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 and `remove` refuses to remove an unclean
 124         working tree. This option overrides these safeguards.
 125
 126 -b <new-branch>::
 127 -B <new-branch>::
 128         With `add`, create a new branch named `<new-branch>` starting at
 129         `<commit-ish>`, and check out `<new-branch>` into the new working tree.
 130         If `<commit-ish>` is omitted, it defaults to HEAD.
 131         By default, `-b` refuses to create a new branch if it already
 132         exists. `-B` overrides this safeguard, resetting `<new-branch>` to
 133         `<commit-ish>`.
 134
 135 --detach::
 136         With `add`, detach HEAD in the new working tree. See "DETACHED HEAD"
 137         in linkgit:git-checkout[1].
 138
 139 --[no-]checkout::
 140         By default, `add` checks out `<commit-ish>`, however, `--no-checkout` can
 141         be used to suppress checkout in order to make customizations,
 142         such as configuring sparse-checkout. See "Sparse checkout"
 143         in linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
 144
 145 --[no-]guess-remote::
 146         With `worktree add <path>`, without `<commit-ish>`, instead
 147         of creating a new branch from HEAD, if there exists a tracking
 148         branch in exactly one remote matching the basename of `<path>`,
 149         base the new branch on the remote-tracking branch, and mark
 150         the remote-tracking branch as "upstream" from the new branch.
 151 +
 152 This can also be set up as the default behaviour by using the
 153 `worktree.guessRemote` config option.
 154
 155 --[no-]track::
 156         When creating a new branch, if `<commit-ish>` is a branch,
 157         mark it as "upstream" from the new branch.  This is the
 158         default if `<commit-ish>` is a remote-tracking branch.  See
 159         "--track" in linkgit:git-branch[1] for details.
 160
 161 --lock::
 162         Keep the working tree locked after creation. This is the
 163         equivalent of `git worktree lock` after `git worktree add`,
 164         but without race condition.
 165
 166 -n::
 167 --dry-run::
 168         With `prune`, do not remove anything; just report what it would
 169         remove.
 170
 171 --porcelain::
 172         With `list`, output in an easy-to-parse format for scripts.
 173         This format will remain stable across Git versions and regardless of user
 174         configuration.  See below for details.
 175
 176 -q::
 177 --quiet::
 178         With 'add', suppress feedback messages.
 179
 180 -v::
 181 --verbose::
 182         With `prune`, report all removals.
 183
 184 --expire <time>::
 185         With `prune`, only expire unused working trees older than <time>.
 186
 187 --reason <string>::
 188         With `lock`, an explanation why the working tree is locked.
 189
 190 <worktree>::
 191         Working trees can be identified by path, either relative or
 192         absolute.
 193 +
 194 If the last path components in the working tree's path is unique among
 195 working trees, it can be used to identify worktrees. For example if
 196 you only have two working trees, at "/abc/def/ghi" and "/abc/def/ggg",
 197 then "ghi" or "def/ghi" is enough to point to the former working tree.
 198
 199 DETAILS
 200 -------
 201 Each linked working tree has a private sub-directory in the repository's
 202 $GIT_DIR/worktrees directory.  The private sub-directory's name is usually
 203 the base name of the linked working tree's path, possibly appended with a
 204 number to make it unique.  For example, when `$GIT_DIR=/path/main/.git` the
 205 command `git worktree add /path/other/test-next next` creates the linked
 206 working tree in `/path/other/test-next` and also creates a
 207 `$GIT_DIR/worktrees/test-next` directory (or `$GIT_DIR/worktrees/test-next1`
 208 if `test-next` is already taken).
 209
 210 Within a linked working tree, $GIT_DIR is set to point to this private
 211 directory (e.g. `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next` in the example) and
 212 $GIT_COMMON_DIR is set to point back to the main working tree's $GIT_DIR
 213 (e.g. `/path/main/.git`). These settings are made in a `.git` file located at
 214 the top directory of the linked working tree.
