lw

lw turns a Linear, GitHub, Jira, or custom-provider issue into an isolated Git worktree. It can print the path or launch your coding tool directly inside it:

cd "$(lw)"
lw run -- claude

It is a local, read-only client for issue providers. It only starts a tool when you explicitly use lw run.

Screenshots

Search issues

Name the branch

Create the worktree

The screenshots use synthetic data rendered from the real TUI views. See docs/images to regenerate them.

Features

• Launches coding tools directly inside a selected issue's worktree with lw run.
• Searches Linear, GitHub Issues, and Jira Cloud.
• Routes each provider scope to the right local repository.
• Reuses matching local or remote branches before creating one.
• Supports repository-specific branch templates.
• Stores issue metadata locally for lw context and coding-agent integrations.
• Prints only the worktree path on stdout, so command substitution stays safe.
• Prunes merged or gone worktrees without force-removing dirty checkouts.
• Keeps provider access read-only and sends no telemetry.

Worktrees use a predictable path independent of the branch name:

~/.lw/worktrees/<repository>/<ISSUE>

Run tools in the issue worktree

lw run creates or reuses the selected issue's worktree, then starts a command inside it:

lw run -- claude
lw run -- codex --full-auto
lw run -- cursor .

The command runs directly, without a shell, and owns the terminal and exit code. Issue metadata is available through lw context; it is not automatically injected into the command. Provider API tokens are removed from the command's environment.

Install

Install the latest release on macOS or Linux:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Snaylaker/lw/main/install.sh | sh

The installer supports Intel and Apple Silicon macOS, plus AMD64 and ARM64 Linux. It verifies release checksums and installs to ~/.local/bin/lw without sudo.

Build from source with Go 1.26 or newer:

git clone https://github.com/Snaylaker/lw
cd lw
go build -o ~/.local/bin/lw ./cmd/lw

Use

Run lw inside a repository for interactive search, or provide an issue directly:

cd "$(lw)"
cd "$(lw --issue ENG-3971 --branch alex/eng-3971-fix)"
cd "$(lw --issue ENG-3971 --repo ~/Work/api --branch alex/eng-3971-fix)"

Direct mode needs --branch before creating a branch unless the repository has a branch rule. Existing local or remote issue branches always take precedence.

Choose a provider

Linear is the default. Select another provider with --provider, a reference prefix, LW_ISSUE_PROVIDER, or issueProvider in config.json.

Provider	Direct reference	Authentication
Linear	ENG-3971 or linear:ENG-3971	onboarding, LINEAR_API_KEY, or credentialCommand
GitHub	github:owner/repository#42	GITHUB_TOKEN, GH_TOKEN, or public access
Jira Cloud	jira:OPS-42	JIRA_BASE_URL, JIRA_EMAIL, and JIRA_API_TOKEN

lw --provider github
lw --issue 'github:owner/repository#42' --branch alex/gh-42-fix
lw --provider jira --issue OPS-42 --branch alex/ops-42-fix

Linear onboarding stores its key in the system credential manager when available. GitHub and Jira credentials remain environment-owned. Provider tokens are removed from Git children and commands launched through lw run.

Configure branch names

When no issue branch exists, the interactive flow offers an editable provider suggestion or fallback. Save a repository convention without editing JSON:

lw branches set-rule --username alex '{username}/{ticket}/{slug}'
lw branches show-rule
lw branches preview ENG-3971
lw branches unset-rule

Templates support {username}, {ticket}, {ticket_lower}, {slug}, {suggested_branch}, and {linear_branch}. They are expanded as data and never executed.

Commands

Command	Purpose
lw	select an issue and create or reuse its worktree
lw --issue <ref> --branch <name>	skip the picker
lw --provider <name>	select an issue provider
lw doctor	inspect provider, Git, and local configuration
lw branches <command>	manage repository branch rules
lw context [--json]	print local issue context
lw summary <text>	update the local worktree summary
lw run -- <command>	run a command inside the selected issue's worktree
lw prune [--yes]	inspect or remove stale worktrees
lw logout	remove the Linear key saved by onboarding

Successful worktree creation prints exactly one path to stdout. UI, progress, warnings, and errors use stderr.

Custom providers

The public provider package defines a read-only provider contract. Custom providers are compiled into a custom binary through lw.Run; the official binary includes Linear, GitHub, and Jira. This is not a runtime plugin protocol.

Local data and privacy

Configuration lives under $LW_CONFIG_DIR, $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/lw, or the platform config directory. Worktree metadata is stored as lw.json in the worktree's private Git directory, not in the checkout.

lw has no hosted service or telemetry. Network requests go only to the selected issue provider, the repository's origin during branch resolution, and GitHub during installation. It never writes to an issue provider.

Documentation

• Behavioral specification
• Architecture
• Agent integrations
• Contributing
• Security
• Release process

lw is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Linear, GitHub, or Atlassian.

License

MIT. Dependency licenses are listed in THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md.