---
name: finishing-a-development-branch
description: Use when implementation is complete, all tests pass, and you need to decide how to integrate the work - guides completion of development work by presenting structured options for merge, PR, or cleanup
---

# Finishing a Development Branch

## Overview

Guide completion of development work by presenting clear options and handling chosen workflow.

**Core principle:** Verify tests → Present options → Execute choice → Clean up.

## The Process

### Step 1: Verify Tests

**Before presenting options, verify tests pass:**

```bash
npm test / cargo test / pytest / go test ./...
```

**If tests fail:** Show failures. Stop. Don't proceed to Step 2.

**If tests pass:** Continue to Step 2.

### Step 2: Determine Base Branch

```bash
git merge-base HEAD main 2>/dev/null || git merge-base HEAD master 2>/dev/null
```

### Step 3: Present Options

Present exactly these 4 options:

```
Implementation complete. What would you like to do?

1. Merge back to <base-branch> locally
2. Push and create a Pull Request
3. Keep the branch as-is (I'll handle it later)
4. Discard this work

Which option?
```

**Don't add explanation** — keep options concise.

### Step 4: Execute Choice

#### Option 1: Merge Locally

```bash
git checkout <base-branch>
git pull
git merge <feature-branch>
<test command>          # verify tests on merged result
git branch -d <feature-branch>
```

#### Option 2: Push and Create PR

```bash
git push -u origin <feature-branch>
gh pr create --title "<title>" --body "$(cat <<'EOF'
## Summary
<2-3 bullets of what changed>

## Test Plan
- [ ] <verification steps>
EOF
)"
```

#### Option 3: Keep As-Is

Report: "Keeping branch `<name>`. Worktree preserved at `<path>`."

Don't cleanup worktree.

#### Option 4: Discard

**Confirm first:**
```
This will permanently delete:
- Branch <name>
- All commits: <commit-list>

Type 'discard' to confirm.
```

Wait for exact confirmation. Then:
```bash
git checkout <base-branch>
git branch -D <feature-branch>
```

### Step 5: Cleanup Worktree

**For Options 1, 2, 4:**

```bash
git worktree list | grep $(git branch --show-current)
# if in worktree:
git worktree remove <worktree-path>
```

**For Option 3:** Keep worktree.

## Quick Reference

| Option | Merge | Push | Keep Worktree | Cleanup Branch |
|--------|-------|------|---------------|----------------|
| 1. Merge locally | ✓ | - | - | ✓ |
| 2. Create PR | - | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| 3. Keep as-is | - | - | ✓ | - |
| 4. Discard | - | - | - | ✓ (force) |

## Red Flags

**Never:**
- Proceed with failing tests
- Merge without verifying tests on result
- Delete work without confirmation
- Force-push without explicit request

**Always:**
- Verify tests before offering options
- Present exactly 4 options
- Get typed confirmation for Option 4
- Clean up worktree for Options 1 & 4 only

## Verification

- [ ] Tests were verified passing before the options were presented
- [ ] Exactly the four standard options were offered, without extra explanation
- [ ] Option 1 reran tests on the merged result before deleting the branch
- [ ] Option 4 proceeded only after the user typed the exact confirmation word
- [ ] Worktree cleanup matched the option table — removed for 1 and 4, kept for 2 and 3
