diff --git a/Documentation/config.txt b/Documentation/config.txt
index 2e5ceaf71..948b8b0e5 100644
--- a/Documentation/config.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config.txt
@@ -453,6 +453,8 @@ false), while all other repositories are assumed to be bare (bare
 
 core.worktree::
 	Set the path to the root of the working tree.
+	If GIT_COMMON_DIR environment variable is set, core.worktree
+	is ignored and not used for determining the root of working tree.
 	This can be overridden by the GIT_WORK_TREE environment
 	variable and the '--work-tree' command-line option.
 	The value can be an absolute path or relative to the path to
@@ -1274,6 +1276,13 @@ gc.pruneExpire::
 	"now" may be used to disable this  grace period and always prune
 	unreachable objects immediately.
 
+gc.pruneWorktreesExpire::
+	When 'git gc' is run, it will call
+	'prune --worktrees --expire 3.months.ago'.
+	Override the grace period with this config variable. The value
+	"now" may be used to disable the grace period and prune
+	$GIT_DIR/worktrees immediately.
+
 gc.reflogExpire::
 gc.<pattern>.reflogExpire::
 	'git reflog expire' removes reflog entries older than
diff --git a/Documentation/git-checkout.txt b/Documentation/git-checkout.txt
index d5041082e..d263a5652 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-checkout.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-checkout.txt
@@ -225,6 +225,19 @@ This means that you can use `git checkout -p` to selectively discard
 edits from your current working tree. See the ``Interactive Mode''
 section of linkgit:git-add[1] to learn how to operate the `--patch` mode.
 
+--to=<path>::
+	Check out a branch in a separate working directory at
+	`<path>`. A new working directory is linked to the current
+	repository, sharing everything except working directory
+	specific files such as HEAD, index... See "MULTIPLE WORKING
+	TREES" section for more information.
+
+--ignore-other-worktrees::
+	`git checkout` refuses when the wanted ref is already checked
+	out by another worktree. This option makes it check the ref
+	out anyway. In other words, the ref can be held by more than one
+	worktree.
+
 <branch>::
 	Branch to checkout; if it refers to a branch (i.e., a name that,
 	when prepended with "refs/heads/", is a valid ref), then that
@@ -388,6 +401,71 @@ $ git reflog -2 HEAD # or
 $ git log -g -2 HEAD
 ------------
 
+MULTIPLE WORKING TREES
+----------------------
+
+A git repository can support multiple working trees, allowing you to check
+out more than one branch at a time.  With `git checkout --to` a new working
+tree is associated with the repository.  This new working tree is called a
+"linked working tree" as opposed to the "main working tree" prepared by "git
+init" or "git clone".  A repository has one main working tree (if it's not a
+bare repository) and zero or more linked working trees.
+
+Each linked working tree has a private sub-directory in the repository's
+$GIT_DIR/worktrees directory.  The private sub-directory's name is usually
+the base name of the linked working tree's path, possibly appended with a
+number to make it unique.  For example, when `$GIT_DIR=/path/main/.git` the
+command `git checkout --to /path/other/test-next next` creates the linked
+working tree in `/path/other/test-next` and also creates a
+`$GIT_DIR/worktrees/test-next` directory (or `$GIT_DIR/worktrees/test-next1`
+if `test-next` is already taken).
+
+Within a linked working tree, $GIT_DIR is set to point to this private
+directory (e.g. `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next` in the example) and
+$GIT_COMMON_DIR is set to point back to the main working tree's $GIT_DIR
+(e.g. `/path/main/.git`). These settings are made in a `.git` file located at
+the top directory of the linked working tree.
+
+Path resolution via `git rev-parse --git-path` uses either
+$GIT_DIR or $GIT_COMMON_DIR depending on the path. For example, in the
+linked working tree `git rev-parse --git-path HEAD` returns
+`/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next/HEAD` (not
+`/path/other/test-next/.git/HEAD` or `/path/main/.git/HEAD`) while `git
+rev-parse --git-path refs/heads/master` uses
+$GIT_COMMON_DIR and returns `/path/main/.git/refs/heads/master`,
+since refs are shared across all working trees.
+
+See linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] for more information. The rule of
+thumb is do not make any assumption about whether a path belongs to
+$GIT_DIR or $GIT_COMMON_DIR when you need to directly access something
+inside $GIT_DIR. Use `git rev-parse --git-path` to get the final path.
+
+When you are done with a linked working tree you can simply delete it.
+The working tree's entry in the repository's $GIT_DIR/worktrees
+directory will eventually be removed automatically (see
+`gc.pruneworktreesexpire` in linkgit::git-config[1]), or you can run
+`git prune --worktrees` in the main or any linked working tree to
+clean up any stale entries in $GIT_DIR/worktrees.
+
+If you move a linked working directory to another file system, or
+within a file system that does not support hard links, you need to run
+at least one git command inside the linked working directory
+(e.g. `git status`) in order to update its entry in $GIT_DIR/worktrees
+so that it does not get automatically removed.
+
+To prevent a $GIT_DIR/worktrees entry from from being pruned (which
+can be useful in some situations, such as when the
+entry's working tree is stored on a portable device), add a file named
+'locked' to the entry's directory. The file contains the reason in
+plain text. For example, if a linked working tree's `.git` file points
+to `/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next` then a file named
+`/path/main/.git/worktrees/test-next/locked` will prevent the
+`test-next` entry from being pruned.  See
+linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] for details.
+
+Multiple checkout support for submodules is incomplete. It is NOT
+recommended to make multiple checkouts of a superproject.
+
 EXAMPLES
 --------
 
diff --git a/Documentation/git-prune.txt b/Documentation/git-prune.txt
index 7a493c80f..1cf3bed4a 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-prune.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-prune.txt
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ OPTIONS
 --expire <time>::
 	Only expire loose objects older than <time>.
 
+--worktrees::
+	Prune dead working tree information in $GIT_DIR/worktrees.
+
 <head>...::
 	In addition to objects
 	reachable from any of our references, keep objects
diff --git a/Documentation/git-rev-parse.txt b/Documentation/git-rev-parse.txt
index d6de42f74..97fc703f4 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-rev-parse.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-rev-parse.txt
@@ -216,6 +216,9 @@ If `$GIT_DIR` is not defined and the current directory
 is not detected to lie in a Git repository or work tree
 print a message to stderr and exit with nonzero status.
 
+--git-common-dir::
+	Show `$GIT_COMMON_DIR` if defined, else `$GIT_DIR`.
+
 --is-inside-git-dir::
 	When the current working directory is below the repository
 	directory print "true", otherwise "false".
@@ -233,6 +236,13 @@ print a message to stderr and exit with nonzero status.
 	repository.  If <path> is a gitfile then the resolved path
 	to the real repository is printed.
 
+--git-path <path>::
+	Resolve "$GIT_DIR/<path>" and takes other path relocation
+	variables such as $GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY,
+	$GIT_INDEX_FILE... into account. For example, if
+	$GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY is set to /foo/bar then "git rev-parse
+	--git-path objects/abc" returns /foo/bar/abc.
+
 --show-cdup::
 	When the command is invoked from a subdirectory, show the
 	path of the top-level directory relative to the current
diff --git a/Documentation/git.txt b/Documentation/git.txt
index c71e818cf..2789da4f8 100644
--- a/Documentation/git.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git.txt
@@ -833,6 +833,15 @@ Git so take care if using Cogito etc.
 	an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
 	command line.
 
+'GIT_COMMON_DIR'::
+	If this variable is set to a path, non-worktree files that are
+	normally in $GIT_DIR will be taken from this path
+	instead. Worktree-specific files such as HEAD or index are
+	taken from $GIT_DIR. See linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] and
+	the section 'MULTIPLE CHECKOUT MODE' in linkgit:checkout[1]
+	details. This variable has lower precedence than other path
+	variables such as GIT_INDEX_FILE, GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY...
+
 Git Commits
 ~~~~~~~~~~~
 'GIT_AUTHOR_NAME'::
diff --git a/Documentation/gitrepository-layout.txt b/Documentation/gitrepository-layout.txt
index 79653f313..7173b3883 100644
--- a/Documentation/gitrepository-layout.txt
+++ b/Documentation/gitrepository-layout.txt
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ of incomplete object store is not suitable to be published for
 use with dumb transports but otherwise is OK as long as
 `objects/info/alternates` points at the object stores it
 borrows from.
++
+This directory is ignored if $GIT_COMMON_DIR is set and
+"$GIT_COMMON_DIR/objects" will be used instead.
 
 objects/[0-9a-f][0-9a-f]::
 	A newly created object is stored in its own file.
@@ -92,7 +95,8 @@ refs::
 	References are stored in subdirectories of this
 	directory.  The 'git prune' command knows to preserve
 	objects reachable from refs found in this directory and
-	its subdirectories.
+	its subdirectories. This directory is ignored if $GIT_COMMON_DIR
+	is set and "$GIT_COMMON_DIR/refs" will be used instead.
 
 refs/heads/`name`::
 	records tip-of-the-tree commit objects of branch `name`
@@ -114,7 +118,8 @@ refs/replace/`<obj-sha1>`::
 packed-refs::
 	records the same information as refs/heads/, refs/tags/,
 	and friends record in a more efficient way.  See
-	linkgit:git-pack-refs[1].
+	linkgit:git-pack-refs[1]. This file is ignored if $GIT_COMMON_DIR
+	is set and "$GIT_COMMON_DIR/packed-refs" will be used instead.
 
 HEAD::
 	A symref (see glossary) to the `refs/heads/` namespace
@@ -133,6 +138,11 @@ being a symref to point at the current branch.  Such a state
 is often called 'detached HEAD.'  See linkgit:git-checkout[1]
 for details.
 
+config::
+	Repository specific configuration file. This file is ignored
+	if $GIT_COMMON_DIR is set and "$GIT_COMMON_DIR/config" will be
+	used instead.
+
 branches::
 	A slightly deprecated way to store shorthands to be used
 	to specify a URL to 'git fetch', 'git pull' and 'git push'.
@@ -140,7 +150,10 @@ branches::
 	'name' can be given to these commands in place of
 	'repository' argument.  See the REMOTES section in
 	linkgit:git-fetch[1] for details.  This mechanism is legacy
-	and not likely to be found in modern repositories.
+	and not likely to be found in modern repositories. This
+	directory is ignored if $GIT_COMMON_DIR is set and
+	"$GIT_COMMON_DIR/branches" will be used instead.
+
 
 hooks::
 	Hooks are customization scripts used by various Git
@@ -149,7 +162,9 @@ hooks::
 	default.  To enable, the `.sample` suffix has to be
 	removed from the filename by renaming.
 	Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about
-	each hook.
+	each hook. This directory is ignored if $GIT_COMMON_DIR is set
+	and "$GIT_COMMON_DIR/hooks" will be used instead.
+
 
 index::
 	The current index file for the repository.  It is
@@ -161,7 +176,8 @@ sharedindex.<SHA-1>::
 
 info::
 	Additional information about the repository is recorded
-	in this directory.
+	in this directory. This directory is ignored if $GIT_COMMON_DIR
+	is set and "$GIT_COMMON_DIR/index" will be used instead.
 
 info/refs::
 	This file helps dumb transports discover what refs are
@@ -201,12 +217,15 @@ remotes::
 	when interacting with remote repositories via 'git fetch',
 	'git pull' and 'git push' commands.  See the REMOTES section
 	in linkgit:git-fetch[1] for details.  This mechanism is legacy
-	and not likely to be found in modern repositories.
+	and not likely to be found in modern repositories. This
+	directory is ignored if $GIT_COMMON_DIR is set and
+	"$GIT_COMMON_DIR/remotes" will be used instead.
 
 logs::
-	Records of changes made to refs are stored in this
-	directory.  See linkgit:git-update-ref[1]
-	for more information.
+	Records of changes made to refs are stored in this directory.
+	See linkgit:git-update-ref[1] for more information. This
+	directory is ignored if $GIT_COMMON_DIR is set and
+	"$GIT_COMMON_DIR/logs" will be used instead.
 
 logs/refs/heads/`name`::
 	Records all changes made to the branch tip named `name`.
@@ -217,11 +236,46 @@ logs/refs/tags/`name`::
 shallow::
 	This is similar to `info/grafts` but is internally used
 	and maintained by shallow clone mechanism.  See `--depth`
-	option to linkgit:git-clone[1] and linkgit:git-fetch[1].
+	option to linkgit:git-clone[1] and linkgit:git-fetch[1]. This
+	file is ignored if $GIT_COMMON_DIR is set and
+	"$GIT_COMMON_DIR/shallow" will be used instead.
+
+commondir::
+	If this file exists, $GIT_COMMON_DIR (see linkgit:git[1]) will
+	be set to the path specified in this file if it is not
+	explicitly set. If the specified path is relative, it is
+	relative to $GIT_DIR. The repository with commondir is
+	incomplete without the repository pointed by "commondir".
 
 modules::
 	Contains the git-repositories of the submodules.
 
+worktrees::
+	Contains worktree specific information of linked
+	checkouts. Each subdirectory contains the worktree-related
+	part of a linked checkout. This directory is ignored if
+	$GIT_COMMON_DIR is set and "$GIT_COMMON_DIR/worktrees" will be
+	used instead.
