> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/ahmadawais/gwtree/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Batch Creation

> Create multiple git worktrees at once for parallel development

GWTree supports creating multiple worktrees in a single command, perfect for working on multiple features or tasks simultaneously.

## Basic Usage

Provide multiple names as arguments:

```bash theme={null}
gwt feature-auth feature-api bug-fix
```

This creates three worktrees:

* `myrepo-feature-auth` with branch `feature-auth`
* `myrepo-feature-api` with branch `feature-api`
* `myrepo-bug-fix` with branch `bug-fix`

## Batch Creation Output

When creating multiple worktrees, you'll see progress for each:

```
╔═╗╦ ╦╔╦╗
║ ╦║║║ ║
╚═╝╚╩╝ ╩

┌  Create 3 Git Worktrees
│
│  ◆  Prune  git worktree prune
│  └  removes stale refs
│
│  ◆  Create  git worktree add -b "feature-auth" .../myrepo-feature-auth
│  └  /path/to/parent/myrepo-feature-auth
│
│  ◆  Install  pnpm install (myrepo-feature-auth)
│  └  dependencies installed
│
│  ◆  Create  git worktree add -b "feature-api" .../myrepo-feature-api
│  └  /path/to/parent/myrepo-feature-api
│
│  ◆  Install  pnpm install (myrepo-feature-api)
│  └  dependencies installed
│
│  ◆  Create  git worktree add -b "bug-fix" .../myrepo-bug-fix
│  └  /path/to/parent/myrepo-bug-fix
│
│  ◆  Install  pnpm install (myrepo-bug-fix)
│  └  dependencies installed
│
└  Done  Created 3 worktrees

   cd commands:
   cd ../myrepo-feature-auth
   cd ../myrepo-feature-api
   cd ../myrepo-bug-fix
```

## Batch Workflow

<Steps>
  ### Step 1: Prune Once

  GWTree runs `git worktree prune` once at the beginning to clean up stale references.

  ### Step 2: Create Each Worktree

  For each name provided:

  1. Checks if the directory already exists
  2. Handles branch name conflicts (appends `-1`, `-2`, etc.)
  3. Creates the worktree from main branch
  4. Records the worktree in global config

  ### Step 3: Install Dependencies

  If `installDeps` is enabled in config, dependencies are installed for each worktree:

  * Detects package manager from lockfiles
  * Runs install command (pnpm install, npm install, etc.)
  * Continues on errors (doesn't block other worktrees)

  ### Step 4: Open in Editor

  If an editor is configured, each worktree is opened:

  * VS Code: Opens all worktrees in separate windows
  * Cursor: Opens all worktrees in separate windows
  * Other editors: May open in single session

  ### Step 5: Summary

  Shows a summary with cd commands for all created worktrees.
</Steps>

## Handling Conflicts

### Existing Directory

If a worktree directory already exists, it's skipped:

```
│
│  ◆  Skip  myrepo-feature-auth
│  └  already exists
```

### Branch Name Conflicts

If a branch name is taken, GWTree appends a counter:

```bash theme={null}
gwt feature feature feature
# Creates branches:
# - feature
# - feature-1
# - feature-2
```

### Creation Failures

If a worktree fails to create, the batch continues:

```
│
│  ◆  Failed  myrepo-bad-name
│  └  invalid reference format
│
│  ◆  Create  git worktree add -b "good-name" .../myrepo-good-name
│  └  /path/to/parent/myrepo-good-name
```

## Silent Mode for Batch

Batch creation automatically uses saved configuration:

* No interactive prompts for uncommitted changes
* No prompts for branch switching
* No prompts for pulling from remote
* Uses saved editor and dependency preferences

This makes batch operations fast and non-blocking.

## Combine with Skip Editor

Prevent opening editors for all worktrees:

```bash theme={null}
gwt task-1 task-2 task-3 -x
```

Useful when:

* You want to set up worktrees first, then open them manually
* You're scripting worktree creation
* You're working remotely via SSH

## Use Cases

### Sprint Planning

Create worktrees for all sprint tasks:

```bash theme={null}
gwt ticket-123 ticket-124 ticket-125 ticket-126
```

### Feature Branches

Set up parallel feature development:

```bash theme={null}
gwt feature/auth feature/api feature/ui
```

### Bug Triage

Quickly create worktrees for multiple bug fixes:

```bash theme={null}
gwt bug/memory-leak bug/crash bug/ui-glitch
```

### Experimentation

Create multiple experimental branches:

```bash theme={null}
gwt exp/approach-a exp/approach-b exp/approach-c
```

## Performance Considerations

### Dependency Installation

Installing dependencies for multiple worktrees can take time:

```bash theme={null}
# With dependency installation (slower)
gwt task-1 task-2 task-3

# Disable in config for faster creation
# Then install manually later
```

See [configuration guide](/guides/configuration) to disable automatic dependency installation.

### Editor Windows

Opening many editor windows can be resource-intensive:

```bash theme={null}
# Skip editor opening for batch
gwt task-1 task-2 task-3 -x

# Then open selectively
code ../myrepo-task-1
```

## Comparison with Single Creation

| Feature             | Single Creation   | Batch Creation        |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | --------------------- |
| Interactive prompts | Yes (unless -y)   | No                    |
| Uncommitted changes | Prompts to stash  | No action             |
| Branch switching    | Prompts to switch | No action             |
| Pull from remote    | Prompts to pull   | No action             |
| Dependency install  | Based on config   | Based on config       |
| Editor opening      | Based on config   | Based on config       |
| Error handling      | Stops on error    | Continues on error    |
| Summary             | Shows cd command  | Shows all cd commands |

## Examples

### Create Three Features

```bash theme={null}
gwt feature-a feature-b feature-c
```

Output:

```
└  Done  Created 3 worktrees

   cd commands:
   cd ../myrepo-feature-a
   cd ../myrepo-feature-b
   cd ../myrepo-feature-c
```

### Create Without Editor

```bash theme={null}
gwt refactor-a refactor-b refactor-c -x
```

### Ticket-Based Workflow

```bash theme={null}
gwt JIRA-101 JIRA-102 JIRA-103
```

Creates worktrees named:

* `myrepo-JIRA-101`
* `myrepo-JIRA-102`
* `myrepo-JIRA-103`

## Next Steps

* Learn about [managing worktrees](/guides/managing-worktrees) to track and remove worktrees
* Check [merging and cleanup](/guides/merging-and-cleanup) for completing work
* Optimize your workflow with [configuration](/guides/configuration)