Making Git Worktrees Painless for Parallel Agents

· 2 min read ·
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Git Productivity Claude Code Cursor Agents AI

I keep telling agents to split into separate worktrees, but git worktree add UX is rough.

These three tools make the flow brainless: one-line creation, optional copying of ignored files, and tmux/editor hooks for agent windows.

git-wt: Minimalist Subcommand

git-wt GitHub Repo · tiny Git subcommand

go install github.com/k1LoW/git-wt@latest
git wt feature/auth   # create branch + worktree + cd
git wt -d feature/auth # safe delete branch + worktree
  • Shell init adds completions + git() wrapper so git wt <branch> auto-CDs into the worktree. Add --no-switch-directory if you only want completions.
  • Config lives in git config (e.g., wt.basedir="../{gitroot}-wt"). Flags override per-run.
  • Can auto-copy ignored/untracked/modified files into the new worktree (wt.copyignored, wt.copyuntracked, wt.copymodified) and exclude patterns with wt.nocopy.

workmux: tmux-Native Worktrees for Agents

Workmux GitHub Repo · tmux-first worktree manager

brew install raine/workmux/workmux
workmux add feature/auth   # creates worktree + tmux window with panes
workmux merge              # merge + clean branch/worktree/window
  • Opinionated “one worktree = one tmux window” with pane layouts from .workmux.yaml; good defaults if you skip config.
  • Hooks and file ops let you auto-copy .env, symlink caches, and run setup commands before the window opens.
  • Agent-friendly: supports injected prompts, status icons in tmux, /worktree slash command for Claude Code, LLM-generated branch names.
  • --with-changes moves your current uncommitted changes into the new worktree (optional --patch / --include-untracked).

git-worktree-runner (git gtr): Cross-Platform QoL

Git Woktree Runner GitHub Repo · cross-platform CLI

git gtr new feature/auth         # create worktree directory
git gtr editor feature/auth      # open in Cursor/VS Code/Zed
git gtr ai feature/auth          # launch configured AI tool
git gtr copy feature/auth -- ".env*"  # sync envs
  • Ships as git gtr subcommand; config via git config or .gtrconfig.
  • Hooks (gtr.hook.postCreate) and copy rules (gtr.copy.include/dirs) reduce setup; gtr.run executes commands inside a worktree.
  • Cross-platform (macOS/Linux/Windows via Git Bash) with completions.

My Take

  • For barebones CLI, git-wt is the fastest mental model.
  • If you live in tmux and want agents visible per window, workmux is the move.
  • If you need editor/AI adapters and cross-platform support, git gtr is most batteries-included.
  • Regardless of tool, copy/symlink .env/node_modules patterns so new worktrees aren’t broken, and always clean up with the tool’s remove/merge command to avoid stale metadata.