Worktrees

Parallel work on multiple branches using git worktree

What is it

Git worktrees let you work on multiple branches simultaneously, each in its own folder. In Skycode, this means the AI can work on multiple tasks in parallel across different windows.

How it works

1. Skycode creates a new git worktree (a copy of the project in a separate directory)
2. The worktree is tied to a separate branch
3. You open the worktree in a new Skycode window
4. The AI in each window works independently

Enabling

Settings → Experiments → Worktrees

After enabling, a "Worktrees" section appears in the sidebar.

Creating a worktree

1. Click "New Worktree"
2. Enter a branch name (e.g. feature/auth)
3. Enter a folder path (defaults to ../branch-name)
4. Click "Create & Open"

The worktree will open in a new window.

The .worktreeinclude file

When creating a worktree, Git only copies tracked files. Dependencies (node_modules/, .venv/, etc.) are not copied — they need to be reinstalled.

The .worktreeinclude file solves this: list folders that should be automatically copied to new worktrees.

Example

Create .worktreeinclude in the project root:

node_modules/
.venv/

Now when creating a worktree, the listed folders will be copied automatically.

Create from .gitignore

If you have a .gitignore, Skycode will offer to create .worktreeinclude based on it — click "Create from .gitignore".

Merge and deletion

• Merge — merges changes from the worktree into the main branch. Available via the worktree context menu.
• Delete — removes the worktree directory. Optionally deletes the branch too.

Warning: unpushed commits on the worktree branch will be lost on deletion.

Limitations

• Does not work in multi-folder workspaces
• Does not work if a subfolder of a git repository is opened
• Requires git 2.15+