Git Worktree Pre-Commit Hook Flutter Failure
Problem
When using git worktree for parallel development, pre-commit hooks that run
flutter analyze fail during git commit even though:
- Running
flutter analyze directly in the worktree passes with no issues
- Running the pre-commit hook script manually passes
- The hook passes in the main repo checkout
Root Cause
Git sets GIT_DIR, GIT_INDEX_FILE, and GIT_WORK_TREE environment variables
during hook execution. In a worktree, GIT_DIR points to
.git/worktrees/<name>/ instead of .git/. When flutter analyze internally
runs flutter pub get, pub chokes on this worktree-style GIT_DIR path and
fails to resolve dependencies.
The failure is invisible when the hook uses 2>/dev/null on stderr — you only
see "Resolving dependencies..." then the failure message, with the actual error
suppressed.
Context / Trigger Conditions
- Using
git worktree add for parallel branch development
- Pre-commit hook runs
flutter analyze or dart analyze
- Hook output shows "Resolving dependencies..." then immediately fails
- No actual analysis errors are reported
- The hook uses
set -e (exit on error)
2>/dev/null may hide the actual failure cause
Diagnosis
Reproduce the exact failure by simulating git's hook environment:
# This will FAIL (simulates hook execution in worktree)
GIT_DIR=/path/to/main/.git/worktrees/<name> \
flutter analyze --no-fatal-infos 2>/dev/null
# This will PASS (without git env vars)
flutter analyze --no-fatal-infos
Solution
Add unset GIT_DIR GIT_INDEX_FILE GIT_WORK_TREE to the pre-commit hook
after all git commands but before any flutter/dart commands.
#!/bin/bash
set -e
cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/mobile"
# Git operations (these NEED the git env vars)
STAGED_DART_FILES=$(git diff --cached --name-only --diff-filter=ACM | grep '\.dart$' || true)
if [ -z "$STAGED_DART_FILES" ]; then
echo "No Dart files staged, skipping checks"
exit 0
fi
# Unset git env vars BEFORE running flutter/dart commands.
# Git sets these during hook execution, and flutter pub get
# (called internally by flutter analyze) chokes on worktree-style
# GIT_DIR paths.
unset GIT_DIR GIT_INDEX_FILE GIT_WORK_TREE
# Now flutter/dart commands work in both main repo and worktrees
dart format --output=none --set-exit-if-changed lib test
flutter analyze --no-fatal-infos
Key points:
- The
unset MUST come after git diff --cached (which needs GIT_INDEX_FILE)
- The
unset MUST come before flutter analyze and dart format
- Remove
2>/dev/null from flutter analyze so errors are visible
Verification
- Make a change in a git worktree
- Stage the file:
git add <file>
- Commit:
git commit -m "test" — hook should pass
- Verify the same hook still works in the main repo checkout
Notes
- This affects any tool that internally runs
pub get or interacts with git
during hook execution (not just flutter analyze)
dart format may also be affected in some configurations
- The
git rev-parse --show-toplevel call at the top of the hook works
correctly with GIT_DIR set — it resolves to the worktree root
- Only unset the vars when you're done with git operations