False positive unused files in git worktree (entry points not resolved)

[ErisDS]

Prerequisites

• I've read the relevant documentation
• I've searched for existing issues
• I've read the issue reproduction guide

Good version

N/A (workaround was --no-gitignore)

Bad version

6.1.1 (also 5.86.0)

Description

In a git worktree, knip reports package entry points as "unused files" that are correctly recognized in the main repo checkout. The .gitignore worktree fix in #1424 (v5.79.0) resolved gitignore traversal, but entry point resolution from package.json main/exports fields still fails in worktrees.

Environment

• Git worktree (.git is a file, not a directory)
• pnpm monorepo with multiple workspaces
• knip 6.1.1

What happens

Running knip in a git worktree produces 18 "unused files" including:

• apps/api/src/index.ts (the API entry point)
• packages/td/src/bin.ts (a CLI bin entry)
• shared/db/src/migrate.ts and shared/db/src/seed.ts (script entry points)
• All apps/api/src/routes/*/index.ts barrel files (imported by the entry point)

Running knip in the main repo checkout (same commit, same config) correctly recognizes all of these and reports zero unused files.

Workaround

Previously we used --no-gitignore which happened to mask this issue (though it introduced other problems like scanning dist/ and coverage/ directories). There is no clean workaround that does not hide real findings.

Likely cause

The entry point resolution probably uses a path or fs.stat check on .git that assumes it is a directory. In worktrees, .git is a file containing gitdir: /path/to/main/.git/worktrees/<name>. This may affect how knip determines the repository root and resolves workspace package.json paths relative to it.

Related

• Fix gitignore ancestor detection for git worktrees #1424 (gitignore traversal fix for worktrees - merged, working correctly)
• 🐛 Knip fails in a git worktree + lefthook #990 (git hooks in worktrees - fixed)

[webpro]

Do not remove reproduction url without explaining why: https://knip.dev/guides/issue-reproduction

[ErisDS]

@webpro Apologies - I know how frustrating it is when bug reports miss critical context. I was still working on the repro and got ahead of myself opening the issue already 🙈

Reproduction repo: https://github.com/ErisDS/knip-worktree-repro

Critical context: This issue occurs when the worktree is nested inside the main repo at .worktrees/test and the parent's .gitignore contains the worktree folder e.g. .worktrees/.

Worktrees created outside the repo (e.g. /tmp/worktree) don't trigger this.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Main repo — clone and install

git clone https://github.com/ErisDS/knip-worktree-repro.git
cd knip-worktree-repro
pnpm install

Run pnpm exec knip:

# No unused files

2. Create nested worktree (inside the repo, path is gitignored)

mkdir -p .worktrees
git worktree add .worktrees/test -b test-branch
cd .worktrees/test
pnpm install

Run pnpm exec knip:

# Unused files (4):
#   packages/app/src/migrate.ts
#   packages/app/src/seed.ts
#   packages/lib/src/bin.ts
#   scripts/bootstrap.ts

Is this enough to show the case? Am I missing a configuration setting or is this something for which you'd accept a fix?

Or do you want me to raise a new issue from scratch? Sorry again!

[webpro]

Yes this is plenty, thanks.

[github-actions]

Preview release available:

npm i -D https://pkg.pr.new/knip@f08681a

[webpro]

Any chance you could give the latest preview release a shot and see if the issue goes away?

[github-actions]

Preview release available:

npm i -D https://pkg.pr.new/knip@6ad0fe1

[dukeflyheli]

latest 6.3.0 version worked for me for a .worktree/{name} sub dir in the main repos root.

[webpro]

I believe this issue has been fixed with v6.5.0 (side effect of refactors alongside migration to tinyglobby), let's close it. Feel free to shout if there's still issues.