[PATCH 0/5] refs: reduce reliance on the_repository global state

[PATCH 0/5] refs: reduce reliance on the_repository global state

[Shreyansh Paliwal]

This series continues the effort to reduce reliance on the_repository
global state by making repository context explicit across the refs
subsystem. The patches focus on passing struct repository through various
ref helpers and backends, and replacing uses of global state such as
the_repository and the_hash_algo with the appropriate repository instance.

Patch 1/5: Making branch name helper functions (copy_branchname(),
check_branch_ref(), validate_branchname(), and validate_new_branchname())
repository-aware. (built on top of jw/object-name-bitset-to-enum)

Patch 2/5: Updating get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms() to take a repository
and propagating it through files-backend, including callback paths.

Patch 3/5: Replacing uses of the_hash_algo in refs.c with the hash
algorithm from the appropriate repository.

Patch 4/5: Removing remaining uses of the_repository in reftable-backend.c
where a repository instance is already available.

Patch 5/5: Replacing the single instance of the_repository in
packed-backend.c, thus dropping the USE_THE_REPOSITORY_VARIABLE macro.

Shreyansh Paliwal (5):
  refs: make branchname helpers repository aware
  refs: make get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms() repostory aware
  refs: remove the_hash_algo global state
  refs/reftable-backend: drop uses of the_repository
  refs/packed-backend: use ref_store->repo instead of the_repository

 branch.c                   | 15 ++++++++-------
 branch.h                   |  5 +++--
 builtin/branch.c           | 14 +++++++-------
 builtin/check-ref-format.c |  3 ++-
 builtin/checkout.c         |  6 +++---
 builtin/merge.c            |  2 +-
 builtin/worktree.c         | 10 +++++-----
 refs.c                     | 28 +++++++++++++---------------
 refs.h                     |  5 +++--
 refs/files-backend.c       | 19 +++++++++++++------
 refs/packed-backend.c      |  3 +--
 refs/refs-internal.h       |  2 +-
 refs/reftable-backend.c    |  6 +++---
 13 files changed, 63 insertions(+), 55 deletions(-)

--
2.53.0

[PATCH 1/5] refs: make branchname helpers repository aware

[Shreyansh Paliwal]

copy_branchname() in refs.c relies on the_repository when calling
repo_interpret_branch_name(), introducing an implicit dependency on global
state. Add a struct repository parameter and use it instead.

Update check_branch_ref() to take a repository parameter as well, since it
calls copy_branchname(). Propagate this change to higher-level helpers
validate_branchname() and validate_new_branchname(), which also lack access
to a repository instance. Most callers of these helpers reside in builtin
code and already operate on the_repository, so pass it explicitly at those
call sites (builtin/checkout and builtin/worktree) otherwise pass struct
repository where available.

This makes branch name handling explicitly repository-aware and aligns with
ongoing efforts to remove reliance on global state. This change builds on
top of jw/object-name-bitset-to-enum (2026-03-18), which introduced the
enum interpret_branch_kind parameter to copy_branchname().

Signed-off-by: Shreyansh Paliwal <shreyanshpaliwalcmsmn@gmail.com>
---
 branch.c                   | 15 ++++++++-------
 branch.h                   |  5 +++--
 builtin/branch.c           | 14 +++++++-------
 builtin/check-ref-format.c |  3 ++-
 builtin/checkout.c         |  6 +++---
 builtin/merge.c            |  2 +-
 builtin/worktree.c         | 10 +++++-----
 refs.c                     |  9 +++++----
 refs.h                     |  5 +++--
 9 files changed, 37 insertions(+), 32 deletions(-)

diff --git a/branch.c b/branch.c
index 243db7d0fc..65189823c3 100644
--- a/branch.c
+++ b/branch.c
@@ -370,16 +370,16 @@ int read_branch_desc(struct strbuf *buf, const char *branch_name)
  * Return 1 if the named branch already exists; return 0 otherwise.
  * Fill ref with the full refname for the branch.
  */
-int validate_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref)
+int validate_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, struct repository *repo)
 {
-	if (check_branch_ref(ref, name)) {
+	if (check_branch_ref(ref, name, repo)) {
 		int code = die_message(_("'%s' is not a valid branch name"), name);
 		advise_if_enabled(ADVICE_REF_SYNTAX,
 				  _("See 'git help check-ref-format'"));
 		exit(code);
 	}
 
