Worktrees

A worktree is a feature in some version control systems, most notably Git, that allows you to have multiple working directories associated with a single Git repository. Each worktree is essentially a separate checkout of the repository, with its own independent set of files and branches. This means you can be working on different branches, or even different features, simultaneously without interfering with each other.

The primary benefit of using worktrees is enhanced workflow efficiency. For example, if you are working on a feature in one branch and need to quickly address a bug in a production branch, you can create a worktree for the production branch without disrupting your current work. This avoids the need to stash or commit incomplete changes, switch branches, fix the bug, and then switch back to your feature branch. You simply switch to the other worktree.

Worktrees are managed using commands provided by the version control system. In Git, the `git worktree` command allows you to add, list, remove, and prune worktrees. When you add a new worktree, you specify a path to the new directory and the branch you want to check out there. The new worktree shares the same `.git` directory as the main repository, meaning they all point to the same commit history. However, each worktree has its own copy of the files in the working directory, allowing for independent modifications and operations. This separation ensures that changes in one worktree do not affect others until explicit synchronization actions are taken.

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