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From: Karthik Nayak <karthik.188@gmail.com>
To: git@vger.kernel.org
Cc: Karthik Nayak <karthik.188@gmail.com>,
	gitster@pobox.com, ps@pks.im,  toon@iotcl.com
Subject: [PATCH v7 2/6] refs: extract out `refs_create_refdir_stubs()`
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:38:21 +0100	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <20260219-kn-alternate-ref-dir-v7-2-16f27860dbdf@gmail.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20260219-kn-alternate-ref-dir-v7-0-16f27860dbdf@gmail.com>

For Git to recognize a directory as a Git directory, it requires the
directory to contain:

  1. 'HEAD' file
  2. 'objects/' directory
  3. 'refs/' directory

Here, #1 and #3 are part of the reference storage mechanism,
specifically the files backend. Since then, newer backends such as the
reftable backend have moved to using their own path ('reftable/') for
storing references. But to ensure Git still recognizes the directory as
a Git directory, we create stubs.

There are two locations where we create stubs:

- In 'refs/reftable-backend.c' when creating the reftable backend.
- In 'clone.c' before spawning transport helpers.

In a following commit, we'll add another instance. So instead of
repeating the code, let's extract out this code to
`refs_create_refdir_stubs()` and use it.

Signed-off-by: Karthik Nayak <karthik.188@gmail.com>
---
 builtin/clone.c         |  7 +------
 refs.c                  | 23 +++++++++++++++++++++++
 refs.h                  | 13 +++++++++++++
 refs/reftable-backend.c | 14 ++------------
 4 files changed, 39 insertions(+), 18 deletions(-)

diff --git a/builtin/clone.c b/builtin/clone.c
index cd43bb5aa2..697c5bb5cb 100644
--- a/builtin/clone.c
+++ b/builtin/clone.c
@@ -1225,12 +1225,7 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc,
 	initialize_repository_version(GIT_HASH_UNKNOWN,
 				      the_repository->ref_storage_format, 1);
 
-	strbuf_addf(&buf, "%s/HEAD", git_dir);
-	write_file(buf.buf, "ref: refs/heads/.invalid");
-
-	strbuf_reset(&buf);
-	strbuf_addf(&buf, "%s/refs", git_dir);
-	safe_create_dir(the_repository, buf.buf, 1);
+	refs_create_refdir_stubs(the_repository, git_dir, NULL);
 
 	/*
 	 * additional config can be injected with -c, make sure it's included
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 627b7f8698..77b93d655b 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -2163,6 +2163,29 @@ const char *refs_resolve_ref_unsafe(struct ref_store *refs,
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+void refs_create_refdir_stubs(struct repository *repo, const char *refdir,
+			      const char *refs_heads_content)
+{
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	strbuf_addf(&path, "%s/HEAD", refdir);
+	write_file(path.buf, "ref: refs/heads/.invalid");
+	adjust_shared_perm(repo, path.buf);
+
+	strbuf_reset(&path);
+	strbuf_addf(&path, "%s/refs", refdir);
+	safe_create_dir(repo, path.buf, 1);
+
+	if (refs_heads_content) {
+		strbuf_reset(&path);
+		strbuf_addf(&path, "%s/refs/heads", refdir);
+		write_file(path.buf, "%s", refs_heads_content);
+		adjust_shared_perm(repo, path.buf);
+	}
+
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+}
+
 /* backend functions */
 int ref_store_create_on_disk(struct ref_store *refs, int flags, struct strbuf *err)
 {
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index f0abfa1d93..9d8890fdff 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -1427,4 +1427,17 @@ void ref_iterator_free(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator);
 int do_for_each_ref_iterator(struct ref_iterator *iter,
 			     each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
 
+/*
+ * Git only recognizes a directory as a repository if it contains:
+ * - HEAD file
+ * - refs/ folder
+ * While it is necessary within the files backend, newer backends may not
+ * follow the same structure. To go around this, we create stubs as necessary.
+ *
+ * If provided with a 'refs_heads_msg', we create the 'refs/heads/head' file
+ * with the provided message.
+ */
+void refs_create_refdir_stubs(struct repository *repo, const char *refdir,
+			      const char *refs_heads_msg);
+
 #endif /* REFS_H */
diff --git a/refs/reftable-backend.c b/refs/reftable-backend.c
index fe74af73af..d8651fe779 100644
--- a/refs/reftable-backend.c
+++ b/refs/reftable-backend.c
@@ -491,18 +491,8 @@ static int reftable_be_create_on_disk(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 	safe_create_dir(the_repository, sb.buf, 1);
 	strbuf_reset(&sb);
 
