Git Tree

Create git worktrees in parallel directories with automatic symlinks to vendor, node_modules, and .env.

Quick Reference

# Resolve this once. Codex: this path resolves under Claude Code; substitute the absolute
# path to this git-tree plugin root, which contains this skill's parent skills/ directory.
GIT_TREE_ROOT="${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}"
"$GIT_TREE_ROOT/scripts/git-tree.sh" <branch-name> [--repo <path>] [--create]

Workflow

Run the resolved script with the branch name. If no branch is provided, ask the user.

Flags:

• --repo <path>: Target repository (defaults to cwd)
• --create: Create branch if it doesn’t exist

Success output:

Worktree created successfully
Created N symlink(s)
Worktree location: /path/to/gittree-branch

Failure: Script exits non-zero with error message. Common errors:

• “Branch does not exist” → add --create flag or create branch first
• “Worktree directory already exists” → remove existing worktree
• “Branch is already checked out” → use different branch or remove other worktree

What Gets Created

parent/
├── repo/                # Original (real deps)
└── gittree-branch/      # Worktree (symlinked deps)

Managing Worktrees

# List all worktrees
git worktree list

# Remove a worktree
git worktree remove gittree-branch-name

When NOT to Use

• Different dependency versions needed → Remove symlinks and install: rm vendor && composer install
• Temporary one-file changes → Use git stash
• Branch already checked out → Remove existing worktree first: git worktree remove <path>

Web Server Integration

Need to serve a worktree via local web server (LocalWP, nginx, etc)?

See WEBSERVER-WORKTREES.md for swap/restore scripts that temporarily redirect your web server’s document root.

Troubleshooting

Errors or unexpected behavior? → See TROUBLESHOOTING.md

Common issues covered: broken symlinks, pre-commit hook failures, containerized environments.

Examples

User: “I want to work on feature-auth while keeping my current work” Action: Create worktree at ../gittree-feature-auth/

User: “Set up a worktree for PR review of branch fix-login” Action: Create worktree at ../gittree-fix-login/

User: “I need to test two branches side by side” Action: Create worktree for the second branch, both share dependencies