+
+worktrees/<id>/gitdir::
+	A text file containing the absolute path back to the .git file
+	that points to here. This is used to check if the linked
+	repository has been manually removed and there is no need to
+	keep this directory any more. mtime of this file should be
+	updated every time the linked repository is accessed.
+
+worktrees/<id>/locked::
+	If this file exists, the linked repository may be on a
+	portable device and not available. It does not mean that the
+	linked repository is gone and `worktrees/<id>` could be
+	removed. The file's content contains a reason string on why
+	the repository is locked.
+
+worktrees/<id>/link::
+	If this file exists, it is a hard link to the linked .git
+	file. It is used to detect if the linked repository is
+	manually removed.
+
 SEE ALSO
 --------
 linkgit:git-init[1],
diff --git a/builtin/branch.c b/builtin/branch.c
index 1d150378e..258fe2ff9 100644
--- a/builtin/branch.c
+++ b/builtin/branch.c
@@ -771,7 +771,6 @@ static const char edit_description[] = "BRANCH_DESCRIPTION";
 
 static int edit_branch_description(const char *branch_name)
 {
-	FILE *fp;
 	int status;
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf name = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -784,8 +783,7 @@ static int edit_branch_description(const char *branch_name)
 		    "  %s\n"
 		    "Lines starting with '%c' will be stripped.\n",
 		    branch_name, comment_line_char);
-	fp = fopen(git_path(edit_description), "w");
-	if ((fwrite(buf.buf, 1, buf.len, fp) < buf.len) || fclose(fp)) {
+	if (write_file(git_path(edit_description), 0, "%s", buf.buf)) {
 		strbuf_release(&buf);
 		return error(_("could not write branch description template: %s"),
 			     strerror(errno));
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index 4aad49aaa..2f92328db 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "resolve-undo.h"
 #include "submodule.h"
 #include "argv-array.h"
+#include "sigchain.h"
 
 static const char * const checkout_usage[] = {
 	N_("git checkout [<options>] <branch>"),
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ struct checkout_opts {
 	int writeout_stage;
 	int overwrite_ignore;
 	int ignore_skipworktree;
+	int ignore_other_worktrees;
 
 	const char *new_branch;
 	const char *new_branch_force;
@@ -48,6 +50,10 @@ struct checkout_opts {
 	const char *prefix;
 	struct pathspec pathspec;
 	struct tree *source_tree;
+
+	const char *new_worktree;
+	const char **saved_argv;
+	int new_worktree_mode;
 };
 
 static int post_checkout_hook(struct commit *old, struct commit *new,
@@ -267,6 +273,9 @@ static int checkout_paths(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 		die(_("Cannot update paths and switch to branch '%s' at the same time."),
 		    opts->new_branch);
 
+	if (opts->new_worktree)
+		die(_("'%s' cannot be used with updating paths"), "--to");
+
 	if (opts->patch_mode)
 		return run_add_interactive(revision, "--patch=checkout",
 					   &opts->pathspec);
@@ -441,6 +450,11 @@ struct branch_info {
 	const char *name; /* The short name used */
 	const char *path; /* The full name of a real branch */
 	struct commit *commit; /* The named commit */
+	/*
+	 * if not null the branch is detached because it's already
+	 * checked out in this checkout
+	 */
+	char *checkout;
 };
 
 static void setup_branch_path(struct branch_info *branch)
@@ -502,7 +516,7 @@ static int merge_working_tree(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 			topts.dir->flags |= DIR_SHOW_IGNORED;
 			setup_standard_excludes(topts.dir);
 		}
-		tree = parse_tree_indirect(old->commit ?
+		tree = parse_tree_indirect(old->commit && !opts->new_worktree_mode ?
 					   old->commit->object.sha1 :
 					   EMPTY_TREE_SHA1_BIN);
 		init_tree_desc(&trees[0], tree->buffer, tree->size);
@@ -606,18 +620,21 @@ static void update_refs_for_switch(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 		if (opts->new_orphan_branch) {
 			if (opts->new_branch_log && !log_all_ref_updates) {
 				int temp;
-				char log_file[PATH_MAX];
-				char *ref_name = mkpath("refs/heads/%s", opts->new_orphan_branch);
+				struct strbuf log_file = STRBUF_INIT;
+				int ret;
+				const char *ref_name;
 
+				ref_name = mkpath("refs/heads/%s", opts->new_orphan_branch);
 				temp = log_all_ref_updates;
 				log_all_ref_updates = 1;
-				if (log_ref_setup(ref_name, log_file, sizeof(log_file))) {
+				ret = log_ref_setup(ref_name, &log_file);
+				log_all_ref_updates = temp;
+				strbuf_release(&log_file);
+				if (ret) {
 					fprintf(stderr, _("Can not do reflog for '%s'\n"),
 					    opts->new_orphan_branch);
-					log_all_ref_updates = temp;
 					return;
 				}
-				log_all_ref_updates = temp;
 			}
 		}
 		else
@@ -822,7 +839,8 @@ static int switch_branches(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	if (!opts->quiet && !old.path && old.commit && new->commit != old.commit)
+	if (!opts->quiet && !old.path && old.commit &&
+	    new->commit != old.commit && !opts->new_worktree_mode)
 		orphaned_commit_warning(old.commit, new->commit);
 
 	update_refs_for_switch(opts, &old, new);
@@ -832,6 +850,138 @@ static int switch_branches(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 	return ret || writeout_error;
 }
 
+static char *junk_work_tree;
+static char *junk_git_dir;
+static int is_junk;
+static pid_t junk_pid;
+
+static void remove_junk(void)
+{
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	if (!is_junk || getpid() != junk_pid)
+		return;
+	if (junk_git_dir) {
+		strbuf_addstr(&sb, junk_git_dir);
+		remove_dir_recursively(&sb, 0);
+		strbuf_reset(&sb);
+	}
+	if (junk_work_tree) {
+		strbuf_addstr(&sb, junk_work_tree);
+		remove_dir_recursively(&sb, 0);
+	}
+	strbuf_release(&sb);
+}
+
+static void remove_junk_on_signal(int signo)
+{
+	remove_junk();
+	sigchain_pop(signo);
+	raise(signo);
+}
+
+static int prepare_linked_checkout(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
+				   struct branch_info *new)
+{
+	struct strbuf sb_git = STRBUF_INIT, sb_repo = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	const char *path = opts->new_worktree, *name;
+	struct stat st;
+	struct child_process cp;
+	int counter = 0, len, ret;
+
+	if (!new->commit)
+		die(_("no branch specified"));
+	if (file_exists(path) && !is_empty_dir(path))
+		die(_("'%s' already exists"), path);
+
+	len = strlen(path);
+	while (len && is_dir_sep(path[len - 1]))
+		len--;
+
+	for (name = path + len - 1; name > path; name--)
+		if (is_dir_sep(*name)) {
+			name++;
+			break;
+		}
+	strbuf_addstr(&sb_repo,
+		      git_path("worktrees/%.*s", (int)(path + len - name), name));
+	len = sb_repo.len;
+	if (safe_create_leading_directories_const(sb_repo.buf))
+		die_errno(_("could not create leading directories of '%s'"),
+			  sb_repo.buf);
+	while (!stat(sb_repo.buf, &st)) {
+		counter++;
+		strbuf_setlen(&sb_repo, len);
+		strbuf_addf(&sb_repo, "%d", counter);
+	}
+	name = strrchr(sb_repo.buf, '/') + 1;
+
+	junk_pid = getpid();
+	atexit(remove_junk);
+	sigchain_push_common(remove_junk_on_signal);
+
+	if (mkdir(sb_repo.buf, 0777))
+		die_errno(_("could not create directory of '%s'"), sb_repo.buf);
+	junk_git_dir = xstrdup(sb_repo.buf);
+	is_junk = 1;
+
+	/*
+	 * lock the incomplete repo so prune won't delete it, unlock
+	 * after the preparation is over.
+	 */
+	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/locked", sb_repo.buf);
+	write_file(sb.buf, 1, "initializing\n");
+
+	strbuf_addf(&sb_git, "%s/.git", path);
+	if (safe_create_leading_directories_const(sb_git.buf))
+		die_errno(_("could not create leading directories of '%s'"),
+			  sb_git.buf);
+	junk_work_tree = xstrdup(path);
+
+	strbuf_reset(&sb);
+	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/gitdir", sb_repo.buf);
+	write_file(sb.buf, 1, "%s\n", real_path(sb_git.buf));
+	write_file(sb_git.buf, 1, "gitdir: %s/worktrees/%s\n",
+		   real_path(get_git_common_dir()), name);
+	/*
+	 * This is to keep resolve_ref() happy. We need a valid HEAD
+	 * or is_git_directory() will reject the directory. Any valid
+	 * value would do because this value will be ignored and
+	 * replaced at the next (real) checkout.
+	 */
+	strbuf_reset(&sb);
+	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/HEAD", sb_repo.buf);
+	write_file(sb.buf, 1, "%s\n", sha1_to_hex(new->commit->object.sha1));
+	strbuf_reset(&sb);
+	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/commondir", sb_repo.buf);
+	write_file(sb.buf, 1, "../..\n");
+
+	if (!opts->quiet)
+		fprintf_ln(stderr, _("Enter %s (identifier %s)"), path, name);
+
+	setenv("GIT_CHECKOUT_NEW_WORKTREE", "1", 1);
+	setenv(GIT_DIR_ENVIRONMENT, sb_git.buf, 1);
+	setenv(GIT_WORK_TREE_ENVIRONMENT, path, 1);
+	memset(&cp, 0, sizeof(cp));
+	cp.git_cmd = 1;
+	cp.argv = opts->saved_argv;
+	ret = run_command(&cp);
+	if (!ret) {
+		is_junk = 0;
+		free(junk_work_tree);
+		free(junk_git_dir);
+		junk_work_tree = NULL;
+		junk_git_dir = NULL;
+	}
+	strbuf_reset(&sb);
+	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/locked", sb_repo.buf);
+	unlink_or_warn(sb.buf);
+	strbuf_release(&sb);
+	strbuf_release(&sb_repo);
+	strbuf_release(&sb_git);
+	return ret;
+}
+
 static int git_checkout_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
 	if (!strcmp(var, "diff.ignoresubmodules")) {
@@ -887,13 +1037,80 @@ static const char *unique_tracking_name(const char *name, unsigned char *sha1)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+static void check_linked_checkout(struct branch_info *new, const char *id)
+{
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf gitdir = STRBUF_INIT;
+	const char *start, *end;
+
+	if (id)
+		strbuf_addf(&path, "%s/worktrees/%s/HEAD", get_git_common_dir(), id);
+	else
+		strbuf_addf(&path, "%s/HEAD", get_git_common_dir());
+
+	if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, path.buf, 0) < 0 ||
+	    !skip_prefix(sb.buf, "ref:", &start))
+		goto done;
+	while (isspace(*start))
+		start++;
+	end = start;
+	while (*end && !isspace(*end))
+		end++;
+	if (strncmp(start, new->path, end - start) || new->path[end - start] != '\0')
+		goto done;
+	if (id) {
+		strbuf_reset(&path);
+		strbuf_addf(&path, "%s/worktrees/%s/gitdir", get_git_common_dir(), id);
+		if (strbuf_read_file(&gitdir, path.buf, 0) <= 0)
+			goto done;
+		strbuf_rtrim(&gitdir);
+	} else
+		strbuf_addstr(&gitdir, get_git_common_dir());
+	die(_("'%s' is already checked out at '%s'"), new->name, gitdir.buf);
+done:
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+	strbuf_release(&sb);
+	strbuf_release(&gitdir);
+}
+
+static void check_linked_checkouts(struct branch_info *new)
+{
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+	DIR *dir;
+	struct dirent *d;
+
+	strbuf_addf(&path, "%s/worktrees", get_git_common_dir());
+	if ((dir = opendir(path.buf)) == NULL) {
+		strbuf_release(&path);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * $GIT_COMMON_DIR/HEAD is practically outside
+	 * $GIT_DIR so resolve_ref_unsafe() won't work (it
+	 * uses git_path). Parse the ref ourselves.
+	 */
+	check_linked_checkout(new, NULL);
+
+	while ((d = readdir(dir)) != NULL) {
+		if (!strcmp(d->d_name, ".") || !strcmp(d->d_name, ".."))
