Git Workflow

When This Skill Activates

• Starting feature work that needs branch isolation
• Creating, switching, or removing worktrees
• Completing a development branch (merge, PR, preserve, discard)
• /shipyard:worktree command invoked

Natural Language Triggers

• "create branch", "commit this", "merge branch", "start feature", "set up worktree"

Overview

Comprehensive git workflow covering the full development lifecycle: branch creation, worktree isolation, atomic commits, and branch completion.

Core principle: Systematic directory selection + safety verification + structured completion options = reliable development workflow.

Part 1: Branch and Worktree Setup

Announce at start: "I'm using the git-workflow skill to set up an isolated workspace."

Directory Selection Process

Follow this priority order:

1. Check Existing Directories

# Check in priority order
ls -d .worktrees 2>/dev/null     # Preferred (hidden)
ls -d worktrees 2>/dev/null      # Alternative

If found: Use that directory. If both exist, .worktrees wins.

2. Check CLAUDE.md

grep -i "worktree.*director" CLAUDE.md 2>/dev/null

If preference specified: Use it without asking.

3. Ask User

If no directory exists and no CLAUDE.md preference:

No worktree directory found. Where should I create worktrees?

1. .worktrees/ (project-local, hidden)
2. ~/.config/shipyard/worktrees/<project-name>/ (global location)

Which would you prefer?

Safety Verification

For Project-Local Directories (.worktrees or worktrees):

MUST verify directory is ignored before creating worktree:

# Check if directory is ignored (respects local, global, and system gitignore)
git check-ignore -q .worktrees 2>/dev/null || git check-ignore -q worktrees 2>/dev/null

If NOT ignored:

Fix immediately:

1. Add appropriate line to .gitignore
2. Commit the change
3. Proceed with worktree creation

Why critical: Prevents accidentally committing worktree contents to repository.

For Global Directory (~/.config/shipyard/worktrees):

No .gitignore verification needed - outside project entirely.

Creation Steps

1. Detect Project Name

project=$(basename "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)")

2. Create Worktree

# Determine full path
case $LOCATION in
  .worktrees|worktrees)
    path="$LOCATION/$BRANCH_NAME"
    ;;
  ~/.config/shipyard/worktrees/*)
    path="~/.config/shipyard/worktrees/$project/$BRANCH_NAME"
    ;;
esac

# Create worktree with new branch
git worktree add "$path" -b "$BRANCH_NAME"
cd "$path"

3. Run Project Setup

Auto-detect and run appropriate setup:

# Node.js
if [ -f package.json ]; then npm install; fi

# Rust
if [ -f Cargo.toml ]; then cargo build; fi

# Python
if [ -f requirements.txt ]; then pip install -r requirements.txt; fi
if [ -f pyproject.toml ]; then poetry install; fi

# Go
if [ -f go.mod ]; then go mod download; fi

4. Verify Clean Baseline

Run tests to ensure worktree starts clean:

# Examples - use project-appropriate command
npm test
cargo test
pytest
go test ./...

If tests fail: Report failures, ask whether to proceed or investigate.

If tests pass: Report ready.

5. Report Location

Worktree ready at <full-path>
Tests passing (<N> tests, 0 failures)
Ready to implement <feature-name>

Part 2: Atomic Commits During Development

Commit frequently and atomically:

• Each TDD cycle (test + implementation) gets its own commit
• Commit messages should be descriptive: feat: add retry logic for failed operations
• Use conventional commit prefixes: feat:, fix:, test:, refactor:, docs:
• Stage specific files, not git add -A
• Never commit secrets, credentials, or large binaries

Part 3: Branch Completion

Announce at start: "I'm using the git-workflow skill to complete this work."

Step 1: Verify Tests

Before presenting options, verify tests pass:

# Run project's test suite
npm test / cargo test / pytest / go test ./...

If tests fail:

Tests failing (<N> failures). Must fix before completing:

[Show failures]

Cannot proceed with merge/PR until tests pass.

Stop. Don't proceed to Step 2.

If tests pass: Continue to Step 2.

Step 2: Determine Base Branch

# Try common base branches
git merge-base HEAD main 2>/dev/null || git merge-base HEAD master 2>/dev/null

Or ask: "This branch split from main - is that correct?"

Step 3: Present Options

Present exactly these 4 options:

Implementation complete. What would you like to do?

1. Merge back to <base-branch> locally
2. Push and create a Pull Request
3. Keep the branch as-is (I'll handle it later)
4. Discard this work

Which option?

Don't add explanation - keep options concise.

Step 4: Execute Choice

Option 1: Merge Locally

# Switch to base branch
git checkout <base-branch>

# Pull latest
git pull

# Merge feature branch
git merge <feature-branch>

# Verify tests on merged result
<test command>

# If tests pass
git branch -d <feature-branch>

Then: Cleanup worktree (Step 5)

Option 2: Push and Create PR

# Push branch
git push -u origin <feature-branch>

# Create PR
gh pr create --title "<title>" --body "$(cat <<'EOF'
## Summary
<2-3 bullets of what changed>

## Test Plan
- [ ] <verification steps>
EOF
)"

Then: Cleanup worktree (Step 5)

Option 3: Keep As-Is

Report: "Keeping branch <name>. Worktree preserved at <path>."

Don't cleanup worktree.

Option 4: Discard

Confirm first:

This will permanently delete:
- Branch <name>
- All commits: <commit-list>
- Worktree at <path>

Type 'discard' to confirm.

Wait for exact confirmation.

If confirmed:

git checkout <base-branch>
git branch -D <feature-branch>

Then: Cleanup worktree (Step 5)

Step 5: Cleanup Worktree

For Options 1, 2, 4:

Check if in worktree:

git worktree list | grep $(git branch --show-current)

If yes:

git worktree remove <worktree-path>

For Option 3: Keep worktree.

Example: Worktree Setup Decision

Example: Branch Completion

Quick Reference

Common Mistakes

Skipping ignore verification

• Problem: Worktree contents get tracked, pollute git status
• Fix: Always use git check-ignore before creating project-local worktree

Assuming directory location

• Problem: Creates inconsistency, violates project conventions
• Fix: Follow priority: existing > CLAUDE.md > ask

Proceeding with failing tests

• Problem: Can't distinguish new bugs from pre-existing issues
• Fix: Report failures, get explicit permission to proceed

Skipping test verification before completion

• Problem: Merge broken code, create failing PR
• Fix: Always verify tests before offering options

No confirmation for discard

• Problem: Accidentally delete work
• Fix: Require typed "discard" confirmation

Red Flags

Never:

• Create worktree without verifying it's ignored (project-local)
• Skip baseline test verification
• Proceed with failing tests without asking
• Assume directory location when ambiguous
• Skip CLAUDE.md check
• Proceed with failing tests for completion
• Merge without verifying tests on result
• Delete work without confirmation
• Force-push without explicit request

Always:

• Follow directory priority: existing > CLAUDE.md > ask
• Verify directory is ignored for project-local
• Auto-detect and run project setup
• Verify clean test baseline
• Present exactly 4 completion options
• Get typed confirmation for Option 4
• Clean up worktree for Options 1 & 4 only

Integration

Called by:

• shipyard:shipyard-brainstorming - When design is approved and implementation follows
• shipyard:shipyard-executing-plans - After all tasks complete
• Any skill needing isolated workspace

Pairs with:

• shipyard:shipyard-executing-plans - Work happens in the worktree this skill creates
• shipyard:shipyard-writing-plans - Plans are executed in worktrees