Documentation/git-worktree.txt

   1 git-worktree(1)
   2 ===============
   3
   4 NAME
   5 ----
   6 git-worktree - Manage multiple working trees
   7
   8
   9 SYNOPSIS
  10 --------
  11 [verse]
  12 'git worktree add' [-f] [--detach] [--checkout] [--lock] [-b <new-branch>] <path> [<commit-ish>]
  13 'git worktree list' [--porcelain]
  14 'git worktree lock' [--reason <string>] <worktree>
  15 'git worktree move' <worktree> <new-path>
  16 'git worktree prune' [-n] [-v] [--expire <expire>]
  17 'git worktree remove' [-f] <worktree>
  18 'git worktree unlock' <worktree>
  19
  20 DESCRIPTION
  21 -----------
  22
  23 Manage multiple working trees attached to the same repository.
  24
  25 A git repository can support multiple working trees, allowing you to check
  26 out more than one branch at a time.  With `git worktree add` a new working
  27 tree is associated with the repository.  This new working tree is called a
  28 "linked working tree" as opposed to the "main working tree" prepared by "git
  29 init" or "git clone".  A repository has one main working tree (if it's not a
  30 bare repository) and zero or more linked working trees. When you are done
  31 with a linked working tree, remove it with `git worktree remove`.
  32
  33 If a working tree is deleted without using `git worktree remove`, then
  34 its associated administrative files, which reside in the repository
  35 (see "DETAILS" below), will eventually be removed automatically (see
  36 `gc.worktreePruneExpire` in linkgit:git-config[1]), or you can run
  37 `git worktree prune` in the main or any linked working tree to
  38 clean up any stale administrative files.
  39
  40 If a linked working tree is stored on a portable device or network share
  41 which is not always mounted, you can prevent its administrative files from
  42 being pruned by issuing the `git worktree lock` command, optionally
  43 specifying `--reason` to explain why the working tree is locked.
  44
  45 COMMANDS
  46 --------
  47 add <path> [<commit-ish>]::
  48
  49 Create `<path>` and checkout `<commit-ish>` into it. The new working directory
  50 is linked to the current repository, sharing everything except working
  51 directory specific files such as HEAD, index, etc. `-` may also be
  52 specified as `<commit-ish>`; it is synonymous with `@{-1}`.
  53 +
  54 If <commit-ish> is a branch name (call it `<branch>`) and is not found,
  55 and neither `-b` nor `-B` nor `--detach` are used, but there does
  56 exist a tracking branch in exactly one remote (call it `<remote>`)
  57 with a matching name, treat as equivalent to:
  58 +
  59 ------------
  60 $ git worktree add --track -b <branch> <path> <remote>/<branch>
  61 ------------
  62 +
  63 If the branch exists in multiple remotes and one of them is named by
  64 the `checkout.defaultRemote` configuration variable, we'll use that
  65 one for the purposes of disambiguation, even if the `<branch>` isn't
  66 unique across all remotes. Set it to
  67 e.g. `checkout.defaultRemote=origin` to always checkout remote
  68 branches from there if `<branch>` is ambiguous but exists on the
  69 'origin' remote. See also `checkout.defaultRemote` in
  70 linkgit:git-config[1].
  71 +
  72 If `<commit-ish>` is omitted and neither `-b` nor `-B` nor `--detach` used,
  73 then, as a convenience, the new worktree is associated with a branch
  74 (call it `<branch>`) named after `$(basename <path>)`.  If `<branch>`
  75 doesn't exist, a new branch based on HEAD is automatically created as
  76 if `-b <branch>` was given.  If `<branch>` does exist, it will be
  77 checked out in the new worktree, if it's not checked out anywhere
  78 else, otherwise the command will refuse to create the worktree (unless
  79 `--force` is used).
  80
  81 list::
  82
  83 List details of each worktree.  The main worktree is listed first, followed by
  84 each of the linked worktrees.  The output details include if the worktree is
  85 bare, the revision currently checked out, and the branch currently checked out
  86 (or 'detached HEAD' if none).
  87
  88 lock::
  89
  90 If a working tree is on a portable device or network share which
  91 is not always mounted, lock it to prevent its administrative
  92 files from being pruned automatically. This also prevents it from
  93 being moved or deleted. Optionally, specify a reason for the lock
  94 with `--reason`.
  95
  96 move::
  97
  98 Move a working tree to a new location. Note that the main working tree
  99 or linked working trees containing submodules cannot be moved.