 215
 216 Path resolution via `git rev-parse --git-path` uses either
 217 $GIT_DIR or $GIT_COMMON_DIR depending on the path. For example, in the
 218 linked working tree `git rev-parse --git-path HEAD` returns
 219 `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next/HEAD` (not
 220 `/path/other/test-next/.git/HEAD` or `/path/main/.git/HEAD`) while `git
 221 rev-parse --git-path refs/heads/master` uses
 222 $GIT_COMMON_DIR and returns `/path/main/.git/refs/heads/master`,
 223 since refs are shared across all working trees.
 224
 225 See linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] for more information. The rule of
 226 thumb is do not make any assumption about whether a path belongs to
 227 $GIT_DIR or $GIT_COMMON_DIR when you need to directly access something
 228 inside $GIT_DIR. Use `git rev-parse --git-path` to get the final path.
 229
 230 If you manually move a linked working tree, you need to update the 'gitdir' file
 231 in the entry's directory. For example, if a linked working tree is moved
 232 to `/newpath/test-next` and its `.git` file points to
 233 `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next`, then update
 234 `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next/gitdir` to reference `/newpath/test-next`
 235 instead.
 236
 237 To prevent a $GIT_DIR/worktrees entry from being pruned (which
 238 can be useful in some situations, such as when the
 239 entry's working tree is stored on a portable device), use the
 240 `git worktree lock` command, which adds a file named
 241 'locked' to the entry's directory. The file contains the reason in
 242 plain text. For example, if a linked working tree's `.git` file points
 243 to `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next` then a file named
 244 `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next/locked` will prevent the
 245 `test-next` entry from being pruned.  See
 246 linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] for details.
 247
 248 LIST OUTPUT FORMAT
 249 ------------------
 250 The worktree list command has two output formats.  The default format shows the
 251 details on a single line with columns.  For example:
 252
 253 ------------
 254 $ git worktree list
 255 /path/to/bare-source            (bare)
 256 /path/to/linked-worktree        abcd1234 [master]
 257 /path/to/other-linked-worktree  1234abc  (detached HEAD)
 258 ------------
 259
 260 Porcelain Format
 261 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 262 The porcelain format has a line per attribute.  Attributes are listed with a
 263 label and value separated by a single space.  Boolean attributes (like 'bare'
 264 and 'detached') are listed as a label only, and are only present if and only
 265 if the value is true.  An empty line indicates the end of a worktree.  For
 266 example:
 267
 268 ------------
 269 $ git worktree list --porcelain
 270 worktree /path/to/bare-source
 271 bare
 272
 273 worktree /path/to/linked-worktree
 274 HEAD abcd1234abcd1234abcd1234abcd1234abcd1234
 275 branch refs/heads/master
 276
 277 worktree /path/to/other-linked-worktree
 278 HEAD 1234abc1234abc1234abc1234abc1234abc1234a
 279 detached
 280
 281 ------------
 282
 283 EXAMPLES
 284 --------
 285 You are in the middle of a refactoring session and your boss comes in and
 286 demands that you fix something immediately. You might typically use
 287 linkgit:git-stash[1] to store your changes away temporarily, however, your
 288 working tree is in such a state of disarray (with new, moved, and removed
 289 files, and other bits and pieces strewn around) that you don't want to risk
 290 disturbing any of it. Instead, you create a temporary linked working tree to
 291 make the emergency fix, remove it when done, and then resume your earlier
 292 refactoring session.
 293
 294 ------------
 295 $ git worktree add -b emergency-fix ../temp master
 296 $ pushd ../temp
 297 # ... hack hack hack ...
 298 $ git commit -a -m 'emergency fix for boss'
 299 $ popd
 300 $ git worktree remove ../temp
 301 ------------
 302
 303 BUGS
 304 ----
 305 Multiple checkout in general is still experimental, and the support
 306 for submodules is incomplete. It is NOT recommended to make multiple
 307 checkouts of a superproject.
 308
 309 GIT
 310 ---
 311 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite