Commands

`birch init`

Initialize birch in the current repository. Creates a .birch/ directory with state.json for tracking worktrees, generates a default birch.config.mjs, and adds .birch/ to .gitignore.

birch init [options]

Option	Description
`--local`	Store worktrees in `.birch/worktrees/` within the repo
`--root`	Store worktrees in `~/.birch/worktrees/<repo-key>/` (default)

`birch new`

Create a new worktree. Automatically initializes birch if it hasn't been set up yet.

birch new [options]

Option	Description
`--name <name>`	Use a custom worktree name instead of auto-generating one
`--base <branch>`	Base the new branch off a specific branch (defaults to the repo's default branch)

When no --name is provided, birch generates a memorable compound name by combining an adjective with a tree name (e.g. funky-oak, swift-cedar). There are 2,500 unique combinations.

`birch list`

List all tracked worktrees with their name, branch, and path.

birch list

Example output:

swift-cedar   swift-cedar   ~/.birch/worktrees/my-project/swift-cedar
bold-maple    bold-maple    ~/.birch/worktrees/my-project/bold-maple

`birch go <name>`

Print the absolute path to a worktree. Designed to compose with shell commands.

cd $(birch go swift-cedar)

Also updates the worktree's "last accessed" timestamp.

`birch status [name]`

Show git status for worktrees.

# Status for all worktrees
birch status

# Status for a specific worktree
birch status swift-cedar

Runs git status inside each worktree directory and displays the results.

`birch remove <name>`

Remove a worktree and clean up its state tracking entry.

birch remove <name> [options]

Option	Description
`--force`, `-F`	Skip the confirmation prompt and force-remove dirty worktrees

By default, birch prompts for confirmation before removing. Dirty worktrees (with uncommitted changes) require --force.

`birch prune`

Clean up stale worktree references and merged branches.

birch prune

Prune operates in two phases:

Stale cleanup — Removes state entries whose paths no longer exist on disk and runs git worktree prune.
Merged branch cleanup — Detects branches that have been merged into the default branch (via regular merge or squash merge) and removes them. Skips worktrees with uncommitted changes.

`birch cleanup`

Remove all birch-managed worktrees and the .birch/ directory entirely. This is a destructive operation.

birch cleanup [options]

Option	Description
`--confirm`	Skip the confirmation prompt and proceed immediately

Removes every tracked worktree, deletes the .birch/ directory, and removes the .birch/ entry from .gitignore.

`birch help`

Show usage information.

birch help
birch --help
birch -h

`birch --version`

Print the current version.