 100
 101 prune::
 102
 103 Prune working tree information in $GIT_DIR/worktrees.
 104
 105 remove::
 106
 107 Remove a working tree. Only clean working trees (no untracked files
 108 and no modification in tracked files) can be removed. Unclean working
 109 trees or ones with submodules can be removed with `--force`. The main
 110 working tree cannot be removed.
 111
 112 unlock::
 113
 114 Unlock a working tree, allowing it to be pruned, moved or deleted.
 115
 116 OPTIONS
 117 -------
 118
 119 -f::
 120 --force::
 121         By default, `add` refuses to create a new working tree when
 122         `<commit-ish>` is a branch name and is already checked out by
 123         another working tree, or if `<path>` is already assigned to some
 124         working tree but is missing (for instance, if `<path>` was deleted
 125         manually). This option overrides these safeguards. To add a missing but
 126         locked working tree path, specify `--force` twice.
 127 +
 128 `move` refuses to move a locked working tree unless `--force` is specified
 129 twice.
 130 +
 131 `remove` refuses to remove an unclean working tree unless `--force` is used.
 132 To remove a locked working tree, specify `--force` twice.
 133
 134 -b <new-branch>::
 135 -B <new-branch>::
 136         With `add`, create a new branch named `<new-branch>` starting at
 137         `<commit-ish>`, and check out `<new-branch>` into the new working tree.
 138         If `<commit-ish>` is omitted, it defaults to HEAD.
 139         By default, `-b` refuses to create a new branch if it already
 140         exists. `-B` overrides this safeguard, resetting `<new-branch>` to
 141         `<commit-ish>`.
 142
 143 --detach::
 144         With `add`, detach HEAD in the new working tree. See "DETACHED HEAD"
 145         in linkgit:git-checkout[1].
 146
 147 --[no-]checkout::
 148         By default, `add` checks out `<commit-ish>`, however, `--no-checkout` can
 149         be used to suppress checkout in order to make customizations,
 150         such as configuring sparse-checkout. See "Sparse checkout"
 151         in linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
 152
 153 --[no-]guess-remote::
 154         With `worktree add <path>`, without `<commit-ish>`, instead
 155         of creating a new branch from HEAD, if there exists a tracking
 156         branch in exactly one remote matching the basename of `<path>`,
 157         base the new branch on the remote-tracking branch, and mark
 158         the remote-tracking branch as "upstream" from the new branch.
 159 +
 160 This can also be set up as the default behaviour by using the
 161 `worktree.guessRemote` config option.
 162
 163 --[no-]track::
 164         When creating a new branch, if `<commit-ish>` is a branch,
 165         mark it as "upstream" from the new branch.  This is the
 166         default if `<commit-ish>` is a remote-tracking branch.  See
 167         "--track" in linkgit:git-branch[1] for details.
 168
 169 --lock::
 170         Keep the working tree locked after creation. This is the
 171         equivalent of `git worktree lock` after `git worktree add`,
 172         but without race condition.
 173
 174 -n::
 175 --dry-run::
 176         With `prune`, do not remove anything; just report what it would
 177         remove.
 178
 179 --porcelain::
 180         With `list`, output in an easy-to-parse format for scripts.
 181         This format will remain stable across Git versions and regardless of user
 182         configuration.  See below for details.
 183
 184 -q::
 185 --quiet::
 186         With 'add', suppress feedback messages.
 187
 188 -v::
 189 --verbose::
 190         With `prune`, report all removals.
 191
 192 --expire <time>::
 193         With `prune`, only expire unused working trees older than <time>.
 194
 195 --reason <string>::
 196         With `lock`, an explanation why the working tree is locked.
 197
 198 <worktree>::
 199         Working trees can be identified by path, either relative or
 200         absolute.
 201 +
 202 If the last path components in the working tree's path is unique among
 203 working trees, it can be used to identify worktrees. For example if
 204 you only have two working trees, at "/abc/def/ghi" and "/abc/def/ggg",
 205 then "ghi" or "def/ghi" is enough to point to the former working tree.
 206
 207 DETAILS
 208 -------
 209 Each linked working tree has a private sub-directory in the repository's
 210 $GIT_DIR/worktrees directory.  The private sub-directory's name is usually
 211 the base name of the linked working tree's path, possibly appended with a
 212 number to make it unique.  For example, when `$GIT_DIR=/path/main/.git` the
 213 command `git worktree add /path/other/test-next next` creates the linked
 214 working tree in `/path/other/test-next` and also creates a
 215 `$GIT_DIR/worktrees/test-next` directory (or `$GIT_DIR/worktrees/test-next1`
 216 if `test-next` is already taken).
