Git Worktree Setup

Set up and manage git worktrees for parallel development

Set up git worktrees for parallel development.

Instructions

1. List existing worktrees:

git worktree list

2. Create a worktree for a different branch:

# Work on a hotfix while keeping current branch open
git worktree add ../my-repo-hotfix hotfix/critical-bug

# Create a new branch in a worktree
git worktree add ../my-repo-feature -b feature/new-feature

3. Work in the new directory:

cd ../my-repo-hotfix
# Make changes, commit, push — it's a separate working directory
# but shares the same .git repo

4. Remove worktree when done:

cd ../my-repo              # go back to main worktree
git worktree remove ../my-repo-hotfix
# or: rm -rf ../my-repo-hotfix && git worktree prune

When to Use Worktrees

• Reviewing a PR while working on something else
• Running long tests on one branch while coding on another
• Comparing behavior between branches side-by-side
• Hotfix while in the middle of a feature

Tips

• Each worktree can only have one branch checked out (no duplicates)
• npm install may be needed separately in each worktree