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Giving a Muse Code child agent its own Git worktree gives it a separate working directory, keeping its edits out of the lead agent’s checkout while both work. It does not change the task instructions, guarantee conflict-free integration, or verify the child’s results. Worktree isolation is requested per child when supported; otherwise, children share the lead’s checkout by default.
What actually changes when child agents get their own worktrees?
A subagent is a child session assigned a bounded task by a lead session. In the default setup, the child and lead use the same checkout. If the lead requests worktree isolation for a child and the request is supported, Muse Code gives that child a separate Git working directory. Its file edits then happen outside the lead’s working directory while the work proceeds.
A Git worktree is a working-directory mechanism associated with a repository, not a full independent clone. It separates the places where working files are edited; it does not automatically decide how completed changes are reviewed or integrated. See the Git worktree manual for the underlying mechanism, and Muse Code’s multi-agent guidance for its product behavior.
Do Muse Code subagents share the same checkout by default?
Yes. Muse Code’s official guidance says children share the lead’s checkout unless isolation is requested for that particular child. Isolation may be rejected if the profile, workspace, provider, or Git state cannot support it. The documented behavior is rejection, not a silent switch back to the shared checkout. A compatibility launch flag should not be treated as a way to force every child into a worktree.
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The workflow guide also distinguishes read-only children from parallel writers: read-only children can remain in the shared workspace, while leads should specify whether parallel writers need isolated worktrees. Isolation requires a Git repository. Consult Muse Code’s workflow guide for the applicable version and setup.
Which setup fits the task?
| Situation | Practical choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Child reads files and reports findings | Shared checkout | Official guidance allows read-only children to stay shared. |
| One bounded task can be written independently while other work proceeds | Request an isolated worktree for that child | The child’s working files are separate from the lead’s checkout during concurrent work. |
| Tasks depend on each other or are strictly sequential | Keep the sequence on one agent | Muse Code advises keeping strictly sequential work on one agent rather than adding parallel handoffs. |
| Isolation is unsupported in the current setup | Treat the request as rejected and choose a supported workflow | The documented behavior is not a silent fallback to the shared checkout. |
Isolation is most useful when multiple write-capable children have independent, verifiable tasks. It reduces the chance that concurrent edits interfere with one another. It is not a substitute for a clear task boundary or for checking the result.
Does worktree isolation prevent merge conflicts?
No. It keeps a child’s in-progress working files separate from the lead’s checkout, reducing concurrent write collisions there. After the child finishes, the lead still needs to inspect and integrate the work. If changes touch overlapping parts of the project or conflict with other changes, integration can still require conflict resolution. Isolation is about where work happens, not a guarantee about how changes combine.
How does the documented worktree lifecycle work?
Muse Code’s cookbook demonstrates a runtime-managed worktree under .muse/worktrees/. In that documented example, children use detached-HEAD worktrees based on the parent’s HEAD, and the cleanup policy is remove_if_clean. These are details of the example, not universal guarantees for every release or configuration. Check the documentation for the Muse Code version in use before relying on specific paths or cleanup behavior.
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The cookbook also notes that if a user creates worktrees manually as a fallback, cleanup becomes the user’s responsibility. Git worktrees have their own management commands and lifecycle; a separate working directory should not be mistaken for automatic cleanup or automatic integration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What can the lead do while children are working?
The documented workflow includes checking child status, steering a child, cancelling a child, waiting for results, and reviewing completed work. These are coordination controls, not transactional rollback controls.
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- Steering: A queued instruction may not take effect until the child’s next turn.
- Cancellation: Cancellation is cooperative. A child already in the middle of a write may finish that write; cancellation does not undo files already changed.
- Review: Inspect the completed work and decide how to integrate it into the lead’s work. A separate worktree does not validate correctness.
The Muse Code cookbook’s isolated-worktree example describes these controls and the example lifecycle. Exact behavior and implementation details can vary by version.
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