feat(worktree): add worktree up/down and harden branch gc

pkgmgr worktree up and down create and release a branch worktree with its own slot and run the operator-pinned worktree-init and worktree-fini hooks; branch gc removes merged worktrees, now also patch-merged ones (git cherry), and the hooks of each repository run only from worktree_hooks pins of a managed repository whose git directory is its own. Removal walks to the worktree without following a symbolic link and skips paths that are not their own realpath. A bare-name hook program resolves once to a root-controlled file on a root-controlled PATH: root is uid 0 only in the initial user namespace and the overflow uid elsewhere, nosuid mounts never count on the host, and the hook runs the resolved file with only those PATH entries, stdin closed and a timeout over its process group.

🎯 Fix: 93 %
💥 Break: 3 %
💸 Cost: 114 %
⏱️ Time: 129 %
🛡️ Security: 100 %
🏆 Score: 61
🚦 Gate: cost 114 % and time 129 %: accepted by the operator for B (2026-11-07) after skeptic round 6 found no hole and MEDUSA reached 100 %

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

AGENTS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Agent Instructions
+
+## Scope against the skills repository
+
+package-manager holds deterministic code that an operator can run on its own,
+without an agent: repository, branch, worktree, release, packaging and
+development tooling. Agent coordination (claims, messages, queues, scores,
+prompts, session data) belongs to the
+[skills repository](https://github.com/kevinveenbirkenbach/skills), whose skills
+stay thin wrappers that call `pkgmgr`.
+
+- A new helper that a human could sensibly run alone goes here as a `pkgmgr`
+  command, with its tests, never as a script inside a skill.
+- Output that an agent filters further (claims, busy agents, scores) is
+  emitted as `--json`; the filtering stays in the skill.
+- When the split of a helper is unclear, the operator decides.
+
+## Working copy
+
+The installed `pkgmgr` may run straight from the main checkout, so a
+half-edited tree breaks it for everyone. Edit only in a worktree
+(`pkgmgr worktree up <branch>`), never in the main checkout.

README.md

@@ -70,6 +70,43 @@ versioning features it can drive **end-to-end workflows**:
 
 ---
 
+### Worktrees and garbage collection
+
+| Command | Does |
+| --- | --- |
+| `pkgmgr worktree up <branch> [--base REF] [--path DIR]` | Checks the branch out under `<directories.worktrees>/<host>/<owner>/<repo>/<branch>` or at `--path`, assigns a free slot and runs the pinned `worktree-init` hook |
+| `pkgmgr worktree cleanup [--apply]` | Removes clean worktrees whose commits are merged or pushed: pinned `worktree-fini` hook, compose stack, checkout; the branch stays |
+| `pkgmgr branch cleanup [--apply]` | Removes merged branches that no worktree holds, locally and on the remotes |
+| `pkgmgr branch tree [--format json\|yaml] [--output FILE]` | Writes every managed repository's branches and worktrees with their cleanup state, without fetching |
+| `pkgmgr gc [--all] [--apply]` | Both cleanups in one pass, for the current repository or every managed one |
+| `pkgmgr worktree orphans --stale-days N --top N` | Lists merged and abandoned branches and worktrees with a proposal each |
+
+A hook runs only when the `worktree_hooks` config pins its command under the
+`<provider>/<account>/<repository>` of a repository managed in the pkgmgr
+config, and only for that repository's directory; origin's URL, which the
+repository's own config sets, never selects a pin. `{path}` and `{slot}` are
+replaced; a
+`worktree-init` or `worktree-fini` target in the repository's Makefile is
+reported, never run, because an agent may have written it. The pinned program
+must be an absolute path or a root-owned command on a `PATH` entry that root
+owns and no group or other user can write, up to `/`, so a binary planted in a
+user-writable directory such as a virtualenv never runs. A bare name runs as
+the resolved file that was checked. Inside a user namespace other than the
+initial one, root means the overflow uid, under which the real root's files
+show there, as do those of every other unmapped owner. Outside such a
+namespace a directory on a nosuid mount, where udisks2 and FUSE put user
+mounts, never counts as root's. The hook runs with
+stdin closed, only those `PATH` entries and a 30 minute timeout. Removal walks to
+the worktree without following a symbolic link and skips a worktree path that
+is not its own realpath. A pinned command that reads repository files, such as `make` or a
+script in the repository, trusts the worktree's content, tracked or ignored.
+
+Every cleanup is a dry run until `--apply`, and `--json` prints the plan for
+other tools. The [agent skills](https://github.com/kevinveenbirkenbach/skills)
+wrap these commands; see [AGENTS.md](AGENTS.md) for the split.
+
+---
+
 ## Architecture & Setup Map 🗺️
 
 The following diagram gives a full overview of:

src/pkgmgr/actions/branch/__init__.py

@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@ Public API for branch actions.
 
 from .close_branch import close_branch
 from .drop_branch import drop_branch
-from .gc import branch_gc, branch_purge
+from .gc import branch_purge, cleanup
 from .open_branch import open_branch
 from .tree import branch_tree, refresh_tree_entry
 
 __all__ = [
-    "branch_gc",
     "branch_purge",
     "branch_tree",
+    "cleanup",
     "close_branch",
     "drop_branch",
     "open_branch",

src/pkgmgr/actions/branch/gc.py

@@ -3,25 +3,33 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import json
 import os
 import re
-import shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import time
 from collections.abc import Callable
 from dataclasses import asdict, dataclass, field
 
+from pkgmgr.actions.worktree.hooks import FINI_HOOK, hook_command, run_hook
 from pkgmgr.core.git.commands import delete_local_branch
 from pkgmgr.core.git.errors import GitRunError
-from pkgmgr.core.git.queries import list_remotes, resolve_base_branch
+from pkgmgr.core.git.queries import (
-from pkgmgr.core.git.run import run
+    FILTER_CONFIG,
+    list_remotes,
+    local_config,
+    resolve_base_branch,
+)
+from pkgmgr.core.git.run import END_OF_OPTIONS, run
 
 from .gc_forge import ForgeFacts, fetch_forge_facts
+from .nofollow import canonical, remove_tree
 
+Registrations = tuple[str, dict[str, list[str]]]
 Snapshot = tuple[
     dict[str, str],
     dict[str, dict[str, str]],
     dict[int, str],
     dict[str, tuple[str | None, int | None, int | None, bool]],
+    Registrations,
 ]
 
 # PROC_PID_INIT_INO: only the initial PID namespace sees every process of the host.
@@ -31,11 +39,8 @@ COMPOSE_PROJECT = "com.docker.compose.project"
 COMPOSE_WORKING_DIR = "com.docker.compose.project.working_dir"
 LOCK_PID = re.compile(r"\bpid (\d+)")
 TRACK = re.compile(r"(ahead|behind) (\d+)")
-UNSAFE_LOCAL_CONFIG = re.compile(r"^(local|worktree)\t(filter\.\S+)")
 GITLINK = "160000"
-# ref and remote names come from repositories an agent may write: one named
+STATUS_PATH_FIELD = {"1": 8, "2": 9, "u": 10, "?": 1}
-# like --output=<path> would otherwise make rev-list create that file
-END_OF_OPTIONS = "--end-of-options"
 ALWAYS_PROTECTED = ("main", "master")
 LABELS = {
     "merged-clean": "DELETE",
@@ -48,6 +53,8 @@ REFUSAL = (
     "Refusing: not in the host PID namespace (e.g. a sandbox), so running "
     "processes and worktree locks cannot be verified. Run it on the host."
 )
+SCOPES = ("worktree", "branch", "all", "purge")
+NOT_LINKED = "not a linked worktree of this repository"
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -87,8 +94,12 @@ class Item:
     compose_projects: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     images: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     state: str = ""
+    merged: bool = False
+    dirty: int = 0
     merged_by: str | None = None
     merged_into: str | None = None
+    unpushed: int | None = None
+    last_activity: int | None = None
     size_bytes: int | None = None
     skip: str | None = None
     actions: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
@@ -97,7 +108,7 @@ class Item:
 
     @property
     def eligible(self) -> bool:
-        return self.state == "merged-clean" and self.skip is None and bool(self.actions)
+        return self.skip is None and bool(self.actions)
 
     def matches(self, name: str) -> bool:
         return name == self.branch or (
@@ -119,6 +130,9 @@ class Repo:
     lines: dict[str, tuple[str, set[str]]]
     sizes: bool
     min_age: float | None
+    scope: str
+    activity: bool
+    hooks: dict[str, list[str]]
     warnings: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     items: list[Item] = field(default_factory=list)
 
@@ -178,6 +192,54 @@ def _inside(path: str, root: str) -> bool:
     return path == root or path.startswith(root.rstrip("/") + "/")
 
 
+def _registrations(repo_root: str) -> Registrations:
+    base = os.path.join(_common_dir(repo_root), "worktrees")
+    claims: dict[str, list[str]] = {}
+    for entry in sorted(os.listdir(base)) if os.path.isdir(base) else []:
+        entry_dir = os.path.join(base, entry)
+        target = _pointer(os.path.join(entry_dir, "gitdir"), entry_dir)
+        if target:
+            claims.setdefault(target, []).append(entry)
+    return base, claims
+
+
+def _linked_meta(registrations: Registrations, path: str) -> str | None:
+    """
+    Resolve a worktree's metadata directory through its `.git` file.
+
+    Args:
+        registrations: `<common>/worktrees` and, per gitdir target, the
+            registrations naming it, from _registrations.
+        path: worktree path as `git worktree list` derives it from the
+            writable `<common>/worktrees/<id>/gitdir`, so possibly forged.
+
+    Returns:
+        `<common>/worktrees/<id>` when path, the registration and
+        `<common>/worktrees` are canonical, path's `.git` resolves to that
+        registration and it is the only registration whose gitdir names
+        `<path>/.git`, else None.
+    """
+    base, claims = registrations
+    if not (canonical(path) and canonical(base)):
+        return None
+    git_file = os.path.join(path, ".git")
+    meta = _pointer(git_file, path)
+    if meta is None or os.path.dirname(meta) != base or not canonical(meta):
+        return None
+    return meta if claims.get(git_file) == [os.path.basename(meta)] else None
+
+
+def _pointer(file: str, relative_to: str) -> str | None:
+    if not os.path.isfile(file):
+        return None
+    try:
+        with open(file, encoding="utf-8") as fh:
+            target = fh.read().strip().removeprefix("gitdir: ")
+    except (OSError, ValueError):
+        return None
+    return os.path.normpath(os.path.join(relative_to, target))
+
+
 def _worktrees(repo_root: str) -> list[Worktree]:
     trees: list[Worktree] = []
     fields: dict[str, str] = {}
@@ -304,7 +366,19 @@ def _merged_by(repo: Repo, sha: str) -> str | None:
     if number:
         return f"pr#{number}"
     line = _in_line(repo, sha)
-    return f"line:{line}" if line else None
+    if line:
+        return f"line:{line}"
+    return "patch" if _patch_merged(repo, sha) else None
+
+
+def _patch_merged(repo: Repo, sha: str) -> bool:
+    cherry = _git(["cherry", END_OF_OPTIONS, repo.default, sha], repo.repo).splitlines()
+    if not cherry or any(not line.startswith("- ") for line in cherry):
+        return False
+    outside = set(
+        _git(["rev-list", END_OF_OPTIONS, f"{repo.default}..{sha}"], repo.repo).split()
+    )
+    return outside == {line[2:] for line in cherry}
 
 
 def _du_bytes(path: str) -> int | None:
@@ -314,17 +388,24 @@ def _du_bytes(path: str) -> int | None:
     return int(out[0]) * 1024 if out and out[0].isdigit() else None
 
 
-def _age_hours(repo: Repo, shas: list[str], tree: Worktree | None) -> float:
+def _last_activity(
+    repo: Repo, shas: list[str], tree: Worktree | None, changed: list[str]
+) -> int:
     stamps = [int(_git(["log", "-1", "--format=%ct", sha], repo.repo)) for sha in shas]
     if tree and os.path.isfile(os.path.join(tree.path, ".git")):
         with open(os.path.join(tree.path, ".git"), encoding="utf-8") as fh:
             index = os.path.join(fh.read().strip().removeprefix("gitdir: "), "index")
         if os.path.isfile(index):
             stamps.append(int(os.path.getmtime(index)))
-    return (time.time() - max(stamps)) / 3600
+        for path in changed:
+            try:
+                stamps.append(int(os.lstat(os.path.join(tree.path, path)).st_mtime))
+            except OSError:
+                continue
+    return max(stamps)
 
 
-def _human(size: int) -> str:
+def human_size(size: int) -> str:
     value = float(size)
     for unit in ("K", "M", "G"):
         value /= 1024
@@ -356,20 +437,12 @@ def _skip(
     lock = _lock_skip(tree.locked, repo.host_ns)
     if lock:
         return lock
-    busy = sorted(pid for pid, cwd in cwds.items() if _inside(cwd, tree.path))
+    return _busy(cwds, tree.path)
-    if busy:
-        return f"process: pid {busy[0]} ({_comm(busy[0])})"
-    return None
 
 
-def _unsafe_config(path: str) -> list[str]:
+def _busy(cwds: dict[int, str], path: str) -> str | None:
-    try:
+    busy = sorted(pid for pid, cwd in cwds.items() if _inside(cwd, path))
-        out = _git(["config", "--show-scope", "--get-regexp", r"^filter\."], path)
+    return f"process: pid {busy[0]} ({_comm(busy[0])})" if busy else None
-    except GitRunError as exc:
-        if exc.returncode == 1:
-            return []
-        raise
-    return [m.group(2) for m in map(UNSAFE_LOCAL_CONFIG.match, out.splitlines()) if m]
 
 
 def _has_submodules(path: str) -> bool:
@@ -379,39 +452,59 @@ def _has_submodules(path: str) -> bool:
     )
 
 
-def _status(path: str) -> tuple[int, int, int, int]:
+def _status(path: str) -> tuple[list[str], int, int, int]:
-    lines = _git(
+    records: list[str] = []
-        ["status", "--porcelain=v2", "--untracked-files=all"], path
+    paths: list[str] = []
-    ).splitlines()
+    fields = iter(
-    codes = [line.split(" ", 2)[1] for line in lines if line[:1] in "12u"]
+        _git(["status", "--porcelain=v2", "-z", "--untracked-files=all"], path).split(
+            "\0"
+        )
+    )
+    for record in fields:
+        kind = record[:1]
+        if kind not in STATUS_PATH_FIELD:
+            continue
+        records.append(record)
+        paths.append(record.split(" ", STATUS_PATH_FIELD[kind])[-1])
+        if kind == "2":
+            next(fields, None)
+    codes = [record.split(" ", 2)[1] for record in records if record[:1] in "12u"]
     return (
-        len(lines),
+        paths,
         sum(code[0] != "." for code in codes),
         sum(code[1] != "." for code in codes),
-        sum(line.startswith("? ") for line in lines),
+        sum(record.startswith("? ") for record in records),
     )
 
