Git Worktrees

<domain_overview>

🌳 GIT WORKTREES: ISOLATED WORKSPACES

Philosophy: Isolation prevents contamination. Work on features without affecting the main workspace. Systematic directory selection + safety verification = reliable isolation. ISOLATION INTEGRITY MANDATE (CRITICAL): Never create worktrees in directories that are not explicitly ignored by Git. AI-generated workflows often fail by polluting the primary repository with tracked worktree data. You MUST verify that the destination directory is within .gitignore before execution. Furthermore, you MUST ensure a 'Clean Baseline' by running tests before starting any feature work in a new worktree to avoid cross-contamination of artifacts. </domain_overview>

<directory_selection>

🎯 OVERVIEW

Git worktrees create isolated workspaces sharing the same repository, allowing work on multiple branches simultaneously without switching. Benefits:

• Work on feature branch without stashing changes
• Test in isolation without affecting main workspace
• Run long processes without blocking other work
• Easy cleanup when feature is complete

📋 WHEN TO USE

Use before:

• Starting new feature development
• Implementing plans from @planning-mastery
• Making experimental changes
• Working on multiple features in parallel Skip for:
• Quick bug fixes on current branch
• Documentation updates
• Configuration changes

📁 DIRECTORY SELECTION PROCESS

Follow this priority order:

1. Check Existing Directories

Unix/macOS:

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

Windows (PowerShell):

powershellCopy code
if (Test-Path ".worktrees") { ".worktrees" }
elseif (Test-Path "worktrees") { "worktrees" }

If found: Use that directory. If both exist, .worktrees wins.

2. Check CLAUDE.md

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grep -i "worktree.*director" CLAUDE.md 2>/dev/null

If preference specified: Use it without asking.

3. Ask User

If no directory exists and no CLAUDE.md preference:

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No worktree directory found. Where should I create worktrees?
1. .worktrees/ (project-local, hidden)
2. %USERPROFILE%\.config\maestro\worktrees\<project>\ (global location)
Which would you prefer?

</directory_selection> <safety_verification>

🔒 SAFETY VERIFICATION

For Project-Local Directories

MUST verify directory is ignored before creating worktree: Unix/macOS:

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

Windows (PowerShell):

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git check-ignore -q .worktrees 2>$null
if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
    git check-ignore -q worktrees 2>$null
}

If NOT ignored:

1. Add appropriate line to .gitignore
2. Commit the change
3. Proceed with worktree creation Why critical: Prevents accidentally committing worktree contents to repository.

For Global Directory

No .gitignore verification needed - outside project entirely. </safety_verification> <creation_and_setup>

🔨 CREATION STEPS

1. Detect Project Name

Unix/macOS:

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

Windows (PowerShell):

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$project = Split-Path -Leaf (git rev-parse --show-toplevel)

2. Create Worktree

Unix/macOS:

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# Project-local
path=".worktrees/$BRANCH_NAME"
git worktree add "$path" -b "$BRANCH_NAME"
cd "$path"
# Or global
path="$HOME/.config/maestro/worktrees/$project/$BRANCH_NAME"
mkdir -p "$(dirname "$path")"
git worktree add "$path" -b "$BRANCH_NAME"
cd "$path"

Windows (PowerShell):

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# Project-local
$path = ".worktrees\$BRANCH_NAME"
git worktree add $path -b $BRANCH_NAME
Set-Location $path
# Or global
$path = "$env:USERPROFILE\.config\maestro\worktrees\$project\$BRANCH_NAME"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path (Split-Path $path)
git worktree add $path -b $BRANCH_NAME
Set-Location $path

3. Run Project Setup

Auto-detect and run appropriate setup: Cross-platform:

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# Node.js
if [ -f package.json ]; then npm install; fi
# Python
if [ -f requirements.txt ]; then pip install -r requirements.txt; fi
if [ -f pyproject.toml ]; then poetry install; fi
# Rust
if [ -f Cargo.toml ]; then cargo build; fi
# Go
if [ -f go.mod ]; then go mod download; fi

Windows (PowerShell):

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# Node.js
if (Test-Path "package.json") { npm install }

# Python
if (Test-Path "requirements.txt") { pip install -r requirements.txt }
if (Test-Path "pyproject.toml") { poetry install }

# Rust
if (Test-Path "Cargo.toml") { cargo build }

# Go
if (Test-Path "go.mod") { go mod download }

4. Verify Clean Baseline

Run tests to ensure worktree starts clean:

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

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

5. Report Location

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

</creation_and_setup> <audit_and_reference>

📊 QUICK REFERENCE

🧹 CLEANUP

When feature work is complete: List worktrees:

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git worktree list

Remove worktree:

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git worktree remove .worktrees/feature-name
# or force if uncommitted changes
git worktree remove --force .worktrees/feature-name

Prune stale entries:

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git worktree prune

🚫 COMMON MISTAKES

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: Follow priority: existing > CLAUDE.md > ask

Proceeding with failing tests

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

Hardcoding setup commands

• Problem: Breaks on projects using different tools
  • Fix: Auto-detect from project files (package.json, etc.)

Forgetting to cleanup

• Problem: Disk space consumed, stale branches accumulate
  • Fix: Remove worktree when feature is merged

📝 EXAMPLE WORKFLOW

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You: I'm using the git-worktrees skill to set up an isolated workspace.
[Check .worktrees/ - exists]
[Verify ignored - git check-ignore confirms .worktrees/ is ignored]
[Create worktree: git worktree add .worktrees/auth -b feature/auth]
[Run npm install]
[Run npm test - 47 passing]
Worktree ready at C:\Users\Dev\myproject\.worktrees\auth
Tests passing (47 tests, 0 failures)
Ready to implement auth feature

🚨 RED FLAGS

Never:

• Create worktree without verifying it's ignored (project-local)
• Skip baseline test verification
• Proceed with failing tests without asking
• Assume directory location when ambiguous
• Skip CLAUDE.md check Always:
• Follow directory priority: existing > CLAUDE.md > ask
• Verify directory is ignored for project-local
• Auto-detect and run project setup
• Verify clean test baseline
• Report full path when done

🔗 INTEGRATION

Called by:

• @brainstorming - After design approved, before implementation
• @planning-mastery - When executing plan

Pairs with:

• @planning-mastery - Work happens in this worktree
• @tdd-mastery - Implementation methodology
• @verification-mastery - Complete development after all tasks

🔗 RALPH WIGGUM INTEGRATION

When Ralph Wiggum is active:

1. Before first iteration: Create worktree for isolated work
2. During iterations: All work happens in worktree
3. After completion: Merge or create PR from worktree
4. Cleanup: Remove worktree after merge

🔗 RELATED SKILLS

• @brainstorming - Design before worktree creation
• @planning-mastery - Plan to execute in worktree
• @verification-mastery - Verify before finishing branch </audit_and_reference>