Finishing A Development Branch
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Use when implementation is complete, all tests pass, and you need to decide how to integrate the work
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Frontmatter — 2 properties
| name | finishing-a-development-branch |
|---|---|
| description | Use when implementation is complete, all tests pass, and you need to decide how to integrate the work |
| 1 | --- |
| 2 | name: finishing-a-development-branch |
| 3 | description: Use when implementation is complete, all tests pass, and you need to decide how to integrate the work |
| 4 | ---A5 — No allowed-tools declared — no way to tell what this skill may touch |
| 5 | |
| 6 | # Finishing a Development Branch |
| 7 | |
| 8 | ## Overview |
| 9 | |
| 10 | **Core principle:** Verify tests → Detect environment → Present options → Execute choice → Clean up. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | **Announce at start:** "I'm using the finishing-a-development-branch skill to complete this work." |
| 13 | |
| 14 | ## Step 1: Verify Tests |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Run the project's full test suite (`npm test` / `cargo test` / `pytest` / `go test ./...`). |
| 17 | |
| 18 | **If tests fail**, report the failures and stop — the menu comes after a green suite: |
| 19 | |
| 20 | ``` |
| 21 | Tests failing (<N> failures). Must fix before completing: |
| 22 | |
| 23 | [Show failures] |
| 24 | ``` |
| 25 | |
| 26 | **If tests pass:** continue to Step 2. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | ## Step 2: Detect Environment |
| 29 | |
| 30 | ```bash |
| 31 | GIT_DIR=$(cd "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)" 2>/dev/null && pwd -P) |
| 32 | GIT_COMMON=$(cd "$(git rev-parse --git-common-dir)" 2>/dev/null && pwd -P) |
| 33 | # Capture now, while still inside the workspace — Step 5 changes directory |
| 34 | # before cleanup (Step 6) needs this value |
| 35 | WORKTREE_PATH=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel) |
| 36 | ``` |
| 37 | |
| 38 | This determines which menu to show and how cleanup works: |
| 39 | |
| 40 | | State | Menu | Cleanup | |
| 41 | |-------|------|---------| |
| 42 | | `GIT_DIR == GIT_COMMON` (normal repo) | Standard 3 options | No worktree to clean up | |
| 43 | | `GIT_DIR != GIT_COMMON`, named branch | Standard 3 options | Provenance-based (see Step 6) | |
| 44 | | `GIT_DIR != GIT_COMMON`, detached HEAD | Reduced 2 options (no merge) | Externally managed — leave in place | |
| 45 | |
| 46 | ## Step 3: Determine Base Branch |
| 47 | |
| 48 | The base branch is whatever this work forked from — usually named in the |
| 49 | plan, the conversation, or the branch's upstream. If it is not already |
| 50 | known, ask: "This branch split from <your best guess> - is that correct?" |
| 51 | Confirm before merging: merging into the wrong base is expensive to undo. |
| 52 | |
| 53 | ## Step 4: Present Options |
| 54 | |
| 55 | **Normal repo and named-branch worktree — present exactly these 3 options:** |
| 56 | |
| 57 | ``` |
| 58 | Implementation complete. What would you like to do? |
| 59 | |
| 60 | 1. Merge back to <base-branch> locally |
| 61 | 2. Push and create a Pull Request |
| 62 | 3. Keep the branch as-is (I'll handle it later) |
| 63 | |
| 64 | Which option? |
| 65 | ``` |
| 66 | |
| 67 | **Detached HEAD — present exactly these 2 options:** |
| 68 | |
| 69 | ``` |
| 70 | Implementation complete. You're on a detached HEAD (externally managed workspace). |
| 71 | |
| 72 | 1. Push as new branch and create a Pull Request |
| 73 | 2. Keep as-is (I'll handle it later) |
| 74 | |
| 75 | Which option? |
| 76 | ``` |
| 77 | |
| 78 | Present the menu exactly as written — concise, with every option coming |
| 79 | from the list above. Discarding the work happens only in response to your |
| 80 | human partner explicitly asking for it (see "If your human partner asks to |
| 81 | discard the work" below). Wait for their answer; the integration decision |
| 82 | is theirs. |
| 83 | |
| 84 | ## Step 5: Execute Choice |
| 85 | |
| 86 | ### Option 1: Merge Locally |
| 87 | |
| 88 | ```bash |
| 89 | # Get main repo root for CWD safety |
| 90 | MAIN_ROOT=$(git -C "$(git rev-parse --git-common-dir)/.." rev-parse --show-toplevel) |
| 91 | cd "$MAIN_ROOT" |
| 92 | |
| 93 | # Merge first — verify success before removing anything |
| 94 | git checkout <base-branch> |
| 95 | git pull |
| 96 | git merge <feature-branch> |
| 97 | |
| 98 | # Verify tests on merged result |
| 99 | <test command> |
| 100 | ``` |
| 101 | |
| 102 | If tests fail on the merged result: stop, leave the worktree and branch in |
| 103 | place, and investigate — nothing has been pushed, so the merge is local |
| 104 | and recoverable. |
| 105 | |
| 106 | Once the merged result is green: clean up the worktree (Step 6), then |
| 107 | delete the branch: |
| 108 | |
| 109 | ```bash |
| 110 | git branch -d <feature-branch> |
| 111 | ``` |
| 112 | |
| 113 | ### Option 2: Push and Create PR |
| 114 | |
| 115 | ```bash |
| 116 | git push -u origin <feature-branch> |
| 117 | # From a detached HEAD, name the new branch on the remote: |
| 118 | # git push origin HEAD:refs/heads/<new-branch> |
| 119 | ``` |
| 120 | |