 217
 218 Within a linked working tree, $GIT_DIR is set to point to this private
 219 directory (e.g. `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next` in the example) and
 220 $GIT_COMMON_DIR is set to point back to the main working tree's $GIT_DIR
 221 (e.g. `/path/main/.git`). These settings are made in a `.git` file located at
 222 the top directory of the linked working tree.
 223
 224 Path resolution via `git rev-parse --git-path` uses either
 225 $GIT_DIR or $GIT_COMMON_DIR depending on the path. For example, in the
 226 linked working tree `git rev-parse --git-path HEAD` returns
 227 `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next/HEAD` (not
 228 `/path/other/test-next/.git/HEAD` or `/path/main/.git/HEAD`) while `git
 229 rev-parse --git-path refs/heads/master` uses
 230 $GIT_COMMON_DIR and returns `/path/main/.git/refs/heads/master`,
 231 since refs are shared across all working trees.
 232
 233 See linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] for more information. The rule of
 234 thumb is do not make any assumption about whether a path belongs to
 235 $GIT_DIR or $GIT_COMMON_DIR when you need to directly access something
 236 inside $GIT_DIR. Use `git rev-parse --git-path` to get the final path.
 237
 238 If you manually move a linked working tree, you need to update the 'gitdir' file
 239 in the entry's directory. For example, if a linked working tree is moved
 240 to `/newpath/test-next` and its `.git` file points to
 241 `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next`, then update
 242 `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next/gitdir` to reference `/newpath/test-next`
 243 instead.
 244
 245 To prevent a $GIT_DIR/worktrees entry from being pruned (which
 246 can be useful in some situations, such as when the
 247 entry's working tree is stored on a portable device), use the
 248 `git worktree lock` command, which adds a file named
 249 'locked' to the entry's directory. The file contains the reason in
 250 plain text. For example, if a linked working tree's `.git` file points
 251 to `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next` then a file named
 252 `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next/locked` will prevent the
 253 `test-next` entry from being pruned.  See
 254 linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] for details.
 255
 256 LIST OUTPUT FORMAT
 257 ------------------
 258 The worktree list command has two output formats.  The default format shows the
 259 details on a single line with columns.  For example:
 260
 261 ------------
 262 $ git worktree list
 263 /path/to/bare-source            (bare)
 264 /path/to/linked-worktree        abcd1234 [master]
 265 /path/to/other-linked-worktree  1234abc  (detached HEAD)
 266 ------------
 267
 268 Porcelain Format
 269 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 270 The porcelain format has a line per attribute.  Attributes are listed with a
 271 label and value separated by a single space.  Boolean attributes (like 'bare'
 272 and 'detached') are listed as a label only, and are only present if and only
 273 if the value is true.  An empty line indicates the end of a worktree.  For
 274 example:
 275
 276 ------------
 277 $ git worktree list --porcelain
 278 worktree /path/to/bare-source
 279 bare
 280
 281 worktree /path/to/linked-worktree
 282 HEAD abcd1234abcd1234abcd1234abcd1234abcd1234
 283 branch refs/heads/master
 284
 285 worktree /path/to/other-linked-worktree
 286 HEAD 1234abc1234abc1234abc1234abc1234abc1234a
 287 detached
 288
 289 ------------
 290
 291 EXAMPLES
 292 --------
 293 You are in the middle of a refactoring session and your boss comes in and
 294 demands that you fix something immediately. You might typically use
 295 linkgit:git-stash[1] to store your changes away temporarily, however, your
 296 working tree is in such a state of disarray (with new, moved, and removed
 297 files, and other bits and pieces strewn around) that you don't want to risk
 298 disturbing any of it. Instead, you create a temporary linked working tree to
 299 make the emergency fix, remove it when done, and then resume your earlier
 300 refactoring session.
 301
 302 ------------
 303 $ git worktree add -b emergency-fix ../temp master
 304 $ pushd ../temp
 305 # ... hack hack hack ...
 306 $ git commit -a -m 'emergency fix for boss'
 307 $ popd
 308 $ git worktree remove ../temp
 309 ------------
 310
 311 BUGS
 312 ----
 313 Multiple checkout in general is still experimental, and the support
 314 for submodules is incomplete. It is NOT recommended to make multiple
 315 checkouts of a superproject.
 316
 317 GIT
 318 ---
 319 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite