Weekly Git Command #5: git worktree

Sometimes, while working on a project, you need to work on two branches at the same time.

Before I learned about git worktree, my workflow was messy:

• Stash changes

• Switch branches

• Make changes

• Switch back and pop the stash

This worked, but it was slow and error-prone. That’s when I discovered git worktree.

What git worktree does

git worktree allows you to have multiple working directories linked to the same repository.

Instead of stashing or cloning the repo twice, you can work on different branches simultaneously, all in separate folders, without losing context.

Basic usage

Add a new worktree

git worktree add ../feature-branch feature

This:

• Creates a new folder ../feature-branch

• Checks out the feature branch in that folder

• Lets you work on it independently from your main working directory

List your worktrees

git worktree list

Output might look like:

/home/user/project      123abc [main]

Remove a worktree

Once you’re done:

git worktree remove ../feature-branch

This cleans up the extra folder safely.

Why it’s useful

• Work on multiple features at the same time without stashing constantly

• Test changes on a branch while keeping your main branch clean

• Avoid creating multiple clones of the same repository

Once you start using git worktree, it feels like a workflow game-changer.

Final thoughts

git worktree is one of those underrated Git commands that makes life easier for developers.

It’s simple, safe, and perfect for handling multiple branches without messy stashing or repeated clones.

This post is part of my Weekly Git Command series, sharing commands I’ve been learning while contributing to Git via Outreachy.

Next week, we’ll explore git blame -w, a command that helps you understand who made changes and why.