+			continue;
+		check_linked_checkout(new, d->d_name);
+	}
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+	closedir(dir);
+}
+
 static int parse_branchname_arg(int argc, const char **argv,
 				int dwim_new_local_branch_ok,
 				struct branch_info *new,
-				struct tree **source_tree,
-				unsigned char rev[20],
-				const char **new_branch)
+				struct checkout_opts *opts,
+				unsigned char rev[20])
 {
+	struct tree **source_tree = &opts->source_tree;
+	const char **new_branch = &opts->new_branch;
+	int force_detach = opts->force_detach;
 	int argcount = 0;
 	unsigned char branch_rev[20];
 	const char *arg;
@@ -1014,6 +1231,17 @@ static int parse_branchname_arg(int argc, const char **argv,
 	else
 		new->path = NULL; /* not an existing branch */
 
+	if (new->path && !force_detach && !*new_branch) {
+		unsigned char sha1[20];
+		int flag;
+		char *head_ref = resolve_refdup("HEAD", 0, sha1, &flag);
+		if (head_ref &&
+		    (!(flag & REF_ISSYMREF) || strcmp(head_ref, new->path)) &&
+		    !opts->ignore_other_worktrees)
+			check_linked_checkouts(new);
+		free(head_ref);
+	}
+
 	new->commit = lookup_commit_reference_gently(rev, 1);
 	if (!new->commit) {
 		/* not a commit */
@@ -1093,6 +1321,9 @@ static int checkout_branch(struct checkout_opts *opts,
 		die(_("Cannot switch branch to a non-commit '%s'"),
 		    new->name);
 
+	if (opts->new_worktree)
+		return prepare_linked_checkout(opts, new);
+
 	if (!new->commit && opts->new_branch) {
 		unsigned char rev[20];
 		int flag;
@@ -1135,6 +1366,10 @@ int cmd_checkout(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			 N_("do not limit pathspecs to sparse entries only")),
 		OPT_HIDDEN_BOOL(0, "guess", &dwim_new_local_branch,
 				N_("second guess 'git checkout <no-such-branch>'")),
+		OPT_FILENAME(0, "to", &opts.new_worktree,
+			   N_("check a branch out in a separate working directory")),
+		OPT_BOOL(0, "ignore-other-worktrees", &opts.ignore_other_worktrees,
+			 N_("do not check if another worktree is holding the given ref")),
 		OPT_END(),
 	};
 
@@ -1143,6 +1378,9 @@ int cmd_checkout(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	opts.overwrite_ignore = 1;
 	opts.prefix = prefix;
 
+	opts.saved_argv = xmalloc(sizeof(const char *) * (argc + 2));
+	memcpy(opts.saved_argv, argv, sizeof(const char *) * (argc + 1));
+
 	gitmodules_config();
 	git_config(git_checkout_config, &opts);
 
@@ -1151,6 +1389,14 @@ int cmd_checkout(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options, checkout_usage,
 			     PARSE_OPT_KEEP_DASHDASH);
 
+	/* recursive execution from checkout_new_worktree() */
+	opts.new_worktree_mode = getenv("GIT_CHECKOUT_NEW_WORKTREE") != NULL;
+	if (opts.new_worktree_mode)
+		opts.new_worktree = NULL;
+
+	if (!opts.new_worktree)
+		setup_work_tree();
+
 	if (conflict_style) {
 		opts.merge = 1; /* implied */
 		git_xmerge_config("merge.conflictstyle", conflict_style, NULL);
@@ -1204,8 +1450,7 @@ int cmd_checkout(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			opts.track == BRANCH_TRACK_UNSPECIFIED &&
 			!opts.new_branch;
 		int n = parse_branchname_arg(argc, argv, dwim_ok,
-					     &new, &opts.source_tree,
-					     rev, &opts.new_branch);
+					     &new, &opts, rev);
 		argv += n;
 		argc -= n;
 	}
diff --git a/builtin/clone.c b/builtin/clone.c
index 53a2e5af3..166a645e2 100644
--- a/builtin/clone.c
+++ b/builtin/clone.c
@@ -293,16 +293,17 @@ static void copy_alternates(struct strbuf *src, struct strbuf *dst,
 	struct strbuf line = STRBUF_INIT;
 
 	while (strbuf_getline(&line, in, '\n') != EOF) {
-		char *abs_path, abs_buf[PATH_MAX];
+		char *abs_path;
 		if (!line.len || line.buf[0] == '#')
 			continue;
 		if (is_absolute_path(line.buf)) {
 			add_to_alternates_file(line.buf);
 			continue;
 		}
-		abs_path = mkpath("%s/objects/%s", src_repo, line.buf);
-		normalize_path_copy(abs_buf, abs_path);
-		add_to_alternates_file(abs_buf);
+		abs_path = mkpathdup("%s/objects/%s", src_repo, line.buf);
+		normalize_path_copy(abs_path, abs_path);
+		add_to_alternates_file(abs_path);
+		free(abs_path);
 	}
 	strbuf_release(&line);
 	fclose(in);
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index da79ac4bc..310674cfd 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ static void determine_whence(struct wt_status *s)
 		whence = FROM_MERGE;
 	else if (file_exists(git_path("CHERRY_PICK_HEAD"))) {
 		whence = FROM_CHERRY_PICK;
-		if (file_exists(git_path("sequencer")))
+		if (file_exists(git_path(SEQ_DIR)))
 			sequencer_in_use = 1;
 	}
 	else
diff --git a/builtin/count-objects.c b/builtin/count-objects.c
index e47ef0b1a..ad0c79954 100644
--- a/builtin/count-objects.c
+++ b/builtin/count-objects.c
@@ -70,8 +70,10 @@ int cmd_count_objects(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	/* we do not take arguments other than flags for now */
 	if (argc)
 		usage_with_options(count_objects_usage, opts);
-	if (verbose)
+	if (verbose) {
 		report_garbage = real_report_garbage;
+		report_linked_checkout_garbage();
+	}
 
 	for_each_loose_file_in_objdir(get_object_directory(),
 				      count_loose, count_cruft, NULL, NULL);
diff --git a/builtin/fetch.c b/builtin/fetch.c
index f9512652c..7910419c9 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch.c
@@ -588,7 +588,8 @@ static int store_updated_refs(const char *raw_url, const char *remote_name,
 	struct strbuf note = STRBUF_INIT;
 	const char *what, *kind;
 	struct ref *rm;
-	char *url, *filename = dry_run ? "/dev/null" : git_path("FETCH_HEAD");
+	char *url;
+	const char *filename = dry_run ? "/dev/null" : git_path("FETCH_HEAD");
 	int want_status;
 
 	fp = fopen(filename, "a");
@@ -822,7 +823,7 @@ static void check_not_current_branch(struct ref *ref_map)
 
 static int truncate_fetch_head(void)
 {
-	char *filename = git_path("FETCH_HEAD");
+	const char *filename = git_path("FETCH_HEAD");
 	FILE *fp = fopen(filename, "w");
 
 	if (!fp)
diff --git a/builtin/fsck.c b/builtin/fsck.c
index 0c757862e..4783896fd 100644
--- a/builtin/fsck.c
+++ b/builtin/fsck.c
@@ -225,12 +225,12 @@ static void check_unreachable_object(struct object *obj)
 			printf("dangling %s %s\n", typename(obj->type),
 			       sha1_to_hex(obj->sha1));
 		if (write_lost_and_found) {
-			char *filename = git_path("lost-found/%s/%s",
+			const char *filename = git_path("lost-found/%s/%s",
 				obj->type == OBJ_COMMIT ? "commit" : "other",
 				sha1_to_hex(obj->sha1));
 			FILE *f;
 
-			if (safe_create_leading_directories(filename)) {
+			if (safe_create_leading_directories_const(filename)) {
 				error("Could not create lost-found");
 				return;
 			}
diff --git a/builtin/gc.c b/builtin/gc.c
index 5c634afc0..36fe33300 100644
--- a/builtin/gc.c
+++ b/builtin/gc.c
@@ -33,11 +33,13 @@ static int gc_auto_threshold = 6700;
 static int gc_auto_pack_limit = 50;
 static int detach_auto = 1;
 static const char *prune_expire = "2.weeks.ago";
+static const char *prune_worktrees_expire = "3.months.ago";
 
 static struct argv_array pack_refs_cmd = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
 static struct argv_array reflog = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
 static struct argv_array repack = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
 static struct argv_array prune = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
+static struct argv_array prune_worktrees = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
 static struct argv_array rerere = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
 
 static char *pidfile;
@@ -55,6 +57,17 @@ static void remove_pidfile_on_signal(int signo)
 	raise(signo);
 }
 
+static void git_config_date_string(const char *key, const char **output)
+{
+	if (git_config_get_string_const(key, output))
+		return;
+	if (strcmp(*output, "now")) {
+		unsigned long now = approxidate("now");
+		if (approxidate(*output) >= now)
+			git_die_config(key, _("Invalid %s: '%s'"), key, *output);
+	}
+}
+
 static void gc_config(void)
 {
 	const char *value;
@@ -71,16 +84,8 @@ static void gc_config(void)
 	git_config_get_int("gc.auto", &gc_auto_threshold);
 	git_config_get_int("gc.autopacklimit", &gc_auto_pack_limit);
 	git_config_get_bool("gc.autodetach", &detach_auto);
-
-	if (!git_config_get_string_const("gc.pruneexpire", &prune_expire)) {
-		if (strcmp(prune_expire, "now")) {
-			unsigned long now = approxidate("now");
-			if (approxidate(prune_expire) >= now) {
-				git_die_config("gc.pruneexpire", _("Invalid gc.pruneexpire: '%s'"),
-						prune_expire);
-			}
-		}
-	}
+	git_config_date_string("gc.pruneexpire", &prune_expire);
+	git_config_date_string("gc.pruneworktreesexpire", &prune_worktrees_expire);
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 }
 
@@ -287,7 +292,8 @@ int cmd_gc(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	argv_array_pushl(&pack_refs_cmd, "pack-refs", "--all", "--prune", NULL);
 	argv_array_pushl(&reflog, "reflog", "expire", "--all", NULL);
 	argv_array_pushl(&repack, "repack", "-d", "-l", NULL);
-	argv_array_pushl(&prune, "prune", "--expire", NULL );
+	argv_array_pushl(&prune, "prune", "--expire", NULL);
+	argv_array_pushl(&prune_worktrees, "prune", "--worktrees", "--expire", NULL);
 	argv_array_pushl(&rerere, "rerere", "gc", NULL);
 
 	gc_config();
@@ -357,6 +363,12 @@ int cmd_gc(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			return error(FAILED_RUN, prune.argv[0]);
 	}
 
+	if (prune_worktrees_expire) {
+		argv_array_push(&prune_worktrees, prune_worktrees_expire);
+		if (run_command_v_opt(prune_worktrees.argv, RUN_GIT_CMD))
+			return error(FAILED_RUN, prune_worktrees.argv[0]);
+	}
+
 	if (run_command_v_opt(rerere.argv, RUN_GIT_CMD))
 		return error(FAILED_RUN, rerere.argv[0]);
 
diff --git a/builtin/init-db.c b/builtin/init-db.c
index ab9f86b88..433573813 100644
--- a/builtin/init-db.c
+++ b/builtin/init-db.c
@@ -362,7 +362,6 @@ int set_git_dir_init(const char *git_dir, const char *real_git_dir,
 static void separate_git_dir(const char *git_dir)
 {
 	struct stat st;
-	FILE *fp;
 
 	if (!stat(git_link, &st)) {
 		const char *src;
@@ -378,11 +377,7 @@ static void separate_git_dir(const char *git_dir)
 			die_errno(_("unable to move %s to %s"), src, git_dir);
 	}
 
-	fp = fopen(git_link, "w");
-	if (!fp)
-		die(_("Could not create git link %s"), git_link);
-	fprintf(fp, "gitdir: %s\n", git_dir);
-	fclose(fp);
+	write_file(git_link, 1, "gitdir: %s\n", git_dir);
 }
 
 int init_db(const char *template_dir, unsigned int flags)
diff --git a/builtin/prune.c b/builtin/prune.c
index 17094ad95..0c73246c7 100644
--- a/builtin/prune.c
+++ b/builtin/prune.c
@@ -76,6 +76,95 @@ static int prune_subdir(int nr, const char *path, void *data)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int prune_worktree(const char *id, struct strbuf *reason)
+{
+	struct stat st;
+	char *path;
+	int fd, len;
+
+	if (!is_directory(git_path("worktrees/%s", id))) {
+		strbuf_addf(reason, _("Removing worktrees/%s: not a valid directory"), id);
+		return 1;
+	}
+	if (file_exists(git_path("worktrees/%s/locked", id)))
+		return 0;
+	if (stat(git_path("worktrees/%s/gitdir", id), &st)) {
+		strbuf_addf(reason, _("Removing worktrees/%s: gitdir file does not exist"), id);
+		return 1;
+	}
+	fd = open(git_path("worktrees/%s/gitdir", id), O_RDONLY);
+	if (fd < 0) {
+		strbuf_addf(reason, _("Removing worktrees/%s: unable to read gitdir file (%s)"),
+			    id, strerror(errno));
+		return 1;
+	}
+	len = st.st_size;
+	path = xmalloc(len + 1);
+	read_in_full(fd, path, len);
+	close(fd);
+	while (len && (path[len - 1] == '\n' || path[len - 1] == '\r'))
+		len--;
+	if (!len) {
+		strbuf_addf(reason, _("Removing worktrees/%s: invalid gitdir file"), id);
+		free(path);
+		return 1;
+	}
+	path[len] = '\0';
+	if (!file_exists(path)) {
+		struct stat st_link;
+		free(path);
+		/*
+		 * the repo is moved manually and has not been
+		 * accessed since?
+		 */
+		if (!stat(git_path("worktrees/%s/link", id), &st_link) &&
+		    st_link.st_nlink > 1)
+			return 0;
+		if (st.st_mtime <= expire) {
+			strbuf_addf(reason, _("Removing worktrees/%s: gitdir file points to non-existent location"), id);
+			return 1;
+		} else {
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
+	free(path);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void prune_worktrees(void)
+{
+	struct strbuf reason = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+	DIR *dir = opendir(git_path("worktrees"));
+	struct dirent *d;
+	int ret;
+	if (!dir)
+		return;
+	while ((d = readdir(dir)) != NULL) {
+		if (!strcmp(d->d_name, ".") || !strcmp(d->d_name, ".."))
+			continue;
+		strbuf_reset(&reason);
+		if (!prune_worktree(d->d_name, &reason))
+			continue;
+		if (show_only || verbose)
+			printf("%s\n", reason.buf);
+		if (show_only)
+			continue;
+		strbuf_reset(&path);
+		strbuf_addstr(&path, git_path("worktrees/%s", d->d_name));
+		ret = remove_dir_recursively(&path, 0);
+		if (ret < 0 && errno == ENOTDIR)
+			ret = unlink(path.buf);
+		if (ret)
+			error(_("failed to remove: %s"), strerror(errno));
+	}
+	closedir(dir);
+	if (!show_only)
+		rmdir(git_path("worktrees"));
+	strbuf_release(&reason);
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+}
+
 /*
  * Write errors (particularly out of space) can result in
  * failed temporary packs (and more rarely indexes and other
@@ -102,10 +191,12 @@ int cmd_prune(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	struct rev_info revs;
 	struct progress *progress = NULL;
+	int do_prune_worktrees = 0;
 	const struct option options[] = {
 		OPT__DRY_RUN(&show_only, N_("do not remove, show only")),
 		OPT__VERBOSE(&verbose, N_("report pruned objects")),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "progress", &show_progress, N_("show progress")),
+		OPT_BOOL(0, "worktrees", &do_prune_worktrees, N_("prune .git/worktrees")),
 		OPT_EXPIRY_DATE(0, "expire", &expire,
 				N_("expire objects older than <time>")),
 		OPT_END()
@@ -119,6 +210,14 @@ int cmd_prune(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	init_revisions(&revs, prefix);
 
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options, prune_usage, 0);
+
+	if (do_prune_worktrees) {
+		if (argc)
+			die(_("--worktrees does not take extra arguments"));
+		prune_worktrees();
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	while (argc--) {
 		unsigned char sha1[20];
 		const char *name = *argv++;
diff --git a/builtin/receive-pack.c b/builtin/receive-pack.c
index 5292bb5a5..d2ec52bca 100644
--- a/builtin/receive-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/receive-pack.c
@@ -1008,7 +1008,7 @@ static void run_update_post_hook(struct command *commands)
 	int argc;
 	const char **argv;
 	struct child_process proc = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
-	char *hook;
+	const char *hook;
 
 	hook = find_hook("post-update");
 	for (argc = 0, cmd = commands; cmd; cmd = cmd->next) {
diff --git a/builtin/remote.c b/builtin/remote.c
index 5d3ab906b..ad57fc984 100644
--- a/builtin/remote.c
+++ b/builtin/remote.c
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ static int migrate_file(struct remote *remote)
 {
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int i;
-	char *path = NULL;
+	const char *path = NULL;
 
 	strbuf_addf(&buf, "remote.%s.url", remote->name);
 	for (i = 0; i < remote->url_nr; i++)
diff --git a/builtin/repack.c b/builtin/repack.c
index f2edeb0f4..af7340c7b 100644
--- a/builtin/repack.c
+++ b/builtin/repack.c
@@ -285,7 +285,8 @@ int cmd_repack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	failed = 0;
 	for_each_string_list_item(item, &names) {
 		for (ext = 0; ext < ARRAY_SIZE(exts); ext++) {
-			char *fname, *fname_old;
+			const char *fname_old;
+			char *fname;
 			fname = mkpathdup("%s/pack-%s%s", packdir,
 						item->string, exts[ext].name);
 			if (!file_exists(fname)) {
@@ -313,7 +314,8 @@ int cmd_repack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (failed) {
 		struct string_list rollback_failure = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 		for_each_string_list_item(item, &rollback) {
-			char *fname, *fname_old;
+			const char *fname_old;
+			char *fname;
 			fname = mkpathdup("%s/%s", packdir, item->string);
 			fname_old = mkpath("%s/old-%s", packdir, item->string);
 			if (rename(fname_old, fname))
@@ -366,7 +368,7 @@ int cmd_repack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	/* Remove the "old-" files */
 	for_each_string_list_item(item, &names) {
 		for (ext = 0; ext < ARRAY_SIZE(exts); ext++) {
-			char *fname;
+			const char *fname;
 			fname = mkpath("%s/old-%s%s",
 					packdir,
 					item->string,
diff --git a/builtin/rev-parse.c b/builtin/rev-parse.c
index 3626c61da..4d10dd954 100644
--- a/builtin/rev-parse.c
+++ b/builtin/rev-parse.c
@@ -533,6 +533,13 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
 
+		if (!strcmp(arg, "--git-path")) {
+			if (!argv[i + 1])
+				die("--git-path requires an argument");
+			puts(git_path("%s", argv[i + 1]));
+			i++;
+			continue;
+		}
 		if (as_is) {
 			if (show_file(arg, output_prefix) && as_is < 2)
 				verify_filename(prefix, arg, 0);
@@ -755,6 +762,10 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				free(cwd);
 				continue;
 			}
+			if (!strcmp(arg, "--git-common-dir")) {
+				puts(get_git_common_dir());
+				continue;
+			}
 			if (!strcmp(arg, "--resolve-git-dir")) {
 				const char *gitdir = argv[++i];
 				if (!gitdir)
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index b34447ffc..771b77562 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -378,6 +378,7 @@ static inline enum object_type object_type(unsigned int mode)
 
 /* Double-check local_repo_env below if you add to this list. */
 #define GIT_DIR_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_DIR"
+#define GIT_COMMON_DIR_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_COMMON_DIR"
 #define GIT_NAMESPACE_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_NAMESPACE"
 #define GIT_WORK_TREE_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_WORK_TREE"
 #define GIT_PREFIX_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_PREFIX"
@@ -431,11 +432,13 @@ extern int is_inside_git_dir(void);
 extern char *git_work_tree_cfg;
 extern int is_inside_work_tree(void);
 extern const char *get_git_dir(void);
+extern const char *get_git_common_dir(void);
 extern int is_git_directory(const char *path);
 extern char *get_object_directory(void);
 extern char *get_index_file(void);
 extern char *get_graft_file(void);
 extern int set_git_dir(const char *path);
+extern int get_common_dir(struct strbuf *sb, const char *gitdir);
 extern const char *get_git_namespace(void);
 extern const char *strip_namespace(const char *namespaced_ref);
 extern const char *get_git_work_tree(void);
@@ -620,6 +623,7 @@ extern int core_apply_sparse_checkout;
 extern int precomposed_unicode;
 extern int protect_hfs;
 extern int protect_ntfs;
+extern int git_db_env, git_index_env, git_graft_env, git_common_dir_env;
 
 /*
  * Include broken refs in all ref iterations, which will
@@ -690,18 +694,19 @@ extern int check_repository_format(void);
 
 extern char *mksnpath(char *buf, size_t n, const char *fmt, ...)
 	__attribute__((format (printf, 3, 4)));
-extern char *git_snpath(char *buf, size_t n, const char *fmt, ...)
-	__attribute__((format (printf, 3, 4)));
+extern void strbuf_git_path(struct strbuf *sb, const char *fmt, ...)
+	__attribute__((format (printf, 2, 3)));
 extern char *git_pathdup(const char *fmt, ...)
 	__attribute__((format (printf, 1, 2)));
 extern char *mkpathdup(const char *fmt, ...)
 	__attribute__((format (printf, 1, 2)));
 
 /* Return a statically allocated filename matching the sha1 signature */
-extern char *mkpath(const char *fmt, ...) __attribute__((format (printf, 1, 2)));
-extern char *git_path(const char *fmt, ...) __attribute__((format (printf, 1, 2)));
-extern char *git_path_submodule(const char *path, const char *fmt, ...)
+extern const char *mkpath(const char *fmt, ...) __attribute__((format (printf, 1, 2)));
+extern const char *git_path(const char *fmt, ...) __attribute__((format (printf, 1, 2)));
+extern const char *git_path_submodule(const char *path, const char *fmt, ...)
 	__attribute__((format (printf, 2, 3)));
+extern void report_linked_checkout_garbage(void);
 
 /*
  * Return the name of the file in the local object database that would
@@ -1543,6 +1548,8 @@ static inline ssize_t write_str_in_full(int fd, const char *str)
 {
 	return write_in_full(fd, str, strlen(str));
 }
+__attribute__((format (printf, 3, 4)))
+extern int write_file(const char *path, int fatal, const char *fmt, ...);
 
 /* pager.c */
 extern void setup_pager(void);
diff --git a/daemon.c b/daemon.c
index 9ee21877c..ac2bc852d 100644
--- a/daemon.c
+++ b/daemon.c
@@ -1166,15 +1166,6 @@ static struct credentials *prepare_credentials(const char *user_name,
 }
 #endif
 
-static void store_pid(const char *path)
-{
-	FILE *f = fopen(path, "w");
-	if (!f)
-		die_errno("cannot open pid file '%s'", path);
-	if (fprintf(f, "%"PRIuMAX"\n", (uintmax_t) getpid()) < 0 || fclose(f) != 0)
-		die_errno("failed to write pid file '%s'", path);
-}
-
 static int serve(struct string_list *listen_addr, int listen_port,
     struct credentials *cred)
 {
@@ -1385,7 +1376,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		sanitize_stdfds();
 
 	if (pid_file)
-		store_pid(pid_file);
+		write_file(pid_file, 1, "%"PRIuMAX"\n", (uintmax_t) getpid());
 
 	/* prepare argv for serving-processes */
 	cld_argv = xmalloc(sizeof (char *) * (argc + 2));
diff --git a/environment.c b/environment.c
index a40044c3b..61c685b8d 100644
--- a/environment.c
+++ b/environment.c
@@ -92,8 +92,9 @@ static char *work_tree;
 static const char *namespace;
 static size_t namespace_len;
 
-static const char *git_dir;
+static const char *git_dir, *git_common_dir;
 static char *git_object_dir, *git_index_file, *git_graft_file;
+int git_db_env, git_index_env, git_graft_env, git_common_dir_env;
 
 /*
  * Repository-local GIT_* environment variables; see cache.h for details.
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ const char * const local_repo_env[] = {
 	NO_REPLACE_OBJECTS_ENVIRONMENT,
 	GIT_PREFIX_ENVIRONMENT,
 	GIT_SHALLOW_FILE_ENVIRONMENT,
+	GIT_COMMON_DIR_ENVIRONMENT,
 	NULL
 };
 
@@ -135,14 +137,23 @@ static char *expand_namespace(const char *raw_namespace)
 	return strbuf_detach(&buf, NULL);
 }
 
-static char *git_path_from_env(const char *envvar, const char *path)
+static char *git_path_from_env(const char *envvar, const char *git_dir,
+			       const char *path, int *fromenv)
 {
 	const char *value = getenv(envvar);
-	return value ? xstrdup(value) : git_pathdup("%s", path);
+	if (!value) {
+		char *buf = xmalloc(strlen(git_dir) + strlen(path) + 2);
+		sprintf(buf, "%s/%s", git_dir, path);
+		return buf;
+	}
+	if (fromenv)
+		*fromenv = 1;
+	return xstrdup(value);
 }
 
 static void setup_git_env(void)
 {
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 	const char *gitfile;
 	const char *shallow_file;
 
@@ -151,9 +162,15 @@ static void setup_git_env(void)
 		git_dir = DEFAULT_GIT_DIR_ENVIRONMENT;
 	gitfile = read_gitfile(git_dir);
 	git_dir = xstrdup(gitfile ? gitfile : git_dir);
-	git_object_dir = git_path_from_env(DB_ENVIRONMENT, "objects");
-	git_index_file = git_path_from_env(INDEX_ENVIRONMENT, "index");
-	git_graft_file = git_path_from_env(GRAFT_ENVIRONMENT, "info/grafts");
+	if (get_common_dir(&sb, git_dir))
+		git_common_dir_env = 1;
+	git_common_dir = strbuf_detach(&sb, NULL);
+	git_object_dir = git_path_from_env(DB_ENVIRONMENT, git_common_dir,
+					   "objects", &git_db_env);
+	git_index_file = git_path_from_env(INDEX_ENVIRONMENT, git_dir,
+					   "index", &git_index_env);
+	git_graft_file = git_path_from_env(GRAFT_ENVIRONMENT, git_common_dir,
+					   "info/grafts", &git_graft_env);
 	if (getenv(NO_REPLACE_OBJECTS_ENVIRONMENT))
 		check_replace_refs = 0;
 	namespace = expand_namespace(getenv(GIT_NAMESPACE_ENVIRONMENT));
@@ -176,6 +193,11 @@ const char *get_git_dir(void)
 	return git_dir;
 }
 
+const char *get_git_common_dir(void)
+{
+	return git_common_dir;
+}
+
 const char *get_git_namespace(void)
 {
 	if (!namespace)
diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index e78ca107b..637872699 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ static void dump_marks_helper(FILE *, uintmax_t, struct mark_set *);
 
 static void write_crash_report(const char *err)
 {
-	char *loc = git_path("fast_import_crash_%"PRIuMAX, (uintmax_t) getpid());
+	const char *loc = git_path("fast_import_crash_%"PRIuMAX, (uintmax_t) getpid());
 	FILE *rpt = fopen(loc, "w");
 	struct branch *b;
 	unsigned long lu;
@@ -3113,12 +3113,9 @@ static void parse_progress(void)
 
 static char* make_fast_import_path(const char *path)
 {
-	struct strbuf abs_path = STRBUF_INIT;
-
 	if (!relative_marks_paths || is_absolute_path(path))
 		return xstrdup(path);
-	strbuf_addf(&abs_path, "%s/info/fast-import/%s", get_git_dir(), path);
-	return strbuf_detach(&abs_path, NULL);
+	return xstrdup(git_path("info/fast-import/%s", path));
 }
 
 static void option_import_marks(const char *marks,
diff --git a/git-am.sh b/git-am.sh
index a67d0f989..761befbd3 100755
--- a/git-am.sh
+++ b/git-am.sh
@@ -827,10 +827,10 @@ To restore the original branch and stop patching run \"\$cmdline --abort\"."
 		continue
 	fi
 
-	if test -x "$GIT_DIR"/hooks/applypatch-msg
+	hook="$(git rev-parse --git-path hooks/applypatch-msg)"
+	if test -x "$hook"
 	then
-		"$GIT_DIR"/hooks/applypatch-msg "$dotest/final-commit" ||
-		stop_here $this
+		"$hook" "$dotest/final-commit" || stop_here $this
 	fi
 
 	if test -f "$dotest/final-commit"
@@ -904,9 +904,10 @@ did you forget to use 'git add'?"
 		stop_here_user_resolve $this
 	fi
 
-	if test -x "$GIT_DIR"/hooks/pre-applypatch
+	hook="$(git rev-parse --git-path hooks/pre-applypatch)"
+	if test -x "$hook"
 	then
-		"$GIT_DIR"/hooks/pre-applypatch || stop_here $this
+		"$hook" || stop_here $this
 	fi
 
 	tree=$(git write-tree) &&
@@ -933,18 +934,17 @@ did you forget to use 'git add'?"
 		echo "$(cat "$dotest/original-commit") $commit" >> "$dotest/rewritten"
 	fi
 
-	if test -x "$GIT_DIR"/hooks/post-applypatch
-	then
-		"$GIT_DIR"/hooks/post-applypatch
-	fi
+	hook="$(git rev-parse --git-path hooks/post-applypatch)"
+	test -x "$hook" && "$hook"
 
 	go_next
 done
 
 if test -s "$dotest"/rewritten; then
     git notes copy --for-rewrite=rebase < "$dotest"/rewritten
-    if test -x "$GIT_DIR"/hooks/post-rewrite; then
-	"$GIT_DIR"/hooks/post-rewrite rebase < "$dotest"/rewritten
+    hook="$(git rev-parse --git-path hooks/post-rewrite)"
+    if test -x "$hook"; then
+	"$hook" rebase < "$dotest"/rewritten
     fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/git-pull.sh b/git-pull.sh
index 4d4fc77b0..ad442264c 100755
--- a/git-pull.sh
+++ b/git-pull.sh
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ test true = "$rebase" && {
 	if ! git rev-parse -q --verify HEAD >/dev/null
 	then
 		# On an unborn branch
-		if test -f "$GIT_DIR/index"
+		if test -f "$(git rev-parse --git-path index)"
 		then
 			die "$(gettext "updating an unborn branch with changes added to the index")"
 		fi
diff --git a/git-rebase--interactive.sh b/git-rebase--interactive.sh
index f7deeb096..08e5d86fe 100644
--- a/git-rebase--interactive.sh
+++ b/git-rebase--interactive.sh
@@ -642,9 +642,9 @@ do_next () {
 		git notes copy --for-rewrite=rebase < "$rewritten_list" ||
 		true # we don't care if this copying failed
 	} &&
-	if test -x "$GIT_DIR"/hooks/post-rewrite &&
-		test -s "$rewritten_list"; then
-		"$GIT_DIR"/hooks/post-rewrite rebase < "$rewritten_list"
+	hook="$(git rev-parse --git-path hooks/post-rewrite)"
+	if test -x "$hook" && test -s "$rewritten_list"; then
+		"$hook" rebase < "$rewritten_list"
 		true # we don't care if this hook failed
 	fi &&
 	warn "Successfully rebased and updated $head_name."
diff --git a/git-rebase--merge.sh b/git-rebase--merge.sh
index d3fb67d75..2cc2a6d27 100644
--- a/git-rebase--merge.sh
+++ b/git-rebase--merge.sh
@@ -94,10 +94,8 @@ finish_rb_merge () {
 	if test -s "$state_dir"/rewritten
 	then
 		git notes copy --for-rewrite=rebase <"$state_dir"/rewritten
-		if test -x "$GIT_DIR"/hooks/post-rewrite
-		then
-			"$GIT_DIR"/hooks/post-rewrite rebase <"$state_dir"/rewritten
-		fi
+		hook="$(git rev-parse --git-path hooks/post-rewrite)"
+		test -x "$hook" && "$hook" rebase <"$state_dir"/rewritten
 	fi
 	say All done.
 }
diff --git a/git-rebase.sh b/git-rebase.sh
index 55da9db81..fb935a03f 100755
--- a/git-rebase.sh
+++ b/git-rebase.sh
@@ -202,9 +202,9 @@ run_specific_rebase () {
 
 run_pre_rebase_hook () {
 	if test -z "$ok_to_skip_pre_rebase" &&
-	   test -x "$GIT_DIR/hooks/pre-rebase"
+	   test -x "$(git rev-parse --git-path hooks/pre-rebase)"
 	then
-		"$GIT_DIR/hooks/pre-rebase" ${1+"$@"} ||
+		"$(git rev-parse --git-path hooks/pre-rebase)" ${1+"$@"} ||
 		die "$(gettext "The pre-rebase hook refused to rebase.")"
 	fi
 }
diff --git a/git-sh-setup.sh b/git-sh-setup.sh
index c42c6e636..4691fbcb6 100644
--- a/git-sh-setup.sh
+++ b/git-sh-setup.sh
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ git_dir_init () {
 		echo >&2 "Unable to determine absolute path of git directory"
 		exit 1
 	}
-	: ${GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY="$GIT_DIR/objects"}
+	: ${GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY="$(git rev-parse --git-path objects)"}
 }
 
 if test -z "$NONGIT_OK"
diff --git a/git-stash.sh b/git-stash.sh
index d4cf818be..6846b18db 100755
--- a/git-stash.sh
+++ b/git-stash.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ require_work_tree
 cd_to_toplevel
 
 TMP="$GIT_DIR/.git-stash.$$"
-TMPindex=${GIT_INDEX_FILE-"$GIT_DIR/index"}.stash.$$
+TMPindex=${GIT_INDEX_FILE-"$(git rev-parse --git-path index)"}.stash.$$
 trap 'rm -f "$TMP-"* "$TMPindex"' 0
 
 ref_stash=refs/stash
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ store_stash () {
 	fi
 
 	# Make sure the reflog for stash is kept.
-	: >>"$GIT_DIR/logs/$ref_stash"
+	: >>"$(git rev-parse --git-path logs/$ref_stash)"
 	git update-ref -m "$stash_msg" $ref_stash $w_commit
 	ret=$?
 	test $ret != 0 && test -z $quiet &&
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ save_stash () {
 		say "$(gettext "No local changes to save")"
 		exit 0
 	fi
-	test -f "$GIT_DIR/logs/$ref_stash" ||
+	test -f "$(git rev-parse --git-path logs/$ref_stash)" ||
 		clear_stash || die "$(gettext "Cannot initialize stash")"
 
 	create_stash "$stash_msg" $untracked
diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index 42a4ee578..44374b1d9 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ static struct cmd_struct commands[] = {
 	{ "check-ignore", cmd_check_ignore, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 	{ "check-mailmap", cmd_check_mailmap, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "check-ref-format", cmd_check_ref_format },
-	{ "checkout", cmd_checkout, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
+	{ "checkout", cmd_checkout, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "checkout-index", cmd_checkout_index,
 		RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE},
 	{ "cherry", cmd_cherry, RUN_SETUP },
diff --git a/notes-merge.c b/notes-merge.c
index 109ff4ef4..0b2b82c41 100644
--- a/notes-merge.c
+++ b/notes-merge.c
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ static void check_notes_merge_worktree(struct notes_merge_options *o)
 				    "(%s exists).", git_path("NOTES_MERGE_*"));
 		}
 
-		if (safe_create_leading_directories(git_path(
+		if (safe_create_leading_directories_const(git_path(
 				NOTES_MERGE_WORKTREE "/.test")))
 			die_errno("unable to create directory %s",
 				  git_path(NOTES_MERGE_WORKTREE));
@@ -295,8 +295,8 @@ static void write_buf_to_worktree(const unsigned char *obj,
 				  const char *buf, unsigned long size)
 {
 	int fd;
-	char *path = git_path(NOTES_MERGE_WORKTREE "/%s", sha1_to_hex(obj));
-	if (safe_create_leading_directories(path))
+	const char *path = git_path(NOTES_MERGE_WORKTREE "/%s", sha1_to_hex(obj));
+	if (safe_create_leading_directories_const(path))
 		die_errno("unable to create directory for '%s'", path);
 	if (file_exists(path))
 		die("found existing file at '%s'", path);
diff --git a/path.c b/path.c
index 595da81ca..586f2c90a 100644
--- a/path.c
+++ b/path.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "strbuf.h"
 #include "string-list.h"
+#include "dir.h"
 
 static int get_st_mode_bits(const char *path, int *mode)
 {
@@ -16,11 +17,15 @@ static int get_st_mode_bits(const char *path, int *mode)
 
 static char bad_path[] = "/bad-path/";
 
-static char *get_pathname(void)
+static struct strbuf *get_pathname(void)
 {
-	static char pathname_array[4][PATH_MAX];
+	static struct strbuf pathname_array[4] = {
+		STRBUF_INIT, STRBUF_INIT, STRBUF_INIT, STRBUF_INIT
+	};
 	static int index;
-	return pathname_array[3 & ++index];
+	struct strbuf *sb = &pathname_array[3 & ++index];
+	strbuf_reset(sb);
+	return sb;
 }
 
 static char *cleanup_path(char *path)
@@ -34,6 +39,13 @@ static char *cleanup_path(char *path)
 	return path;
 }
 
+static void strbuf_cleanup_path(struct strbuf *sb)
+{
+	char *path = cleanup_path(sb->buf);
+	if (path > sb->buf)
+		strbuf_remove(sb, 0, path - sb->buf);
+}
+
 char *mksnpath(char *buf, size_t n, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
 	va_list args;
@@ -49,85 +61,167 @@ char *mksnpath(char *buf, size_t n, const char *fmt, ...)
 	return cleanup_path(buf);
 }
 
-static char *vsnpath(char *buf, size_t n, const char *fmt, va_list args)
+static int dir_prefix(const char *buf, const char *dir)
 {
-	const char *git_dir = get_git_dir();
-	size_t len;
+	int len = strlen(dir);
+	return !strncmp(buf, dir, len) &&
+		(is_dir_sep(buf[len]) || buf[len] == '\0');
+}
 
-	len = strlen(git_dir);
-	if (n < len + 1)
-		goto bad;
-	memcpy(buf, git_dir, len);
-	if (len && !is_dir_sep(git_dir[len-1]))
-		buf[len++] = '/';
-	len += vsnprintf(buf + len, n - len, fmt, args);
-	if (len >= n)
-		goto bad;
-	return cleanup_path(buf);
-bad:
-	strlcpy(buf, bad_path, n);
-	return buf;
+/* $buf =~ m|$dir/+$file| but without regex */
+static int is_dir_file(const char *buf, const char *dir, const char *file)
+{
+	int len = strlen(dir);
+	if (strncmp(buf, dir, len) || !is_dir_sep(buf[len]))
+		return 0;
+	while (is_dir_sep(buf[len]))
+		len++;
+	return !strcmp(buf + len, file);
+}
+
+static void replace_dir(struct strbuf *buf, int len, const char *newdir)
+{
+	int newlen = strlen(newdir);
+	int need_sep = (buf->buf[len] && !is_dir_sep(buf->buf[len])) &&
+		!is_dir_sep(newdir[newlen - 1]);
+	if (need_sep)
+		len--;	 /* keep one char, to be replaced with '/'  */
+	strbuf_splice(buf, 0, len, newdir, newlen);
+	if (need_sep)
+		buf->buf[newlen] = '/';
+}
+
+static const char *common_list[] = {
+	"/branches", "/hooks", "/info", "!/logs", "/lost-found",
+	"/objects", "/refs", "/remotes", "/worktrees", "/rr-cache", "/svn",
+	"config", "!gc.pid", "packed-refs", "shallow",
+	NULL
+};
+
+static void update_common_dir(struct strbuf *buf, int git_dir_len)
+{
+	char *base = buf->buf + git_dir_len;
+	const char **p;
+
+	if (is_dir_file(base, "logs", "HEAD") ||
+	    is_dir_file(base, "info", "sparse-checkout"))
+		return;	/* keep this in $GIT_DIR */
+	for (p = common_list; *p; p++) {
+		const char *path = *p;
+		int is_dir = 0;
+		if (*path == '!')
