Worktree

Git worktrees make branches directories at the root of the repository. Instead of switching branches, just switch directories.

Make a directory

mkdir {repository-name}

Clone a repository without checking out a branch

Clone the repository from inside the repository directory:

cd {repository-name}

After that clone the repository without worktrees: (The --bare flag specifies to only clone the essential git files)

git clone --bare {git-remote-url}

{git-remote-url} can be a HTTPS or SSH URL.

Add a worktree

Only add worktrees from the bare repository, so navigate to the bare repository:

cd {repository-name}/.git/

Now add a worktree to the root of the repository:

git worktree add ../{branch-name}

Now the directory structure should look something like this (as an example this repository has been used):

digital-garden
├── digital-garden/.git/
└── main/

To switch to branch main, simply cd main.

Add a worktree with a new branch

Make sure to be in the bare repository when managing worktrees:

git worktree add -b {new-branch-name} ../{worktree-name}

{branch-name} is the name of the new branch.
{worktree-name} is the name of directory (worktree).

Add a worktree based on a remote branch

git worktree add {worktree-name} {remote-branch-name}

When the worktree commit log does not line up with the remote commit log for that specific branch, it is probably because {remote-branch-name} was not the correct remote branch name when executing the git worktree add command.

Remove a worktree

Remove worktrees from the bare repository:

cd {repository-name}/.git/

Remove a worktree by executing the following command:

git worktree remove {worktree-name}