Use `git worktree` for Hotfixes: A Better Alternative to Stash
· 6 min read
We have all been there: you are deep in the zone, half-way through building a complex new feature, and your terminal is full of uncommitted changes. Suddenly, you get a message from your team: "Critical bug in production! We need a hotfix right now!"
The traditional response is to use git stash, switch to main, fix the bug, and then try to un-stash your messy feature branch later. But if you have complex dependencies (like node_modules or .venv) or untracked files, stashing can lead to absolute chaos.
This is where git worktree comes in. It is the professional's secret weapon for parallel development.