git-worktree(1)
NAME
git-worktree - Manage multiple working trees
SYNOPSIS
git worktree add [-f] [--detach] [--checkout] [-b <new-branch>] <path> [<branch>] git worktree list [--porcelain] git worktree lock [--reason <string>] <worktree> git worktree prune [-n] [-v] [--expire <expire>] git worktree unlock <worktree>
DESCRIPTION
Manage multiple working trees attached to the same repository. A git repository can support multiple working trees, allowing you to check out more than one branch at a time. With git worktree add a new working tree is associated with the repository. This new working tree is called a "linked working tree" as opposed to the "main working tree" prepared by "git init" or "git clone". A repository has one main working tree (if it's not a bare repository) and zero or more linked working trees. When you are done with a linked working tree you can simply delete it. The working tree's administrative files in the repository (see "DETAILS" below) will eventually be removed automatically (see gc.worktreePruneExpire in git-config(1)), or you can run git worktree prune in the main or any linked working tree to clean up any stale administrative files. If you move a linked working tree, you need to manually update the administrative files so that they do not get pruned automatically. See section "DETAILS" for more information. If a linked working tree is stored on a portable device or network share which is not always mounted, you can prevent its administrative files from being pruned by issuing the git worktree lock command, optionally specifying --reason to explain why the working tree is locked.
COMMANDS
add <path> [<branch>]
Create <path> and checkout <branch> into it. The new working
directory is linked to the current repository, sharing everything
except working directory specific files such as HEAD, index, etc.
- may also be specified as <branch>; it is synonymous with @{-1}.
If <branch> is omitted and neither -b nor -B nor --detached used,
then, as a convenience, a new branch based at HEAD is created
automatically, as if -b $(basename <path>) was specified.
list
List details of each worktree. The main worktree is listed first,
followed by each of the linked worktrees. The output details
include if the worktree is bare, the revision currently checked
out, and the branch currently checked out (or detached HEAD if
none).
lock
If a working tree is on a portable device or network share which is
not always mounted, lock it to prevent its administrative files
from being pruned automatically. This also prevents it from being
moved or deleted. Optionally, specify a reason for the lock with
--reason.
prune
Prune working tree information in $GIT_DIR/worktrees.
unlock
Unlock a working tree, allowing it to be pruned, moved or deleted.
OPTIONS
-f, --force
By default, add refuses to create a new working tree when <branch>
is already checked out by another working tree. This option
overrides that safeguard.
-b <new-branch>, -B <new-branch>
With add, create a new branch named <new-branch> starting at
<branch>, and check out <new-branch> into the new working tree. If
<branch> is omitted, it defaults to HEAD. By default, -b refuses to
create a new branch if it already exists. -B overrides this
safeguard, resetting <new-branch> to <branch>.
--detach
With add, detach HEAD in the new working tree. See "DETACHED HEAD"
in git-checkout(1).
--[no-]checkout
By default, add checks out <branch>, however, --no-checkout can be
used to suppress checkout in order to make customizations, such as
configuring sparse-checkout. See "Sparse checkout" in git-read-
tree(1).
-n, --dry-run
With prune, do not remove anything; just report what it would
remove.
--porcelain
With list, output in an easy-to-parse format for scripts. This
format will remain stable across Git versions and regardless of
user configuration. See below for details.
-v, --verbose
With prune, report all removals.
--expire <time>
With prune, only expire unused working trees older than <time>.
--reason <string>
With lock, an explanation why the working tree is locked.
<worktree>
Working trees can be identified by path, either relative or
absolute.
If the last path components in the working tree's path is unique
among working trees, it can be used to identify worktrees. For
example if you only have to working trees at "/abc/def/ghi" and
"/abc/def/ggg", then "ghi" or "def/ghi" is enough to point to the
former working tree.
DETAILS
Each linked working tree has a private sub-directory in the repository's $GIT_DIR/worktrees directory. The private sub-directory's name is usually the base name of the linked working tree's path, possibly appended with a number to make it unique. For example, when $GIT_DIR=/path/main/.git the command git worktree add /path/other/test-next next creates the linked working tree in /path/other/test-next and also creates a $GIT_DIR/worktrees/test-next directory (or $GIT_DIR/worktrees/test-next1 if test-next is already taken). Within a linked working tree, $GIT_DIR is set to point to this private directory (e.g. /path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next in the example) and $GIT_COMMON_DIR is set to point back to the main working tree's $GIT_DIR (e.g. /path/main/.git). These settings are made in a .git file located at the top directory of the linked working tree. Path resolution via git rev-parse --git-path uses either $GIT_DIR or $GIT_COMMON_DIR depending on the path. For example, in the linked working tree git rev-parse --git-path HEAD returns /path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next/HEAD (not /path/other/test-next/.git/HEAD or /path/main/.git/HEAD) while git rev-parse --git-path refs/heads/master uses $GIT_COMMON_DIR and returns /path/main/.git/refs/heads/master, since refs are shared across all working trees. See gitrepository-layout(5) for more information. The rule of thumb is do not make any assumption about whether a path belongs to $GIT_DIR or $GIT_COMMON_DIR when you need to directly access something inside $GIT_DIR. Use git rev-parse --git-path to get the final path. If you move a linked working tree, you need to update the gitdir file in the entry's directory. For example, if a linked working tree is moved to /newpath/test-next and its .git file points to /path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next, then update /path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next/gitdir to reference /newpath/test-next instead. To prevent a $GIT_DIR/worktrees entry from being pruned (which can be useful in some situations, such as when the entry's working tree is stored on a portable device), use the git worktree lock command, which adds a file named locked to the entry's directory. The file contains the reason in plain text. For example, if a linked working tree's .git file points to /path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next then a file named /path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next/locked will prevent the test-next entry from being pruned. See gitrepository-layout(5) for details.
LIST OUTPUT FORMAT
The worktree list command has two output formats. The default format
shows the details on a single line with columns. For example:
S git worktree list
/path/to/bare-source (bare)
/path/to/linked-worktree abcd1234 [master]
/path/to/other-linked-worktree 1234abc (detached HEAD)
Porcelain Format
The porcelain format has a line per attribute. Attributes are listed
with a label and value separated by a single space. Boolean attributes
(like bare and detached) are listed as a label only, and are only
present if and only if the value is true. An empty line indicates the
end of a worktree. For example:
S git worktree list --porcelain
worktree /path/to/bare-source
bare
worktree /path/to/linked-worktree
HEAD abcd1234abcd1234abcd1234abcd1234abcd1234
branch refs/heads/master
worktree /path/to/other-linked-worktree
HEAD 1234abc1234abc1234abc1234abc1234abc1234a
detached
EXAMPLES
You are in the middle of a refactoring session and your boss comes in and demands that you fix something immediately. You might typically use git-stash(1) to store your changes away temporarily, however, your working tree is in such a state of disarray (with new, moved, and removed files, and other bits and pieces strewn around) that you don't want to risk disturbing any of it. Instead, you create a temporary linked working tree to make the emergency fix, remove it when done, and then resume your earlier refactoring session. $ git worktree add -b emergency-fix ../temp master $ pushd ../temp # ... hack hack hack ... $ git commit -a -m 'emergency fix for boss' $ popd $ rm -rf ../temp $ git worktree prune
BUGS
Multiple checkout in general is still experimental, and the support for
submodules is incomplete. It is NOT recommended to make multiple
checkouts of a superproject.
git-worktree could provide more automation for tasks currently
performed manually, such as:
* remove to remove a linked working tree and its administrative files
(and warn if the working tree is dirty)
* mv to move or rename a working tree and update its administrative
files
GIT
Part of the git(1) suite
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