 
-def _read_worktree(item: Item, checkout: bool) -> tuple[int, str | None]:
+def _read_worktree(item: Item, checkout: bool) -> tuple[int, str | None, list[str]]:
     if item.worktree is None:
-        return 0, None
+        return 0, None, []
     if not checkout:
         item.worktree_state = "missing"
-        return 0, None
+        return 0, None, []
     try:
         if _has_submodules(item.worktree):
             item.worktree_state = "changed"
-            return -1, "status skipped: submodules, whose config the scan cannot vet"
+            return (
-        unsafe = _unsafe_config(item.worktree)
+                -1,
+                "status skipped: submodules, whose config the scan cannot vet",
+                [],
+            )
+        unsafe = local_config(item.worktree, FILTER_CONFIG)
         if unsafe:
             item.worktree_state = "changed"
-            return -1, f"status skipped: {', '.join(unsafe)} in the repository config"
+            return (
-        dirty, item.staged, item.unstaged, item.untracked = _status(item.worktree)
+                -1,
+                f"status skipped: {', '.join(unsafe)} in the repository config",
+                [],
+            )
+        paths, item.staged, item.unstaged, item.untracked = _status(item.worktree)
     except GitRunError as exc:
         item.worktree_state = "changed"
-        return -1, f"status failed: {_describe(exc)}"
+        return -1, f"status failed: {_describe(exc)}", []
-    item.worktree_state = "changed" if dirty else "clean"
+    item.worktree_state = "changed" if paths else "clean"
-    return dirty, None
+    return len(paths), None, paths
 
 
 def _build(
@@ -420,7 +513,7 @@ def _build(
     tree: Worktree | None,
     snapshot: Snapshot,
 ) -> Item:
-    local, remote, cwds, tracking = snapshot
+    local, remote, cwds, tracking, registrations = snapshot
     upstream, ahead, behind, gone = tracking.get(
         branch or "", (None, None, None, False)
     )
@@ -438,7 +531,8 @@ def _build(
         remotes=dict(remote.get(branch, {})) if branch else {},
     )
     checkout = tree is not None and not tree.prunable and os.path.isdir(tree.path)
-    dirty, unread = _read_worktree(item, checkout)
+    dirty, unread, changed = _read_worktree(item, checkout)
+    item.dirty = max(dirty, 0)
     if branch in repo.protected:
         item.state, item.reason = "protected", "default or protected branch"
         return item
@@ -451,6 +545,18 @@ def _build(
     shas = [item.local_sha, *item.remotes.values(), tree.head if tree else None]
     verdicts = {sha: _merged_by(repo, sha) for sha in dict.fromkeys(shas) if sha}
     unmerged = [sha for sha, verdict in verdicts.items() if verdict is None]
+    item.merged = bool(verdicts) and not unmerged
+
+    head = tree.head if checkout else item.local_sha
+    if unmerged and head:
+        tips = {sha for shas in remote.values() for sha in shas.values()}
+        item.unpushed = (
+            0
+            if head in tips
+            else int(
+                _git(["rev-list", "--count", head, "--not", "--remotes"], repo.repo)
+            )
+        )
 
     if unread:
         item.state, item.reason = "dirty", unread
@@ -489,32 +595,89 @@ def _build(
 
     if repo.sizes and checkout and not tree.main:
         item.size_bytes = _du_bytes(tree.path)
+    if verdicts and (repo.activity or repo.min_age is not None):
+        item.last_activity = _last_activity(
+            repo, list(verdicts), tree if checkout else None, changed
+        )
     item.skip = _skip(repo, item, tree, checkout, cwds)
-    if item.skip is None and repo.min_age is not None and verdicts:
+    if (
-        age = _age_hours(repo, list(verdicts), tree if checkout else None)
+        item.skip is None
-        if age < repo.min_age:
+        and repo.min_age is not None
-            item.skip = f"younger than {repo.min_age:g} h"
+        and item.last_activity
-    for project in item.compose_projects:
+        and (time.time() - item.last_activity) / 3600 < repo.min_age
-        item.actions += [f"compose-down:{project}", f"images:{project}"]
+    ):
-    if tree:
+        item.skip = f"younger than {repo.min_age:g} h"
-        item.actions.append("worktree")
+    item.actions = _actions(repo, item, tree, checkout, dirty, registrations)
-    if item.local_sha:
-        item.actions.append("local-branch")
-    item.actions += [f"remote-branch:{name}" for name in item.remotes]
     return item
 
 
+def _actions(
+    repo: Repo,
+    item: Item,
+    tree: Worktree | None,
+    checkout: bool,
+    dirty: int,
+    registrations: Registrations,
+) -> list[str]:
+    tree_part: list[str] = []
+    if tree:
+        if (
+            checkout
+            and not tree.main
+            and _linked_meta(registrations, tree.path) is None
+        ):
+            item.skip = NOT_LINKED
+            return []
+        if checkout and FINI_HOOK in repo.hooks:
+            tree_part.append(f"hook:{FINI_HOOK}")
+        for project in item.compose_projects:
+            tree_part += [f"compose-down:{project}", f"images:{project}"]
+        tree_part.append("worktree")
+    branch_part = ["local-branch"] if item.local_sha else []
+    branch_part += [f"remote-branch:{name}" for name in item.remotes]
+
+    if repo.scope == "purge":
+        return tree_part + branch_part
+    tree_ok = (
+        tree is not None
+        and not tree.main
+        and dirty == 0
+        and (item.merged or item.unpushed == 0)
+    )
+    branch_ok = item.state == "merged-clean"
+    if repo.scope == "worktree":
+        return tree_part if tree_ok else []
+    if repo.scope == "branch":
+        if branch_ok and tree is not None and item.skip is None:
+            item.skip = f"checked out in worktree {tree.path}"
+        return branch_part if branch_ok and tree is None else []
+    actions = tree_part if tree_ok else []
+    if branch_ok and (tree is None or tree_ok):
+        actions += branch_part
+    return actions
+
+
 def _snapshot(repo: Repo) -> tuple[list[Worktree], Snapshot]:
     local, remote, tracking = _refs(repo.repo, repo.remotes)
     cwds = _process_cwds() if repo.host_ns else {}
-    return _worktrees(repo.repo), (local, remote, cwds, tracking)
+    return _worktrees(repo.repo), (
+        local,
+        remote,
+        cwds,
+        tracking,
+        _registrations(repo.repo),
+    )
 
 
 def _items(repo: Repo) -> list[Item]:
     trees, snapshot = _snapshot(repo)
-    local, remote, _, _ = snapshot
+    local, remote, *_ = snapshot
     by_branch = {t.branch: t for t in trees if t.branch}
-    names = sorted(set(local) | set(remote) | set(by_branch))
+    names = (
+        sorted(by_branch)
+        if repo.scope == "worktree"
+        else sorted(set(local) | set(remote) | set(by_branch))
+    )
     items = [_build(repo, name, by_branch.get(name), snapshot) for name in names]
     items += [
         _build(repo, None, tree, snapshot)
@@ -581,6 +744,9 @@ def plan_repo(
     merged_into: list[str],
     sizes: bool,
     min_age: float | None,
+    scope: str,
+    activity: bool,
+    hooks: dict[str, dict[str, list[str]]],
     fetch: bool = True,
     forge_source: Callable[[dict[str, str]], ForgeFacts] | None = None,
 ) -> Repo:
@@ -593,13 +759,20 @@ def plan_repo(
         host_ns: whether this process runs in the host PID namespace.
         merged_into: integration lines (refs) that also count as merged; each is protected.
         sizes: measure each worktree's disk usage into size_bytes.
-        min_age: skip items whose newest commit or worktree index is younger (hours).
+        min_age: skip items whose newest commit, worktree index or changed file is younger (hours).
+        scope: one of SCOPES; decides which actions an item gets.
+        activity: record last_activity on every item, not only under min_age.
+        hooks: realpath of a managed repository's root -> hook name -> argv,
+            as the CLI binds `worktree_hooks`; only repo_root's entry is used,
+            and only while repo_root's git directory is its own.
         fetch: fetch every remote first; the tree scan reads the known refs only.
         forge_source: remote name -> URL to forge facts; fetch_forge_facts by default.
 
     Returns:
         The repository with its classified items.
     """
+    if scope not in SCOPES:
+        raise ValueError(f"unknown scope {scope!r}")
     warnings: list[str] = []
     if fetch:
         try:
@@ -659,12 +832,29 @@ def plan_repo(
         lines=lines,
         sizes=sizes,
         min_age=min_age,
+        scope=scope,
+        activity=activity,
+        hooks=_pins(hooks, repo_root, warnings),
         warnings=warnings,
     )
     repo.items = _items(repo)
     return repo
 
 
+def _pins(
+    hooks: dict[str, dict[str, list[str]]], repo_root: str, warnings: list[str]
+) -> dict[str, list[str]]:
+    root = os.path.realpath(repo_root)
+    pinned = hooks.get(root, {})
+    if not pinned:
+        return {}
+    owner = os.path.realpath(os.path.dirname(_common_dir(repo_root)))
+    if owner != root:
+        warnings.append(f"pinned hooks skipped: its git directory belongs to {owner}")
+        return {}
+    return pinned
+
+
 def _foreign_owned(path: str) -> bool:
     uid = os.getuid()
     if os.lstat(path).st_uid != uid:
@@ -677,12 +867,9 @@ def _foreign_owned(path: str) -> bool:
 
 
 def _remove_worktree(repo_root: str, path: str) -> None:
-    with open(os.path.join(path, ".git"), encoding="utf-8") as fh:
+    meta = _linked_meta(_registrations(repo_root), path)
-        meta = os.path.normpath(
+    if meta is None:
-            os.path.join(path, fh.read().strip().removeprefix("gitdir: "))
+        raise RuntimeError(f"{path}: {NOT_LINKED}")
-        )
-    if os.path.dirname(meta) != os.path.join(_common_dir(repo_root), "worktrees"):
-        raise RuntimeError(f"unexpected worktree metadata path {meta}")
 
     if _foreign_owned(path):
         parent, name = os.path.split(path.rstrip("/"))
@@ -699,10 +886,10 @@ def _remove_worktree(repo_root: str, path: str) -> None:
             ]
         )
     else:
-        shutil.rmtree(path)
+        remove_tree(path)
     if os.path.lexists(path):
         raise RuntimeError(f"worktree {path} still exists; metadata {meta} kept")
-    shutil.rmtree(meta)
+    remove_tree(meta)
 
 
 def _rebuild(repo: Repo, item: Item) -> Item:
@@ -726,9 +913,41 @@ def _fingerprint(item: Item) -> tuple:
         item.remotes,
         item.worktree,
         item.compose_projects,
+        item.actions,
     )
 
 
+def _run_fini_hook(repo: Repo, path: str) -> None:
+    run_hook(
+        FINI_HOOK,
+        hook_command(FINI_HOOK, repo.hooks[FINI_HOOK], path, None),
+        path,
+        check=True,
+        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+        stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+        text=True,
+    )
+
+
+def _sha(cwd: str, ref: str) -> str | None:
+    try:
+        return _git(["rev-parse", "--verify", "--quiet", END_OF_OPTIONS, ref], cwd)
+    except GitRunError:
+        return None
+
+
+def _changed_by_hook(repo: Repo, item: Item) -> str | None:
+    path = item.worktree
+    dirty, unread, _ = _read_worktree(Item(branch=None, worktree=path), True)
+    if unread or dirty:
+        return unread or f"dirty: {dirty} paths"
+    if _sha(path, "HEAD") != item.head:
+        return "HEAD moved"
+    if item.branch and _sha(repo.repo, f"refs/heads/{item.branch}") != item.local_sha:
+        return f"branch {item.branch} moved"
+    return _busy(_process_cwds(), path) if repo.host_ns else None
+
+
 def execute(repo: Repo, item: Item) -> None:
     fresh = _rebuild(repo, item)
     if _fingerprint(fresh) != _fingerprint(item):
@@ -736,19 +955,31 @@ def execute(repo: Repo, item: Item) -> None:
         return
 
     notes: list[str] = []
+    removes_tree = "worktree" in item.actions
+    if removes_tree and _linked_meta(_registrations(repo.repo), item.worktree) is None:
+        item.result = f"skipped: {NOT_LINKED}"
+        return
     try:
-        for project in item.compose_projects:
+        if f"hook:{FINI_HOOK}" in item.actions:
+            _run_fini_hook(repo, item.worktree)
+            changed = _changed_by_hook(repo, item)
+            if changed:
+                item.result = f"skipped: changed during {FINI_HOOK} ({changed})"
+                return
+        for project in item.compose_projects if removes_tree else []:
             _docker(["compose", "-p", project, "down", "-v", "--remove-orphans"])
-        for image in item.images:
+        for image in item.images if removes_tree else []:
             try:
                 _docker(["image", "rm", image])
             except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
                 notes.append(f"image kept: {image}")
-        if item.worktree:
+        if removes_tree:
             _remove_worktree(repo.repo, item.worktree)
-        if item.local_sha:
+        if "local-branch" in item.actions:
             delete_local_branch(item.branch, cwd=repo.repo, force=True)
         for remote, sha in item.remotes.items():
+            if f"remote-branch:{remote}" not in item.actions:
+                continue
             run(
                 [
                     "push",
@@ -765,15 +996,23 @@ def execute(repo: Repo, item: Item) -> None:
     item.result = "; ".join(["done", *notes])
 
 
+def _label(item: Item) -> str:
+    if item.skip and (item.actions or item.state == "merged-clean"):
+        return "SKIP"
+    if item.actions:
+        return "REMOVE" if item.state in ("unmerged", "dirty") else "DELETE"
+    return "KEEP" if item.state == "merged-clean" else LABELS[item.state]
+
+
 def _line(item: Item) -> str:
-    label = "SKIP" if item.state == "merged-clean" and item.skip else LABELS[item.state]
+    label = _label(item)
     parts = [item.reason]
     if item.skip and item.state != "protected":
         parts.append(item.skip)
     if item.worktree and item.state != "stale":
         parts.append(f"worktree {item.worktree}")
     if item.size_bytes is not None:
-        parts.append(f"size {_human(item.size_bytes)}")
+        parts.append(f"size {human_size(item.size_bytes)}")
     if item.compose_projects:
         parts.append("stack " + ", ".join(item.compose_projects))
     if item.remotes:
@@ -819,7 +1058,7 @@ def _render(
         )
 
 
-def _prepare(
+def prepare(
     repo_roots: list[str],
     include: list[str],
     exclude: list[str],
@@ -858,9 +1097,10 @@ def _finish(repos: list[Repo]) -> int:
     return 1 if any(result.startswith("failed") for result in results) else 0
 
 
-def branch_gc(
+def cleanup(
     repo_roots: list[str],
     *,
+    scope: str,
     apply: bool,
     as_json: bool,
     include: list[str],
@@ -868,12 +1108,17 @@ def branch_gc(
     merged_into: list[str],
     sizes: bool,
     min_age: float | None,
+    hooks: dict[str, dict[str, list[str]]],
 ) -> int:
     """
-    Plan, and with apply=True execute, the cleanup of merged and clean branches.
+    Plan, and with apply=True execute, a cleanup of worktrees, branches or both.
 
     Args:
         repo_roots: main worktree roots of the repositories to scan.
+        scope: `worktree` removes clean worktrees whose commits are merged or
+            pushed (hook, stack, checkout; the branch stays); `branch` removes
+            merged branches without a worktree, local and remote; `all` does
+            both in one pass.
         apply: execute the plan instead of only printing it.
         as_json: print the plan as JSON instead of text lines.
         include: only items whose branch or worktree path matches one of these.
@@ -881,15 +1126,26 @@ def branch_gc(
         merged_into: integration lines (refs) that also count as merged.
         sizes: measure each worktree's disk usage into the plan.
         min_age: skip items younger than this many hours.
+        hooks: pinned hooks by managed repository root realpath, from the
+            CLI; a worktree-fini hook runs only for a root pinned there.
 
     Returns:
         0 on success, 1 when an applied item failed, 2 when refused.
     """
+    if scope not in ("worktree", "branch", "all"):
+        raise ValueError(f"unknown cleanup scope {scope!r}")
     if apply and not host_pid_namespace():
         print(REFUSAL, file=sys.stderr)
         return 2
-    options = {"merged_into": merged_into, "sizes": sizes, "min_age": min_age}
+    options = {
-    prepared = _prepare(repo_roots, include, exclude, options)
+        "merged_into": merged_into,
+        "sizes": sizes,
+        "min_age": min_age,
+        "scope": scope,
+        "activity": False,
+        "hooks": hooks,
+    }
+    prepared = prepare(repo_roots, include, exclude, options)
     if prepared is None:
         return 2
     repos, host_ns, chosen = prepared
@@ -900,7 +1156,7 @@ def branch_gc(
                 if item.eligible and chosen(item):
                     execute(repo, item)
                     print(
-                        f"[gc] {item.branch or item.worktree}: {item.result}",
+                        f"[{scope}] {item.branch or item.worktree}: {item.result}",
                         file=sys.stderr,
                     )
     _render(repos, host_ns, chosen, as_json)
@@ -915,6 +1171,7 @@ def branch_purge(
     merged_into: list[str],
     sizes: bool,
     min_age: float | None,
+    hooks: dict[str, dict[str, list[str]]],
 ) -> int:
     """
     Delete unmerged or dirty items after a y/N confirmation per item.
@@ -926,6 +1183,8 @@ def branch_purge(
         merged_into: integration lines (refs) that also count as merged.
         sizes: measure each worktree's disk usage into the prompt line.
         min_age: skip items younger than this many hours.
+        hooks: pinned hooks by managed repository root realpath, from the
+            CLI; a worktree-fini hook runs only for a root pinned there.
 