-	return refs_ref_exists(get_main_ref_store(the_repository), ref->buf);
+	return refs_ref_exists(get_main_ref_store(repo), ref->buf);
 }
 
 static int initialized_checked_out_branches;
@@ -468,10 +468,11 @@ const char *branch_checked_out(const char *refname)
  * Return 1 if the named branch already exists; return 0 otherwise.
  * Fill ref with the full refname for the branch.
  */
-int validate_new_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, int force)
+int validate_new_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, int force,
+			    struct repository *repo)
 {
 	const char *path;
-	if (!validate_branchname(name, ref))
+	if (!validate_branchname(name, ref, repo))
 		return 0;
 
 	if (!force)
@@ -613,8 +614,8 @@ void create_branch(struct repository *r,
 		BUG("'clobber_head_ok' can only be used with 'force'");
 
 	if (clobber_head_ok ?
-			  validate_branchname(name, &ref) :
-			  validate_new_branchname(name, &ref, force)) {
+			  validate_branchname(name, &ref, r) :
+			  validate_new_branchname(name, &ref, force, r)) {
 		forcing = 1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/branch.h b/branch.h
index 3dc6e2a0ff..3aa53eb243 100644
--- a/branch.h
+++ b/branch.h
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ const char *branch_checked_out(const char *refname);
  * Return 1 if the named branch already exists; return 0 otherwise.
  * Fill ref with the full refname for the branch.
  */
-int validate_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref);
+int validate_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, struct repository *repo);
 
 /*
  * Check if a branch 'name' can be created as a new branch; die otherwise.
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ int validate_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref);
  * Return 1 if the named branch already exists; return 0 otherwise.
  * Fill ref with the full refname for the branch.
  */
-int validate_new_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, int force);
+int validate_new_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, int force,
+			    struct repository *repo);
 
 /*
  * Remove information about the merge state on the current
diff --git a/builtin/branch.c b/builtin/branch.c
index 1572a4f9ef..9c86b9f525 100644
--- a/builtin/branch.c
+++ b/builtin/branch.c
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ static int delete_branches(int argc, const char **argv, int force, int kinds,
 		char *target = NULL;
 		int flags = 0;
 
-		copy_branchname(&bname, argv[i], allowed_interpret);
+		copy_branchname(&bname, argv[i], allowed_interpret, the_repository);
 		free(name);
 		name = mkpathdup(fmt, bname.buf);
 
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ static void copy_or_rename_branch(const char *oldname, const char *newname, int
 	int recovery = 0, oldref_usage = 0;
 	struct worktree **worktrees = get_worktrees();
 
-	if (check_branch_ref(&oldref, oldname)) {
+	if (check_branch_ref(&oldref, oldname, the_repository)) {
 		/*
 		 * Bad name --- this could be an attempt to rename a
 		 * ref that we used to allow to be created by accident.
@@ -619,9 +619,9 @@ static void copy_or_rename_branch(const char *oldname, const char *newname, int
 	 * cause the worktree to become inconsistent with HEAD, so allow it.
 	 */
 	if (!strcmp(oldname, newname))
-		validate_branchname(newname, &newref);
+		validate_branchname(newname, &newref, the_repository);
 	else
-		validate_new_branchname(newname, &newref, force);
+		validate_new_branchname(newname, &newref, force, the_repository);
 
 	reject_rebase_or_bisect_branch(worktrees, oldref.buf);
 
