worktree-detection

name	worktree-detection
description	How to find a Git worktree by task number without hardcoding paths. Use in hooks or scripts that need to locate a specific task's worktree.

Worktree Detection

Reference snippet for locating a task's Git worktree from its task number, without hardcoding paths.

When to Use

• Inside a hook or script that must act on a specific task's worktree.
• Any time you'd otherwise hardcode a /tmp/... worktree path.

Pattern

TASK_NUM="TASK-005"

WORKTREE=$(git worktree list --porcelain \
  | grep "^worktree " \
  | awk '{print $2}' \
  | grep -i "${TASK_NUM}" \
  | head -1)

if [ -z "$WORKTREE" ] || [ ! -d "$WORKTREE" ]; then
  echo "No worktree found for ${TASK_NUM} — skipping"
  exit 0
fi

Why this works

git worktree list reads from Git's internal registry — it knows every worktree regardless of where it was created. No assumptions about directory structure or machine-specific paths.

Extracting TASK_NUM from agent variables

TASK_NUM=$(echo "$TASK_OWNER $TASK_SUBJECT" | grep -oP 'TASK-\d+' | head -1)

Works whether the task number appears in the owner field or the subject line.

Red Flags

• A hardcoded /tmp/... worktree path instead of querying git worktree list.
• Assuming a directory layout rather than reading Git's registry.
• Treating a missing worktree as an error instead of skipping cleanly (exit 0).

Verification

• Worktree resolved via git worktree list --porcelain, never a hardcoded path.
• A missing/absent worktree is handled (skip, don't crash).