git-wtclean

git-wtclean is a Git subcommand for cleaning linked worktrees. By default it operates on the current repository; with --all it spans every repository managed by ghq.

It uses Git's native worktree commands:

• git worktree list --porcelain -z
• git worktree remove
• git worktree remove --force
• git worktree prune

It does not delete branches.

This tool is inspired by k1LoW/git-wt, but does not depend on it.

Install

go install github.com/rokuosan/git-wtclean/cmd/git-wtclean@latest

Make sure the installed git-wtclean binary is in your PATH. Git will then expose it as:

git wtclean

Usage

By default, git wtclean operates on the repository containing the current directory. Run it outside a Git repository and it errors, suggesting --all.

Dry-run by default:

git wtclean

Remove linked worktrees:

git wtclean -d

Force remove linked worktrees:

git wtclean -D

Prune stale worktree metadata:

git wtclean --prune

Target every repository listed by ghq list -p instead of just the current one:

git wtclean --all
git wtclean --all -d
git wtclean --all --prune

Print each repository while pruning:

git wtclean --prune --verbose
git wtclean --prune -v

What It Removes

By default, git wtclean resolves the current repository and targets its linked worktrees:

git worktree list --porcelain -z

With --all, it instead iterates over every repository reported by ghq:

ghq list -p
git -C <repo> worktree list --porcelain -z

In either case, the first worktree entry is treated as the primary worktree and is skipped. Bare worktree entries are also skipped.

With -d, each target is removed with:

git -C <repo> worktree remove <path>

With -D, each target is removed with:

git -C <repo> worktree remove --force <path>

--prune runs:

git -C <repo> worktree prune

This only cleans stale Git worktree metadata, such as records left after a worktree directory was removed manually. By itself, --prune does not inspect or remove active linked worktrees. It does not remove branches.

Help

Use -h for the built-in help:

git wtclean -h

When invoked as a Git subcommand, git wtclean --help is handled by Git itself and opens the git-wtclean(1) man page if installed.

Development

This repository uses mise for tool versions and tasks.

mise run format
mise run lint

You can also run the Go checks directly:

go test ./...
go vet ./...
golangci-lint run