     Returns:
         0 on success, 1 when a confirmed item failed, 2 when refused.
@@ -933,8 +1192,15 @@ def branch_purge(
     if not host_pid_namespace():
         print(REFUSAL, file=sys.stderr)
         return 2
-    options = {"merged_into": merged_into, "sizes": sizes, "min_age": min_age}
+    options = {
-    prepared = _prepare(repo_roots, include, exclude, options)
+        "merged_into": merged_into,
+        "sizes": sizes,
+        "min_age": min_age,
+        "scope": "purge",
+        "activity": False,
+        "hooks": hooks,
+    }
+    prepared = prepare(repo_roots, include, exclude, options)
     if prepared is None:
         return 2
     repos, _, chosen = prepared

src/pkgmgr/actions/branch/nofollow.py

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import shutil
+
+DIR_FLAGS = os.O_RDONLY | os.O_DIRECTORY | os.O_NOFOLLOW
+
+
+def canonical(path: str) -> bool:
+    """
+    Args:
+        path: a path as git or a plan names it.
+
+    Returns:
+        True when path is absolute and already its own realpath: no symbolic
+        link and no `..` component that the kernel could resolve elsewhere.
+    """
+    return os.path.isabs(path) and os.path.realpath(path) == path
+
+
+def remove_tree(path: str) -> None:
+    """
+    Delete a directory tree without following a symbolic link anywhere on
+    the way to it, even one swapped in after the caller checked the path.
+
+    Args:
+        path: absolute, canonical directory to delete.
+
+    Raises:
+        OSError: a component of path is a symbolic link or missing, or the
+            deletion failed.
+    """
+    parent, name = os.path.split(path)
+    fd = os.open(os.sep, os.O_RDONLY | os.O_DIRECTORY)
+    try:
+        for component in [c for c in parent.split(os.sep) if c]:
+            child = os.open(component, DIR_FLAGS, dir_fd=fd)
+            os.close(fd)
+            fd = child
+        # Trip-wire: rmtree(dir_fd=) needs Python 3.11; the fd link pins the
+        # opened parent on every version, and rmtree refuses a symlinked name.
+        shutil.rmtree(f"/proc/self/fd/{fd}/{name}")
+    finally:
+        os.close(fd)

src/pkgmgr/actions/branch/tree.py

@@ -221,6 +221,9 @@ def _scan(
             merged_into=[],
             sizes=False,
             min_age=None,
+            scope="all",
+            activity=True,
+            hooks={},
             fetch=False,
             forge_source=source,
         )

src/pkgmgr/actions/worktree/hooks.py

@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import re
+import shutil
+import signal
+import subprocess
+import time
+
+from .trust import root_resolved, trusted_path
+
+INIT_HOOK = "worktree-init"
+FINI_HOOK = "worktree-fini"
+MAKEFILES = ("GNUmakefile", "makefile", "Makefile")
+MAKEFILE_LIMIT = 1 << 20
+HOOK_TIMEOUT = 1800
+HOOK_GRACE = 5
+PLACEHOLDER = re.compile(r"\{(path|slot)\}")
+
+
+def defined_in(path: str, target: str) -> str | None:
+    """
+    Name the makefile in path that defines target, read as text and never run:
+    make expands $(shell) and include lines even under -n.
+
+    Args:
+        path: directory that may hold a makefile.
+        target: make target name.
+
+    Returns:
+        The first makefile, in make's lookup order, with a `<target>:` rule;
+        None when none has one.
+    """
+    rule = re.compile(rf"^{re.escape(target)}\s*:", re.MULTILINE)
+    for name in MAKEFILES:
+        file = os.path.join(path, name)
+        if os.path.islink(file) or not os.path.isfile(file):
+            continue
+        with open(file, encoding="utf-8", errors="replace") as fh:
+            if rule.search(fh.read(MAKEFILE_LIMIT)):
+                return name
+    return None
+
+
+def hook_command(name: str, argv: list[str], path: str, slot: int | None) -> list[str]:
+    """
+    Fill a pinned hook command in one pass and resolve its program.
+
+    Args:
+        name: the hook, for error messages.
+        argv: the command pinned in the `worktree_hooks` config.
+        path: the worktree, replacing `{path}`.
+        slot: the worktree's slot, replacing `{slot}`; None leaves it as is.
+
+    Returns:
+        The argv to run; its program is an absolute path, for a bare name the
+        resolved file that was checked, so a multi-call binary sees that
+        file's name; pin the link's absolute path to keep the link's name.
+
+    Raises:
+        RuntimeError: the program is neither absolute nor a bare name found,
+            as a root-controlled file, on a root-owned PATH entry no group or
+            other user can write; anything relative resolves in the worktree.
+    """
+
+    def fill(match: re.Match[str]) -> str:
+        if match.group(1) == "path":
+            return path
+        return match.group(0) if slot is None else str(slot)
+
+    filled = [PLACEHOLDER.sub(fill, arg) for arg in argv]
+    program = filled[0] if filled else ""
+    if not os.path.isabs(program):
+        found = (
+            shutil.which(program, path=trusted_path())
+            if program and "/" not in program
+            else None
+        )
+        resolved = root_resolved(found) if found else None
+        if resolved is None:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                f"{name} pin {program!r} is neither an absolute path nor a "
+                "root-owned command on a root-owned PATH entry"
+            )
+        program = resolved
+    return [program, *filled[1:]]
+
+
+def run_hook(
+    name: str, command: list[str], path: str, *, check: bool, **kwargs
+) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
+    """
+    Run a resolved hook command in the worktree.
+
+    Args:
+        name: the hook, for error messages.
+        command: the argv from hook_command.
+        path: the worktree to run in.
+        check: raise CalledProcessError on a non-zero exit.
+        kwargs: further subprocess.Popen arguments, such as output handling.
+
+    Returns:
+        The completed process; stdin was closed, PATH held only its
+        root-controlled entries and HOOK_TIMEOUT applied to its whole process
+        group.
+
+    Raises:
+        RuntimeError: the hook ran longer than HOOK_TIMEOUT, or no PATH entry
+            is root-controlled.
+    """
+    with subprocess.Popen(
+        command,
+        cwd=path,
+        stdin=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+        env={**os.environ, "PATH": trusted_path()},
+        start_new_session=True,
+        **kwargs,
+    ) as process:
+        try:
+            stdout, stderr = process.communicate(timeout=HOOK_TIMEOUT)
+        except subprocess.TimeoutExpired as exc:
+            _stop_group(process)
+            raise RuntimeError(f"{name} timed out after {HOOK_TIMEOUT} s") from exc
+    if check and process.returncode:
+        raise subprocess.CalledProcessError(
+            process.returncode, command, output=stdout, stderr=stderr
+        )
+    return subprocess.CompletedProcess(command, process.returncode, stdout, stderr)
+
+
+def _stop_group(process: subprocess.Popen) -> None:
+    for sig in (signal.SIGTERM, signal.SIGKILL):
+        try:
+            os.killpg(process.pid, sig)
+        except OSError:
+            return
+        deadline = time.monotonic() + HOOK_GRACE
+        while time.monotonic() < deadline:
+            process.poll()
+            try:
+                os.killpg(process.pid, 0)
+            except OSError:
+                return
+            time.sleep(0.05)

src/pkgmgr/actions/worktree/orphans.py

@@ -0,0 +1,193 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import time
+from dataclasses import asdict
+
+from pkgmgr.actions.branch.gc import Item, human_size, prepare
+
+DAY = 86400
+ORDER = ("merged-clean", "merged-dirty", "stale-open", "stale", "active")
+PROPOSALS = {
+    "merged-clean": "pkgmgr gc",
+    "merged-dirty": "ask",
+    "stale-open": "ask",
+    "stale": "git worktree prune",
+    "active": "keep",
+}
+GUARDS = ("process:", "lock:")
+HEADER = (
+    "Class",
+    "Branch",
+    "Worktree",
+    "Dirty",
+    "Unpushed",
+    "Last activity",
+    "Proposal",
+)
+
+
+def classify(item: Item, now: float, limit: float) -> str:
+    """
+    Sort one scanned item into an orphan class.
+
+    Args:
+        item: item from a scan with activity recorded.
+        now: current epoch seconds.
+        limit: seconds of inactivity after which unfinished work is stale.
+
+    Returns:
+        One of ORDER.
+    """
+    if item.state == "stale":
+        return "stale"
+    if (
+        item.state == "protected"
+        or (item.branch or "").startswith("archive/")
+        or item.skip == "checked out in main worktree"
+    ):
+        return "active"
+    if item.merged:
+        return "merged-dirty" if item.state == "dirty" else "merged-clean"
+    pending = item.state == "dirty" or bool(item.unpushed) or not item.remotes
+    idle = item.last_activity is not None and now - item.last_activity > limit
+    guarded = bool(item.skip) and item.skip.startswith(GUARDS)
+    return "stale-open" if pending and idle and not guarded else "active"
+
+
+def proposal(item: Item, cls: str) -> str:
+    if cls == "active":
+        return "keep"
+    if item.skip and item.skip.startswith(GUARDS):
+        return f"keep ({item.skip})"
+    return PROPOSALS[cls]
+
+
+def _cells(row: dict, now: float, sizes: bool) -> list[str]:
+    activity = row["last_activity"]
+    when = (
+        f"{time.strftime('%Y-%m-%d', time.localtime(activity))} "
+        f"({int((now - activity) // DAY)} d)"
+        if activity
+        else "-"
+    )
+    values = [
+        row["class"],
+        row["branch"] or "(detached)",
+        row["worktree"] or "-",
+        *(
+            [human_size(row["size_bytes"]) if row["size_bytes"] else "-"]
+            if sizes
+            else []
+        ),
+        str(row["dirty"]),
+        "-" if row["unpushed"] is None else str(row["unpushed"]),
+        when,
+        row["proposal"],
+    ]
+    return [value.replace("|", "\\|") for value in values]
+
+
+def _table(rows: list[dict], now: float, sizes: bool) -> list[str]:
+    header = [*HEADER[:3], *(["Size"] if sizes else []), *HEADER[3:]]
+    lines = [
+        "| " + " | ".join(header) + " |",
+        "| " + " | ".join("---" for _ in header) + " |",
+    ]
+    return lines + ["| " + " | ".join(_cells(r, now, sizes)) + " |" for r in rows]
+
+
+def worktree_orphans(
+    repo_roots: list[str],
+    *,
+    stale_days: int,
+    top: int,
+    as_json: bool,
+    include: list[str],
+    exclude: list[str],
+    merged_into: list[str],
+    sizes: bool,
+) -> int:
+    """
+    List merged and abandoned branches and worktrees with a proposal each.
+
+    Read-only apart from the fetch the scan does. Merged covers ancestry, a
+    merged pull request, an integration line and patch equivalence.
+
+    Args:
+        repo_roots: main worktree roots of the repositories to scan.
+        stale_days: unfinished work idle for longer is stale-open.
+        top: rows per class in the text table; 0 shows the counts only.
+        as_json: print every row, active ones included, as JSON.
+        include: only items whose branch or worktree path matches one of these.
+        exclude: drop items whose branch or worktree path matches one of these.
+        merged_into: integration lines (refs) that also count as merged.
+        sizes: measure each worktree's disk usage and order by it.
+
+    Returns:
+        0 on success, 2 when refused.
+    """
+    options = {
+        "merged_into": merged_into,
+        "sizes": sizes,
+        "min_age": None,
+        "scope": "all",
+        "activity": True,
+        "hooks": {},
+    }
+    prepared = prepare(repo_roots, include, exclude, options)
+    if prepared is None:
+        return 2
+    repos, host_ns, chosen = prepared
+    now = time.time()
+    limit = stale_days * DAY
+
+    report = []
+    for repo in repos:
+        rows = []
+        for item in repo.items:
+            if not chosen(item):
+                continue
+            cls = classify(item, now, limit)
+            rows.append({**asdict(item), "class": cls, "proposal": proposal(item, cls)})
+        rows.sort(
+            key=lambda r: (
+                ORDER.index(r["class"]),
+                -(r["size_bytes"] or 0) if sizes else 0,
+                r["last_activity"] or 0,
+            )
+        )
+        report.append({"repo": repo.repo, "warnings": repo.warnings, "rows": rows})
+
+    if as_json:
+        print(
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "host_pid_namespace": host_ns,
+                    "stale_days": stale_days,
+                    "repos": report,
+                },
+                indent=2,
+            )
+        )
+        return 0
+    for entry in report:
+        print(f"== {entry['repo']} (stale after {stale_days} days)")
+        for warning in entry["warnings"]:
+            print(f"WARN     {warning}")
+        for cls in ORDER:
+            count = sum(r["class"] == cls for r in entry["rows"])
+            print(f"- {cls}: {count} ({PROPOSALS[cls]})")
+        shown = [
+            row
+            for cls in ORDER[:-1]
+            for row in [r for r in entry["rows"] if r["class"] == cls][:top]
+        ]
+        if shown:
+            print()
+            print("\n".join(_table(shown, now, sizes)))
+    if not host_ns:
+        print(
+            "WARN     busy and lock checks unavailable: not in the host PID namespace"
+        )
+    return 0

src/pkgmgr/actions/worktree/slots.py

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+
+SLOT_FILE = "pkgmgr-slot"
+
+
+def used_slots(common_dir: str) -> set[int]:
+    base = os.path.join(common_dir, "worktrees")
+    slots: set[int] = set()
+    for entry in os.listdir(base) if os.path.isdir(base) else []:
+        try:
+            with open(os.path.join(base, entry, SLOT_FILE), encoding="utf-8") as fh:
+                slots.add(int(fh.read().strip()))
+        except (OSError, ValueError):
+            continue
+    return slots
+
+
+def next_slot(used: set[int]) -> int:
+    slot = 1
+    while slot in used:
+        slot += 1
+    return slot
+
+
+def write_slot(path: str, slot: int) -> None:
+    """
+    Record a slot in the metadata of a worktree this process just added.
+
+    Args:
+        path: the new worktree, whose `.git` file names its metadata.
+        slot: the slot to record.
+    """
+    with open(os.path.join(path, ".git"), encoding="utf-8") as fh:
+        meta = os.path.normpath(
+            os.path.join(path, fh.read().strip().removeprefix("gitdir: "))
+        )
+    with open(os.path.join(meta, SLOT_FILE), "w", encoding="utf-8") as fh:
+        fh.write(f"{slot}\n")

