Run coding agents in parallel without sharing a working directory.
Parallel agents are useful only when each task has a clear boundary, isolated files and an obvious path back to the base branch.
Split work by independently reviewable tasks
Start with tasks that can be understood and reviewed on their own. A focused bug fix, test addition or documentation change makes a better parallel unit than a broad request that touches every layer of the same feature.
Independence is not the same as zero overlap. Two tasks may still depend on the same interfaces, so identify shared contracts before the agents begin and merge foundational changes before work that consumes them.
Give each task a branch and Git worktree
A branch separates history, but a Git worktree also separates the working directory. That prevents two agent processes from writing into the same checkout, changing the same index or replacing one another's uncommitted files.
Keep the worktree name tied to the task. The name becomes the stable handle for its terminal sessions, changed files, diff and eventual merge.
Watch state rather than polling terminals
A parallel workflow needs a quick answer to three questions: which agents are still running, which are waiting for a decision, and which have finished. A shared project view makes those transitions visible without opening every terminal in turn.
Review and merge one result at a time
Review the complete diff against the base branch, not only the agent's last message. Run the relevant checks, merge the smallest dependency first, then update later worktrees before merging their changes. Isolation protects the working directories; deliberate review still protects the codebase.