workspace-isolation

Workspace Isolation

Overview

Git worktrees create isolated workspaces sharing the same repository, enabling work on multiple branches simultaneously without switching.

Core principle: Systematic directory selection + safety verification = reliable isolation.

Announce at start: "I'm applying the workspace-isolation skill to set up an isolated workspace."

The Prime Directive

NO FEATURE WORK ON THE MAIN BRANCH

No exceptions. No workarounds. No shortcuts.

When to Use

Required for:

• Feature development of any size
• Bug fixes requiring more than a single-line change
• Refactoring work
• Any task from a development plan (delegated or otherwise)
• Experimental or exploratory implementation

Not required for:

• Single-line hotfixes on main
• Documentation-only changes
• Configuration file updates (e.g., .gitignore, CLAUDE.md)
• Reading or investigating code without making changes

Cognitive Traps

Rationalization	What Is Actually True
"It's a small feature, I'll just work on main"	Small features grow. Worktrees cost seconds, broken main costs hours.
"Setting up a worktree takes too long"	Worktree creation is faster than untangling work mixed into main.
"I'll create a branch later when it's ready"	Working on main means every mistake is on main. Branch first.
"The worktree setup failed, I'll skip it"	Fix the setup issue. Do not proceed on main as a workaround.
"I'm just prototyping, it doesn't matter"	Prototypes on main become accidental commits. Isolate always.

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 takes precedence.

2. Check CLAUDE.md

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

If preference is 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/godmode/worktrees/<project-name>/ (global location)

Which do you prefer?

Safety Verification

For Project-Local Directories (.worktrees or worktrees)

MUST verify the directory is ignored before creating the 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 it immediately:

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

Why critical: Prevents accidentally committing worktree contents to the repository.

For Global Directory (~/.config/godmode/worktrees)

No .gitignore verification needed -- outside the 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/$BRANCH_NAME"
    ;;
  ~/.config/godmode/worktrees/*)
    path="~/.config/godmode/worktrees/$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 the 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 the worktree starts clean:

# Examples - use the 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>

Quick Reference

Situation	Action
.worktrees/ exists	Use it (verify ignored)
worktrees/ exists	Use it (verify ignored)
Both exist	Use .worktrees/
Neither exists	Check CLAUDE.md -> Ask user
Directory not ignored	Add to .gitignore + commit
Tests fail during baseline	Report failures + ask
No package.json/Cargo.toml	Skip dependency install

Common Mistakes

Skipping ignore verification

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

Assuming directory location

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

Proceeding with failing tests

• Problem: Cannot distinguish new defects from pre-existing issues
• Fix: Report failures, get explicit permission to proceed

Hardcoding setup commands

• Problem: Breaks on projects using different tooling
• Fix: Auto-detect from project files (package.json, etc.)

Example Workflow

You: I'm applying the workspace-isolation skill to set up an isolated workspace.

[Check .worktrees/ - exists]
[Verify ignored - git check-ignore confirms .worktrees/ is ignored]
[Create worktree: git worktree add .worktrees/auth -b feature/auth]
[Run npm install]
[Run npm test - 47 passing]

Worktree ready at /home/user/myproject/.worktrees/auth
Tests passing (47 tests, 0 failures)
Ready to implement auth feature

Guardrails

Never:

• Create a worktree without verifying it is ignored (project-local)
• Skip baseline test verification
• Proceed with failing tests without asking
• Assume directory location when ambiguous
• Skip CLAUDE.md check

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

Connections

Called by:

• delegated-execution - REQUIRED before executing any tasks
• task-runner - REQUIRED before executing any tasks
• task-planning - Plan assumes worktree is active
• Any skill needing isolated workspace

Pairs with:

• merge-protocol - REQUIRED for cleanup after work is complete