src/pkgmgr/actions/worktree/trust.py

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import stat
+
+ROOT_UID = 0
+UID_MAP = "/proc/self/uid_map"
+INITIAL_MAP = [[0, 0, 4294967295]]
+OVERFLOW_UID = "/proc/sys/kernel/overflowuid"
+SHARED_WRITE = stat.S_IWGRP | stat.S_IWOTH
+
+
+def root_uids() -> frozenset[int]:
+    """
+    Returns:
+        The owner uids that stand for root. In the initial user namespace,
+        whose uid_map is the identity over every uid, that is 0. In any other
+        namespace a mapped uid 0 may be any user, so only the overflow uid
+        counts: the real root's files show up under it there, as do those of
+        every other unmapped owner. Empty when a file it needs is unreadable
+        or this process's own uid is unmapped, since its own files then show
+        up as the overflow uid too.
+    """
+    try:
+        with open(UID_MAP, encoding="ascii") as fh:
+            ranges = [[int(n) for n in line.split()] for line in fh if line.strip()]
+        if ranges == INITIAL_MAP:
+            return frozenset({ROOT_UID})
+        with open(OVERFLOW_UID, encoding="ascii") as fh:
+            overflow = int(fh.read())
+    except (OSError, ValueError):
+        return frozenset()
+    if os.geteuid() == overflow:
+        return frozenset()
+    return frozenset({overflow})
+
+
+def root_resolved(path: str) -> str | None:
+    """
+    Args:
+        path: an absolute file or directory.
+
+    Returns:
+        The path, resolved once, when it and every directory above it are
+        owned by root and writable by neither group nor others, so no other
+        user can replace what it names; None otherwise. Callers keep and use
+        the returned path: resolving path again can follow a link swapped in
+        after this check. In the initial user namespace a component on a
+        nosuid mount also yields None: a desktop user can mount an image of
+        root-owned files through udisks2 or FUSE, always nosuid, while the
+        system's own directories never are; every bubblewrap mount is nosuid,
+        so the rule cannot apply inside one.
+    """
+    owners = root_uids()
+    initial = owners == {ROOT_UID}
+    resolved = os.path.realpath(path)
+    current = resolved
+    while True:
+        try:
+            info = os.stat(current)
+            nosuid = initial and os.statvfs(current).f_flag & os.ST_NOSUID
+        except OSError:
+            return None
+        if info.st_uid not in owners or info.st_mode & SHARED_WRITE or nosuid:
+            return None
+        parent = os.path.dirname(current)
+        if parent == current:
+            return resolved
+        current = parent
+
+
+def trusted_path() -> str:
+    """
+    Returns:
+        The PATH entries that resolve to root-controlled directories, else
+        those of os.defpath, each in its resolved form and joined by
+        os.pathsep, so a symbolic link another user can retarget never stays
+        on it.
+
+    Raises:
+        RuntimeError: no entry of either qualifies; an empty PATH would make
+            the hook search its working directory, the worktree.
+    """
+    for source in (os.get_exec_path(), os.defpath.split(os.pathsep)):
+        resolved = (root_resolved(entry) for entry in source if os.path.isabs(entry))
+        entries = dict.fromkeys(
+            entry for entry in resolved if entry and os.path.isdir(entry)
+        )
+        if entries:
+            return os.pathsep.join(entries)
+    raise RuntimeError(
+        "no PATH entry is a root-owned directory closed to other writers"
+    )

src/pkgmgr/actions/worktree/up.py

@@ -0,0 +1,226 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import os
+import re
+import sys
+
+from pkgmgr.core.git.errors import GitRunError
+from pkgmgr.core.git.queries import FILTER_CONFIG, local_config
+from pkgmgr.core.git.run import END_OF_OPTIONS, run
+
+from .hooks import INIT_HOOK, defined_in, hook_command, run_hook
+from .slots import next_slot, used_slots, write_slot
+
+PORT_PREFIX = re.compile(r"^\d+/")
+HOST_AND_PATH = re.compile(r"([^:/]+)[:/](.*)")
+NETWORK_CONFIG = (
+    r"^(core\.(sshcommand|gitproxy)|remote\..*\.(uploadpack|receivepack)"
+    r"|credential\..*helper|url\..*\.insteadof|protocol\..*allow)$"
+)
+
+
+def worktree_location(url: str) -> str:
+    """
+    Map a remote URL to `<host>/<owner>/<repo>`.
+
+    Args:
+        url: remote URL in https, ssh or scp form.
+
+    Returns:
+        The host followed by the repository path, without `.git` or a port;
+        a local path loses its leading slash, so it always stays relative.
+    """
+    rest = url.removesuffix(".git").split("://", 1)[-1].split("@", 1)[-1]
+    match = HOST_AND_PATH.match(rest)
+    if not match:
+        return rest.strip("/")
+    host, path = match.groups()
+    return f"{host}/{PORT_PREFIX.sub('', path).strip('/')}"
+
+
+def _common_dir(cwd: str) -> str:
+    return run(
+        ["rev-parse", "--path-format=absolute", "--git-common-dir"], cwd=cwd, scan=True
+    )
+
+
+def _inside(path: str, root: str) -> bool:
+    real, base = os.path.realpath(path), os.path.realpath(root)
+    return os.path.commonpath([real, base]) == base
+
+
+def _ref_exists(repo: str, ref: str) -> bool:
+    try:
+        run(
+            ["rev-parse", "--verify", "--quiet", f"{ref}^{{commit}}"],
+            cwd=repo,
+            scan=True,
+        )
+    except GitRunError:
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+def _commit_of(repo: str, ref: str) -> str:
+    # worktree add reads a start point that begins with "-" as HEAD even after
+    # "--" or --end-of-options, so it only ever gets the resolved commit id
+    return run(
+        ["rev-parse", "--verify", "--quiet", END_OF_OPTIONS, f"{ref}^{{commit}}"],
+        cwd=repo,
+        scan=True,
+    )
+
+
+def _default_base(repo: str) -> str:
+    try:
+        return run(
+            ["symbolic-ref", "--short", "refs/remotes/origin/HEAD"], cwd=repo, scan=True
+        )
+    except GitRunError:
+        return "origin/main" if _ref_exists(repo, "origin/main") else "origin/master"
+
+
+def worktree_up(
+    repo_dir: str,
+    branch: str,
+    *,
+    base: str | None,
+    worktrees_dir: str,
+    path: str | None,
+    hooks: dict[str, dict[str, list[str]]],
+    as_json: bool,
+) -> int:
+    """
+    Check a branch out into its own worktree under the standard path.
+
+    Args:
+        repo_dir: any directory inside the repository.
+        branch: branch to check out; created from base when it exists nowhere.
+        base: start point of a new branch; None takes origin's default branch.
+        worktrees_dir: root of the standard path
+            `<worktrees_dir>/<host>/<owner>/<repo>/<branch>`.
+        path: exact checkout path instead of the standard one, e.g. a
+            directory an agent sandbox releases; None keeps the standard path.
+        hooks: pinned hooks by managed repository root realpath, from the
+            CLI; the worktree-init hook runs only when the repository root is
+            pinned there, never from the Makefile or by origin's URL.
+        as_json: print the result as JSON instead of text.
+
+    Returns:
+        0 when the worktree is ready, 1 when the worktree-init hook failed
+        (the worktree stays), 2 when refused.
+    """
+    try:
+        common = _common_dir(repo_dir)
+        root = os.path.dirname(common)
+        url = run(["remote", "get-url", "--", "origin"], cwd=root, scan=True)
+        run(["check-ref-format", "--branch", branch], cwd=root, scan=True)
+        filters = local_config(root, FILTER_CONFIG)
+    except GitRunError as exc:
+        print(f"Refusing: {str(exc).splitlines()[0]}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 2
+    if filters:
+        print(
+            f"Refusing: {', '.join(filters)} in the repository config would run "
+            "on the checkout",
+            file=sys.stderr,
+        )
+        return 2
+
+    location = worktree_location(url)
+    if path:
+        path = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(path))
+    else:
+        standard = os.path.expanduser(worktrees_dir)
+        path = os.path.join(standard, location, branch)
+        if not _inside(path, standard):
+            print(f"Refusing: {path} lies outside {standard}", file=sys.stderr)
+            return 2
+    if os.path.lexists(path):
+        print(f"Refusing: {path} already exists", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 2
+
+    slot = next_slot(used_slots(common))
+    pinned = hooks.get(os.path.realpath(root), {}).get(INIT_HOOK)
+    try:
+        command = hook_command(INIT_HOOK, pinned, path, slot) if pinned else None
+    except RuntimeError as exc:
+        print(f"Refusing: {exc}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 2
+
+    warnings: list[str] = []
+    network = local_config(root, NETWORK_CONFIG)
+    if network:
+        warnings.append(f"fetch skipped: {', '.join(network)} in the repository config")
+    else:
+        try:
+            run(
+                ["fetch", "--quiet", "--no-auto-maintenance", "origin"],
+                cwd=root,
+                scan=True,
+            )
+        except GitRunError as exc:
+            warnings.append(f"fetch failed: {str(exc).splitlines()[0]}")
+
+    os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(path), exist_ok=True)
+    start: str | None = None
+    if _ref_exists(root, f"refs/heads/{branch}"):
+        origin, add = "existing", ["worktree", "add", "--", path, branch]
+    elif _ref_exists(root, f"refs/remotes/origin/{branch}"):
+        origin = f"tracking origin/{branch}"
+        add = [
+            "worktree",
+            "add",
+            "--track",
+            "-b",
+            branch,
+            "--",
+            path,
+            f"origin/{branch}",
+        ]
+    else:
+        start = base or _default_base(root)
+        origin = f"new from {start}"
+        add = ["worktree", "add", "--no-track", "-b", branch, "--", path]
+    try:
+        if start is not None:
+            add.append(_commit_of(root, start))
+        run(add, cwd=root, scan=True)
+    except GitRunError as exc:
+        print(f"Refusing: {str(exc).splitlines()[0]}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 2
+
+    write_slot(path, slot)
+
+    hook = "none"
+    code = 0
+    if command:
+        try:
+            ran = run_hook(INIT_HOOK, command, path, check=False, stdout=sys.stderr)
+            failure = None if ran.returncode == 0 else str(ran.returncode)
+        except (RuntimeError, OSError) as exc:
+            failure = str(exc)
+        hook = INIT_HOOK if failure is None else f"{INIT_HOOK} failed ({failure})"
+        code = 0 if failure is None else 1
+    else:
+        makefile = defined_in(path, INIT_HOOK)
+        if makefile:
+            hook = f"not pinned: {INIT_HOOK} in {makefile}"
+
+    result = {
+        "path": path,
+        "branch": branch,
+        "origin": origin,
+        "slot": slot,
+        "hook": hook,
+        "warnings": warnings,
+    }
+    if as_json:
+        print(json.dumps(result, indent=2))
+    else:
+        for warning in warnings:
+            print(f"WARN     {warning}")
+        for key in ("path", "branch", "origin", "slot", "hook"):
+            print(f"{key:<8} {result[key]}")
+    return code

src/pkgmgr/cli/commands/__init__.py

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from .release import handle_release
 from .repos import handle_repos_command
 from .tools import handle_tools_command
 from .version import handle_version
+from .worktree import handle_gc, handle_worktree
 
 __all__ = [
     "handle_archive",
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ __all__ = [
     "handle_changelog",
     "handle_code_scanning",
     "handle_config",
+    "handle_gc",
     "handle_make",
     "handle_mirror_command",
     "handle_publish",
@@ -24,4 +26,5 @@ __all__ = [
     "handle_repos_command",
     "handle_tools_command",
     "handle_version",
+    "handle_worktree",
 ]

src/pkgmgr/cli/commands/branch.py

@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ import os
 import sys
 
 from pkgmgr.actions.branch import (
-    branch_gc,
     branch_purge,
+    cleanup,
     close_branch,
     drop_branch,
     open_branch,
@@ -17,22 +17,42 @@ from pkgmgr.core.git.errors import GitBaseError
 from pkgmgr.core.repository.dir import get_repo_dir
 
 
+def _repo_dir(ctx: CLIContext, repo: dict) -> str:
+    return (
+        os.path.expanduser(str(repo["directory"]))
+        if repo.get("directory")
+        else get_repo_dir(ctx.repositories_base_dir, repo)
+    )
+
+
 def _known_dirs(ctx: CLIContext) -> list[str]:
-    return [
+    return [_repo_dir(ctx, r) for r in ctx.all_repositories]
-        os.path.expanduser(str(r["directory"]))
-        if r.get("directory")
-        else get_repo_dir(ctx.repositories_base_dir, r)
-        for r in ctx.all_repositories
-    ]
 
 
-def _gc_repo_roots(args, ctx: CLIContext) -> list[str]:
+def pinned_hooks(ctx: CLIContext) -> dict[str, dict[str, list[str]]]:
-    if not args.all:
+    """
-        return [main_repo_root(".")]
+    Bind the `worktree_hooks` config to managed repositories, never to a
-    return [d for d in _known_dirs(ctx) if os.path.exists(os.path.join(d, ".git"))]
+    remote URL, which the repository's own config sets.
+
+    Args:
+        ctx: CLI context; each `worktree_hooks` key names the
+            `<provider>/<account>/<repository>` of a `repositories` entry.
+
+    Returns:
+        Realpath of each pinned managed repository's directory -> hook name
+        -> argv; keys that match no managed repository are dropped.
+    """
+    pins = ctx.config_merged["worktree_hooks"]
+    return {
+        os.path.realpath(_repo_dir(ctx, repo)): pins[key]
+        for repo in ctx.config_merged["repositories"]
+        if all(repo.get(part) for part in ("provider", "account", "repository"))
+        and (key := f"{repo['provider']}/{repo['account']}/{repo['repository']}")
+        in pins
+    }
 
 
-def _refresh(roots: list[str]) -> None:
+def refresh_tree(roots: list[str]) -> None:
     for root in roots:
         try:
             tree.refresh_tree_entry(root)
@@ -40,19 +60,58 @@ def _refresh(roots: list[str]) -> None:
             print(f"WARN tree file not rewritten for {root}: {exc}", file=sys.stderr)
 
 
+def scan_repo_roots(args, ctx: CLIContext) -> list[str]:
+    """
+    Resolve the repositories a scan covers: the current one, or every
+    pkgmgr-managed one with --all. Exits with 2 outside a repository.
+    """
+    if not args.all:
+        try:
+            return [main_repo_root(".")]
+        except GitBaseError as exc:
+            print(f"Not inside a git repository: {exc}", file=sys.stderr)
+            sys.exit(2)
+    return [d for d in _known_dirs(ctx) if os.path.exists(os.path.join(d, ".git"))]
+
+
+def scan_options(args) -> dict:
+    return {
+        "include": args.branch,
+        "exclude": args.exclude,
+        "merged_into": args.merged_into,
+        "sizes": args.sizes,
+    }
+
+
+def run_cleanup(args, ctx: CLIContext, scope: str) -> None:
+    roots = scan_repo_roots(args, ctx)
+    code = cleanup(
+        roots,
+        scope=scope,
+        apply=args.apply,
+        as_json=args.json,
+        min_age=args.min_age,
+        hooks=pinned_hooks(ctx),
+        **scan_options(args),
+    )
+    if args.apply:
+        refresh_tree(roots)
+    sys.exit(code)
+
+
 def handle_branch(args, ctx: CLIContext) -> None:
     """
     Handle `pkgmgr branch` subcommands.
 