@@ -898,7 +898,7 @@ int cmd_branch(int argc,
 				die(_("cannot give description to detached HEAD"));
 			branch_name = head;
 		} else if (argc == 1) {
-			copy_branchname(&buf, argv[0], INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL);
+			copy_branchname(&buf, argv[0], INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL, the_repository);
 			branch_name = buf.buf;
 		} else {
 			die(_("cannot edit description of more than one branch"));
@@ -941,7 +941,7 @@ int cmd_branch(int argc,
 		if (!argc)
 			branch = branch_get(NULL);
 		else if (argc == 1) {
-			copy_branchname(&buf, argv[0], INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL);
+			copy_branchname(&buf, argv[0], INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL, the_repository);
 			branch = branch_get(buf.buf);
 		} else
 			die(_("too many arguments to set new upstream"));
@@ -971,7 +971,7 @@ int cmd_branch(int argc,
 		if (!argc)
 			branch = branch_get(NULL);
 		else if (argc == 1) {
-			copy_branchname(&buf, argv[0], INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL);
+			copy_branchname(&buf, argv[0], INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL, the_repository);
 			branch = branch_get(buf.buf);
 		} else
 			die(_("too many arguments to unset upstream"));
diff --git a/builtin/check-ref-format.c b/builtin/check-ref-format.c
index 5d80afeec0..8222a289c9 100644
--- a/builtin/check-ref-format.c
+++ b/builtin/check-ref-format.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "refs.h"
 #include "setup.h"
 #include "strbuf.h"
+#include "repository.c"
 
 static const char builtin_check_ref_format_usage[] =
 "git check-ref-format [--normalize] [<options>] <refname>\n"
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ static int check_ref_format_branch(const char *arg)
 	int nongit;
 
 	setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
-	if (check_branch_ref(&sb, arg) ||
+	if (check_branch_ref(&sb, arg, the_repository) ||
 	    !skip_prefix(sb.buf, "refs/heads/", &name))
 		die("'%s' is not a valid branch name", arg);
 	printf("%s\n", name);
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index e031e61886..7570a5664f 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ static void setup_branch_path(struct branch_info *branch)
 			   &branch->oid, &branch->refname, 0))
 		repo_get_oid_committish(the_repository, branch->name, &branch->oid);
 
-	copy_branchname(&buf, branch->name, INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL);
+	copy_branchname(&buf, branch->name, INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL, the_repository);
 	if (strcmp(buf.buf, branch->name)) {
 		free(branch->name);
 		branch->name = xstrdup(buf.buf);
@@ -2014,10 +2014,10 @@ static int checkout_main(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix,
 		struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 
 		if (opts->new_branch_force)
-			opts->branch_exists = validate_branchname(opts->new_branch, &buf);
+			opts->branch_exists = validate_branchname(opts->new_branch, &buf, the_repository);
 		else
 			opts->branch_exists =
-				validate_new_branchname(opts->new_branch, &buf, 0);
+				validate_new_branchname(opts->new_branch, &buf, 0, the_repository);
 		strbuf_release(&buf);
 	}
 
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 2cbce56f8d..854490afef 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ static void merge_name(const char *remote, struct strbuf *msg)
 	char *found_ref = NULL;
 	int len, early;
 
-	copy_branchname(&bname, remote, 0);
+	copy_branchname(&bname, remote, 0, the_repository);
 	remote = bname.buf;
 
 	oidclr(&branch_head, the_repository->hash_algo);
diff --git a/builtin/worktree.c b/builtin/worktree.c
index 4035b1cb06..6ec2f02bf0 100644
--- a/builtin/worktree.c
+++ b/builtin/worktree.c
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ static int make_worktree_orphan(const char * ref, const struct add_opts *opts,
 	struct strbuf symref = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 
-	validate_new_branchname(ref, &symref, 0);
+	validate_new_branchname(ref, &symref, 0, the_repository);
 	strvec_pushl(&cp.args, "symbolic-ref", "HEAD", symref.buf, NULL);
 	if (opts->quiet)
 		strvec_push(&cp.args, "--quiet");
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ static int add_worktree(const char *path, const char *refname,
 	worktrees = NULL;
 