+			path++;
+		if (*path == '/') {
+			path++;
+			is_dir = 1;
+		}
+		if (is_dir && dir_prefix(base, path)) {
+			replace_dir(buf, git_dir_len, get_git_common_dir());
+			return;
+		}
+		if (!is_dir && !strcmp(base, path)) {
+			replace_dir(buf, git_dir_len, get_git_common_dir());
+			return;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+void report_linked_checkout_garbage(void)
+{
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	const char **p;
+	int len;
+
+	if (!git_common_dir_env)
+		return;
+	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/", get_git_dir());
+	len = sb.len;
+	for (p = common_list; *p; p++) {
+		const char *path = *p;
+		if (*path == '!')
+			continue;
+		strbuf_setlen(&sb, len);
+		strbuf_addstr(&sb, path);
+		if (file_exists(sb.buf))
+			report_garbage("unused in linked checkout", sb.buf);
+	}
+	strbuf_release(&sb);
+}
+
+static void adjust_git_path(struct strbuf *buf, int git_dir_len)
+{
+	const char *base = buf->buf + git_dir_len;
+	if (git_graft_env && is_dir_file(base, "info", "grafts"))
+		strbuf_splice(buf, 0, buf->len,
+			      get_graft_file(), strlen(get_graft_file()));
+	else if (git_index_env && !strcmp(base, "index"))
+		strbuf_splice(buf, 0, buf->len,
+			      get_index_file(), strlen(get_index_file()));
+	else if (git_db_env && dir_prefix(base, "objects"))
+		replace_dir(buf, git_dir_len + 7, get_object_directory());
+	else if (git_common_dir_env)
+		update_common_dir(buf, git_dir_len);
+}
+
+static void do_git_path(struct strbuf *buf, const char *fmt, va_list args)
+{
+	int gitdir_len;
+	strbuf_addstr(buf, get_git_dir());
+	if (buf->len && !is_dir_sep(buf->buf[buf->len - 1]))
+		strbuf_addch(buf, '/');
+	gitdir_len = buf->len;
+	strbuf_vaddf(buf, fmt, args);
+	adjust_git_path(buf, gitdir_len);
+	strbuf_cleanup_path(buf);
 }
 
-char *git_snpath(char *buf, size_t n, const char *fmt, ...)
+void strbuf_git_path(struct strbuf *sb, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
-	char *ret;
 	va_list args;
 	va_start(args, fmt);
-	ret = vsnpath(buf, n, fmt, args);
+	do_git_path(sb, fmt, args);
 	va_end(args);
-	return ret;
 }
 
-char *git_pathdup(const char *fmt, ...)
+const char *git_path(const char *fmt, ...)
 {
-	char path[PATH_MAX], *ret;
+	struct strbuf *pathname = get_pathname();
 	va_list args;
 	va_start(args, fmt);
-	ret = vsnpath(path, sizeof(path), fmt, args);
+	do_git_path(pathname, fmt, args);
 	va_end(args);
-	return xstrdup(ret);
+	return pathname->buf;
 }
 
-char *mkpathdup(const char *fmt, ...)
+char *git_pathdup(const char *fmt, ...)
 {
-	char *path;
-	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
 	va_list args;
-
 	va_start(args, fmt);
-	strbuf_vaddf(&sb, fmt, args);
+	do_git_path(&path, fmt, args);
 	va_end(args);
-	path = xstrdup(cleanup_path(sb.buf));
-
-	strbuf_release(&sb);
-	return path;
+	return strbuf_detach(&path, NULL);
 }
 
-char *mkpath(const char *fmt, ...)
+char *mkpathdup(const char *fmt, ...)
 {
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 	va_list args;
-	unsigned len;
-	char *pathname = get_pathname();
-
 	va_start(args, fmt);
-	len = vsnprintf(pathname, PATH_MAX, fmt, args);
+	strbuf_vaddf(&sb, fmt, args);
 	va_end(args);
-	if (len >= PATH_MAX)
-		return bad_path;
-	return cleanup_path(pathname);
+	strbuf_cleanup_path(&sb);
+	return strbuf_detach(&sb, NULL);
 }
 
-char *git_path(const char *fmt, ...)
+const char *mkpath(const char *fmt, ...)
 {
-	char *pathname = get_pathname();
 	va_list args;
-	char *ret;
-
+	struct strbuf *pathname = get_pathname();
 	va_start(args, fmt);
-	ret = vsnpath(pathname, PATH_MAX, fmt, args);
+	strbuf_vaddf(pathname, fmt, args);
 	va_end(args);
-	return ret;
+	return cleanup_path(pathname->buf);
 }
 
 void home_config_paths(char **global, char **xdg, char *file)
@@ -158,43 +252,29 @@ void home_config_paths(char **global, char **xdg, char *file)
 	free(to_free);
 }
 
-char *git_path_submodule(const char *path, const char *fmt, ...)
+const char *git_path_submodule(const char *path, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
-	char *pathname = get_pathname();
-	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf *buf = get_pathname();
 	const char *git_dir;
 	va_list args;
-	unsigned len;
 
-	len = strlen(path);
-	if (len > PATH_MAX-100)
-		return bad_path;
+	strbuf_addstr(buf, path);
+	if (buf->len && buf->buf[buf->len - 1] != '/')
+		strbuf_addch(buf, '/');
+	strbuf_addstr(buf, ".git");
 
-	strbuf_addstr(&buf, path);
-	if (len && path[len-1] != '/')
-		strbuf_addch(&buf, '/');
-	strbuf_addstr(&buf, ".git");
-
-	git_dir = read_gitfile(buf.buf);
+	git_dir = read_gitfile(buf->buf);
 	if (git_dir) {
-		strbuf_reset(&buf);
-		strbuf_addstr(&buf, git_dir);
+		strbuf_reset(buf);
+		strbuf_addstr(buf, git_dir);
 	}
-	strbuf_addch(&buf, '/');
-
-	if (buf.len >= PATH_MAX)
-		return bad_path;
-	memcpy(pathname, buf.buf, buf.len + 1);
-
-	strbuf_release(&buf);
-	len = strlen(pathname);
+	strbuf_addch(buf, '/');
 
 	va_start(args, fmt);
-	len += vsnprintf(pathname + len, PATH_MAX - len, fmt, args);
+	strbuf_vaddf(buf, fmt, args);
 	va_end(args);
-	if (len >= PATH_MAX)
-		return bad_path;
-	return cleanup_path(pathname);
+	strbuf_cleanup_path(buf);
+	return buf->buf;
 }
 
 int validate_headref(const char *path)
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 47e4e5380..0312f0525 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -1382,7 +1382,7 @@ static int resolve_gitlink_ref_recursive(struct ref_cache *refs,
 {
 	int fd, len;
 	char buffer[128], *p;
-	char *path;
+	const char *path;
 
 	if (recursion > MAXDEPTH || strlen(refname) > MAXREFLEN)
 		return -1;
@@ -1475,7 +1475,11 @@ static int resolve_missing_loose_ref(const char *refname,
 }
 
 /* This function needs to return a meaningful errno on failure */
-const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, int resolve_flags, unsigned char *sha1, int *flags)
+static const char *resolve_ref_unsafe_1(const char *refname,
+					int resolve_flags,
+					unsigned char *sha1,
+					int *flags,
+					struct strbuf *sb_path)
 {
 	int depth = MAXDEPTH;
 	ssize_t len;
@@ -1506,7 +1510,7 @@ const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, int resolve_flags, unsigned
 		bad_name = 1;
 	}
 	for (;;) {
-		char path[PATH_MAX];
+		const char *path;
 		struct stat st;
 		char *buf;
 		int fd;
@@ -1516,7 +1520,9 @@ const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, int resolve_flags, unsigned
 			return NULL;
 		}
 
-		git_snpath(path, sizeof(path), "%s", refname);
+		strbuf_reset(sb_path);
+		strbuf_git_path(sb_path, "%s", refname);
+		path = sb_path->buf;
 
 		/*
 		 * We might have to loop back here to avoid a race
@@ -1643,6 +1649,16 @@ const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, int resolve_flags, unsigned
 	}
 }
 
+const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
+			       unsigned char *sha1, int *flags)
+{
+	struct strbuf sb_path = STRBUF_INIT;
+	const char *ret = resolve_ref_unsafe_1(refname, resolve_flags,
+					       sha1, flags, &sb_path);
+	strbuf_release(&sb_path);
+	return ret;
+}
+
 char *resolve_refdup(const char *ref, int resolve_flags, unsigned char *sha1, int *flags)
 {
 	return xstrdup_or_null(resolve_ref_unsafe(ref, resolve_flags, sha1, flags));
@@ -2274,7 +2290,7 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
 					    const struct string_list *skip,
 					    unsigned int flags, int *type_p)
 {
-	char *ref_file;
+	const char *ref_file;
 	const char *orig_refname = refname;
 	struct ref_lock *lock;
 	int last_errno = 0;
@@ -2343,7 +2359,7 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
 	ref_file = git_path("%s", refname);
 
  retry:
-	switch (safe_create_leading_directories(ref_file)) {
+	switch (safe_create_leading_directories_const(ref_file)) {
 	case SCLD_OK:
 		break; /* success */
 	case SCLD_VANISHED:
@@ -2721,7 +2737,7 @@ static int rename_tmp_log(const char *newrefname)
 	int attempts_remaining = 4;
 
  retry:
-	switch (safe_create_leading_directories(git_path("logs/%s", newrefname))) {
+	switch (safe_create_leading_directories_const(git_path("logs/%s", newrefname))) {
 	case SCLD_OK:
 		break; /* success */
 	case SCLD_VANISHED:
@@ -2907,11 +2923,15 @@ static int copy_msg(char *buf, const char *msg)
 }
 
 /* This function must set a meaningful errno on failure */
-int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, char *logfile, int bufsize)
+int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *sb_logfile)
 {
 	int logfd, oflags = O_APPEND | O_WRONLY;
+	char *logfile;
 
-	git_snpath(logfile, bufsize, "logs/%s", refname);
+	strbuf_git_path(sb_logfile, "logs/%s", refname);
+	logfile = sb_logfile->buf;
+	/* make sure the rest of the function can't change "logfile" */
+	sb_logfile = NULL;
 	if (log_all_ref_updates &&
 	    (starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/") ||
 	     starts_with(refname, "refs/remotes/") ||
@@ -2982,18 +3002,22 @@ static int log_ref_write_fd(int fd, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
-			 const unsigned char *new_sha1, const char *msg)
+static int log_ref_write_1(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+			   const unsigned char *new_sha1, const char *msg,
+			   struct strbuf *sb_log_file)
 {
 	int logfd, result, oflags = O_APPEND | O_WRONLY;
-	char log_file[PATH_MAX];
+	char *log_file;
 
 	if (log_all_ref_updates < 0)
 		log_all_ref_updates = !is_bare_repository();
 
-	result = log_ref_setup(refname, log_file, sizeof(log_file));
+	result = log_ref_setup(refname, sb_log_file);
 	if (result)
 		return result;
+	log_file = sb_log_file->buf;
+	/* make sure the rest of the function can't change "log_file" */
+	sb_log_file = NULL;
 
 	logfd = open(log_file, oflags);
 	if (logfd < 0)
@@ -3016,6 +3040,15 @@ static int log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+			 const unsigned char *new_sha1, const char *msg)
+{
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int ret = log_ref_write_1(refname, old_sha1, new_sha1, msg, &sb);
+	strbuf_release(&sb);
+	return ret;
+}
+
 int is_branch(const char *refname)
 {
 	return !strcmp(refname, "HEAD") || starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/");
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index cf642e6dd..6d7d9b40f 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ extern int peel_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1);
 /*
  * Setup reflog before using. Set errno to something meaningful on failure.