     Currently supported:
-      - pkgmgr branch open  [<name>] [--base <branch>]
+      - pkgmgr branch open    [<name>] [--base <branch>]
-      - pkgmgr branch close [<name>] [--base <branch>] [--force|-f]
+      - pkgmgr branch close   [<name>] [--base <branch>] [--force|-f]
-      - pkgmgr branch drop  [<name>] [--base <branch>] [--force|-f]
+      - pkgmgr branch drop    [<name>] [--base <branch>] [--force|-f]
-      - pkgmgr branch gc    [--apply] [--json] [--all] [--branch N]... [--exclude N]...
+      - pkgmgr branch cleanup [--apply] [--json] [--all] [--branch N]... [--exclude N]...
-                            [--merged-into REF]... [--sizes] [--min-age HOURS]
+                              [--merged-into REF]... [--sizes] [--min-age HOURS]
-      - pkgmgr branch purge [--all] [--branch N]... [--exclude N]...
+      - pkgmgr branch purge   [--all] [--branch N]... [--exclude N]...
-                            [--merged-into REF]... [--sizes] [--min-age HOURS]
+                              [--merged-into REF]... [--sizes] [--min-age HOURS]
-      - pkgmgr branch tree  [--format json|yaml] [--output FILE]
+      - pkgmgr branch tree    [--format json|yaml] [--output FILE]
     """
     if args.subcommand == "tree":
         sys.exit(
@@ -64,25 +123,18 @@ def handle_branch(args, ctx: CLIContext) -> None:
             )
         )
 
-    if args.subcommand in ("gc", "purge"):
+    if args.subcommand == "cleanup":
-        try:
+        run_cleanup(args, ctx, "branch")
-            roots = _gc_repo_roots(args, ctx)
+
-        except GitBaseError as exc:
+    if args.subcommand == "purge":
-            print(f"Not inside a git repository: {exc}", file=sys.stderr)
+        roots = scan_repo_roots(args, ctx)
-            sys.exit(2)
+        code = branch_purge(
-        options = {
+            roots,
-            "include": args.branch,
+            min_age=args.min_age,
-            "exclude": args.exclude,
+            hooks=pinned_hooks(ctx),
-            "merged_into": args.merged_into,
+            **scan_options(args),
-            "sizes": args.sizes,
+        )
-            "min_age": args.min_age,
+        refresh_tree(roots)
-        }
-        if args.subcommand == "gc":
-            code = branch_gc(roots, apply=args.apply, as_json=args.json, **options)
-        else:
-            code = branch_purge(roots, **options)
-        if args.subcommand == "purge" or args.apply:
-            _refresh(roots)
         sys.exit(code)
 
     if args.subcommand == "open":
@@ -91,7 +143,7 @@ def handle_branch(args, ctx: CLIContext) -> None:
             base_branch=getattr(args, "base", "main"),
             cwd=".",
         )
-        _refresh([main_repo_root(".")])
+        refresh_tree([main_repo_root(".")])
         return
 
     if args.subcommand == "close":
@@ -101,7 +153,7 @@ def handle_branch(args, ctx: CLIContext) -> None:
             cwd=".",
             force=getattr(args, "force", False),
         )
-        _refresh([main_repo_root(".")])
+        refresh_tree([main_repo_root(".")])
         return
 
     if args.subcommand == "drop":
@@ -111,7 +163,7 @@ def handle_branch(args, ctx: CLIContext) -> None:
             cwd=".",
             force=getattr(args, "force", False),
         )
-        _refresh([main_repo_root(".")])
+        refresh_tree([main_repo_root(".")])
         return
 
     print(f"Unknown branch subcommand: {args.subcommand}")

src/pkgmgr/cli/commands/worktree.py

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sys
+
+from pkgmgr.actions.branch.gc import main_repo_root
+from pkgmgr.actions.worktree.orphans import worktree_orphans
+from pkgmgr.actions.worktree.up import worktree_up
+from pkgmgr.cli.context import CLIContext
+
+from .branch import (
+    pinned_hooks,
+    refresh_tree,
+    run_cleanup,
+    scan_options,
+    scan_repo_roots,
+)
+
+
+def handle_worktree(args, ctx: CLIContext) -> None:
+    """
+    Handle `pkgmgr worktree` subcommands.
+
+      - pkgmgr worktree up <branch> [--base REF] [--path DIR] [--json]
+      - pkgmgr worktree cleanup [--apply] [--json] [scan options] [--min-age HOURS]
+      - pkgmgr worktree orphans --stale-days N --top N [--json] [scan options]
+    """
+    if args.subcommand == "up":
+        code = worktree_up(
+            ".",
+            args.name,
+            base=args.base,
+            worktrees_dir=ctx.config_merged["directories"]["worktrees"],
+            path=args.path,
+            hooks=pinned_hooks(ctx),
+            as_json=args.json,
+        )
+        refresh_tree([main_repo_root(".")])
+        sys.exit(code)
+
+    if args.subcommand == "cleanup":
+        run_cleanup(args, ctx, "worktree")
+
+    if args.subcommand == "orphans":
+        sys.exit(
+            worktree_orphans(
+                scan_repo_roots(args, ctx),
+                stale_days=args.stale_days,
+                top=args.top,
+                as_json=args.json,
+                **scan_options(args),
+            )
+        )
+
+    print(f"Unknown worktree subcommand: {args.subcommand}")
+    sys.exit(2)
+
+
+def handle_gc(args, ctx: CLIContext) -> None:
+    run_cleanup(args, ctx, "all")

src/pkgmgr/cli/dispatch.py

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from pkgmgr.cli.commands import (
     handle_changelog,
     handle_code_scanning,
     handle_config,
+    handle_gc,
     handle_make,
     handle_mirror_command,
     handle_publish,
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ from pkgmgr.cli.commands import (
     handle_repos_command,
     handle_tools_command,
     handle_version,
+    handle_worktree,
 )
 from pkgmgr.cli.context import CLIContext
 from pkgmgr.cli.proxy import maybe_handle_proxy
@@ -163,6 +165,14 @@ def dispatch_command(args, ctx: CLIContext) -> None:
         handle_branch(args, ctx)
         return
 
+    if args.command == "worktree":
+        handle_worktree(args, ctx)
+        return
+
+    if args.command == "gc":
+        handle_gc(args, ctx)
+        return
+
     if args.command == "mirror":
         handle_mirror_command(ctx, args, selected)
         return

src/pkgmgr/cli/parser/__init__.py

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from .changelog_cmd import add_changelog_subparser
 from .code_scanning_cmd import add_code_scanning_subparser
 from .common import SortedSubParsersAction
 from .config_cmd import add_config_subparsers
+from .gc_cmd import add_gc_subparser
 from .install_update import add_install_update_subparsers
 from .list_cmd import add_list_subparser
 from .make_cmd import add_make_subparsers
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ from .navigation_cmd import add_navigation_subparsers
 from .publish_cmd import add_publish_subparser
 from .release_cmd import add_release_subparser
 from .version_cmd import add_version_subparser
+from .worktree_cmd import add_worktree_subparsers
 
 
 def create_parser(description_text: str) -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
@@ -58,6 +60,8 @@ def create_parser(description_text: str) -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     add_navigation_subparsers(subparsers)
 
     add_branch_subparsers(subparsers)
+    add_worktree_subparsers(subparsers)
+    add_gc_subparser(subparsers)
     add_release_subparser(subparsers)
     add_publish_subparser(subparsers)
 

src/pkgmgr/cli/parser/branch_cmd.py

@@ -97,29 +97,29 @@ def add_branch_subparsers(
         help="Skip confirmation prompt and drop the branch directly",
     )
 
-    branch_gc = branch_subparsers.add_parser(
+    branch_cleanup = branch_subparsers.add_parser(
-        "gc",
+        "cleanup",
         help=(
-            "Remove merged and clean branches with their worktrees and compose "
+            "Remove merged branches that no worktree holds, locally and on the "
-            "stacks (dry-run unless --apply)"
+            "remotes (dry-run unless --apply)"
         ),
     )
-    branch_gc.add_argument(
+    add_apply_options(branch_cleanup)
-        "--apply",
+
-        action="store_true",
+    branch_purge = branch_subparsers.add_parser(
-        help="Execute the plan instead of only printing it",
+        "purge",
-    )
+        help="Delete unmerged or dirty branches after a confirmation per item",
-    branch_gc.add_argument(
-        "--json",
-        action="store_true",
-        help="Print the plan as JSON",
     )
 
+    for sub in (branch_cleanup, branch_purge):
+        add_scan_options(sub)
+        add_min_age_option(sub)
+
     branch_tree = branch_subparsers.add_parser(
         "tree",
         help=(
             "Print the branches and worktrees of every pkgmgr-managed repository "
-            "with their gc state, without fetching"
+            "with their cleanup state, without fetching"
         ),
     )
     branch_tree.add_argument(
@@ -134,50 +134,62 @@ def add_branch_subparsers(
         help="Write atomically to FILE instead of stdout",
     )
 
-    branch_purge = branch_subparsers.add_parser(
+
-        "purge",
+def add_apply_options(sub: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
-        help="Delete unmerged or dirty branches after a confirmation per item",
+    sub.add_argument(
+        "--apply",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Execute the plan instead of only printing it",
+    )
+    sub.add_argument(
+        "--json",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Print the plan as JSON",
     )
 
-    for sub in (branch_gc, branch_purge):
+
-        sub.add_argument(
+def add_scan_options(sub: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
-            "--all",
+    sub.add_argument(
-            action="store_true",
+        "--all",
-            help="Scan every pkgmgr-managed repository instead of the current one",
+        action="store_true",
-        )
+        help="Scan every pkgmgr-managed repository instead of the current one",
-        sub.add_argument(
+    )
-            "--branch",
+    sub.add_argument(
-            action="append",
+        "--branch",
-            default=[],
+        action="append",
-            metavar="NAME",
+        default=[],
-            help="Only this branch (or worktree path); repeatable",
+        metavar="NAME",
-        )
+        help="Only this branch (or worktree path); repeatable",
-        sub.add_argument(
+    )
-            "--exclude",
+    sub.add_argument(
-            action="append",
+        "--exclude",
-            default=[],
+        action="append",
-            metavar="NAME",
+        default=[],
-            help="Skip this branch (or worktree path); repeatable",
+        metavar="NAME",
-        )
+        help="Skip this branch (or worktree path); repeatable",
-        sub.add_argument(
+    )
-            "--merged-into",
+    sub.add_argument(
-            action="append",
+        "--merged-into",
-            default=[],
+        action="append",
-            metavar="REF",
+        default=[],
-            help=(
+        metavar="REF",
-                "Also count an item as merged when its commits are in REF (an "
+        help=(
-                "integration line); REF is protected and a checkout at its tip "
+            "Also count an item as merged when its commits are in REF (an "
-                "counts as fresh; repeatable"
+            "integration line); REF is protected and a checkout at its tip "
-            ),
+            "counts as fresh; repeatable"
-        )
+        ),
-        sub.add_argument(
+    )
-            "--sizes",
+    sub.add_argument(
-            action="store_true",
+        "--sizes",
-            help="Measure each worktree's disk usage (du) into the plan",
+        action="store_true",
-        )
+        help="Measure each worktree's disk usage (du) into the plan",
-        sub.add_argument(
+    )
-            "--min-age",
+
-            type=float,
+
-            metavar="HOURS",
+def add_min_age_option(sub: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
-            help="Skip items whose newest commit or worktree index is younger",
+    sub.add_argument(
-        )
+        "--min-age",
+        type=float,
+        metavar="HOURS",
+        help="Skip items whose newest commit, worktree index or changed file is younger",
+    )

src/pkgmgr/cli/parser/gc_cmd.py

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+
+from .branch_cmd import add_apply_options, add_min_age_option, add_scan_options
+
+
+def add_gc_subparser(subparsers: argparse._SubParsersAction) -> None:
+    gc = subparsers.add_parser(
+        "gc",
+        help=(
+            "Garbage-collect the current repository, or every one with --all: "
+            "worktree cleanup and branch cleanup in one pass (dry-run unless --apply)"
+        ),
+    )
+    add_apply_options(gc)
+    add_scan_options(gc)
+    add_min_age_option(gc)

src/pkgmgr/cli/parser/worktree_cmd.py

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+
+from .branch_cmd import add_apply_options, add_min_age_option, add_scan_options
+
+
+def add_worktree_subparsers(subparsers: argparse._SubParsersAction) -> None:
+    worktree_parser = subparsers.add_parser(
+        "worktree",
+        help="Worktree utilities: create, clean up and find abandoned worktrees",
+    )
+    worktree_subparsers = worktree_parser.add_subparsers(
+        dest="subcommand",
+        help="Worktree subcommands",
+        required=True,
+    )
+
+    up = worktree_subparsers.add_parser(
+        "up",
+        help=(
+            "Check a branch out under <directories.worktrees>/<host>/<owner>/"
+            "<repo>/<branch>, assign a slot and run `make worktree-init SLOT=<n>` "
+            "when the project defines it"
+        ),
+    )
+    up.add_argument("name", help="Branch to check out; created when it exists nowhere")
+    up.add_argument(
+        "--base",
+        metavar="REF",
+        help="Start point of a new branch (origin's default branch when omitted)",
+    )
+    up.add_argument(
+        "--path",
+        metavar="DIR",
+        help=(
+            "Exact checkout path instead of the standard one, e.g. a directory "
+            "an agent sandbox releases"
+        ),
+    )
+    up.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="Print the result as JSON")
+
+    cleanup = worktree_subparsers.add_parser(
+        "cleanup",
+        help=(
+            "Remove clean worktrees whose commits are merged or pushed: "
+            "`make worktree-fini`, compose stack, checkout; the branch stays "
+            "(dry-run unless --apply)"
+        ),
+    )
+    add_apply_options(cleanup)
+    add_scan_options(cleanup)
+    add_min_age_option(cleanup)
+
+    orphans = worktree_subparsers.add_parser(
+        "orphans",
+        help="List merged and abandoned branches and worktrees with a proposal each",
+    )
+    add_scan_options(orphans)
+    orphans.add_argument(
+        "--stale-days",
+        type=int,
+        required=True,
+        metavar="DAYS",
+        help="Unfinished work idle for longer counts as stale-open",
+    )
+    orphans.add_argument(
+        "--top",
+        type=int,
+        required=True,
+        metavar="N",
+        help="Rows per class in the text table; 0 prints the counts only",
+    )
+    orphans.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="Print every row as JSON")

src/pkgmgr/config/defaults.yaml

@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@ directories:
   repositories: ~/Repositories/
   workspaces:   ~/Workspaces/
   binaries:     ~/.local/bin/
+  worktrees:    ~/.local/share/worktrees/
+# worktree_hooks: <provider>/<account>/<repository> of an entry under
+# repositories -> worktree-init / worktree-fini -> argv, with {path} and {slot}
+# replaced; it runs only for that entry's directory, never selected by origin's
+# URL, and without an entry no hook runs, whatever the repository's Makefile
+# defines
+worktree_hooks: {}
 repositories:
 - account: kevinveenbirkenbach
   description: A configurable Python package manager that automates repository tasks—including cloning, installation, updates, and status reporting—based on a YAML configuration file for streamlined software management which gives you access to the Kevin Veen-Birkenbach Code Universe.

src/pkgmgr/core/config/load.py

@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ def _load_layer_dir(
       {
         "directories": {...},
         "repositories": [...],
+        <other key>: dicts deep-merged, other values from the last file,
       }
     """
     defaults: dict[str, Any] = {"directories": {}, "repositories": []}
@@ -165,21 +166,16 @@ def _load_layer_dir(
 
     for path in yaml_files:
         data = _load_yaml_file(path)
-        category_name = path.stem
+        repos = data.pop("repositories", None)
-
-        dirs = data.get("directories")
-        if isinstance(dirs, dict):
-            defaults.setdefault("directories", {})
-            _deep_merge(defaults["directories"], dirs)
-
-        repos = data.get("repositories")
         if isinstance(repos, list):
-            defaults.setdefault("repositories", [])
             _merge_repo_lists(
                 defaults["repositories"],
                 repos,
-                category_name=category_name,
+                category_name=path.stem,
             )
+        if not isinstance(data.get("directories", {}), dict):
+            del data["directories"]
+        _deep_merge(defaults, data)
 
     return defaults
 
@@ -229,7 +225,8 @@ def load_config(user_config_path: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
     Steps:
       1. Determine ~/.config/pkgmgr/ (or dir of user_config_path).
       2. Load all *.yml/*.yaml in that dir (except the user config file) as defaults.
-      3. If nothing found, fall back to package defaults.
+      3. If nothing found, fall back to package defaults. Package keys other
+         than directories and repositories always lie under the layers.
       4. Load the user config file (if present).
       5. Merge:
          - directories: deep-merge (defaults <- user)
@@ -247,13 +244,14 @@ def load_config(user_config_path: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
 
     # 1+2) Defaults from user directory
     defaults = _load_layer_dir(config_dir, skip_filename=user_cfg_name)
+    package = _load_defaults_from_package_or_project()
 
     # 3) Fallback to package defaults
     if not defaults["directories"] and not defaults["repositories"]:
-        defaults = _load_defaults_from_package_or_project()
+        defaults["directories"] = package["directories"]
-
+        defaults["repositories"] = package["repositories"]
-    defaults.setdefault("directories", {})
+    del package["directories"], package["repositories"]
-    defaults.setdefault("repositories", [])
+    defaults = _deep_merge(package, defaults)
 