 	/* is 'refname' a branch or commit? */
-	if (!opts->detach && !check_branch_ref(&symref, refname) &&
+	if (!opts->detach && !check_branch_ref(&symref, refname, the_repository) &&
 	    refs_ref_exists(get_main_ref_store(the_repository), symref.buf)) {
 		is_branch = 1;
 		if (!opts->force)
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ static void print_preparing_worktree_line(int detach,
 		fprintf_ln(stderr, _("Preparing worktree (new branch '%s')"), new_branch);
 	} else {
 		struct strbuf s = STRBUF_INIT;
-		if (!detach && !check_branch_ref(&s, branch) &&
+		if (!detach && !check_branch_ref(&s, branch, the_repository) &&
 		    refs_ref_exists(get_main_ref_store(the_repository), s.buf))
 			fprintf_ln(stderr, _("Preparing worktree (checking out '%s')"),
 				  branch);
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ static char *dwim_branch(const char *path, char **new_branch)
 	char *branchname = xstrndup(s, n);
 	struct strbuf ref = STRBUF_INIT;
 
-	branch_exists = !check_branch_ref(&ref, branchname) &&
+	branch_exists = !check_branch_ref(&ref, branchname, the_repository) &&
 			refs_ref_exists(get_main_ref_store(the_repository),
 					ref.buf);
 	strbuf_release(&ref);
@@ -885,7 +885,7 @@ static int add(int ac, const char **av, const char *prefix,
 		new_branch = new_branch_force;
 
 		if (!opts.force &&
-		    !check_branch_ref(&symref, new_branch) &&
+		    !check_branch_ref(&symref, new_branch, the_repository) &&
 		    refs_ref_exists(get_main_ref_store(the_repository), symref.buf))
 			die_if_checked_out(symref.buf, 0);
 		strbuf_release(&symref);
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 685a0c247b..840965519e 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -744,13 +744,14 @@ static char *substitute_branch_name(struct repository *r,
 }
 
 void copy_branchname(struct strbuf *sb, const char *name,
-		     enum interpret_branch_kind allowed)
+		     enum interpret_branch_kind allowed,
+		     struct repository *repo)
 {
 	int len = strlen(name);
 	struct interpret_branch_name_options options = {
 		.allowed = allowed
 	};
-	int used = repo_interpret_branch_name(the_repository, name, len, sb,
+	int used = repo_interpret_branch_name(repo, name, len, sb,
 					      &options);
 
 	if (used < 0)
@@ -758,10 +759,10 @@ void copy_branchname(struct strbuf *sb, const char *name,
 	strbuf_add(sb, name + used, len - used);
 }
 
-int check_branch_ref(struct strbuf *sb, const char *name)
+int check_branch_ref(struct strbuf *sb, const char *name, struct repository *repo)
 {
 	if (startup_info->have_repository)
-		copy_branchname(sb, name, INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL);
+		copy_branchname(sb, name, INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL, repo);
 	else
 		strbuf_addstr(sb, name);
 
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index d65de6ab5f..72b8ea609a 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -226,7 +226,8 @@ char *repo_default_branch_name(struct repository *r, int quiet);
  * repo_interpret_branch_name() for details.
  */
 void copy_branchname(struct strbuf *sb, const char *name,
-		     enum interpret_branch_kind allowed);
+		     enum interpret_branch_kind allowed,
+		     struct repository *repo);
 
 /*
  * Like copy_branchname() above, but confirm that the result is
@@ -234,7 +235,7 @@ void copy_branchname(struct strbuf *sb, const char *name,
  *
  * The return value is "0" if the result is valid, and "-1" otherwise.
  */
-int check_branch_ref(struct strbuf *sb, const char *name);
+int check_branch_ref(struct strbuf *sb, const char *name, struct repository *repo);
 
 /*
  * Similar for a tag name in refs/tags/.
-- 
2.53.0

[PATCH 2/5] refs: make get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms() repostory aware

[Shreyansh Paliwal]

get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms() calls repo_config_get_int() using
the_repository, as no repository instance is available in its scope. Add a
struct repository parameter and use it instead of the_repository.

