Frictionless Herdr worktrees

Your next workspace,
already working.

hwt removes the friction from Git worktrees. Turn a branch into a configured Herdr workspace with files copied, dependencies linked, and setup finished. The same result for you and every agent.

Create a worktree →Read the docs

hwt · coordinatorherdr

▣ opencodecoordinator

❯ Use the coordinator skill to split auth, API, and docs work.

● Creating isolated Herdr workspaces.

$ hwt create -b feat/auth --base main

Created feat/auth at ../hwt-feat-auth (workspace wA1)

$ hwt create -b feat/api --base main

Created feat/api at ../hwt-feat-api (workspace wA2)

$ hwt create -b feat/docs --base main

Created feat/docs at ../hwt-feat-docs (workspace wA3)

● Worktrees ready. Starting OpenCode in each workspace.

● Three agents working in parallel.

Select a worktree in the sidebar to switch to its agent.

~/code/hwt main · ctrl+p commands

The contract

Worktrees should start with context, not chores.

Before and after

Herdr creates the checkout.
hwt makes it ready.

Compare the same Elixir and TypeScript repository with Herdr alone or with hwt policy. Run the simulation to see custom placement, naming, and local context arrive.

Compare the checkoutWhat reaches the new worktree?

hwt create -b feature/billing

BeforeOriginal checkout~/src/acme

.git
.env.localignored
.herdr-worktree.yaml
backend
- config
  - dev.secret.exsignored
- depsignored
- lib
- mix.exs
frontend
- node_modulesignored
- package.json
- src

AfterCreated with hwt<path passed to Herdr>~/src/worktrees/acme-billing

Run the command to build this checkout.

.git
.env.localcopied
.herdr-worktree.yaml
backend
- config
  - dev.secret.exscopied
- depscloned
- lib
- mix.exs
frontend
- node_modulesoriginallinked
- package.json
- src

Tracked files arrive. Ignored local context stays behind.

Placed, named, and populated from repository policy.

Three ways to transfer context

files.copy

Direct copy

Duplicates the data. Both paths are fully independent.

Copy on write

Shares unchanged disk blocks. A changed block becomes independent.

Symlink

Creates only a pointer. Reads and writes use the original path.

^* Herdr can react to worktree.created with a plugin event hook. That requires authoring or installing a plugin and configuring its command; Herdr plugins are enabled globally for the current user rather than per repository. hwt keeps post_create alongside the repository's other worktree policy.

One command, every rule.

Apply branch naming and checkout placement, then transfer files and finish setup before handing back the workspace.

hwt create -b feat/fast-path

Built for agents.

Machine-readable output returns workspace, pane, checkout, branch, and copied-file details without screen scraping.

hwt create -b fix/race --json

Fast by policy.

Copy normally, clone on APFS, or symlink heavyweight dependencies. Choose once globally and override per repository.

copy_on_write: true

Repository policy

Describe the ready state.

Commit one small YAML file. hwt resolves it with your global defaults, validates every path, and performs the work in a predictable order.

Explore configuration →

# .herdr-worktree.yaml
agent: opencode --port
worktree_dir: ../
worktree_naming: full

files:
  copy:
    - .env.local
    - path: node_modules
      symlink: true

post_create:
  - mise install

Branch. Build. Leave the setup behind.

Install hwt with mise and create your first configured Herdr worktree.

mise use -g github:dkarter/hwt

Your next workspace,already working.