What does a [gone] branch mean?

A [gone] branch is a local branch that tracks a remote branch which has been deleted from the remote. It remains locally until cleaned up.

Does this remove commits?

No. It only deletes local references to the branches and any associated worktrees; commits remain in the repository history.

Can I run this on any repository?

Yes, but ensure you want to delete local references. The script operates on the current git repo and will remove branches and worktrees marked as [gone].

clean-gone-branches

npx machina-cli add skill dceoy/ai-coding-agent-skills/clean-gone-branches --openclaw

Files (1)

SKILL.md

1.9 KB

Clean Gone Branches Skill

Remove stale local branches that have been deleted from the remote repository, along with any associated worktrees.

When to Use

After merging and deleting remote branches, to clean up local tracking branches.
When git branch -v shows branches marked as [gone].
Periodic local repository maintenance.

Agent Compatibility

This skill is tool-agnostic and can be executed by Claude Code, OpenAI Codex CLI, GitHub Copilot CLI, or Gemini CLI.

Inputs

None required. The skill operates on the current git repository.

Workflow

List branches to identify any with [gone] status:
```
git branch -v
```
Branches with a + prefix have associated worktrees and must have their worktrees removed before deletion.
List worktrees that may need removal for [gone] branches:
```
git worktree list
```

Remove worktrees and delete [gone] branches:

git branch -v | grep '\[gone\]' | sed 's/^[+* ]//' | awk '{print $1}' | while read branch; do
  echo "Processing branch: $branch"
  worktree=$(git worktree list | grep "\\[$branch\\]" | awk '{print $1}')
  if [ ! -z "$worktree" ] && [ "$worktree" != "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)" ]; then
    echo "  Removing worktree: $worktree"
    git worktree remove --force "$worktree"
  fi
  echo "  Deleting branch: $branch"
  git branch -D "$branch"
done

Report results: List which worktrees and branches were removed. If no branches are marked as [gone], report that no cleanup was needed.

Outputs

Console output listing removed worktrees and deleted branches.
If no [gone] branches exist, a message indicating no cleanup was needed.

Source

git clone https://github.com/dceoy/ai-coding-agent-skills/blob/main/skills/clean-gone-branches/SKILL.mdView on GitHub

Overview

This skill removes stale local branches that have been deleted on the remote and eliminates any associated worktrees. It operates on the current git repository and helps keep your local refs tidy after PR merges. No inputs are required—just run it in the repo you want to clean.

How This Skill Works

The tool identifies [gone] branches using git branch -v, then checks for linked worktrees with git worktree list. It loops over the marked branches, removes any associated worktrees, and finally deletes the local branches with git branch -D, reporting each action as it proceeds.

When to Use It

After merging and deleting remote branches to clean up local tracking branches
When git branch -v shows branches marked as [gone]
Periodic local repository maintenance to remove stale refs
In multi-worktree repos to ensure no orphaned worktrees remain
Before starting new feature work to avoid clutter

Quick Start

Step 1: Inspect branches with git branch -v to spot [gone]
Step 2: Run the loop that removes worktrees and deletes the gone branches
Step 3: Verify cleanup with git branch -v and git worktree list

Best Practices

Verify the branches are not active or needed before deletion
List worktrees first to identify any associated ones
Back up important branches or push to a backup remote if needed
Run the cleanup in a clean workspace or a test clone first
Review the console output to confirm which worktrees and branches were removed

Example Use Cases

Cleaning a cloned repo after multiple PR merges to remove stale local refs
Maintaining a busy feature-branch repository by removing gone branches and worktrees
Cleaning up after a fork where remote branches were deleted
Preparing a repo for a large release by removing orphaned worktrees
CI/CD environments tidying up before deployment by pruning stale branches

Frequently Asked Questions

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