Working with worktrees

A git worktree is a second checkout of the same repository, on its own branch, in its own folder. With worktrees, two agents can work on two topics at the same time without changing each other’s files.

SimpleEdit is built for this layout. This guide shows how to set it up and how to move between worktrees.

The layout

SimpleEdit works best with a bare repository and one worktree per topic:

myproject.git/          ← bare repository
myproject-main/         ← main worktree
myproject-late-fees/    ← one agent works here
myproject-export/       ← another agent, another branch

To get this layout, select Checkout Repository… on the welcome screen and enter the repository URL. SimpleEdit clones it as a bare repository with a main worktree. You can also open an existing bare repository with Open Repository….

One worktree per topic

Use one worktree for each topic. Keep a whole stack of PRs for one topic in the same worktree.

Agents in different worktrees never touch each other’s files.
You can review one branch while an agent still works on another.
When a topic is merged, remove its worktree.

Create and switch worktrees

The workspace header of each session has a worktree picker. It shows the worktree the workspace is viewing, for example late-fees (feat/late-fees).

Select the worktree picker.
Select a worktree in the list to view it.
To make a worktree for a new branch, select Create new branch, type the name in the branch-name field and confirm.
To make a worktree for a branch that already exists, select Check out existing branch, find it with Filter branches… and select it.
To delete a worktree, select Remove worktree next to it.

A new worktree opens in the session right away.

Each session has its own view: switching the worktree in one session does not change the others.

Let the agent move you

Agent sessions start in the project folder, next to the bare repository. This way all sessions of a project share one Claude memory (see Claude memory).

When the agent changes into a worktree, the workspace follows it: the file tree, the git log and the diffs switch to that worktree. If you have the viewer open, your view stays where it is.

You can also ask the agent directly:

“Make a worktree for the export feature and work there.”
“Switch my view to the worktree for the late fees.”

Work across repositories

The repository picker next to the worktree picker lists every repository this agent has worked in. That includes a sibling repository where the agent only read or changed a file. Select one to view it. Looking into another repository never moves your view on its own.

Review a worktree’s branch

To review what an agent did on its branch, ask it: “Ask me to review this branch.” The review opens in the Review Room as a tab in that session. See Reviewing plans with SimpleEdit for how a branch review works.