     # 4) User config
     user_cfg: dict[str, Any] = {}

src/pkgmgr/core/git/queries/__init__.py

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from .get_tags_at_ref import GitTagsAtRefQueryError, get_tags_at_ref
 from .get_upstream_ref import get_upstream_ref
 from .list_remotes import list_remotes
 from .list_tags import list_tags
+from .local_config import FILTER_CONFIG, local_config
 from .probe_remote_reachable import (
     probe_remote_reachable,
     probe_remote_reachable_detail,
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ from .probe_remote_reachable import (
 from .resolve_base_branch import GitBaseBranchNotFoundError, resolve_base_branch
 
 __all__ = [
+    "FILTER_CONFIG",
     "GitBaseBranchNotFoundError",
     "GitChangelogQueryError",
     "GitLatestSigningKeyQueryError",
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ __all__ = [
     "get_upstream_ref",
     "list_remotes",
     "list_tags",
+    "local_config",
     "probe_remote_reachable",
     "probe_remote_reachable_detail",
     "resolve_base_branch",

src/pkgmgr/core/git/queries/local_config.py

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from ..errors import GitRunError
+from ..run import run
+
+FILTER_CONFIG = r"^filter\."
+LOCAL_SCOPES = ("local", "worktree")
+
+
+def local_config(path: str, pattern: str) -> list[str]:
+    """
+    List the config keys matching pattern that the repository itself sets.
+
+    Args:
+        path: any directory inside the repository.
+        pattern: `git config --get-regexp` pattern over the canonical key names.
+
+    Returns:
+        Each matching key set in the local or worktree scope, in config order;
+        global values never count, system config is not read.
+    """
+    try:
+        out = run(
+            ["config", "--show-scope", "--get-regexp", pattern], cwd=path, scan=True
+        )
+    except GitRunError as exc:
+        if exc.returncode == 1:
+            return []
+        raise
+    keys: list[str] = []
+    for line in out.splitlines():
+        scope, _, rest = line.partition("\t")
+        if scope in LOCAL_SCOPES:
+            keys.append(rest.split(" ", 1)[0])
+    return keys

src/pkgmgr/core/git/run.py

@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ SCAN_UNSET = (
     "PAGER",
 )
 SCAN_TIMEOUT = 60
+# ref and remote names come from repositories an agent may write: one named
+# like --output=<path> would otherwise make rev-list create that file
+END_OF_OPTIONS = "--end-of-options"
 
 
 def _is_not_repo_error(stderr: str) -> bool:

tests/integration/test_branch_gc.py

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import subprocess
 import tempfile
 import unittest
 from contextlib import redirect_stdout
+from types import SimpleNamespace
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 from pkgmgr.actions.branch import gc
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ def docker_available() -> bool:
     return True
 
 
-class TestBranchGc(unittest.TestCase):
+class GcFixture:
     def setUp(self) -> None:
         self._tmp = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
         self.root = os.path.realpath(self._tmp.name)
@@ -105,6 +106,9 @@ class TestBranchGc(unittest.TestCase):
         merged_into: list[str] | None = None,
         sizes: bool = False,
         min_age: float | None = None,
+        scope: str = "all",
+        activity: bool = False,
+        hooks: dict | None = None,
     ) -> gc.Repo:
         with (
             patch.object(gc, "fetch_forge_facts", return_value=self.forge),
@@ -117,6 +121,9 @@ class TestBranchGc(unittest.TestCase):
                 merged_into=merged_into or [],
                 sizes=sizes,
                 min_age=min_age,
+                scope=scope,
+                activity=activity,
+                hooks=hooks or {},
             )
 
     def _integration_line(self) -> str:
@@ -136,6 +143,8 @@ class TestBranchGc(unittest.TestCase):
     def _items(self, plan: gc.Repo) -> dict[str, gc.Item]:
         return {item.branch: item for item in plan.items if item.branch}
 
+
+class TestBranchGc(GcFixture, unittest.TestCase):
     def test_classifies_every_branch(self) -> None:
         items = self._items(self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}))
 
@@ -379,7 +388,7 @@ class TestBranchGc(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(git(self.repo, "for-each-ref", "refs/heads/-evil"), "")
         self.assertEqual(git(other, "for-each-ref", "refs/heads/-evil"), "")
 
-    def test_branch_gc_json_and_refusal(self) -> None:
+    def test_cleanup_json_and_refusal(self) -> None:
         out = io.StringIO()
         with (
             patch.object(gc, "host_pid_namespace", return_value=True),
@@ -388,8 +397,9 @@ class TestBranchGc(unittest.TestCase):
             patch.object(gc, "_process_cwds", return_value={}),
             redirect_stdout(out),
         ):
-            code = gc.branch_gc(
+            code = gc.cleanup(
                 [self.repo],
+                scope="all",
                 apply=False,
                 as_json=True,
                 include=["merged"],
@@ -397,6 +407,7 @@ class TestBranchGc(unittest.TestCase):
                 merged_into=["origin/main"],
                 sizes=True,
                 min_age=None,
+                hooks={},
             )
         data = json.loads(out.getvalue())
 
@@ -408,8 +419,9 @@ class TestBranchGc(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertGreater(items[0]["size_bytes"], 0)
         with patch.object(gc, "host_pid_namespace", return_value=False):
             self.assertEqual(
-                gc.branch_gc(
+                gc.cleanup(
                     [self.repo],
+                    scope="all",
                     apply=True,
                     as_json=False,
                     include=[],
@@ -417,15 +429,16 @@ class TestBranchGc(unittest.TestCase):
                     merged_into=[],
                     sizes=False,
                     min_age=None,
+                    hooks={},
                 ),
                 2,
             )
 
-    def test_cli_forwards_gc_flags(self) -> None:
+    def test_cli_forwards_cleanup_flags(self) -> None:
         args = create_parser("test").parse_args(
             [
                 "branch",
-                "gc",
+                "cleanup",
                 "--apply",
                 "--json",
                 "--branch",
@@ -443,16 +456,31 @@ class TestBranchGc(unittest.TestCase):
                 "24",
             ]
         )
+        pins = {"worktree-fini": ["true"]}
+        managed = {
+            "provider": "host",
+            "account": "o",
+            "repository": "r",
+            "directory": self.repo,
+        }
+        ctx = SimpleNamespace(
+            config_merged={
+                "worktree_hooks": {"host/o/r": pins},
+                "repositories": [managed],
+            }
+        )
         with (
             patch("pkgmgr.cli.commands.branch.main_repo_root", return_value=self.repo),
-            patch("pkgmgr.cli.commands.branch.branch_gc", return_value=1) as run_gc,
+            patch("pkgmgr.cli.commands.branch.cleanup", return_value=1) as run_gc,
+            patch("pkgmgr.cli.commands.branch.refresh_tree") as refresh,
             self.assertRaises(SystemExit) as exit_ctx,
         ):
-            handle_branch(args, ctx=None)
+            handle_branch(args, ctx=ctx)
 
         self.assertEqual(exit_ctx.exception.code, 1)
         run_gc.assert_called_once_with(
             [self.repo],
+            scope="branch",
             apply=True,
             as_json=True,
             include=["a", "b"],
@@ -460,7 +488,9 @@ class TestBranchGc(unittest.TestCase):
             merged_into=["origin/line", "fork/line"],
             sizes=True,
             min_age=24.0,
+            hooks={os.path.realpath(self.repo): pins},
         )
+        refresh.assert_called_once_with([self.repo])
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":

tests/integration/test_branch_tree.py

@@ -208,8 +208,9 @@ class TestBranchTree(unittest.TestCase):
             patch.object(gc, "fetch_forge_facts", return_value=ForgeFacts()),
             redirect_stdout(out),
         ):
-            gc.branch_gc(
+            gc.cleanup(
                 [self.repo],
+                scope="all",
                 apply=False,
                 as_json=True,
                 include=[],
@@ -217,6 +218,7 @@ class TestBranchTree(unittest.TestCase):
                 merged_into=[],
                 sizes=False,
                 min_age=None,
+                hooks={},
             )
         planned = {
             (item["branch"], item["worktree"]): (