Update all callers accordingly. In files-backend.c, lock_raw_ref() can
obtain repository instance from the struct ref_transaction via
transaction->ref_store->repo and pass it down. For create_reflock(), which
is used as a callback, introduce a small wrapper struct to pass both struct
lock_file and struct repository through the callback data.

This removes reliance on the_repository global and makes the timeout lookup
operate on the correct repository context.

Signed-off-by: Shreyansh Paliwal <shreyanshpaliwalcmsmn@gmail.com>
---
 refs.c               |  4 ++--
 refs/files-backend.c | 19 +++++++++++++------
 refs/refs-internal.h |  2 +-
 3 files changed, 16 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)

diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 840965519e..e7256b3a84 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ enum ref_worktree_type parse_worktree_ref(const char *maybe_worktree_ref,
 	return REF_WORKTREE_SHARED;
 }
 
-long get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms(void)
+long get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms(struct repository *repo)
 {
 	static int configured = 0;
 
@@ -998,7 +998,7 @@ long get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms(void)
 	static int timeout_ms = 100;
 
 	if (!configured) {
-		repo_config_get_int(the_repository, "core.filesreflocktimeout", &timeout_ms);
+		repo_config_get_int(repo, "core.filesreflocktimeout", &timeout_ms);
 		configured = 1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index 7ce0d57478..ee8dd771a4 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ static enum ref_transaction_error lock_raw_ref(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 
 	if (hold_lock_file_for_update_timeout(
 			    &lock->lk, ref_file.buf, LOCK_NO_DEREF,
-			    get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms()) < 0) {
+			    get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms(transaction->ref_store->repo)) < 0) {
 		int myerr = errno;
 		errno = 0;
 		if (myerr == ENOENT && --attempts_remaining > 0) {
@@ -1190,13 +1190,17 @@ static int remove_empty_directories(struct strbuf *path)
 	return remove_dir_recursively(path, REMOVE_DIR_EMPTY_ONLY);
 }
 
+struct create_reflock_cb {
+    struct lock_file *lk;
+    struct repository *repo;
+};
+
 static int create_reflock(const char *path, void *cb)
 {
-	struct lock_file *lk = cb;
-
+	struct create_reflock_cb *data = cb;
 	return hold_lock_file_for_update_timeout(
-			lk, path, LOCK_NO_DEREF,
-			get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms()) < 0 ? -1 : 0;
+			data->lk, path, LOCK_NO_DEREF,
+			get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms(data->repo)) < 0 ? -1 : 0;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1208,6 +1212,7 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_oid_basic(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 {
 	struct strbuf ref_file = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct ref_lock *lock;
+	struct create_reflock_cb cb_data;
 
 	files_assert_main_repository(refs, "lock_ref_oid_basic");
 	assert(err);
@@ -1229,8 +1234,10 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_oid_basic(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 
 	lock->ref_name = xstrdup(refname);
 	lock->count = 1;
+	cb_data.lk = &lock->lk;
+	cb_data.repo = refs->base.repo;
 
-	if (raceproof_create_file(ref_file.buf, create_reflock, &lock->lk)) {
+	if (raceproof_create_file(ref_file.buf, create_reflock, &cb_data)) {
 		unable_to_lock_message(ref_file.buf, errno, err);
 		goto error_return;
 	}
diff --git a/refs/refs-internal.h b/refs/refs-internal.h
index d79e35fd26..e4cfd9e19e 100644
--- a/refs/refs-internal.h
+++ b/refs/refs-internal.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ struct ref_transaction;
  * Return the length of time to retry acquiring a loose reference lock
  * before giving up, in milliseconds:
  */
-long get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms(void);
+long get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms(struct repository *repo);
 
 /*
  * Return true iff refname is minimally safe. "Safe" here means that
-- 
2.53.0

[PATCH 3/5] refs: remove the_hash_algo global state

[Shreyansh Paliwal]

refs.c uses the_hash_algo in multiple places, relying on global state for
the object hash algorithm. Replace these uses with the appropriate
repository-specific hash_algo. In transaction-related functions
(ref_transaction_create, ref_transaction_delete, migrate_one_ref, and
transaction_hook_feed_stdin), use transaction->ref_store->repo->hash_algo.
In other cases, such as repo_get_submodule_ref_store(), use
repo->hash_algo.

