Agent skill · Jesse Vincent (obra)

Using Git Worktrees skill for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor

Sets up an isolated git worktree before feature work so the main checkout stays clean.

Communityname: using-git-worktrees★ 305k (repo)pushed 2026-10-23MITSKILL.md on GitHubchecked 2026-11-07

What it does, in the publisher's words

Use when starting feature work that needs isolation from current workspace or before executing implementation plans - ensures an isolated workspace exists via native tools or git worktree fallback

The description field of the SKILL.md. The agent reads only this at startup and decides from it when to load the full skill.

Install Using Git Worktrees

The skills CLI copies the skill into the folder of each agent you pick (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf...). Add -g for all projects. Needs Node.js 22.20+. docs

npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill using-git-worktrees

This repo is a plugin marketplace. Inside Claude Code, add it and install the plugin that holds the skill (superpowers), or copy only this skill into ~/.claude/skills. docs

/plugin marketplace add obra/superpowers
/plugin install <plugin>@superpowers-dev

# or only this skill:
npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill using-git-worktrees -a claude-code

Download the skill folder, zip it, then Customize > Skills > + > Create skill > Upload a skill. Code execution must be on (Settings > Capabilities). docs

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/obra/superpowers.git /tmp/using-git-worktrees-src
cp -r /tmp/using-git-worktrees-src/skills/using-git-worktrees ./using-git-worktrees
zip -r using-git-worktrees.zip using-git-worktrees

Codex reads skills from .agents/skills in the repo or ~/.agents/skills. Type $ in Codex to use one. docs

npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill using-git-worktrees -a codex

gh skill (GitHub CLI 2.90+, preview) installs it for Copilot in VS Code, the CLI and the cloud agent. Copilot also reads .github/skills and ~/.copilot/skills. docs

gh skill install obra/superpowers using-git-worktrees

Cursor reads .cursor/skills, .agents/skills and ~/.cursor/skills (and .claude/skills). It does not install loose skills from a GitHub URL, so copy it in. docs

npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill using-git-worktrees -a cursor

Installs from the GitHub repo; --path picks this skill out of the repo. Default scope is user (all projects). docs

gemini skills install https://github.com/obra/superpowers.git --path skills/using-git-worktrees

OpenCode reads .opencode/skills, ~/.config/opencode/skills and the Claude and .agents folders. docs

npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill using-git-worktrees -a opencode

Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) reads .devin/skills, .windsurf/skills and ~/.codeium/windsurf/skills. docs

npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill using-git-worktrees -a windsurf

Works with

Claude Code, Claude.ai and Claude Desktop, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf and other agents that read the open Agent Skills format.

What's in the SKILL.md

10 sections

Overview
Step 0: Detect Existing Isolation
Step 1: Create Isolated Workspace
1a. Native Worktree Tools (preferred)
1b. Git Worktree Fallback
Step 2: Project Setup
Step 3: Verify Clean Baseline
Report
Quick Reference
Common Rationalizations

Facts

Skill name: using-git-worktrees
Publisher: Jesse Vincent (obra) (community)
Repo: obra/superpowers
License: MIT
SKILL.md size: 853 words, 163 lines
Repo stars: 305k (as of 2026-10-24)
SKILL.md checked: 2026-11-07

More skills from obra/superpowers

Brainstorming: Makes the agent clarify goals and explore options with you before building anything new.
Requesting Code Review: Has the agent get its finished work reviewed against requirements before merging.
Subagent-Driven Development: Executes a plan by handing each task to a fresh subagent with review between steps.
Systematic Debugging: A root-cause-first process for bugs and failing tests before any fix is attempted.
Test-Driven Development: Enforces a red-green-refactor loop: write a failing test first, then the code.
Verification Before Completion: Requires running checks and showing their output before claiming work is done.
Writing Plans: Turns a spec into a detailed, step-by-step implementation plan before coding starts.
Writing Skills: Method for writing and testing new skills so they trigger and behave reliably.

Related workflow & planning skills

Skill Creator · Anthropic
GitHub: Address PR Comments · OpenAI
Skill Installer (Codex) · OpenAI
Modern Python Tooling · Trail of Bits
Commit (Sentry style) · Sentry
Notion Spec to Implementation · Notion
Git Commit · GitHub (community contributions)

FAQ

What does the using-git-worktrees skill do?+

Sets up an isolated git worktree before feature work so the main checkout stays clean. In its own SKILL.md, Jesse Vincent (obra) describes it as: "Use when starting feature work that needs isolation from current workspace or before executing implementation plans - ensures an isolated workspace exists via native tools or git worktree fallback"

How do I install the using-git-worktrees skill?+

Run npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill using-git-worktrees and pick your agents, or use the tab for your agent above. In Claude Code the skill ends up in ~/.claude/skills/using-git-worktrees/SKILL.md; in Codex and Cursor in .agents/skills/using-git-worktrees/.

Does Using Git Worktrees work in Codex, Cursor and Copilot, or only Claude?+

It's a standard SKILL.md, so any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use it: Claude Code, the Claude apps, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf and more.

Who maintains Using Git Worktrees?+

Jesse Vincent (obra) (a community project), in the obra/superpowers repo on GitHub, last pushed 2026-10-23. License: MIT.

Read a skill's SKILL.md and scripts before you install it: skills aren't verified by any agent vendor. Claude skills marketplace · How to install skills · MCP servers