git worktree add is the easy part. .env files, node_modules,
build caches, install scripts — that's where every team gives up. Grove automates it.
$ grove create feature/auth Creating worktree at ./worktrees/auth ✓ git worktree created ✓ copied 2 .env file(s) ✓ symlinked node_modules ✓ afterCreate done (3.2s) Worktree "auth" ready · port 3487. cd $(grove cd auth)
$ grove list ALIAS BRANCH PORT STATE main main 3000 clean auth feature/auth 3487 clean payments feature/payments 3612 dirty review-42 pr-42-fix-sidebar 3721 clean
$ grove review 42 Fetching PR #42 "Fix sidebar overflow" by @alice ✓ fetched via gh ✓ worktree created ✓ envs + symlinks + afterCreate done Ready · port 3721. cd $(grove cd review-42)
Worktrees are almost perfect for parallel branches. Almost.
git worktree add
.env files missingnode_modules, full reinstallgrove create
.env* copied recursivelynode_modules symlinked.next/dist warm-copiedafterCreate hook runs.groverc.jsongit worktree add should've done.Nine behaviors. Together they turn "possible" into "default".
node_modulesNo reinstall per worktree. Grove symlinks configured directories from the main tree. grove detach breaks the link when branches diverge.
Every worktree gets a stable port derived from its alias hash — same alias, same port, every time. Exposed as $GROVE_PORT in your setup script.
.env copyWalks the project recursively and copies every .env* to the new worktree, preserving directory structure.
copyDirs)Copy .next, dist, target into new worktrees for a warm start instead of a cold rebuild.
grove review 42 checks out a GitHub PR into a ready-to-run worktree via gh.
afterCreate hooksOne command or an array. Fail-fast, with $GROVE_ALIAS/BRANCH/PORT/PATH in scope.
grove adopt registers outside worktrees. grove doctor finds stale state.
Save any .groverc.json as a reusable template. grove init --template nextjs.
grove cd with no args opens a fuzzy picker. Tab completion everywhere.
Single static binary. darwin & linux, amd64 & arm64.
$ brew tap verbaux/tap $ brew install grove
go install$ go install github.com/verbaux/grove@latest
GitHub Releases →
chmod +x, drop in $PATH, done.
Grouped by when you'd reach for them.
Once per project.
grove initInteractive wizard — creates .groverc.jsongrove templateSave / list / apply reusable configsgrove completionShell completion for zsh, bash, fish, powershellThe ones you'll alias.
grove create <branch>Create worktree + copy envs + symlinks + afterCreategrove cd [name|index]Print path to cd into; fuzzy picker without argsgrove listTable of worktrees with status, port, and indexgrove review [pr]Check out a GitHub PR into a ready-to-run worktreeWhen things get messy.
grove remove <name>Remove a worktree (dirty-state check)grove cleanRemove all managed worktrees + orphan cleanupgrove adoptRegister an orphan worktreegrove detachRemove symlinks (optionally copy contents first)grove doctorDiagnose config, state, symlinks, ports, dependenciesSmall Go binary. No dependencies beyond git. MIT-licensed.