---
name: git-worktree-manager
description: >
  Manage parallel development with Git worktrees: creation with port allocation, environment
  sync, branch isolation, and cleanup. Use when working multiple branches at once, running
  parallel CI validations, or isolating agent workspaces.
license: MIT + Commons Clause
metadata:
  version: 1.1.0
  author: borghei
  category: engineering
  domain: developer-tooling
  tier: POWERFUL
  updated: 2026-06-17
  frameworks: git-worktree
  tags:
    - git
    - worktrees
    - parallel-development
    - branching
    - developer-tooling
---
# Git Worktree Manager

Manage parallel development workflows using Git worktrees with deterministic naming, automatic port allocation, environment file synchronization, dependency installation, and cleanup automation. Optimized for multi-agent workflows where each agent or terminal session owns an isolated worktree with its own ports, environment, and running services.

## Core Capabilities

- **Worktree lifecycle** — create worktrees from new or existing branches with deterministic naming, copy `.env` files, install dependencies by lockfile detection, list with clean/dirty + ahead/behind status, and safely remove with uncommitted-change detection.
- **Port allocation** — deterministic per-worktree assignment (`base + index * stride`), collision detection against running processes, persistent map in `.worktree-ports.json`, and Docker Compose override generation.
- **Multi-agent isolation** — one branch per worktree, one agent per worktree, no shared state, conflict-free parallel execution, task-ID mapping for traceability.
- **Cleanup automation** — stale detection by age, merged-branch detection for safe removal, dirty-state warnings, and bulk cleanup with safety confirmations.

## When to Use

- You need 2+ concurrent branches open with running dev servers.
- You want isolated environments for feature work, hotfixes, and PR review.
- Multiple AI agents need separate workspaces that do not interfere.
- Your current branch is blocked but a hotfix is urgent.
- You want automated cleanup instead of manual `rm -rf` operations.

## Clarify First

Before managing worktrees, settle the inputs below. When one is missing or vague and would change the result, ask about it; when it wouldn't, use a sensible default and say which one you used.

- **Operation:** create, list, remove, or clean up worktrees (selects the `worktree_manager.py` action vs `port_allocator.py` vs `worktree_validator.py`).
- **Branch & base:** which branch(es) the worktree(s) track and from what base (drives worktree naming and isolation).
- **Port/service needs:** whether dev servers or Docker need allocated ports (drives the deterministic port block and the Docker Compose override generated).

Ask about the two or three inputs that matter most for this request, not the whole list. If the user wants a result straight away, produce it and state your assumptions at the top.

## Tools

| Tool | Purpose | Command |
|------|---------|---------|
| `worktree_manager.py` | List, create, remove, and clean up worktrees | `python scripts/worktree_manager.py list` |
| `port_allocator.py` | Assign/check/release deterministic port blocks; sync registry | `python scripts/port_allocator.py status` |
| `worktree_validator.py` | Validate worktree health (stale, missing branch, env parity, port conflicts, lockfile) | `python scripts/worktree_validator.py --stale-days 14` |

## References

Load the reference that matches the task — keep this file lean and pull detail on demand:

- **[references/setup-and-ports.md](references/setup-and-ports.md)** — quick-start `git worktree` commands, the deterministic port-allocation strategy and `.worktree-ports.json` format, collision-detection snippet, the full `setup-worktree.sh` script, and the Docker Compose per-worktree override. Read when creating a worktree or wiring up ports/services.
- **[references/cleanup-and-workflows.md](references/cleanup-and-workflows.md)** — the `cleanup-worktrees.sh` safe-cleanup script, the multi-agent assignment pattern and rules, the scenario→action decision matrix, and the post-creation validation checklist. Read when automating cleanup or coordinating agents.
- **[references/operations-playbook.md](references/operations-playbook.md)** — common pitfalls, best practices, the troubleshooting table, and the success-criteria bar. Read before shipping a workflow or when diagnosing problems.

## Scope & Limitations

**This skill covers:**
- Git worktree lifecycle: creation, listing, status inspection, and removal
- Deterministic port allocation and collision avoidance for parallel dev servers
- Environment file synchronization and Docker Compose override patterns
- Multi-agent workspace isolation strategies and cleanup automation

**This skill does NOT cover:**
- Git branching strategies or merge conflict resolution (see `pr-review-expert` and `release-manager`)
- Secret rotation, vault integration, or credential management (see `env-secrets-manager`)
- CI/CD pipeline configuration or automated test orchestration (see `ci-cd-pipeline-builder`)
- Monorepo package management, workspace linking, or cross-package dependency resolution (see `monorepo-navigator`)

## Integration Points

| Skill | Integration | Data Flow |
|-------|-------------|-----------|
| `env-secrets-manager` | Worktree setup copies `.env` files that contain secrets managed by this skill | `.env` files flow from main repo to each worktree; secret references remain consistent across all copies |
| `ci-cd-pipeline-builder` | CI pipelines can spin up worktrees for parallel test matrix execution | Pipeline config triggers `setup-worktree.sh` per matrix job; port allocation prevents service collisions |
| `release-manager` | Release branches get dedicated worktrees for stabilization while feature work continues | Release worktree is created from the release branch; merged status drives cleanup automation |
| `monorepo-navigator` | In monorepo setups, worktrees must respect package boundaries and shared dependencies | Worktree creation inherits the monorepo root lockfile; package-level dev servers use allocated port blocks |
| `pr-review-expert` | PR reviews can be performed in isolated worktrees with running code for manual validation | Reviewer creates a worktree at the PR branch, runs the dev server on allocated ports, and removes after review |
| `tech-debt-tracker` | Stale worktrees and abandoned branches surface as tech debt indicators | Cleanup script output feeds into debt tracking; worktree age and merge status inform priority scores |