Claude Command: Merge Worktree

Your job is to help users merge changes from git worktrees into their current branch, supporting multiple merge strategies from simple file checkout to selective cherry-picking.

Instructions

CRITICAL: Perform the following steps exactly as described:

1. Current state check: Run git worktree list to show all existing worktrees and git status to verify working directory state

2. Parse user input: Determine what merge operation the user wants:

   • --interactive or no arguments: Guided interactive mode
   • File/directory path: Merge specific file(s) or directory from a worktree
   • Commit name: Cherry-pick a specific commit
   • Branch name: Merge from that branch's worktree
   • --from <worktree>: Specify source worktree explicitly
   • --patch or -p: Use interactive patch selection mode

3. Determine source worktree/branch:
   a. If user specified --from <worktree>: Use that worktree path directly
   b. If user specified a branch name: Find worktree for that branch from git worktree list
   c. If only one other worktree exists: Ask to confirm using it as source
   d. If multiple worktrees exist: Present list and ask user which to merge from
   e. If no other worktrees exist: Explain and offer to use branch-based merge instead

4. Determine merge strategy: Present options based on user's needs:

   Strategy A: Selective File Checkout (for specific files/directories)

   • Best for: Getting complete file(s) from another branch
   • Command: git checkout <branch> -- <path>

   Strategy B: Interactive Patch Selection (for partial file changes)

   • Best for: Selecting specific hunks/lines from a file
   • Command: git checkout -p <branch> -- <path>
   • Prompts user for each hunk: y (apply), n (skip), s (split), e (edit)

   Strategy C: Cherry-Pick with Selective Staging (for specific commits)

   • Best for: Applying a commit but excluding some changes
   • Steps:
     1. git cherry-pick --no-commit <commit>
     2. Review staged changes
     3. git reset HEAD -- <unwanted-files> to unstage
     4. git checkout -- <unwanted-files> to discard
     5. git commit -m "message"

   Strategy D: Manual Merge with Conflicts (for complex merges)

   • Best for: Full branch merge with control over resolution
   • Steps:
     1. git merge --no-commit <branch>
     2. Review all changes
     3. Selectively stage/unstage files
     4. Resolve conflicts if any
     5. git commit -m "message"

   Strategy E: Multi-Worktree Selective Merge (combining from multiple sources)

   • Best for: Taking different files from different worktrees
   • Steps:
     1. git checkout <branch1> -- <path1>
     2. git checkout <branch2> -- <path2>
     3. git commit -m "Merge selected files from multiple branches"

5. Execute the selected strategy:

   • Run pre-merge comparison if user wants to review (suggest /git:compare-worktrees first)
   • Execute git commands for the chosen strategy
   • Handle any conflicts that arise
   • Confirm changes before final commit

6. Post-merge summary: Display what was merged:

   • Files changed/added/removed
   • Source worktree/branch
   • Merge strategy used

7. Cleanup prompt: After successful merge, ask:

   • "Would you like to remove any worktrees to clean up local state?"
   • If yes: List worktrees and ask which to remove
   • Execute git worktree remove <path> for selected worktrees
   • Remind about git worktree prune if needed

Merge Strategies Reference

Strategy	Use When	Command Pattern
Selective File	Need complete file(s) from another branch	git checkout <branch> -- <path>
Interactive Patch	Need specific changes within a file	git checkout -p <branch> -- <path>
Cherry-Pick Selective	Need a commit but not all its changes	git cherry-pick --no-commit + selective staging
Manual Merge	Full branch merge with control	git merge --no-commit + selective staging
Multi-Source	Combining files from multiple branches	Multiple git checkout <branch> -- <path>

Examples

Merge single file from worktree:

> /git:merge-worktree src/app.js --from ../project-feature
# Prompts for merge strategy
# Executes: git checkout feature-branch -- src/app.js

Interactive patch selection:

> /git:merge-worktree src/utils.js --patch
# Lists available worktrees to select from
# Runs: git checkout -p feature-branch -- src/utils.js
# User selects hunks interactively (y/n/s/e)

Cherry-pick specific commit:

> /git:merge-worktree abc1234
# Detects commit hash
# Asks: Apply entire commit or selective?
# If selective: git cherry-pick --no-commit abc1234
# Then guides through unstaging unwanted changes

Merge from multiple worktrees:

> /git:merge-worktree --interactive
# "Select files to merge from different worktrees:"
# "From feature-1: src/moduleA.js"
# "From feature-2: src/moduleB.js, src/moduleC.js"
# Executes selective checkouts from each

Full guided mode:

> /git:merge-worktree
# Lists all worktrees
# Asks what to merge (files, commits, or branches)
# Guides through appropriate strategy
# Offers cleanup at end

Directory merge with conflicts:

> /git:merge-worktree src/components/ --from ../project-refactor
# Strategy D: Manual merge with conflicts
# git merge --no-commit refactor-branch
# Helps resolve any conflicts
# Reviews and commits selected changes

Interactive Patch Mode Guide

When using --patch or Strategy B, the user sees prompts for each change hunk:

@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ function processData(input) {
   const result = transform(input);
+  // Added validation
+  if (!isValid(result)) throw new Error('Invalid');
   return result;
 }
Apply this hunk? [y,n,q,a,d,s,e,?]

