Git Worktree Clone

Clone a Git repository as a bare repository and configure it for git worktrees workflow.

Arguments

The skill accepts optional arguments in the format:

• /git-worktree-clone <repo-url> - Clone with auto-detected directory name
• /git-worktree-clone <repo-url> <directory-name> - Clone with custom directory name

Instructions

1. Parse arguments:
   • If args provided: extract repo URL (first arg) and optional directory name (second arg)
   • If no args: ask for repository URL
   • Directory name: use provided name, or derive from repo URL (last part without .git)
2. Determine directory name if not provided (default: derive from repo URL)
3. Create directory structure (use absolute path for <repo-path>):
   bashCopy

   mkdir -p <repo-path>
   git clone --bare <repo-url> <repo-path>/.git
   

4. Configure remote tracking (use -C to target the repo):
   bashCopy

   git -C <repo-path> config remote.origin.fetch '+refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*'
   

5. Delete local branches created during clone:
   bashCopy

   git -C <repo-path> branch | sed 's/^[* ]*//' | xargs -r git -C <repo-path> branch -D
   

6. Fetch remote branches:
   bashCopy

   git -C <repo-path> fetch
   

7. Verify setup:
   bashCopy

   git -C <repo-path> branch -a  # Should show only remotes/origin/* branches
   git -C <repo-path> worktree list  # Should show only bare repo
   

8. Create main worktree with tracking:
   bashCopy

   git -C <repo-path> worktree add -b main main origin/main
   

9. Ask user if they want to create additional worktree(s)
   • If yes, create with: git worktree add -b <branch> <path> origin/<branch>

Workflow explanation

This setup creates:

• Bare repo in <directory-name>/.git - central git database
• Worktrees as subdirectories - actual working copies of branches
• Benefits:
  • Multiple branches checked out simultaneously
  • Each branch in its own directory
  • No need to stash changes when switching branches
  • Shared git database saves space

Example usage

# Clone with auto-detected name
/git-worktree-clone [email protected]:rmd-devops/infrastructure/rmd-devops-networking.git

# Clone with custom directory name
/git-worktree-clone [email protected]:rmd-devops/infrastructure/rmd-devops-networking.git my-network-repo

Example structure

rmd-devops-networking/
├── .git/                    # Bare repository
├── main/                    # Worktree for main branch
└── feat/                    # Worktree for feature branch

Rules

• MUST use absolute paths and git -C <repo-path> instead of cd
• MUST delete all local branches after clone (keep only remotes)
• MUST configure remote fetch before fetching
• MUST use -b flag when creating worktrees to create tracking branches
• MUST always create a main worktree tracking origin/main
• Ask before creating additional worktrees beyond main
• Verify the setup shows (bare) in git worktree list