout before git worktree add, then use $SOURCE_ROOT in the copy loop

Red Flags

Never:

• Create a worktree when Step 0 detects existing isolation
• Use git worktree add when you have a native worktree tool (e.g., EnterWorktree). This is the #1 mistake — if you have it, use it.
• Skip Step 1a by jumping straight to Step 1b's git commands
• Create worktree without verifying it's ignored (project-local)
• Skip baseline test verification
• Proceed with failing tests without asking
• Remove a worktree that still has uncommitted, unpushed, or unmerged work without explicit user confirmation
• Force-delete a branch (git branch -D) without confirming it is merged or no longer needed
• Run git worktree remove on a worktree created by a native tool

Always:

• Run Step 0 detection first
• Prefer native tools over git fallback
• Use <repo>/.worktrees/<branch> as the standard location
• Verify directory is ignored for project-local
• Auto-detect and run project setup
• Verify clean test baseline
• Run Step 5 cleanup once the work is done, using the same mechanism that created the worktree
• Verify there is nothing to lose before removing a worktree (git status --porcelain, git log @{u}..)
• Confirm with git worktree list and a directory check that cleanup actually completed
• After Step 1b (git fallback), copy .claude/settings.json and .claude/settings.local.json from SOURCE_ROOT captured before git worktree add