Key	Action
y	Apply this hunk
n	Skip this hunk
q	Quit (don't apply this or remaining hunks)
a	Apply this and all remaining hunks
d	Don't apply this or remaining hunks in this file
s	Split into smaller hunks
e	Manually edit the hunk
?	Show help

Cherry-Pick Selective Workflow

For Strategy C (cherry-picking with selective staging):

# 1. Apply commit without committing
git cherry-pick --no-commit abc1234

# 2. Check what was staged
git status

# 3. Unstage files you don't want
git reset HEAD -- path/to/unwanted.js

# 4. Discard changes to those files
git checkout -- path/to/unwanted.js

# 5. Commit the remaining changes
git commit -m "Cherry-pick selected changes from abc1234"

Multi-Worktree Merge Workflow

For Strategy E (merging from multiple worktrees):

# Get files from different branches
git checkout feature-auth -- src/auth/login.js src/auth/session.js
git checkout feature-api -- src/api/endpoints.js
git checkout feature-ui -- src/components/Header.js

# Review all changes
git status
git diff --cached

# Commit combined changes
git commit -m "feat: combine auth, API, and UI improvements from feature branches"

Common Workflows

Take a Feature File Without Full Merge

> /git:merge-worktree src/new-feature.js --from ../project-feature
# Gets just the file, not the entire branch

Partial Bugfix from Hotfix Branch

> /git:merge-worktree --patch src/utils.js --from ../project-hotfix
# Select only the specific bug fix hunks, not all changes

Combine Multiple PRs' Changes

> /git:merge-worktree --interactive
# Select specific files from PR-1 worktree
# Select other files from PR-2 worktree
# Combine into single coherent commit

Pre-Merge Review

# First review what will be merged
> /git:compare-worktrees src/module.js
# Then merge with confidence
> /git:merge-worktree src/module.js --from ../project-feature

Important Notes

• Working directory state: Always ensure your working directory is clean before merging. Uncommitted changes can cause conflicts.

• Pre-merge review: Consider using /git:compare-worktrees before merging to understand what changes will be applied.

• Conflict resolution: If conflicts occur during merge, the command will help identify and resolve them before committing.

• No-commit flag: Most strategies use --no-commit to give you control over the final commit message and what gets included.

• Shared repository: All worktrees share the same Git object database, so commits made in any worktree are immediately visible to cherry-pick from any other.

• Branch locks: Remember that branches can only be checked out in one worktree at a time. Use branch names for merge operations rather than creating duplicate worktrees.

Cleanup After Merge

After merging, consider cleaning up worktrees that are no longer needed:

# List worktrees
git worktree list

# Remove specific worktree (clean state required)
git worktree remove ../project-feature

# Force remove (discards uncommitted changes)
git worktree remove --force ../project-feature

# Clean up stale worktree references
git worktree prune

The command will prompt you about cleanup after each successful merge to help maintain a tidy workspace.

Troubleshooting

"Cannot merge: working directory has uncommitted changes"

• Commit or stash your current changes first
• Or use git stash before merge, git stash pop after

"Merge conflict in "

• The command will show conflicted files
• Open files and resolve conflicts (look for <<<<<<< markers)
• Stage resolved files with git add <file>
• Continue with git commit

"Commit not found" when cherry-picking

• Ensure the commit hash is correct
• Run git log <branch> in any worktree to find commits
• Commits are shared across all worktrees

"Cannot checkout: file exists in working tree"

• File has local modifications
• Either commit, stash, or discard local changes first
• Then retry the merge operation

"Branch not found for worktree"

• The specified worktree may have been removed
• Run git worktree list to see current worktrees
• Use git worktree prune to clean up stale references

Integration with Other Commands

Pre-merge review:

> /git:compare-worktrees src/
> /git:merge-worktree src/specific-file.js

Create worktree, merge, cleanup:

> /git:create-worktree feature-branch
> /git:compare-worktrees src/
> /git:merge-worktree src/module.js --from ../project-feature-branch
# After merge, cleanup is offered automatically