  */
-int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, char *logfile, int bufsize);
+int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *logfile);
 
 /** Reads log for the value of ref during at_time. **/
 extern int read_ref_at(const char *refname, unsigned int flags,
diff --git a/run-command.c b/run-command.c
index aad03ab70..4d73e90fa 100644
--- a/run-command.c
+++ b/run-command.c
@@ -795,9 +795,9 @@ int finish_async(struct async *async)
 #endif
 }
 
-char *find_hook(const char *name)
+const char *find_hook(const char *name)
 {
-	char *path = git_path("hooks/%s", name);
+	const char *path = git_path("hooks/%s", name);
 	if (access(path, X_OK) < 0)
 		path = NULL;
 
diff --git a/run-command.h b/run-command.h
index 263b9662a..1103805af 100644
--- a/run-command.h
+++ b/run-command.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ int start_command(struct child_process *);
 int finish_command(struct child_process *);
 int run_command(struct child_process *);
 
-extern char *find_hook(const char *name);
+extern const char *find_hook(const char *name);
 LAST_ARG_MUST_BE_NULL
 extern int run_hook_le(const char *const *env, const char *name, ...);
 extern int run_hook_ve(const char *const *env, const char *name, va_list args);
diff --git a/setup.c b/setup.c
index 979b13f0c..fb6186049 100644
--- a/setup.c
+++ b/setup.c
@@ -224,6 +224,36 @@ void verify_non_filename(const char *prefix, const char *arg)
 	    "'git <command> [<revision>...] -- [<file>...]'", arg);
 }
 
+int get_common_dir(struct strbuf *sb, const char *gitdir)
+{
+	struct strbuf data = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+	const char *git_common_dir = getenv(GIT_COMMON_DIR_ENVIRONMENT);
+	int ret = 0;
+	if (git_common_dir) {
+		strbuf_addstr(sb, git_common_dir);
+		return 1;
+	}
+	strbuf_addf(&path, "%s/commondir", gitdir);
+	if (file_exists(path.buf)) {
+		if (strbuf_read_file(&data, path.buf, 0) <= 0)
+			die_errno(_("failed to read %s"), path.buf);
+		while (data.len && (data.buf[data.len - 1] == '\n' ||
+				    data.buf[data.len - 1] == '\r'))
+			data.len--;
+		data.buf[data.len] = '\0';
+		strbuf_reset(&path);
+		if (!is_absolute_path(data.buf))
+			strbuf_addf(&path, "%s/", gitdir);
+		strbuf_addbuf(&path, &data);
+		strbuf_addstr(sb, real_path(path.buf));
+		ret = 1;
+	} else
+		strbuf_addstr(sb, gitdir);
+	strbuf_release(&data);
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+	return ret;
+}
 
 /*
  * Test if it looks like we're at a git directory.
@@ -238,31 +268,40 @@ void verify_non_filename(const char *prefix, const char *arg)
  */
 int is_git_directory(const char *suspect)
 {
-	char path[PATH_MAX];
-	size_t len = strlen(suspect);
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int ret = 0;
+	size_t len;
 
-	if (PATH_MAX <= len + strlen("/objects"))
-		die("Too long path: %.*s", 60, suspect);
-	strcpy(path, suspect);
+	/* Check worktree-related signatures */
+	strbuf_addf(&path, "%s/HEAD", suspect);
+	if (validate_headref(path.buf))
+		goto done;
+
+	strbuf_reset(&path);
+	get_common_dir(&path, suspect);
+	len = path.len;
+
+	/* Check non-worktree-related signatures */
 	if (getenv(DB_ENVIRONMENT)) {
 		if (access(getenv(DB_ENVIRONMENT), X_OK))
-			return 0;
+			goto done;
 	}
 	else {
-		strcpy(path + len, "/objects");
-		if (access(path, X_OK))
-			return 0;
+		strbuf_setlen(&path, len);
+		strbuf_addstr(&path, "/objects");
+		if (access(path.buf, X_OK))
+			goto done;
 	}
 
-	strcpy(path + len, "/refs");
-	if (access(path, X_OK))
-		return 0;
-
-	strcpy(path + len, "/HEAD");
-	if (validate_headref(path))
-		return 0;
+	strbuf_setlen(&path, len);
+	strbuf_addstr(&path, "/refs");
+	if (access(path.buf, X_OK))
+		goto done;
 
-	return 1;
+	ret = 1;
+done:
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 int is_inside_git_dir(void)
@@ -304,9 +343,28 @@ void setup_work_tree(void)
 	initialized = 1;
 }
 
+static int check_repo_format(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
+{
+	if (strcmp(var, "core.repositoryformatversion") == 0)
+		repository_format_version = git_config_int(var, value);
+	else if (strcmp(var, "core.sharedrepository") == 0)
+		shared_repository = git_config_perm(var, value);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int check_repository_format_gently(const char *gitdir, int *nongit_ok)
 {
-	char repo_config[PATH_MAX+1];
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	const char *repo_config;
+	config_fn_t fn;
+	int ret = 0;
+
+	if (get_common_dir(&sb, gitdir))
+		fn = check_repo_format;
+	else
+		fn = check_repository_format_version;
+	strbuf_addstr(&sb, "/config");
+	repo_config = sb.buf;
 
 	/*
 	 * git_config() can't be used here because it calls git_pathdup()
@@ -317,8 +375,7 @@ static int check_repository_format_gently(const char *gitdir, int *nongit_ok)
 	 * Use a gentler version of git_config() to check if this repo
 	 * is a good one.
 	 */
-	snprintf(repo_config, PATH_MAX, "%s/config", gitdir);
-	git_config_early(check_repository_format_version, NULL, repo_config);
+	git_config_early(fn, NULL, repo_config);
 	if (GIT_REPO_VERSION < repository_format_version) {
 		if (!nongit_ok)
 			die ("Expected git repo version <= %d, found %d",
@@ -327,9 +384,21 @@ static int check_repository_format_gently(const char *gitdir, int *nongit_ok)
 			GIT_REPO_VERSION, repository_format_version);
 		warning("Please upgrade Git");
 		*nongit_ok = -1;
-		return -1;
+		ret = -1;
 	}
-	return 0;
+	strbuf_release(&sb);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+static void update_linked_gitdir(const char *gitfile, const char *gitdir)
+{
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct stat st;
+
+	strbuf_addf(&path, "%s/gitfile", gitdir);
+	if (stat(path.buf, &st) || st.st_mtime + 24 * 3600 < time(NULL))
+		write_file(path.buf, 0, "%s\n", gitfile);
+	strbuf_release(&path);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -380,6 +449,8 @@ const char *read_gitfile(const char *path)
 
 	if (!is_git_directory(dir))
 		die("Not a git repository: %s", dir);
+
+	update_linked_gitdir(path, dir);
 	path = real_path(dir);
 
 	free(buf);
@@ -799,11 +870,10 @@ int git_config_perm(const char *var, const char *value)
 
 int check_repository_format_version(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
-	if (strcmp(var, "core.repositoryformatversion") == 0)
-		repository_format_version = git_config_int(var, value);
-	else if (strcmp(var, "core.sharedrepository") == 0)
-		shared_repository = git_config_perm(var, value);
-	else if (strcmp(var, "core.bare") == 0) {
+	int ret = check_repo_format(var, value, cb);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+	if (strcmp(var, "core.bare") == 0) {
 		is_bare_repository_cfg = git_config_bool(var, value);
 		if (is_bare_repository_cfg == 1)
 			inside_work_tree = -1;
diff --git a/sha1_file.c b/sha1_file.c
index f860d6774..47c4929eb 100644
--- a/sha1_file.c
+++ b/sha1_file.c
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ void add_to_alternates_file(const char *reference)
 {
 	struct lock_file *lock = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
 	int fd = hold_lock_file_for_append(lock, git_path("objects/info/alternates"), LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
-	char *alt = mkpath("%s\n", reference);
+	const char *alt = mkpath("%s\n", reference);
 	write_or_die(fd, alt, strlen(alt));
 	if (commit_lock_file(lock))
 		die("could not close alternates file");
diff --git a/submodule.c b/submodule.c
index c0e6c81fc..d491e6a77 100644
--- a/submodule.c
+++ b/submodule.c
@@ -1100,16 +1100,11 @@ void connect_work_tree_and_git_dir(const char *work_tree, const char *git_dir)
 	struct strbuf file_name = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf rel_path = STRBUF_INIT;
 	const char *real_work_tree = xstrdup(real_path(work_tree));
-	FILE *fp;
 
 	/* Update gitfile */
 	strbuf_addf(&file_name, "%s/.git", work_tree);
-	fp = fopen(file_name.buf, "w");
-	if (!fp)
-		die(_("Could not create git link %s"), file_name.buf);
-	fprintf(fp, "gitdir: %s\n", relative_path(git_dir, real_work_tree,
-						  &rel_path));
-	fclose(fp);
+	write_file(file_name.buf, 1, "gitdir: %s\n",
+		   relative_path(git_dir, real_work_tree, &rel_path));
 
 	/* Update core.worktree setting */
 	strbuf_reset(&file_name);
diff --git a/t/t0060-path-utils.sh b/t/t0060-path-utils.sh
index c0143a0a7..93605f42f 100755
--- a/t/t0060-path-utils.sh
+++ b/t/t0060-path-utils.sh
@@ -19,6 +19,14 @@ relative_path() {
 	"test \"\$(test-path-utils relative_path '$1' '$2')\" = '$expected'"
 }
 
+test_git_path() {
+	test_expect_success "git-path $1 $2 => $3" "
+		$1 git rev-parse --git-path $2 >actual &&
+		echo $3 >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual
+	"
+}
+
 # On Windows, we are using MSYS's bash, which mangles the paths.
 # Absolute paths are anchored at the MSYS installation directory,
 # which means that the path / accounts for this many characters:
@@ -244,4 +252,32 @@ relative_path "<null>"		"<empty>"	./
 relative_path "<null>"		"<null>"	./
 relative_path "<null>"		/foo/a/b	./
 
+test_git_path A=B                info/grafts .git/info/grafts
+test_git_path GIT_GRAFT_FILE=foo info/grafts foo
+test_git_path GIT_GRAFT_FILE=foo info/////grafts foo
+test_git_path GIT_INDEX_FILE=foo index foo
+test_git_path GIT_INDEX_FILE=foo index/foo .git/index/foo
+test_git_path GIT_INDEX_FILE=foo index2 .git/index2
+test_expect_success 'setup fake objects directory foo' 'mkdir foo'
+test_git_path GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY=foo objects foo
+test_git_path GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY=foo objects/foo foo/foo
+test_git_path GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY=foo objects2 .git/objects2
+test_expect_success 'setup common repository' 'git --git-dir=bar init'
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar index                    .git/index
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar HEAD                     .git/HEAD
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar logs/HEAD                .git/logs/HEAD
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar objects                  bar/objects
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar objects/bar              bar/objects/bar
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar info/exclude             bar/info/exclude
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar info/grafts              bar/info/grafts
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar info/sparse-checkout     .git/info/sparse-checkout
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar remotes/bar              bar/remotes/bar
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar branches/bar             bar/branches/bar
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar logs/refs/heads/master   bar/logs/refs/heads/master
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar refs/heads/master        bar/refs/heads/master
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar hooks/me                 bar/hooks/me
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar config                   bar/config
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar packed-refs              bar/packed-refs
+test_git_path GIT_COMMON_DIR=bar shallow                  bar/shallow
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t1501-worktree.sh b/t/t1501-worktree.sh
index 8f36aa9fc..cc5b870e5 100755
--- a/t/t1501-worktree.sh
+++ b/t/t1501-worktree.sh
@@ -346,4 +346,81 @@ test_expect_success 'relative $GIT_WORK_TREE and git subprocesses' '
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'Multi-worktree setup' '
+	mkdir work &&
+	mkdir -p repo.git/repos/foo &&
+	cp repo.git/HEAD repo.git/index repo.git/repos/foo &&
+	test_might_fail cp repo.git/sharedindex.* repo.git/repos/foo &&
+	sane_unset GIT_DIR GIT_CONFIG GIT_WORK_TREE
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'GIT_DIR set (1)' '
+	echo "gitdir: repo.git/repos/foo" >gitfile &&
+	echo ../.. >repo.git/repos/foo/commondir &&
+	(
+		cd work &&
+		GIT_DIR=../gitfile git rev-parse --git-common-dir >actual &&
+		test-path-utils real_path "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/repo.git" >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'GIT_DIR set (2)' '
+	echo "gitdir: repo.git/repos/foo" >gitfile &&
+	echo "$(pwd)/repo.git" >repo.git/repos/foo/commondir &&
+	(
+		cd work &&
+		GIT_DIR=../gitfile git rev-parse --git-common-dir >actual &&
+		test-path-utils real_path "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/repo.git" >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'Auto discovery' '
+	echo "gitdir: repo.git/repos/foo" >.git &&
+	echo ../.. >repo.git/repos/foo/commondir &&
+	(
+		cd work &&
+		git rev-parse --git-common-dir >actual &&
+		test-path-utils real_path "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/repo.git" >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		echo haha >data1 &&
+		git add data1 &&
+		git ls-files --full-name :/ | grep data1 >actual &&
+		echo work/data1 >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success '$GIT_DIR/common overrides core.worktree' '
+	mkdir elsewhere &&
+	git --git-dir=repo.git config core.worktree "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/elsewhere" &&
+	echo "gitdir: repo.git/repos/foo" >.git &&
+	echo ../.. >repo.git/repos/foo/commondir &&
+	(
+		cd work &&
+		git rev-parse --git-common-dir >actual &&