-	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/HEAD", refs->base.gitdir);
-	write_file(sb.buf, "ref: refs/heads/.invalid");
-	adjust_shared_perm(the_repository, sb.buf);
-	strbuf_reset(&sb);
-
-	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/refs", refs->base.gitdir);
-	safe_create_dir(the_repository, sb.buf, 1);
-	strbuf_reset(&sb);
-
-	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/refs/heads", refs->base.gitdir);
-	write_file(sb.buf, "this repository uses the reftable format");
-	adjust_shared_perm(the_repository, sb.buf);
+	refs_create_refdir_stubs(the_repository, refs->base.gitdir,
+				 "this repository uses the reftable format");
 
 	strbuf_release(&sb);
 	return 0;

-- 
2.53.GIT


  parent reply	other threads:[~2026-02-19  9:38 UTC|newest]

Thread overview: 131+ messages / expand[flat|nested]  mbox.gz  Atom feed  top
2025-11-19 21:48 [PATCH 0/2] refs: allow setting the reference directory Karthik Nayak
2025-11-19 21:48 ` [PATCH 1/2] refs: support obtaining ref_store for given dir Karthik Nayak
2025-11-20 19:05   ` Justin Tobler
2025-11-21 11:18     ` Karthik Nayak
2025-11-19 21:48 ` [PATCH 2/2] refs: add GIT_REF_URI to specify reference backend and directory Karthik Nayak
2025-11-19 22:13   ` Eric Sunshine
2025-11-19 23:01     ` Karthik Nayak
2025-11-20 10:00   ` Jean-Noël Avila
2025-11-21 11:21     ` Karthik Nayak
2025-11-20 19:38   ` Justin Tobler
2025-11-24 13:23     ` Karthik Nayak
2025-11-21 13:42   ` Toon Claes
2025-11-21 16:07     ` Junio C Hamano
2025-11-24 13:25       ` Karthik Nayak
2025-11-26 13:11         ` Toon Claes
2025-11-24 13:26     ` Karthik Nayak
2025-12-01 13:28   ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-12-02 22:21     ` Karthik Nayak
2025-11-23  4:29 ` [PATCH 0/2] refs: allow setting the reference directory Junio C Hamano
2025-12-01 13:19   ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-12-02 10:25     ` Junio C Hamano
2025-12-02 15:29     ` Karthik Nayak
2025-11-26 11:11 ` [PATCH v2 " Karthik Nayak
2025-11-26 11:12   ` [PATCH v2 1/2] refs: support obtaining ref_store for given dir Karthik Nayak
2025-11-26 15:16     ` Junio C Hamano
2025-11-26 11:12   ` [PATCH v2 2/2] refs: add GIT_REF_URI to specify reference backend and directory Karthik Nayak
2025-11-26 16:17     ` Junio C Hamano
2025-11-27 14:52       ` Karthik Nayak
2025-11-27 20:02         ` Junio C Hamano
2025-11-27 21:45           ` Karthik Nayak
2025-12-01 11:24 ` [PATCH v3 0/2] refs: allow setting the reference directory Karthik Nayak
2025-12-01 11:24   ` [PATCH v3 1/2] refs: support obtaining ref_store for given dir Karthik Nayak
2025-12-01 11:24   ` [PATCH v3 2/2] refs: add GIT_REF_URI to specify reference backend and directory Karthik Nayak
2026-01-05 15:13   ` [PATCH v3 0/2] refs: allow setting the reference directory Patrick Steinhardt
2026-01-05 20:13     ` Karthik Nayak
2026-01-20 21:03       ` Junio C Hamano
2026-01-22 12:36         ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-02 12:26 ` [PATCH v4 0/4] " Karthik Nayak
2026-02-02 12:26   ` [PATCH v4 1/4] refs: allow reference location in refstorage config Karthik Nayak
2026-02-06 14:33     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-09 12:25       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-02 12:26   ` [PATCH v4 2/4] refs: extract out `refs_create_refdir_stubs()` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-06 14:33     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-09 11:21       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-02 12:26   ` [PATCH v4 3/4] refs: parse and use the reference storage payload Karthik Nayak
2026-02-06 14:33     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-09 12:52       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-02 12:26   ` [PATCH v4 4/4] refs: add GIT_REFERENCE_BACKEND to specify reference backend Karthik Nayak
2026-02-06 14:33     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-09 12:53       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-06 14:33   ` [PATCH v4 0/4] refs: allow setting the reference directory Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-06 17:50     ` Junio C Hamano
2026-02-09 12:53     ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-09 15:58 ` [PATCH v5 " Karthik Nayak
2026-02-09 15:58   ` [PATCH v5 1/4] refs: extract out `refs_create_refdir_stubs()` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-09 15:58   ` [PATCH v5 2/4] refs: forward and use the reference storage payload Karthik Nayak
2026-02-09 16:34     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-10 10:09       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-10 22:46     ` Jeff King
2026-02-13 14:45       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-15  9:12         ` Jeff King
2026-02-09 15:58   ` [PATCH v5 3/4] refs: allow reference location in refstorage config Karthik Nayak
2026-02-09 16:34     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-10 13:02       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-10 22:44     ` Jeff King
2026-02-11 10:27       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-09 15:58   ` [PATCH v5 4/4] refs: add GIT_REFERENCE_BACKEND to specify reference backend Karthik Nayak