tests/integration/test_worktree.py

@@ -0,0 +1,761 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import io
+import json
+import os
+import shlex
+import shutil
+import sys
+import time
+import unittest
+from contextlib import redirect_stderr, redirect_stdout
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import yaml
+
+from pkgmgr.actions.branch import gc
+from pkgmgr.actions.worktree import hooks, orphans, up
+from pkgmgr.cli.commands.worktree import handle_gc, handle_worktree
+from pkgmgr.cli.context import CLIContext
+from pkgmgr.cli.dispatch import dispatch_command
+from pkgmgr.cli.parser import create_parser
+from pkgmgr.core.config.load import load_config
+from tests.integration.test_branch_gc import GcFixture, git
+
+
+class WorktreeFixture(GcFixture):
+    def _pushed_worktree(self, name: str, makefile: str | None) -> str:
+        git(self.repo, "checkout", "-b", name, "main")
+        if makefile is None:
+            self._commit(name)
+        else:
+            with open(os.path.join(self.repo, "Makefile"), "w") as fh:
+                fh.write(makefile)
+            git(self.repo, "add", "Makefile")
+            git(self.repo, "commit", "-m", f"{name} makefile")
+        git(self.repo, "push", "origin", name)
+        git(self.repo, "checkout", "main")
+        path = os.path.join(self.root, f"wt-{name}")
+        git(self.repo, "worktree", "add", path, name)
+        return path
+
+    def _execute(self, plan: gc.Repo, item: gc.Item) -> None:
+        with patch.object(gc, "_process_cwds", return_value={}):
+            gc.execute(plan, item)
+
+    def _pinned(self, hook: str, argv: list[str]) -> dict:
+        return {os.path.realpath(self.repo): {hook: argv}}
+
+
+class TestCleanupScopes(WorktreeFixture, unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_worktree_scope_removes_pushed_worktree_and_keeps_branch(self) -> None:
+        path = self._pushed_worktree("pushed", None)
+        plan = self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}, scope="worktree")
+        items = self._items(plan)
+
+        self.assertNotIn("squashed", items)
+        item = items["pushed"]
+        self.assertEqual(item.state, "unmerged")
+        self.assertEqual(item.unpushed, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(item.actions, ["worktree"])
+        self.assertEqual(gc._label(item), "REMOVE")
+        self._execute(plan, item)
+
+        self.assertEqual(item.result, "done")
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(path))
+        self.assertNotEqual(git(self.repo, "branch", "--list", "pushed"), "")
+        self.assertNotEqual(git(self.origin, "branch", "--list", "pushed"), "")
+
+    def test_worktree_scope_keeps_unpushed_worktree(self) -> None:
+        path = self._pushed_worktree("ahead", None)
+        with open(os.path.join(path, "more.txt"), "w") as fh:
+            fh.write("more")
+        git(path, "add", "more.txt")
+        git(path, "commit", "-m", "more")
+        item = self._items(self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}, scope="worktree"))["ahead"]
+
+        self.assertEqual(item.unpushed, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(item.actions, [])
+        self.assertFalse(item.eligible)
+
+    def test_branch_scope_skips_checked_out_and_takes_free_branches(self) -> None:
+        items = self._items(self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}, scope="branch"))
+
+        self.assertTrue(items["merged"].skip.startswith("checked out in worktree"))
+        self.assertEqual(items["merged"].actions, [])
+        self.assertEqual(gc._label(items["merged"]), "SKIP")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            items["squashed"].actions, ["local-branch", "remote-branch:origin"]
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(items["squashed"].eligible)
+
+    def test_patch_equivalent_branch_counts_as_merged(self) -> None:
+        git(self.repo, "checkout", "-b", "picked", "main")
+        self._commit("picked")
+        git(self.repo, "push", "origin", "picked")
+        sha = git(self.repo, "rev-parse", "HEAD")
+        git(self.repo, "checkout", "main")
+        self._commit("main-moved")
+        git(self.repo, "cherry-pick", sha)
+        git(self.repo, "push", "origin", "main")
+        item = self._items(self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}))["picked"]
+
+        self.assertEqual(item.merged_by, "patch")
+        self.assertEqual(item.state, "merged-clean")
+
+    def test_dotdot_behind_a_symlink_never_reaches_another_checkout(self) -> None:
+        victim = os.path.join(self.root, "victim")
+        os.makedirs(victim)
+        git(victim, "init", "--quiet", "-b", "main")
+        git(victim, "commit", "--quiet", "--allow-empty", "-m", "unpushed work")
+        git(self.repo, "branch", "evil", "main")
+        hop = os.path.join(self.repo, "A")
+        os.makedirs(os.path.join(hop, "victim"))
+        os.symlink(victim, os.path.join(hop, "L"))
+        meta = os.path.join(self.repo, ".git", "worktrees", "evil")
+        os.makedirs(meta)
+        files = {
+            os.path.join(hop, "victim", ".git"): f"gitdir: {meta}\n",
+            os.path.join(meta, "gitdir"): os.path.join(
+                hop, "L", "..", "victim", ".git"
+            ),
+            os.path.join(meta, "HEAD"): "ref: refs/heads/evil\n",
+            os.path.join(meta, "commondir"): "../..\n",
+        }
+        for name, text in files.items():
+            with open(name, "w") as fh:
+                fh.write(text + ("" if text.endswith("\n") else "\n"))
+        plan = self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}, scope="worktree")
+        item = self._items(plan)["evil"]
+
+        self._execute(plan, item)
+
+        self.assertNotIn("worktree", item.actions)
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(os.path.join(victim, ".git")))
+
+    def test_pinned_fini_hook_runs_before_removal(self) -> None:
+        marker = os.path.join(self.root, "fini-ran")
+        path = self._pushed_worktree("hooked", None)
+        pins = self._fini_pins(["touch", marker])
+        plan = self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}, scope="worktree", hooks=pins)
+        item = self._items(plan)["hooked"]
+
+        self.assertEqual(item.actions, ["hook:worktree-fini", "worktree"])
+        self._execute(plan, item)
+
+        self.assertEqual(item.result, "done")
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(marker))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(path))
+
+    def _fini_pins(self, argv: list[str]) -> dict:
+        return self._pinned("worktree-fini", argv)
+
+    def _cleanup_merged_forged_to(self, target: str) -> dict:
+        meta = os.path.join(self.repo, ".git", "worktrees", "wt-merged")
+        with open(os.path.join(meta, "gitdir"), "w") as fh:
+            fh.write(os.path.join(target, ".git") + "\n")
+        pins = self._fini_pins(["touch", "{path}/fini-ran"])
+        out = io.StringIO()
+        with (
+            patch.object(gc, "host_pid_namespace", return_value=True),
+            patch.object(gc, "list_compose_containers", return_value=[]),
+            patch.object(gc, "fetch_forge_facts", return_value=self.forge),
+            patch.object(gc, "_process_cwds", return_value={}),
+            redirect_stdout(out),
+            redirect_stderr(io.StringIO()),
+        ):
+            gc.cleanup(
+                [self.repo],
+                scope="worktree",
+                apply=True,
+                as_json=True,
+                include=["merged"],
+                exclude=[],
+                merged_into=[],
+                sizes=False,
+                min_age=None,
+                hooks=pins,
+            )
+        return json.loads(out.getvalue())["repos"][0]["items"][0]
+
+    def test_forged_gitdir_runs_nothing_in_another_checkout(self) -> None:
+        other = os.path.join(self.root, "other")
+        git(self.root, "clone", "--quiet", self.repo, other)
+
+        item = self._cleanup_merged_forged_to(other)
+
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(os.path.join(other, "fini-ran")))
+        self.assertEqual(item["worktree"], other)
+        self.assertEqual(item["skip"], gc.NOT_LINKED)
+        self.assertEqual(item["actions"], [])
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(os.path.join(other, ".git")))
+
+    def test_gitdir_forged_to_a_sibling_worktree_runs_nothing_there(self) -> None:
+        sibling = self._pushed_worktree("sibling", None)
+
+        item = self._cleanup_merged_forged_to(sibling)
+
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(os.path.join(sibling, "fini-ran")))
+        self.assertEqual(item["worktree"], sibling)
+        self.assertEqual(item["skip"], gc.NOT_LINKED)
+        self.assertEqual(item["actions"], [])
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(sibling))
+
+    def test_fini_hook_commit_keeps_worktree_and_branch(self) -> None:
+        commit = [
+            "git",
+            "-c",
+            "user.name=t",
+            "-c",
+            "user.email=t@example.org",
+            "-c",
+            "commit.gpgsign=false",
+            "commit",
+            "--quiet",
+            "--allow-empty",
+            "-m",
+            "hook",
+        ]
+        plan = self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}, hooks=self._fini_pins(commit))
+        item = self._items(plan)["merged"]
+        self.assertIn("local-branch", item.actions)
+
+        self._execute(plan, item)
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            item.result, "skipped: changed during worktree-fini (HEAD moved)"
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(self.merged_wt))
+        self.assertNotEqual(git(self.repo, "rev-parse", "merged"), item.local_sha)
+
+    def test_fini_hook_timeout_kills_its_process_group(self) -> None:
+        self._pushed_worktree("spawner", None)
+        marker = os.path.join(self.root, "grandchild-ran")
+        script = f"(sleep 1; touch {shlex.quote(marker)}) & sleep 30"
+        pins = self._fini_pins(["sh", "-c", script])
+        plan = self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}, scope="worktree", hooks=pins)
+        item = self._items(plan)["spawner"]
+
+        with patch.object(hooks, "HOOK_TIMEOUT", 0.3):
+            self._execute(plan, item)
+        time.sleep(1.5)
+
+        self.assertEqual(item.result, "failed: worktree-fini timed out after 0.3 s")
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(marker))
+
+    def test_fini_hook_timeout_fails_without_removal(self) -> None:
+        path = self._pushed_worktree("slow", None)
+        sleep = [sys.executable, "-c", "import time; time.sleep(30)"]
+        pins = self._fini_pins(sleep)
+        plan = self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}, scope="worktree", hooks=pins)
+        item = self._items(plan)["slow"]
+
+        with patch.object(hooks, "HOOK_TIMEOUT", 0.5):
+            self._execute(plan, item)
+
+        self.assertEqual(item.result, "failed: worktree-fini timed out after 0.5 s")
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(path))
+
+    def test_fini_hook_output_keeps_the_worktree(self) -> None:
+        path = self._pushed_worktree("dumps", None)
+        pins = self._fini_pins(["touch", "{path}/dump.sql"])
+        plan = self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}, scope="worktree", hooks=pins)
+        item = self._items(plan)["dumps"]
+
+        self._execute(plan, item)
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            item.result, "skipped: changed during worktree-fini (dirty: 1 paths)"
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isfile(os.path.join(path, "dump.sql")))
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(shutil.which("make"), "make is not available")
+    def test_makefile_hooks_never_run_unpinned(self) -> None:
+        marker = os.path.join(self.root, "fini-ran")
+        planted = f"worktree-fini:\n\ttouch {marker}\n"
+        path = self._pushed_worktree("planted", makefile=planted)
+        with open(os.path.join(self.repo, ".git", "info", "exclude"), "a") as fh:
+            fh.write("GNUmakefile\n")
+        with open(os.path.join(path, "GNUmakefile"), "w") as fh:
+            fh.write(planted)
+        plan = self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}, scope="worktree")
+        item = self._items(plan)["planted"]
+
+        self.assertEqual(item.actions, ["worktree"])
+        self._execute(plan, item)
+
+        self.assertEqual(item.result, "done")
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(marker))
+
+    def test_activity_is_recorded_on_request(self) -> None:
+        quiet = self._items(self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}))
+        loud = self._items(self._plan(host_ns=True, cwds={}, activity=True))
+
+        self.assertIsNone(quiet["merged"].last_activity)
+        self.assertLessEqual(loud["merged"].last_activity, time.time())
+
+
+class TestWorktreeUp(WorktreeFixture, unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self) -> None:
+        super().setUp()
+        self.worktrees = os.path.join(self.root, "wts")
+
+    def _up(
+        self, branch: str, path: str | None, hooks: dict | None = None
+    ) -> tuple[int, dict]:
+        out = io.StringIO()
+        with redirect_stdout(out):
+            code = up.worktree_up(
+                self.repo,
+                branch,
+                base=None,
+                worktrees_dir=self.worktrees,
+                path=path,
+                hooks=hooks or {},
+                as_json=True,
+            )
+        return code, json.loads(out.getvalue()) if code != 2 else {}
+
+    def _commit_file(self, name: str, text: str) -> None:
+        with open(os.path.join(self.repo, name), "w") as fh:
+            fh.write(text)
+        git(self.repo, "add", name)
+        git(self.repo, "commit", "-m", name)
+        git(self.repo, "push", "origin", "main")
+
+    def _commit_script(self, name: str) -> str:
+        marker = os.path.join(self.root, f"{name}-ran")
+        script = os.path.join(self.repo, name)
+        with open(script, "w") as fh:
+            fh.write(f"#!/bin/sh\ntouch {marker}\n")
+        os.chmod(script, 0o755)
+        git(self.repo, "add", name)
+        git(self.repo, "commit", "-m", name)
+        git(self.repo, "push", "origin", "main")
+        return marker
+
+    def _pins(self, argv: list[str]) -> dict:
+        return self._pinned("worktree-init", argv)
+
+    def test_slot_in_branch_name_stays_literal(self) -> None:
+        write_path = "import sys; open('path.txt', 'w').write(sys.argv[1])"
+        pins = self._pins([sys.executable, "-c", write_path, "{path}"])
+
+        code, result = self._up("feature/x{slot}", None, pins)
+
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        self.assertTrue(result["path"].endswith("/feature/x{slot}"))
+        with open(os.path.join(result["path"], "path.txt")) as fh:
+            self.assertEqual(fh.read(), result["path"])
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(shutil.which("make"), "make is not available")
+    def test_empty_path_entry_never_runs_a_planted_command(self) -> None:
+        marker = self._commit_script("make")
+        search = os.pathsep + os.environ["PATH"]
+
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"PATH": search}):
+            code, result = self._up("feature/p", None, self._pins(["make", "-v"]))
+
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(result["hook"], "worktree-init")
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(marker))
+
+    def test_bare_pin_skips_a_path_entry_another_user_can_write(self) -> None:
+        planted = os.path.join(self.root, "planted-bin")
+        os.makedirs(planted)
+        marker = os.path.join(self.root, "planted-ran")
+        fake = os.path.join(planted, "true")
+        with open(fake, "w") as fh:
+            fh.write(f"#!/bin/sh\ntouch {marker}\n")
+        os.chmod(fake, 0o755)
+        if os.getuid() == 0:
+            os.chown(planted, 65534, 65534)
+            os.chown(fake, 65534, 65534)
+        search = planted + os.pathsep + os.environ["PATH"]
+
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"PATH": search}):
+            code, result = self._up("feature/t", None, self._pins(["true"]))
+
+        self.assertEqual((code, result["hook"]), (0, "worktree-init"))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(marker))
+
+    def test_relative_pin_is_refused_before_checkout(self) -> None:
+        marker = self._commit_script("init.sh")
+
+        code, _ = self._up("feature/r", None, self._pins(["./init.sh"]))
+
+        self.assertEqual(code, 2)
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(marker))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(self.worktrees))
+
+    def test_init_hook_timeout_fails_and_keeps_worktree(self) -> None:
+        pins = self._pins([sys.executable, "-c", "import time; time.sleep(30)"])
+
+        with patch.object(hooks, "HOOK_TIMEOUT", 0.5):
+            code, result = self._up("feature/t", None, pins)
+
+        self.assertEqual(code, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            result["hook"],
+            "worktree-init failed (worktree-init timed out after 0.5 s)",
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(result["path"]))
+
+    def test_location_of_remote_urls(self) -> None:
+        cases = {
+            "git@github.com:owner/repo.git": "github.com/owner/repo",
+            "https://github.com/owner/repo": "github.com/owner/repo",
+            "ssh://git@host:2201/owner/repo.git": "host/owner/repo",
+            "/tmp/x/origin.git": "tmp/x/origin",
+        }
+        for url, expected in cases.items():
+            with self.subTest(url=url):
+                self.assertEqual(up.worktree_location(url), expected)
+
+    def test_new_branches_get_path_slots_and_pinned_init_hook(self) -> None:
+        write_slot = "import sys; open('slot.txt', 'w').write(sys.argv[1])"
+        hooks = self._pins([sys.executable, "-c", write_slot, "{slot}"])
+
+        code, first = self._up("feature/x", None, hooks)
+        expected = os.path.join(
+            self.worktrees, up.worktree_location(self.origin), "feature/x"
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(first["path"], expected)
+        self.assertEqual(first["slot"], 1)
+        self.assertEqual(first["hook"], "worktree-init")
+        self.assertTrue(first["origin"].startswith("new from origin/main"))
+        with open(os.path.join(expected, "slot.txt")) as fh:
+            self.assertEqual(fh.read().strip(), "1")
+
+        _, second = self._up("feature/y", None, hooks)
+        self.assertEqual(second["slot"], 2)
+        self.assertEqual(self._up("feature/x", None, hooks)[0], 2)
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(shutil.which("make"), "make is not available")
+    def test_unpinned_makefile_is_never_run_or_probed(self) -> None:
+        parsed = os.path.join(self.root, "parsed")
+        ran = os.path.join(self.root, "ran")
+        self._commit_file(
+            "Makefile", f"X := $(shell touch {parsed})\nworktree-init:\n\ttouch {ran}\n"
+        )
+
+        code, result = self._up("feature/m", None)
+
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(result["hook"], "not pinned: worktree-init in Makefile")
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(parsed))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(ran))
+
+    def test_origin_url_cannot_escape_the_worktrees_dir(self) -> None:
+        git(self.repo, "remote", "set-url", "origin", "https://host/../../escape")
+
+        self.assertEqual(self._up("feature/e", None)[0], 2)
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(os.path.join(self.root, "escape")))
+
+    def test_default_base_named_like_an_option_is_a_ref(self) -> None:
+        git(self.repo, "checkout", "-b", "side", "main")
+        self._commit("side")
+        sha = git(self.repo, "rev-parse", "HEAD")
+        git(self.repo, "checkout", "main")
+        git(self.repo, "update-ref", "refs/heads/-f", sha)
+        git(self.repo, "symbolic-ref", "refs/remotes/origin/HEAD", "refs/heads/-f")
+
+        code, result = self._up("feature/o", None)
+
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(git(result["path"], "rev-parse", "HEAD"), sha)
+
+    def test_local_filter_config_blocks_the_checkout(self) -> None:
+        marker = os.path.join(self.root, "smudged")
+        self._commit_file(".gitattributes", "* filter=evil\n")
+        git(self.repo, "config", "filter.evil.smudge", f"touch {marker}; cat")
+
+        self.assertEqual(self._up("feature/s", None)[0], 2)
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(marker))
+
+    def test_local_ssh_command_skips_the_fetch(self) -> None:
+        marker = os.path.join(self.root, "ssh-ran")
+        git(self.repo, "config", "core.sshCommand", f"touch {marker}; false")
+        git(self.repo, "config", "remote.origin.pushurl", self.origin)
+        git(self.repo, "remote", "set-url", "origin", "ssh://example.invalid/r.git")
+
+        code, result = self._up("feature/f", None)
+
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(marker))
+        self.assertIn("core.sshcommand", " ".join(result["warnings"]))
+
+    def test_remote_branch_is_tracked(self) -> None:
+        git(self.repo, "checkout", "-b", "remote-only", "main")
+        self._commit("remote-only")
+        git(self.repo, "push", "origin", "remote-only")
+        git(self.repo, "checkout", "main")
+        git(self.repo, "branch", "-D", "remote-only")
+
+        code, result = self._up("remote-only", None)
+
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(result["origin"], "tracking origin/remote-only")
+        self.assertEqual(result["hook"], "none")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            git(result["path"], "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "@{u}"),
+            "origin/remote-only",
+        )
+
+    def test_explicit_path_replaces_standard_path(self) -> None:
+        released = os.path.join(self.root, "released", "feature-z")
+
+        code, result = self._up("feature/z", released)
+
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(result["path"], released)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            git(released, "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "HEAD"), "feature/z"
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(self.worktrees))
+
+    def test_invalid_branch_is_refused(self) -> None:
+        self.assertEqual(self._up("../evil", None)[0], 2)
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(self.worktrees))
+
+
+class TestWorktreeOrphans(WorktreeFixture, unittest.TestCase):
+    def _report(self, cwds: dict[int, str]) -> dict[str, dict]:
+        out = io.StringIO()
+        with (
+            patch.object(gc, "host_pid_namespace", return_value=True),
+            patch.object(gc, "list_compose_containers", return_value=[]),
+            patch.object(gc, "fetch_forge_facts", return_value=self.forge),
+            patch.object(gc, "_process_cwds", return_value=cwds),
+            redirect_stdout(out),
+        ):
+            code = orphans.worktree_orphans(
+                [self.repo],
+                stale_days=0,
+                top=5,
+                as_json=True,
+                include=[],
+                exclude=[],
+                merged_into=[],
+                sizes=False,
+            )
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        rows = json.loads(out.getvalue())["repos"][0]["rows"]
+        return {row["branch"]: row for row in rows if row["branch"]}
+
+    def test_classes_and_proposals(self) -> None:
+        git(self.repo, "checkout", "-b", "lonely", "main")
+        self._commit("lonely")
+        git(self.repo, "checkout", "main")
+        time.sleep(1.1)
+        rows = self._report({})
+
+        self.assertEqual(rows["main"]["class"], "active")
+        self.assertEqual(rows["merged"]["class"], "merged-clean")
+        self.assertEqual(rows["merged"]["proposal"], "pkgmgr gc")
+        self.assertEqual(rows["dirty"]["class"], "merged-dirty")
+        self.assertEqual(rows["lonely"]["class"], "stale-open")
+        self.assertEqual(rows["lonely"]["unpushed"], 1)
+        self.assertEqual(rows["wip"]["class"], "active")
+
+    def test_busy_worktree_is_kept(self) -> None:
+        rows = self._report({4242: self.merged_wt})
+
+        self.assertEqual(rows["merged"]["class"], "merged-clean")
+        self.assertTrue(
+            rows["merged"]["proposal"].startswith("keep (process: pid 4242")
+        )
+
+
+class TestLoadedConfigCli(WorktreeFixture, unittest.TestCase):
+    HOOKS = ("worktree-init", "worktree-fini")
+
+    def setUp(self) -> None:
+        super().setUp()
+        self.addCleanup(os.chdir, os.getcwd())
+        self.markers = {h: os.path.join(self.root, f"{h}-ran") for h in self.HOOKS}
+
+    def _ctx(self, directory: str, pinned: bool) -> CLIContext:
+        location = up.worktree_location(self.origin)
+        provider, _, rest = location.partition("/")
+        account, _, repository = rest.rpartition("/")
+        config: dict = {
+            "directories": {"worktrees": os.path.join(self.root, "wts")},
+            "repositories": [
+                {
+                    "provider": provider,
+                    "account": account,
+                    "repository": repository,
+                    "directory": directory,
+                }
+            ],
+        }
+        if pinned:
+            config["worktree_hooks"] = {
+                location: {h: ["touch", m] for h, m in self.markers.items()}
+            }
+        config_dir = os.path.join(self.root, "config")
+        os.makedirs(config_dir, exist_ok=True)
+        user_config = os.path.join(config_dir, "config.yaml")
+        with open(user_config, "w") as fh:
+            yaml.safe_dump(config, fh)
+        merged = load_config(user_config)
+        return CLIContext(
+            config_merged=merged,
+            repositories_base_dir=os.path.join(self.root, "repos"),
+            all_repositories=merged["repositories"],
+            binaries_dir=os.path.join(self.root, "bin"),
+            user_config_path=user_config,
+        )
+
+    def _run(self, argv: list[str], ctx: CLIContext) -> tuple[int, str]:
+        os.chdir(self.repo)
+        out = io.StringIO()
+        with (
+            patch.object(gc, "host_pid_namespace", return_value=True),
+            patch.object(gc, "list_compose_containers", return_value=[]),
+            patch.object(gc, "fetch_forge_facts", return_value=self.forge),
+            patch.object(gc, "_process_cwds", return_value={}),
+            patch.object(gc, "_docker", return_value=""),
+            patch("pkgmgr.cli.commands.branch.refresh_tree"),
+            patch("pkgmgr.cli.commands.worktree.refresh_tree"),
+            redirect_stdout(out),
+            self.assertRaises(SystemExit) as exit_ctx,
+        ):
+            dispatch_command(create_parser("test").parse_args(argv), ctx)
+        return exit_ctx.exception.code, out.getvalue()
+
+    def test_gc_dry_run_with_config_lacking_worktree_hooks(self) -> None:
+        code, out = self._run(["gc", "--json"], self._ctx(self.repo, pinned=False))
+
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(json.loads(out)["repos"][0]["repo"], self.repo)
+
+    def test_origin_url_of_a_managed_repository_selects_no_pin(self) -> None:
+        managed = os.path.join(self.root, "managed")
+        git(self.root, "clone", "--quiet", self.repo, managed)
+        ctx = self._ctx(managed, pinned=True)
+
+        code, out = self._run(["worktree", "up", "feature/a", "--json"], ctx)
+        self.assertEqual((code, json.loads(out)["hook"]), (0, "none"))
+        self.assertEqual(self._run(["gc", "--apply", "--branch", "merged"], ctx)[0], 0)
+
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(self.markers["worktree-init"]))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(self.markers["worktree-fini"]))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(self.merged_wt))
+
+    def test_pinned_directory_borrowing_another_git_dir_runs_no_pin(self) -> None:
+        borrower = os.path.join(self.root, "borrower")
+        git(self.root, "init", "--quiet", "-b", "main", borrower)
+        with open(os.path.join(borrower, ".git", "commondir"), "w") as fh:
+            fh.write(os.path.join(self.repo, ".git") + "\n")
+        ctx = self._ctx(borrower, pinned=True)
+
+        code, out = self._run(
+            ["gc", "--all", "--apply", "--json", "--branch", "merged"], ctx
+        )
+
+        warnings = json.loads(out)["repos"][0]["warnings"]
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        self.assertTrue(any("pinned hooks skipped" in w for w in warnings))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(self.markers["worktree-fini"]))
+
+    def test_managed_repository_runs_its_pins(self) -> None:
+        ctx = self._ctx(self.repo, pinned=True)
+
+        code, out = self._run(["worktree", "up", "feature/b", "--json"], ctx)
+        self.assertEqual((code, json.loads(out)["hook"]), (0, "worktree-init"))
+        self.assertEqual(self._run(["gc", "--apply", "--branch", "merged"], ctx)[0], 0)
+
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(self.markers["worktree-init"]))
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(self.markers["worktree-fini"]))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(self.merged_wt))
+
+
+class TestWorktreeCli(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_branch_gc_is_gone(self) -> None:
+        with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):
+            create_parser("test").parse_args(["branch", "gc"])
+
+    def test_up_forwards_to_worktree_up(self) -> None:
+        args = create_parser("test").parse_args(
+            [
+                "worktree",
+                "up",
+                "feature/x",
+                "--base",
+                "origin/main",
+                "--path",
+                "/srv/wt/x",
+                "--json",
+            ]
+        )
+        pins = {"worktree-init": ["true"]}
+        ctx = SimpleNamespace(
+            repositories_base_dir="/srv",
+            config_merged={
+                "directories": {"worktrees": "~/wt"},
+                "repositories": [
+                    {"provider": "host", "account": "o", "repository": "r"}
+                ],
+                "worktree_hooks": {"host/o/r": pins, "host/o/unmanaged": pins},
+            },
+        )
+        with (
+            patch("pkgmgr.cli.commands.worktree.worktree_up", return_value=0) as run_up,
+            patch("pkgmgr.cli.commands.worktree.refresh_tree") as refresh,
+            self.assertRaises(SystemExit) as exit_ctx,
+        ):
+            handle_worktree(args, ctx)
+
+        self.assertEqual(exit_ctx.exception.code, 0)
+        run_up.assert_called_once_with(
+            ".",
+            "feature/x",
+            base="origin/main",
+            worktrees_dir="~/wt",
+            path="/srv/wt/x",
+            hooks={os.path.realpath("/srv/host/o/r"): pins},
+            as_json=True,
+        )
+        refresh.assert_called_once()
+
+    def test_cleanup_and_gc_pick_their_scope(self) -> None:
+        for argv, handler, scope in (
+            (["worktree", "cleanup", "--apply"], handle_worktree, "worktree"),
+            (["gc", "--apply"], handle_gc, "all"),
+        ):
+            with self.subTest(scope=scope):
+                args = create_parser("test").parse_args(argv)
+                ctx = SimpleNamespace(
+                    config_merged={"worktree_hooks": {}, "repositories": []}
+                )
+                with (
+                    patch(
+                        "pkgmgr.cli.commands.branch.main_repo_root", return_value="/r"
+                    ),
+                    patch(
+                        "pkgmgr.cli.commands.branch.cleanup", return_value=0
+                    ) as run_cleanup,
+                    patch("pkgmgr.cli.commands.branch.refresh_tree") as refresh,
+                    self.assertRaises(SystemExit),
+                ):
+                    handler(args, ctx)
+                self.assertEqual(run_cleanup.call_args.kwargs["scope"], scope)
+                self.assertTrue(run_cleanup.call_args.kwargs["apply"])
+                self.assertEqual(run_cleanup.call_args.kwargs["hooks"], {})
+                refresh.assert_called_once_with(["/r"])
+
+    def test_orphans_requires_explicit_limits(self) -> None:
+        with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):
+            create_parser("test").parse_args(["worktree", "orphans"])
+        args = create_parser("test").parse_args(
+            ["worktree", "orphans", "--stale-days", "7", "--top", "5"]
+        )
+        self.assertEqual((args.stale_days, args.top), (7, 5))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()

