NAME
----
-git-worktree - Manage multiple worktrees
+git-worktree - Manage multiple working trees
SYNOPSIS
--------
[verse]
-'git worktree add' <path> <branch>
+'git worktree add' [-f] [--detach] [-b <new-branch>] <path> [<branch>]
'git worktree prune' [-n] [-v] [--expire <expire>]
DESCRIPTION
-----------
-Manage multiple worktrees attached to the same repository.
+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 checkout --to` a new working
+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
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.pruneworktreesexpire` in linkgit::git-config[1]), or you can run
+`gc.worktreePruneExpire` in linkgit: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 directory to another file system, or
+If you move a linked working tree to another file system, or
within a file system that does not support hard links, you need to run
-at least one git command inside the linked working directory
+at least one git command inside the linked working tree
(e.g. `git status`) in order to update its administrative files in the
repository so that they do not get automatically pruned.
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 creating a file named 'lock' alongside the other
+being pruned by creating a file named 'locked' alongside the other
administrative files, optionally containing a plain text reason that
pruning should be suppressed. See section "DETAILS" for more information.
COMMANDS
--------
-add <path> <branch>::
+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.
++
+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.
prune::
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 linkgit:git-checkout[1].
+
-n::
--dry-run::
With `prune`, do not remove anything; just report what it would
With `prune`, report all removals.
--expire <time>::
- With `prune`, only expire unused worktrees older than <time>.
+ With `prune`, only expire unused working trees older than <time>.
DETAILS
-------
$GIT_DIR/worktrees directory. The private sub-directory's name is usually
the base name of the linked working tree's path, possibly appended with a
number to make it unique. For example, when `$GIT_DIR=/path/main/.git` the
-command `git checkout --to /path/other/test-next next` creates the linked
+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).
$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.
-To prevent a $GIT_DIR/worktrees entry from from being pruned (which
+To prevent a $GIT_DIR/worktrees entry from being pruned (which
can be useful in some situations, such as when the
entry's working tree is stored on a portable device), add a file named
'locked' to the entry's directory. The file contains the reason in
You are in the middle of a refactoring session and your boss comes in and
demands that you fix something immediately. You might typically use
linkgit:git-stash[1] to store your changes away temporarily, however, your
-worktree is in such a state of disarray (with new, moved, and removed files,
-and other bits and pieces strewn around) that you don't want to risk
-disturbing any of it. Instead, you create a temporary linked worktree to
+working tree is in such a state of disarray (with new, moved, and removed
+files, and other bits and pieces strewn around) that you don't want to risk
+disturbing any of it. Instead, you create a temporary linked working tree to
make the emergency fix, remove it when done, and then resume your earlier
refactoring session.
------------
-$ git branch emergency-fix master
-$ git worktree add ../temp emergency-fix
+$ git worktree add -b emergency-fix ../temp master
$ pushd ../temp
# ... hack hack hack ...
$ git commit -a -m 'emergency fix for boss'
BUGS
----
-Multiple checkout support for submodules is incomplete. It is NOT
-recommended to make multiple checkouts of a superproject.
+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 worktree and its administrative files (and
- warn if the worktree is dirty)
-- `mv` to move or rename a worktree and update its administrative files
-- `list` to list linked worktrees
+- `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
+- `list` to list linked working trees
- `lock` to prevent automatic pruning of administrative files (for instance,
- for a worktree on a portable device)
+ for a working tree on a portable device)
GIT
---