🌳 Grove

A simple CLI tool for managing git worktrees. Create isolated worktrees with automatic environment setup—perfect for running multiple AI coding assistants on different branches simultaneously.

Why Grove?

Git worktrees let you have multiple branches checked out at once in separate directories. Grove makes this effortless:

• Parallel AI sessions: Run Claude Code, Cursor, or Copilot on different features at the same time
• Zero-stash workflow: Start a bugfix without stashing your current work
• Automatic setup: Copies your .env files and installs dependencies
• Smart detection: Auto-detects npm, pnpm, yarn, or bun

Installation

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/donkoko/grove/main/install.sh | bash

Homebrew support coming soon.

Enable auto-cd (recommended)

After installation, enable the shell integration to automatically cd into new worktrees:

Zsh:

echo -e '\n# Grove - git worktree tool\nsource /usr/local/share/grove/integrations/grove.zsh' >> ~/.zshrc && source ~/.zshrc

Bash:

echo -e '\n# Grove - git worktree tool\nsource /usr/local/share/grove/integrations/grove.bash' >> ~/.bashrc && source ~/.bashrc

You can use either gwt or grove as the command name—they are interchangeable.

Usage

# Checkout an existing branch
gwt feature/auth                    # → .worktrees/auth

# Custom folder name
gwt feature/auth -f login           # → .worktrees/login

# Create a new branch from main
gwt -n feature/new-thing            # → .worktrees/new-thing

# Create a new branch from specific base
gwt -n feature/new-thing develop    # → .worktrees/new-thing (from develop)

# Skip dependency installation
gwt feature/auth -s
gwt feature/auth --skip

Options

Flag	Description
-n	Create a new branch instead of checking out existing
-f <name>	Custom folder name (default: branch name without prefix)
-l, --link	Symlink env files instead of copying
-s, --skip	Skip dependency installation
-h, --help	Show help message
-v, --version	Show version

Configuration

Set these environment variables in your shell config:

# Change worktrees directory (default: .worktrees)
export GWT_DIR=".trees"

# Change which env files get copied (default: .env .env.local)
export GWT_ENV_FILES=".env .env.local .env.development"

# Always skip dependency installation (default: 0)
export GWT_SKIP_INSTALL=1

# Always symlink env files instead of copying (default: 0)
export GWT_LINK_ENV=1

# Copy additional files/folders to each worktree
export GWT_COPY_PATHS=".cert .config/local"

How It Works

When you run gwt feature/auth:

1. Creates .worktrees/auth with that branch checked out
2. Adds .worktrees/ to .gitignore (if not already there)
3. Copies your .env files from the main repo (use -l to symlink instead)
4. Switches to your nvm default node version (if using nvm)
5. Runs npm install (or pnpm/yarn/bun based on lockfile)
6. cd's you into the new worktree (if shell integration is enabled)

All worktrees share the same .git history, so commits in one are immediately visible in others.

Subcommands

Command	Description
gwt list	List all worktrees
gwt remove	Interactively multi-select worktrees to remove
gwt remove <name...>	Remove one or more worktrees by name
gwt remove <name...> --force	Force remove dirty worktrees
gwt update	Update grove to the latest version
gwt help	Show help message

Example Workflow

# Start in your main repo (stays on main)
cd ~/projects/my-app

# Terminal 1: Start Claude Code on a feature
gwt -n feature/new-api
claude

# Terminal 2: Start another session on a bugfix
cd ~/projects/my-app
gwt bugfix/login-issue  
claude

# Both work in parallel without conflicts!

Project Structure

my-app/
├── .git/
├── .gitignore              # Grove adds .worktrees/ here
├── .worktrees/             # Your worktrees live here
│   ├── feature-a/          # Each is a full working copy
│   ├── bugfix-123/
│   └── experiment/
├── .env                    # Copied into each worktree
├── .env.local
└── src/

Uninstall

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/donkoko/grove/main/uninstall.sh | bash

Don't forget to remove the source line from your shell config.

License

MIT

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Grove is made for developers who juggle multiple tasks. Happy hacking! 🌳