tests/unit/pkgmgr/actions/worktree/test_hooks.py

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from pkgmgr.actions.worktree import hooks
+
+
+class TestHookCommand(unittest.TestCase):
+    def _command(self, argv: list[str]) -> list[str]:
+        return hooks.hook_command(hooks.INIT_HOOK, argv, "/worktree", 3)
+
+    def test_bare_pin_runs_the_path_root_resolved_returned(self) -> None:
+        with (
+            patch.object(hooks, "trusted_path", return_value="/usr/bin"),
+            patch.object(hooks.shutil, "which", return_value="/usr/bin/sh"),
+            patch.object(hooks, "root_resolved", return_value="/usr/bin/dash"),
+        ):
+            self.assertEqual(
+                self._command(["sh", "{path}", "{slot}"]),
+                ["/usr/bin/dash", "/worktree", "3"],
+            )
+
+    def test_bare_pin_to_a_file_not_root_controlled_is_refused(self) -> None:
+        with (
+            patch.object(hooks, "trusted_path", return_value="/usr/bin"),
+            patch.object(hooks.shutil, "which", return_value="/usr/bin/sh"),
+            patch.object(hooks, "root_resolved", return_value=None),
+            self.assertRaises(RuntimeError),
+        ):
+            self._command(["sh"])
+
+    def test_relative_pin_with_a_slash_is_refused(self) -> None:
+        with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+            self._command(["./init.sh"])
+
+    def test_empty_pin_is_refused(self) -> None:
+        with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+            self._command([])
+
+    def test_absolute_pin_is_kept_verbatim(self) -> None:
+        self.assertEqual(self._command(["/usr/bin/sh"]), ["/usr/bin/sh"])
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()

tests/unit/pkgmgr/actions/worktree/test_trust.py

@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import shutil
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from pkgmgr.actions.worktree import trust
+
+ROOT_DIR = 0o040755
+
+
+class TestRootUids(unittest.TestCase):
+    def _uids(
+        self, uid_map: str, overflow: str | None = "65534\n", euid: int = 1000
+    ) -> frozenset[int]:
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
+            mapping = os.path.join(tmp, "uid_map")
+            overflow_file = os.path.join(tmp, "overflowuid")
+            with open(mapping, "w") as fh:
+                fh.write(uid_map)
+            if overflow is not None:
+                with open(overflow_file, "w") as fh:
+                    fh.write(overflow)
+            with (
+                patch.object(trust, "UID_MAP", mapping),
+                patch.object(trust, "OVERFLOW_UID", overflow_file),
+                patch.object(trust.os, "geteuid", return_value=euid),
+            ):
+                return trust.root_uids()
+
+    def test_initial_namespace_trusts_only_uid_0(self) -> None:
+        self.assertEqual(self._uids("         0          0 4294967295\n"), {0})
+
+    def test_namespace_without_uid_0_trusts_only_the_overflow_uid(self) -> None:
+        self.assertEqual(self._uids("1000 1000 1\n"), {65534})
+
+    def test_namespace_mapping_uid_0_to_a_user_trusts_only_the_overflow_uid(
+        self,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.assertEqual(self._uids("0 1000 1\n"), {65534})
+
+    def test_nested_namespace_mapping_a_user_to_parent_0_trusts_only_overflow(
+        self,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.assertEqual(self._uids("1000 0 1\n"), {65534})
+
+    def test_own_uid_unmapped_trusts_no_uid(self) -> None:
+        self.assertEqual(self._uids("", euid=65534), frozenset())
+
+    def test_unreadable_map_trusts_no_uid(self) -> None:
+        with patch.object(trust, "UID_MAP", "/nonexistent/uid_map"):
+            self.assertEqual(trust.root_uids(), frozenset())
+
+    def test_unreadable_overflow_uid_trusts_no_uid(self) -> None:
+        self.assertEqual(self._uids("1000 1000 1\n", overflow=None), frozenset())
+
+    def test_malformed_map_trusts_no_uid(self) -> None:
+        self.assertEqual(self._uids("0 zero 1\n"), frozenset())
+
+
+class TestRootResolved(unittest.TestCase):
+    PATH = "/usr/bin/tool"
+
+    def _resolve(
+        self,
+        stats: dict[str, tuple[int, int]],
+        owners: frozenset[int] = frozenset({0}),
+        nosuid: frozenset[str] = frozenset(),
+    ) -> str | None:
+        def fake_stat(path: str) -> SimpleNamespace:
+            if path not in stats:
+                raise FileNotFoundError(path)
+            uid, mode = stats[path]
+            return SimpleNamespace(st_uid=uid, st_mode=mode)
+
+        def fake_statvfs(path: str) -> SimpleNamespace:
+            return SimpleNamespace(f_flag=os.ST_NOSUID if path in nosuid else 0)
+
+        with (
+            patch.object(trust, "root_uids", return_value=owners),
+            patch.object(trust.os.path, "realpath", side_effect=lambda p: p),
+            patch.object(trust.os, "stat", side_effect=fake_stat),
+            patch.object(trust.os, "statvfs", side_effect=fake_statvfs),
+        ):
+            return trust.root_resolved(self.PATH)
+
+    def _tree(self) -> dict[str, tuple[int, int]]:
+        return {
+            "/": (0, ROOT_DIR),
+            "/usr": (0, ROOT_DIR),
+            "/usr/bin": (0, ROOT_DIR),
+            self.PATH: (0, 0o100755),
+        }
+
+    def test_root_owned_chain_returns_the_resolved_path(self) -> None:
+        self.assertEqual(self._resolve(self._tree()), self.PATH)
+
+    def test_non_root_ancestor_is_refused(self) -> None:
+        stats = self._tree()
+        stats["/usr"] = (1000, ROOT_DIR)
+        self.assertIsNone(self._resolve(stats))
+
+    def test_group_writable_leaf_is_refused(self) -> None:
+        stats = self._tree()
+        stats[self.PATH] = (0, 0o100775)
+        self.assertIsNone(self._resolve(stats))
+
+    def test_other_writable_ancestor_is_refused(self) -> None:
+        stats = self._tree()
+        stats["/usr/bin"] = (0, 0o040757)
+        self.assertIsNone(self._resolve(stats))
+
+    def test_stat_error_is_refused(self) -> None:
+        stats = self._tree()
+        del stats["/usr"]
+        self.assertIsNone(self._resolve(stats))
+
+    def test_nosuid_component_is_refused_in_the_initial_namespace(self) -> None:
+        self.assertIsNone(self._resolve(self._tree(), nosuid=frozenset({"/usr"})))
+
+    def test_nosuid_is_ignored_inside_another_namespace(self) -> None:
+        stats = {path: (65534, mode) for path, (_, mode) in self._tree().items()}
+        everything = frozenset(stats)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self._resolve(stats, owners=frozenset({65534}), nosuid=everything),
+            self.PATH,
+        )
+
+
+class TestTrustedPath(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_symlinked_entry_is_kept_only_resolved(self) -> None:
+        system = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(shutil.which("true")))
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
+            link = os.path.join(tmp, "bin")
+            os.symlink(system, link)
+            with patch.dict(os.environ, {"PATH": link}):
+                self.assertEqual(trust.trusted_path(), system)
+
+    def test_entry_keeps_the_resolution_it_was_checked_under(self) -> None:
+        system = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(shutil.which("true")))
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
+            link = os.path.join(tmp, "bin")
+            os.symlink(system, link)
+            with (
+                patch.dict(os.environ, {"PATH": link}),
+                patch.object(trust.os.path, "realpath", side_effect=[system, tmp]),
+            ):
+                self.assertEqual(trust.trusted_path(), system)
+
+    def test_no_root_controlled_entry_is_refused(self) -> None:
+        with (
+            patch.object(trust, "root_resolved", return_value=None),
+            self.assertRaises(RuntimeError),
+        ):
+            trust.trusted_path()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()

tests/unit/pkgmgr/core/config/test_load.py

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ from pkgmgr.core.config.load import (
     load_config,
 )
 
+LAYER_REPO = {"provider": "p", "account": "a", "repository": "r"}
+
 
 class DeepMergeTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_deep_merge_overrides_scalars_and_merges_dicts(self):
@@ -267,5 +269,42 @@ class LoadConfigIntegrationUnitTests(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertIsInstance(merged["repositories"], list)
 
 
+class PackageDefaultKeysTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def _load(self, files: dict[str, dict]) -> dict:
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as td:
+            for name, data in files.items():
+                (Path(td) / name).write_text(yaml.safe_dump(data), encoding="utf-8")
+            return load_config(str(Path(td) / "config.yaml"))
+
+    def test_empty_user_dir_gets_worktree_hooks(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self._load({})["worktree_hooks"], {})
+
+    def test_layer_with_only_repositories_keeps_worktree_hooks(self):
+        merged = self._load({"defaults.yaml": {"repositories": [LAYER_REPO]}})
+
+        self.assertEqual(merged["worktree_hooks"], {})
+        self.assertEqual(merged["repositories"][0]["repository"], "r")
+
+    def test_layers_deep_merge_other_keys(self):
+        merged = self._load(
+            {
+                "a.yaml": {
+                    "repositories": [LAYER_REPO],
+                    "worktree_hooks": {"h/o/a": {"worktree-init": ["a"]}},
+                },
+                "b.yaml": {"worktree_hooks": {"h/o/b": {"worktree-init": ["b"]}}},
+            }
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(set(merged["worktree_hooks"]), {"h/o/a", "h/o/b"})
+
+    def test_user_config_sets_worktree_hooks(self):
+        hooks = {"h/o/r": {"worktree-fini": ["/bin/true"]}}
+
+        merged = self._load({"config.yaml": {"worktree_hooks": hooks}})
+
+        self.assertEqual(merged["worktree_hooks"], hooks)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()