2026-02-09 16:34   ` [PATCH v5 0/4] refs: allow setting the reference directory Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-09 18:02   ` Junio C Hamano
2026-02-10 13:02     ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-10 15:35       ` Junio C Hamano
2026-02-14 22:34 ` [PATCH v6 0/6] " Karthik Nayak
2026-02-14 22:34   ` [PATCH v6 1/6] setup: don't modify repo in `create_reference_database()` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-17  7:24     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-17  9:15       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-14 22:34   ` [PATCH v6 2/6] refs: extract out `refs_create_refdir_stubs()` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-14 22:34   ` [PATCH v6 3/6] refs: receive and use the reference storage payload Karthik Nayak
2026-02-17  7:24     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-17  9:16       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-14 22:34   ` [PATCH v6 4/6] refs: move out stub modification to generic layer Karthik Nayak
2026-02-17  7:24     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-17  9:29       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-18 14:21         ` Toon Claes
2026-02-19  9:31           ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-14 22:34   ` [PATCH v6 5/6] refs: allow reference location in refstorage config Karthik Nayak
2026-02-14 22:34   ` [PATCH v6 6/6] refs: add GIT_REFERENCE_BACKEND to specify reference backend Karthik Nayak
2026-02-17  7:24     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-17  9:32       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-17 10:15         ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-18 15:27     ` Toon Claes
2026-02-19  9:35       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-19  9:38 ` [PATCH v7 0/6] refs: allow setting the reference directory Karthik Nayak
2026-02-19  9:38   ` [PATCH v7 1/6] setup: don't modify repo in `create_reference_database()` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-19  9:38   ` Karthik Nayak [this message]
2026-02-19  9:38   ` [PATCH v7 3/6] refs: move out stub modification to generic layer Karthik Nayak
2026-02-20 15:21     ` Toon Claes
2026-02-19  9:38   ` [PATCH v7 4/6] refs: receive and use the reference storage payload Karthik Nayak
2026-02-20 15:32     ` Toon Claes
2026-02-22 20:12       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-19  9:38   ` [PATCH v7 5/6] refs: allow reference location in refstorage config Karthik Nayak
2026-02-20 15:36     ` Toon Claes
2026-02-20 16:53       ` Junio C Hamano
2026-02-22 20:15         ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-19  9:38   ` [PATCH v7 6/6] refs: add GIT_REFERENCE_BACKEND to specify reference backend Karthik Nayak
2026-02-19 15:35     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-20  9:15       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-23  8:01 ` [PATCH v8 0/6] refs: allow setting the reference directory Karthik Nayak
2026-02-23  8:01   ` [PATCH v8 1/6] setup: don't modify repo in `create_reference_database()` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-23  8:01   ` [PATCH v8 2/6] refs: extract out `refs_create_refdir_stubs()` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-23  8:01   ` [PATCH v8 3/6] refs: move out stub modification to generic layer Karthik Nayak
2026-02-23  8:01   ` [PATCH v8 4/6] refs: receive and use the reference storage payload Karthik Nayak
2026-02-23  8:01   ` [PATCH v8 5/6] refs: allow reference location in refstorage config Karthik Nayak
2026-02-23 17:43     ` Kristoffer Haugsbakk
2026-02-24 13:09       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-24 13:20         ` Kristoffer Haugsbakk
2026-02-24 15:05           ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-23  8:01   ` [PATCH v8 6/6] refs: add GIT_REFERENCE_BACKEND to specify reference backend Karthik Nayak
2026-02-25  8:50     ` Toon Claes
2026-02-25  9:41       ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-23 10:54   ` [PATCH v8 0/6] refs: allow setting the reference directory Patrick Steinhardt
2026-02-23 13:37     ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-23 20:05       ` Junio C Hamano
2026-02-25  9:42         ` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-25  9:40 ` [PATCH v9 " Karthik Nayak
2026-02-25  9:40   ` [PATCH v9 1/6] setup: don't modify repo in `create_reference_database()` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-25  9:40   ` [PATCH v9 2/6] refs: extract out `refs_create_refdir_stubs()` Karthik Nayak
2026-02-25  9:40   ` [PATCH v9 3/6] refs: move out stub modification to generic layer Karthik Nayak
2026-02-25  9:40   ` [PATCH v9 4/6] refs: receive and use the reference storage payload Karthik Nayak
2026-02-25  9:40   ` [PATCH v9 5/6] refs: allow reference location in refstorage config Karthik Nayak
2026-02-25 17:42     ` Junio C Hamano
2026-02-25  9:40   ` [PATCH v9 6/6] refs: add GIT_REFERENCE_BACKEND to specify reference backend Karthik Nayak

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