using-git-worktrees

Git worktrees create isolated workspaces from your main repository, allowing you to develop features, experiments, or refactors in separate directories without contaminating the primary working directory.

Creating a git worktree involves automatically detecting the project name, creating a new branch, running language-specific setup like npm or cargo, and validating a clean baseline before starting work.

Worktree directory selection prefers .worktrees, then worktrees, then CLAUDE.md preferences, and verifies safety by checking that local worktrees are ignored in .gitignore, updating it with a commit if necessary.

Yes, git worktrees are ideal for refactoring requiring isolated workspaces, ensuring safety checks and automatic setup establish clean baselines across multiple branches without switching contexts.

Using git worktrees provides safe isolation for experimental work by applying directory discovery, running project-specific setup, and validating a clean baseline to keep experiments separate from the main branch.

You should avoid git worktrees if your project lacks clear directory selection preferences or if automatic .gitignore updates and commit management conflict with your team's repository safety constraints.