+		test-path-utils real_path "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/repo.git" >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		echo haha >data2 &&
+		git add data2 &&
+		git ls-files --full-name :/ | grep data2 >actual &&
+		echo work/data2 >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success '$GIT_WORK_TREE overrides $GIT_DIR/common' '
+	echo "gitdir: repo.git/repos/foo" >.git &&
+	echo ../.. >repo.git/repos/foo/commondir &&
+	(
+		cd work &&
+		echo haha >data3 &&
+		git --git-dir=../.git --work-tree=. add data3 &&
+		git ls-files --full-name -- :/ | grep data3 >actual &&
+		echo data3 >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t1510-repo-setup.sh b/t/t1510-repo-setup.sh
index e1b2a99f1..33c1a587b 100755
--- a/t/t1510-repo-setup.sh
+++ b/t/t1510-repo-setup.sh
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ setup_env () {
 expect () {
 	cat >"$1/expected" <<-EOF
 	setup: git_dir: $2
+	setup: git_common_dir: $2
 	setup: worktree: $3
 	setup: cwd: $4
 	setup: prefix: $5
diff --git a/t/t2025-checkout-to.sh b/t/t2025-checkout-to.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..f8e4df481
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t2025-checkout-to.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+test_description='test git checkout --to'
+
+. ./test-lib.sh
+
+test_expect_success 'setup' '
+	test_commit init
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout --to not updating paths' '
+	test_must_fail git checkout --to -- init.t
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout --to an existing worktree' '
+	mkdir -p existing/subtree &&
+	test_must_fail git checkout --detach --to existing master
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout --to an existing empty worktree' '
+	mkdir existing_empty &&
+	git checkout --detach --to existing_empty master
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout --to refuses to checkout locked branch' '
+	test_must_fail git checkout --to zere master &&
+	! test -d zere &&
+	! test -d .git/worktrees/zere
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout --to a new worktree' '
+	git rev-parse HEAD >expect &&
+	git checkout --detach --to here master &&
+	(
+		cd here &&
+		test_cmp ../init.t init.t &&
+		test_must_fail git symbolic-ref HEAD &&
+		git rev-parse HEAD >actual &&
+		test_cmp ../expect actual &&
+		git fsck
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout --to a new worktree from a subdir' '
+	(
+		mkdir sub &&
+		cd sub &&
+		git checkout --detach --to here master &&
+		cd here &&
+		test_cmp ../../init.t init.t
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout --to from a linked checkout' '
+	(
+		cd here &&
+		git checkout --detach --to nested-here master &&
+		cd nested-here &&
+		git fsck
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout --to a new worktree creating new branch' '
+	git checkout --to there -b newmaster master &&
+	(
+		cd there &&
+		test_cmp ../init.t init.t &&
+		git symbolic-ref HEAD >actual &&
+		echo refs/heads/newmaster >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		git fsck
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'die the same branch is already checked out' '
+	(
+		cd here &&
+		test_must_fail git checkout newmaster
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'not die the same branch is already checked out' '
+	(
+		cd here &&
+		git checkout --ignore-other-worktrees --to anothernewmaster newmaster
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'not die on re-checking out current branch' '
+	(
+		cd there &&
+		git checkout newmaster
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout --to from a bare repo' '
+	(
+		git clone --bare . bare &&
+		cd bare &&
+		git checkout --to ../there2 -b bare-master master
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout from a bare repo without --to' '
+	(
+		cd bare &&
+		test_must_fail git checkout master
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout with grafts' '
+	test_when_finished rm .git/info/grafts &&
+	test_commit abc &&
+	SHA1=`git rev-parse HEAD` &&
+	test_commit def &&
+	test_commit xyz &&
+	echo "`git rev-parse HEAD` $SHA1" >.git/info/grafts &&
+	cat >expected <<-\EOF &&
+	xyz
+	abc
+	EOF
+	git log --format=%s -2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expected actual &&
+	git checkout --detach --to grafted master &&
+	git --git-dir=grafted/.git log --format=%s -2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expected actual
+'
+
+test_done
diff --git a/t/t2026-prune-linked-checkouts.sh b/t/t2026-prune-linked-checkouts.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..1821a480c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t2026-prune-linked-checkouts.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+test_description='prune $GIT_DIR/worktrees'
+
+. ./test-lib.sh
+
+test_expect_success initialize '
+	git commit --allow-empty -m init
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'prune --worktrees on normal repo' '
+	git prune --worktrees &&
+	test_must_fail git prune --worktrees abc
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'prune files inside $GIT_DIR/worktrees' '
+	mkdir .git/worktrees &&
+	: >.git/worktrees/abc &&
+	git prune --worktrees --verbose >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<EOF &&
+Removing worktrees/abc: not a valid directory
+EOF
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual &&
+	! test -f .git/worktrees/abc &&
+	! test -d .git/worktrees
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'prune directories without gitdir' '
+	mkdir -p .git/worktrees/def/abc &&
+	: >.git/worktrees/def/def &&
+	cat >expect <<EOF &&
+Removing worktrees/def: gitdir file does not exist
+EOF
+	git prune --worktrees --verbose >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual &&
+	! test -d .git/worktrees/def &&
+	! test -d .git/worktrees
+'
+
+test_expect_success SANITY 'prune directories with unreadable gitdir' '
+	mkdir -p .git/worktrees/def/abc &&
+	: >.git/worktrees/def/def &&
+	: >.git/worktrees/def/gitdir &&
+	chmod u-r .git/worktrees/def/gitdir &&
+	git prune --worktrees --verbose >actual &&
+	test_i18ngrep "Removing worktrees/def: unable to read gitdir file" actual &&
+	! test -d .git/worktrees/def &&
+	! test -d .git/worktrees
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'prune directories with invalid gitdir' '
+	mkdir -p .git/worktrees/def/abc &&
+	: >.git/worktrees/def/def &&
+	: >.git/worktrees/def/gitdir &&
+	git prune --worktrees --verbose >actual &&
+	test_i18ngrep "Removing worktrees/def: invalid gitdir file" actual &&
+	! test -d .git/worktrees/def &&
+	! test -d .git/worktrees
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'prune directories with gitdir pointing to nowhere' '
+	mkdir -p .git/worktrees/def/abc &&
+	: >.git/worktrees/def/def &&
+	echo "$(pwd)"/nowhere >.git/worktrees/def/gitdir &&
+	git prune --worktrees --verbose >actual &&
+	test_i18ngrep "Removing worktrees/def: gitdir file points to non-existent location" actual &&
+	! test -d .git/worktrees/def &&
+	! test -d .git/worktrees
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'not prune locked checkout' '
+	test_when_finished rm -r .git/worktrees &&
+	mkdir -p .git/worktrees/ghi &&
+	: >.git/worktrees/ghi/locked &&
+	git prune --worktrees &&
+	test -d .git/worktrees/ghi
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'not prune recent checkouts' '
+	test_when_finished rm -r .git/worktrees &&
+	mkdir zz &&
+	mkdir -p .git/worktrees/jlm &&
+	echo "$(pwd)"/zz >.git/worktrees/jlm/gitdir &&
+	rmdir zz &&
+	git prune --worktrees --verbose --expire=2.days.ago &&
+	test -d .git/worktrees/jlm
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'not prune proper checkouts' '
+	test_when_finished rm -r .git/worktrees &&
+	git checkout "--to=$PWD/nop" --detach master &&
+	git prune --worktrees &&
+	test -d .git/worktrees/nop
+'
+
+test_done
diff --git a/t/t7410-submodule-checkout-to.sh b/t/t7410-submodule-checkout-to.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..8f30aed6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t7410-submodule-checkout-to.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+test_description='Combination of submodules and multiple workdirs'
+
+. ./test-lib.sh
+
+base_path=$(pwd -P)
+
+test_expect_success 'setup: make origin' \
+    'mkdir -p origin/sub && ( cd origin/sub && git init &&
+	echo file1 >file1 &&
+	git add file1 &&
+	git commit -m file1 ) &&
+    mkdir -p origin/main && ( cd origin/main && git init &&
+	git submodule add ../sub &&
+	git commit -m "add sub" ) &&
+    ( cd origin/sub &&
+	echo file1updated >file1 &&
+	git add file1 &&
+	git commit -m "file1 updated" ) &&
+    ( cd origin/main/sub && git pull ) &&
+    ( cd origin/main &&
+	git add sub &&
+	git commit -m "sub updated" )'
+
+test_expect_success 'setup: clone' \
+    'mkdir clone && ( cd clone &&
+	git clone --recursive "$base_path/origin/main")'
+
+rev1_hash_main=$(git --git-dir=origin/main/.git show --pretty=format:%h -q "HEAD~1")
+rev1_hash_sub=$(git --git-dir=origin/sub/.git show --pretty=format:%h -q "HEAD~1")
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout main' \
+    'mkdir default_checkout &&
+    (cd clone/main &&
+	git checkout --to "$base_path/default_checkout/main" "$rev1_hash_main")'
+
+test_expect_failure 'can see submodule diffs just after checkout' \
+    '(cd default_checkout/main && git diff --submodule master"^!" | grep "file1 updated")'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout main and initialize independed clones' \
+    'mkdir fully_cloned_submodule &&
+    (cd clone/main &&
+	git checkout --to "$base_path/fully_cloned_submodule/main" "$rev1_hash_main") &&
+    (cd fully_cloned_submodule/main && git submodule update)'
+
+test_expect_success 'can see submodule diffs after independed cloning' \
+    '(cd fully_cloned_submodule/main && git diff --submodule master"^!" | grep "file1 updated")'
+
+test_done
diff --git a/templates/hooks--applypatch-msg.sample b/templates/hooks--applypatch-msg.sample
index 8b2a2fe84..a5d7b84a6 100755
--- a/templates/hooks--applypatch-msg.sample
+++ b/templates/hooks--applypatch-msg.sample
@@ -10,6 +10,6 @@
 # To enable this hook, rename this file to "applypatch-msg".
 
 . git-sh-setup
-test -x "$GIT_DIR/hooks/commit-msg" &&
-	exec "$GIT_DIR/hooks/commit-msg" ${1+"$@"}
+commitmsg="$(git rev-parse --git-path hooks/commit-msg)"
+test -x "$commitmsg" && exec "$commitmsg" ${1+"$@"}
 :
diff --git a/templates/hooks--pre-applypatch.sample b/templates/hooks--pre-applypatch.sample
index b1f187c2e..4142082bc 100755
--- a/templates/hooks--pre-applypatch.sample
+++ b/templates/hooks--pre-applypatch.sample
@@ -9,6 +9,6 @@
 # To enable this hook, rename this file to "pre-applypatch".
 
 . git-sh-setup
-test -x "$GIT_DIR/hooks/pre-commit" &&
-	exec "$GIT_DIR/hooks/pre-commit" ${1+"$@"}
+precommit="$(git rev-parse --git-path hooks/pre-commit)"
+test -x "$precommit" && exec "$precommit" ${1+"$@"}
 :
diff --git a/trace.c b/trace.c
index 1dc5c7c91..3c3bd8fc9 100644
--- a/trace.c
+++ b/trace.c
@@ -310,6 +310,7 @@ void trace_repo_setup(const char *prefix)
 		prefix = "(null)";
 
 	trace_printf_key(&key, "setup: git_dir: %s\n", quote_crnl(get_git_dir()));
+	trace_printf_key(&key, "setup: git_common_dir: %s\n", quote_crnl(get_git_common_dir()));
 	trace_printf_key(&key, "setup: worktree: %s\n", quote_crnl(git_work_tree));
 	trace_printf_key(&key, "setup: cwd: %s\n", quote_crnl(cwd));
 	trace_printf_key(&key, "setup: prefix: %s\n", quote_crnl(prefix));
diff --git a/transport.c b/transport.c
index eca9b8c81..f080e93dc 100644
--- a/transport.c
+++ b/transport.c
@@ -283,7 +283,6 @@ static int write_one_ref(const char *name, const unsigned char *sha1,
 {
 	struct strbuf *buf = data;
 	int len = buf->len;
-	FILE *f;
 
 	/* when called via for_each_ref(), flags is non-zero */
 	if (flags && !starts_with(name, "refs/heads/") &&
@@ -292,10 +291,9 @@ static int write_one_ref(const char *name, const unsigned char *sha1,
 
 	strbuf_addstr(buf, name);
 	if (safe_create_leading_directories(buf->buf) ||
-			!(f = fopen(buf->buf, "w")) ||
-			fprintf(f, "%s\n", sha1_to_hex(sha1)) < 0 ||
-			fclose(f))
-		return error("problems writing temporary file %s", buf->buf);
+	    write_file(buf->buf, 0, "%s\n", sha1_to_hex(sha1)))
+		return error("problems writing temporary file %s: %s",
+			     buf->buf, strerror(errno));
 	strbuf_setlen(buf, len);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/wrapper.c b/wrapper.c
index d5a6cef2b..c1a663fd5 100644
--- a/wrapper.c
+++ b/wrapper.c
@@ -564,3 +564,34 @@ char *xgetcwd(void)
 		die_errno(_("unable to get current working directory"));
 	return strbuf_detach(&sb, NULL);
 }
+
+int write_file(const char *path, int fatal, const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	va_list params;
+	int fd = open(path, O_RDWR | O_CREAT | O_TRUNC, 0666);
+	if (fd < 0) {
+		if (fatal)
+			die_errno(_("could not open %s for writing"), path);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	va_start(params, fmt);
+	strbuf_vaddf(&sb, fmt, params);
+	va_end(params);
+	if (write_in_full(fd, sb.buf, sb.len) != sb.len) {
+		int err = errno;
+		close(fd);
+		strbuf_release(&sb);
+		errno = err;
+		if (fatal)
+			die_errno(_("could not write to %s"), path);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	strbuf_release(&sb);
+	if (close(fd)) {
+		if (fatal)
+			die_errno(_("could not close %s"), path);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}