Create your first stack

This guide walks you through creating a stack of branches.

Initialize stackit

In your repository, run:

stackit init

This detects your trunk branch (usually main) and prepares the repo for stacking.

Create your first branch

Stage some changes, then create a branch:

git add internal/api.go
stackit create add-api -m "feat: add base api"

Note

stackit create commits your staged changes and creates a new branch in one step.

Stack another branch on top

Make more changes and create another branch:

git add internal/logic.go
stackit create add-logic -m "feat: implement logic"

Visualize the stack

See your current position in the stack:

stackit log

● add-logic ← you are here
│
◯ add-api
│
main

Tree structures

Stacks can also branch when you have parallel work:

◯ add-tests
│
│ ● add-ui ← you are here
├─┘
◯ add-logic
│
◯ add-api
│
main

To create a parallel branch, navigate to the parent branch and create from there:

stackit checkout add-logic
git add internal/ui.go
stackit create add-ui -m "feat: add ui components"

Navigate your stack

Use navigation commands to move around:

• stackit up - Move to the child branch
• stackit down - Move to the parent branch
• stackit top - Jump to the top of the stack
• stackit bottom - Jump to the bottom (trunk)
• stackit checkout - Interactive branch switcher

Next steps

Now that you have a stack, learn how to submit PRs →