| 121 | Then create the pull/merge request against <base-branch> with the forge's |
| 122 | tooling — its CLI if one is available, or the creation URL most forges |
| 123 | print when you push — following the repo's PR template and conventions if |
| 124 | present, and report the URL to your human partner. |
| 125 | |
| 126 | Keep the worktree — your human partner iterates on PR feedback there. |
| 127 | |
| 128 | ### Option 3: Keep As-Is |
| 129 | |
| 130 | Report: "Keeping branch <name>. Worktree preserved at <path>." |
| 131 | |
| 132 | ### If your human partner asks to discard the work |
| 133 | |
| 134 | This path exists only as a response to an explicit request to throw the |
| 135 | work away. Confirm first: |
| 136 | |
| 137 | ``` |
| 138 | This will permanently delete: |
| 139 | - Branch <name> |
| 140 | - All commits: <commit-list> |
| 141 | - Worktree at <path> |
| 142 | |
| 143 | Type 'discard' to confirm. |
| 144 | ``` |
| 145 | |
| 146 | Wait for that exact confirmation. When it arrives: |
| 147 | |
| 148 | ```bash |
| 149 | MAIN_ROOT=$(git -C "$(git rev-parse --git-common-dir)/.." rev-parse --show-toplevel) |
| 150 | cd "$MAIN_ROOT" |
| 151 | ``` |
| 152 | |
| 153 | Then clean up the worktree (Step 6) and force-delete the branch: |
| 154 | |
| 155 | ```bash |
| 156 | git branch -D <feature-branch> |
| 157 | ``` |
| 158 | |
| 159 | ## Step 6: Cleanup Workspace |
| 160 | |
| 161 | **Runs for Option 1 and confirmed discards.** Options 2 and 3 always |
| 162 | preserve the worktree. Both callers have already changed directory to the |
| 163 | main repo root — worktree removal must run from outside the worktree — |
| 164 | and use the `GIT_DIR`/`GIT_COMMON`/`WORKTREE_PATH` values captured in |
| 165 | Step 2, from before that directory change. |
| 166 | |
| 167 | **If `GIT_DIR == GIT_COMMON`:** Normal repo, no worktree to clean up. Done. |
| 168 | |
| 169 | **If `WORKTREE_PATH` is under `.worktrees/` or `worktrees/`:** Superpowers |
| 170 | created this worktree — we own cleanup: |
| 171 | |
| 172 | ```bash |
| 173 | git worktree remove "$WORKTREE_PATH" |
| 174 | git worktree prune # Self-healing: clean up any stale registrations |
| 175 | ``` |
| 176 | |
| 177 | **If removal is refused** (`contains modified or untracked files`): the |
| 178 | worktree holds files that exist nowhere else — uncommitted plans, notes, |
| 179 | or scratch work. Never `--force` on your own initiative. Show your human |
| 180 | partner what is at stake and ask: |
| 181 | |
| 182 | ```bash |
| 183 | git -C "$WORKTREE_PATH" status --porcelain -uall |
| 184 | ``` |
| 185 | |
| 186 | ``` |
| 187 | Worktree removal refused — these files were never committed: |
| 188 | |
| 189 | <file list> |
| 190 | |
| 191 | 1. Commit them to <branch> before cleanup |
| 192 | 2. Move them into <main repo root> |
| 193 | 3. Delete them (unrecoverable) |
| 194 | |
| 195 | Which? |
| 196 | ``` |
| 197 | |
| 198 | Carry out the choice, then remove the worktree. |
| 199 | |
| 200 | **Otherwise:** The host environment owns this workspace — leave it in |
| 201 | place. If your platform provides a workspace-exit tool, use it. |
| 202 | |
| 203 | ## Quick Reference |
| 204 | |
| 205 | | Option | Merge | Push | Keep Worktree | Cleanup Branch | |
| 206 | |--------|-------|------|---------------|----------------| |
| 207 | | 1. Merge locally | yes | - | - | yes | |
| 208 | | 2. Create PR | - | yes | yes | - | |
| 209 | | 3. Keep as-is | - | - | yes | - | |
| 210 | | Discard (explicit request only) | - | - | - | yes (force) | |
| 211 | |
| 212 | ## Common Rationalizations |
| 213 | |
| 214 | | Excuse | Reality | |
| 215 | |--------|---------| |
| 216 | | "Tests passed earlier this session" | Run the suite on the tree you are about to integrate. A green run only proves the tree it ran on. | |
| 217 | | "They obviously want it merged" | Integration is your human partner's decision. Present the menu and wait. | |
| 218 | | "They seem done with this feature — I'll offer to discard it" | The menu is complete as written. Discard happens only when your human partner asks for it in so many words. | |
| 219 | | "'Yeah, get rid of it' counts as confirmation" | Only the typed word `discard` authorizes deletion. | |
| 220 | | "The PR is up, so the worktree is clutter now" | PR feedback gets fixed in that worktree. It stays until the work lands. | |
| 221 | | "This other worktree looks stale — I'll clean it too" | Clean up only worktrees under `.worktrees/` or `worktrees/`. Everything else belongs to the host. | |
| 222 | | "Removal refused — `--force` is just finishing the cleanup" | The refusal means files exist only in that worktree. `--force` destroys them permanently. Show your human partner and ask. | |
| 223 | | "The merged-result failure is probably flaky" | A failing merged result stops everything. Branch and worktree stay put while you investigate. | |
| 224 | | "The base branch is obviously main" | Confirm the fork point or ask. Merging into the wrong base is expensive to undo. | |
| 225 | | "The push was rejected — force-push will fix it" | A rejected push means the remote moved. Investigate; force-push only on your human partner's explicit request. | |
| 226 |
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