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Use when implementation is complete, all tests pass, and you need to decide how to integrate the work - guides completion of development work by presenting structured options for merge, PR, or cleanup
You MUST use this before any creative work - creating features, building components, adding functionality, or modifying behavior. Explores user intent, requirements and design before implementation.
Use when executing implementation plans with independent tasks in the current session
Use when you have a spec or requirements for a multi-step task, before touching code
Use when starting any conversation - establishes how to find and use skills, requiring skill invocation before ANY response including clarifying questions
Use when creating new skills, editing existing skills, or verifying skills work before deployment
Use when completing tasks, implementing major features, or before merging to verify work meets requirements
| name | finishing-a-development-branch |
| description | Use when implementation is complete, all tests pass, and you need to decide how to integrate the work - guides completion of development work by presenting structured options for merge, PR, or cleanup |
Guide completion of development work by presenting clear options and handling chosen workflow.
Core principle: Verify tests → Detect environment → Present options → Execute choice → Clean up.
Announce at start: "I'm using the finishing-a-development-branch skill to complete this work."
Before presenting options, verify tests pass:
# Run project's test suite
npm test / cargo test / pytest / go test ./...
If tests fail:
Tests failing (<N> failures). Must fix before completing:
[Show failures]
Cannot proceed with merge/PR until tests pass.
Stop. Don't proceed to Step 2.
If tests pass: Continue to Step 2.
Determine workspace state before presenting options:
GIT_DIR=$(cd "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)" 2>/dev/null && pwd -P)
GIT_COMMON=$(cd "$(git rev-parse --git-common-dir)" 2>/dev/null && pwd -P)
This determines which menu to show and how cleanup works:
| State | Menu | Cleanup |
|---|---|---|
GIT_DIR == GIT_COMMON (normal repo) | Standard 4 options | No worktree to clean up |
GIT_DIR != GIT_COMMON, named branch | Standard 4 options | Provenance-based (see Step 6) |
GIT_DIR != GIT_COMMON, detached HEAD | Reduced 3 options (no merge) | No cleanup (externally managed) |
# Try common base branches
git merge-base HEAD main 2>/dev/null || git merge-base HEAD master 2>/dev/null
Or ask: "This branch split from main - is that correct?"
Normal repo and named-branch worktree — present exactly these 4 options:
Implementation complete. What would you like to do?
1. Merge back to <base-branch> locally
2. Push and create a Pull Request
3. Keep the branch as-is (I'll handle it later)
4. Discard this work
Which option?
Detached HEAD — present exactly these 3 options:
Implementation complete. You're on a detached HEAD (externally managed workspace).
1. Push as new branch and create a Pull Request
2. Keep as-is (I'll handle it later)
3. Discard this work
Which option?
Don't add explanation - keep options concise.
# Get main repo root for CWD safety
MAIN_ROOT=$(git -C "$(git rev-parse --git-common-dir)/.." rev-parse --show-toplevel)
cd "$MAIN_ROOT"
# Merge first — verify success before removing anything
git checkout <base-branch>
git pull
git merge <feature-branch>
# Verify tests on merged result
<test command>
# Only after merge succeeds: cleanup worktree (Step 6), then delete branch
Then: Cleanup worktree (Step 6), then delete branch:
git branch -d <feature-branch>
# Push branch
git push -u origin <feature-branch>
Do NOT clean up worktree — user needs it alive to iterate on PR feedback.
Report: "Keeping branch . Worktree preserved at ."
Don't cleanup worktree.
Confirm first:
This will permanently delete:
- Branch <name>
- All commits: <commit-list>
- Worktree at <path>
Type 'discard' to confirm.
Wait for exact confirmation.
If confirmed:
MAIN_ROOT=$(git -C "$(git rev-parse --git-common-dir)/.." rev-parse --show-toplevel)
cd "$MAIN_ROOT"
Then: Cleanup worktree (Step 6), then force-delete branch:
git branch -D <feature-branch>
Only runs for Options 1 and 4. Options 2 and 3 always preserve the worktree.
GIT_DIR=$(cd "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)" 2>/dev/null && pwd -P)
GIT_COMMON=$(cd "$(git rev-parse --git-common-dir)" 2>/dev/null && pwd -P)
WORKTREE_PATH=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
If GIT_DIR == GIT_COMMON: Normal repo, no worktree to clean up. Done.
If worktree path is under .worktrees/ or worktrees/: Superpowers created this worktree — we own cleanup.
MAIN_ROOT=$(git -C "$(git rev-parse --git-common-dir)/.." rev-parse --show-toplevel)
cd "$MAIN_ROOT"
git worktree remove "$WORKTREE_PATH"
git worktree prune # Self-healing: clean up any stale registrations
Otherwise: The host environment (harness) owns this workspace. Do NOT remove it. If your platform provides a workspace-exit tool, use it. Otherwise, leave the workspace in place.
| Option | Merge | Push | Keep Worktree | Cleanup Branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Merge locally | yes | - | - | yes |
| 2. Create PR | - | yes | yes | - |
| 3. Keep as-is | - | - | yes | - |
| 4. Discard | - | - | - | yes (force) |
Skipping test verification
Open-ended questions
Cleaning up worktree for Option 2
Deleting branch before removing worktree
git branch -d fails because worktree still references the branchRunning git worktree remove from inside the worktree
cd to main repo root before git worktree removeCleaning up harness-owned worktrees
.worktrees/ or worktrees/No confirmation for discard
Never:
git worktree remove from inside the worktreeAlways:
cd to main repo root before worktree removalgit worktree prune after removal