git-worm

Git WORktree Manager

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/916af237-e959-43fc-9046-067929ad874f

A better git worktree manager. Built with Xclif.

Why?

git worktree is powerful but raw. git-worm adds:

• Automatic file management — gitignored files (.env, .venv, node_modules, etc.) are copied into new worktrees so switching feels like git switch
• Smart package manager detection — pnpm/bun/Yarn PnP users don't get unnecessary node_modules copies
• Nice UI — Rich-formatted output, tree views, colored status. You can also create multiple worktrees in one command!

Install

Requires Python 3.12+

pip install git-worm

Or with uv:

uv tool install git-worm

Usage

Because of Xclif, git-worm automatically gets a very nice-looking help page

# Create a new worktree (copies .env, .venv, etc. automatically)
git worm new feat-login

# Create from a specific ref
git worm new feat-login --from-ref main

# List all worktrees
git worm list

# Print worktree path
git worm switch feat-login

# Remove a worktree
git worm rm feat-login

# Remove even if dirty
git worm rm feat-login --force

# Shell integration (add to .bashrc/.zshrc)
eval "$(git-worm shell-init)"
# Then: worm switch feat-login  (auto-cds)

Shell integration

git-worm shell-init outputs a worm shell function that wraps git-worm. This is needed because worm switch needs to cd into the worktree directory, which a plain subprocess can't do. All other commands are forwarded to git-worm as-is.

Add this to your .bashrc or .zshrc:

eval "$(git-worm shell-init)"

Then use worm instead of git-worm:

worm new feat-login
worm switch feat-login  # cds into the worktree
worm list

Configuration

Optional .git-worm.toml in your repo root:

[settings]
worktree_dir = ".worktrees"  # default
post_create = ["bun install"]

[[share]]
path = ".env*"
strategy = "copy"

[[share]]
path = "node_modules"
strategy = "ignore"

[[share]]
path = "target"
strategy = "symlink"

Strategies: copy, reflink (COW, falls back to copy), symlink, ignore.

When a config file is present, share rules replace the default behavior entirely.

Post-create hooks

The post_create array runs shell commands in the new worktree after it's created. This is useful for setting up dependencies when node_modules is skipped:

[settings]
post_create = ["pnpm install", "cargo fetch"]

If no post_create hook is configured and node_modules was skipped, git-worm prints a hint with the detected install command.

Default Behavior (no config)

1. All gitignored files/dirs are detected
2. .git/ and .worktrees/ are excluded
3. Files are plain-copied, directories are reflinked (with copy fallback)
4. node_modules/ is skipped if pnpm, bun, or Yarn PnP is detected

License

Public Domain