skill-finish-branch

Finishing a Development Branch

Your first output line MUST be: 🐙 **CLAUDE OCTOPUS ACTIVATED** - Branch Completion

Overview

Guide completion of development work with clear options and safe execution.

Core principle: Verify tests → Present options → Execute choice → Clean up.

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The Process

Step 1: Verify Tests Pass

Before presenting options, verify tests pass:

# Run project's test suite
npm test        # JavaScript/TypeScript
pytest          # Python
cargo test      # Rust
go test ./...   # Go

If tests fail:

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

[Show failures]

Cannot proceed with merge/PR until tests pass.

STOP. Do not proceed to Step 2.

If tests pass: Continue to Step 2.

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Step 2: Determine Base Branch

# Identify the base branch
git merge-base HEAD main 2>/dev/null || \
git merge-base HEAD master 2>/dev/null || \
git merge-base HEAD develop 2>/dev/null

If unclear, ask: "This branch split from main - is that correct?"

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Step 3: Present Options

Present exactly these 4 options:

✅ Implementation complete. Tests passing. What would you like to do?

1. **Merge locally** - Merge back to <base-branch> on this machine
2. **Create PR** - Push and create a Pull Request for review
3. **Keep as-is** - Leave the branch, I'll handle it later
4. **Discard** - Delete this work permanently

Which option? (1-4)

Keep options concise. Don't add explanations unless asked.

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Step 4: Execute Choice

Option 1: Merge Locally

# Get current branch name
FEATURE_BRANCH=$(git branch --show-current)
BASE_BRANCH="main"  # or detected base

# Switch to base branch
git checkout $BASE_BRANCH

# Pull latest
git pull origin $BASE_BRANCH

# Merge feature branch
git merge $FEATURE_BRANCH

# Verify tests on merged result
npm test  # or appropriate test command

# If tests pass, delete feature branch
git branch -d $FEATURE_BRANCH

Report:

✅ Merged $FEATURE_BRANCH into $BASE_BRANCH
✅ Tests pass on merged result
✅ Feature branch deleted

Ready to push when you want: git push origin $BASE_BRANCH

---

Option 2: Create PR

# Get branch info
FEATURE_BRANCH=$(git branch --show-current)

# Push branch
git push -u origin $FEATURE_BRANCH

# Create PR with description
gh pr create \
  --title "feat: [description]" \
  --body "$(cat <<'EOF'
## Summary
- [What changed]
- [Why it changed]

## Test Plan
- [x] Unit tests pass
- [x] Manual verification done
- [ ] Code review needed
EOF
)"

Report:

✅ Branch pushed to origin/$FEATURE_BRANCH
✅ PR created: https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/123

Branch preserved for review process.

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Option 3: Keep As-Is

✅ Keeping branch $FEATURE_BRANCH as-is.

Current state:
- Branch: $FEATURE_BRANCH
- Commits ahead of $BASE_BRANCH: N
- Tests: Passing

When ready, you can:
- Merge: git checkout main && git merge $FEATURE_BRANCH
- PR: git push -u origin $FEATURE_BRANCH && gh pr create
- Discard: git branch -D $FEATURE_BRANCH

Do NOT clean up anything.

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Option 4: Discard

Confirm first (REQUIRED):

⚠️ This will PERMANENTLY delete:
- Branch: $FEATURE_BRANCH
- All commits:
  - abc1234 feat: add user validation
  - def5678 fix: handle edge case
  - ghi9012 test: add integration tests

Type 'discard' to confirm, or anything else to cancel.

Wait for exact confirmation: discard

If confirmed:

# Switch to base branch first
git checkout $BASE_BRANCH

# Force delete the feature branch
git branch -D $FEATURE_BRANCH

# If remote exists, delete it too (with confirmation)
git push origin --delete $FEATURE_BRANCH 2>/dev/null || true

Report:

✅ Branch $FEATURE_BRANCH deleted locally
✅ Remote branch deleted (if existed)

Work has been permanently discarded.

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Step 5: Cleanup (If Using Worktrees)

For Options 1, 2, 4: Check if in a worktree and clean up:

# Check if current directory is a worktree
if git worktree list | grep -q "$(pwd)"; then
  # Get worktree path
  WORKTREE_PATH=$(pwd)
  
  # Switch to main worktree
  cd $(git worktree list | head -1 | awk '{print $1}')
  
  # Remove the worktree
  git worktree remove "$WORKTREE_PATH"
  
  echo "✅ Worktree cleaned up"
fi

For Option 3: Keep worktree intact.

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Quick Reference

Option	Merge	Push	Keep Branch	Cleanup
1. Merge locally	✓	-	Delete	✓
2. Create PR	-	✓	Keep	-
3. Keep as-is	-	-	Keep	-
4. Discard	-	-	Delete	✓

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Integration with Claude Octopus

After completing octopus workflows, use this skill:

# After tangle (develop) phase completes successfully
# After ink (deliver) phase validates the work

# User says: "I'm done, create a PR"
# → Invoke finishing-branch skill
# → Verify tests
# → Present options
# → Execute Option 2 (Create PR)

With Octopus Validation

# Run octopus validation before finishing
${HOME}/.claude-octopus/plugin/scripts/orchestrate.sh ink "Validate before merge"

# If validation passes, proceed with finishing-branch

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Red Flags - Never Do

Action	Why It's Dangerous
Merge without testing	Ships broken code
Skip confirmation for discard	Loses work permanently
Force-push without asking	Destroys history
Delete remote branch silently	Affects collaborators
Proceed when tests fail	Corrupts main branch

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Common Mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Offering options before testing	Always verify tests FIRST
Auto-merging without asking	Present 4 options, let user choose
Deleting without confirmation	Require typed "discard"
Cleaning up worktree on "keep"	Only cleanup for options 1, 2, 4

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The Bottom Line

Finishing branch → Tests verified AND user chose option
Otherwise → Not complete

Verify tests. Present options. Execute safely. Clean up appropriately.