This removes implicit reliance on global state. With no remaining uses of
the_repository in this file, drop USE_THE_REPOSITORY_VARIABLE and the
dependency on environment.h.

Signed-off-by: Shreyansh Paliwal <shreyanshpaliwalcmsmn@gmail.com>
---
 refs.c | 15 ++++++---------
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)

diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index e7256b3a84..7762babf5f 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -2,13 +2,10 @@
  * The backend-independent part of the reference module.
  */
 
-#define USE_THE_REPOSITORY_VARIABLE
-
 #include "git-compat-util.h"
 #include "abspath.h"
 #include "advice.h"
 #include "config.h"
-#include "environment.h"
 #include "strmap.h"
 #include "gettext.h"
 #include "hex.h"
@@ -1473,7 +1470,7 @@ int ref_transaction_create(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 		return 1;
 	}
 	return ref_transaction_update(transaction, refname, new_oid,
-				      null_oid(the_hash_algo), new_target, NULL, flags,
+				      null_oid(transaction->ref_store->repo->hash_algo), new_target, NULL, flags,
 				      msg, err);
 }
 
@@ -1492,7 +1489,7 @@ int ref_transaction_delete(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 	if (old_target && !(flags & REF_NO_DEREF))
 		BUG("delete cannot operate on symrefs with deref mode");
 	return ref_transaction_update(transaction, refname,
-				      null_oid(the_hash_algo), old_oid,
+				      null_oid(transaction->ref_store->repo->hash_algo), old_oid,
 				      NULL, old_target, flags,
 				      msg, err);
 }
@@ -2380,7 +2377,7 @@ struct ref_store *repo_get_submodule_ref_store(struct repository *repo,
 	subrepo = xmalloc(sizeof(*subrepo));
 
 	if (repo_submodule_init(subrepo, repo, submodule,
-				null_oid(the_hash_algo))) {
+				null_oid(repo->hash_algo))) {
 		free(subrepo);
 		goto done;
 	}
@@ -2572,14 +2569,14 @@ static int transaction_hook_feed_stdin(int hook_stdin_fd, void *pp_cb, void *pp_
 	strbuf_reset(buf);
 
 	if (!(update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD))
-		strbuf_addf(buf, "%s ", oid_to_hex(null_oid(the_hash_algo)));
+		strbuf_addf(buf, "%s ", oid_to_hex(null_oid(transaction->ref_store->repo->hash_algo)));
 	else if (update->old_target)
 		strbuf_addf(buf, "ref:%s ", update->old_target);
 	else
 		strbuf_addf(buf, "%s ", oid_to_hex(&update->old_oid));
 
 	if (!(update->flags & REF_HAVE_NEW))
-		strbuf_addf(buf, "%s ", oid_to_hex(null_oid(the_hash_algo)));
+		strbuf_addf(buf, "%s ", oid_to_hex(null_oid(transaction->ref_store->repo->hash_algo)));
 	else if (update->new_target)
 		strbuf_addf(buf, "ref:%s ", update->new_target);
 	else
@@ -3154,7 +3151,7 @@ static int migrate_one_ref(const struct reference *ref, void *cb_data)
 		if (ret < 0)
 			goto done;
 
-		ret = ref_transaction_update(data->transaction, ref->name, NULL, null_oid(the_hash_algo),
+		ret = ref_transaction_update(data->transaction, ref->name, NULL, null_oid(data->transaction->ref_store->repo->hash_algo),
 					     symref_target.buf, NULL,
 					     REF_SKIP_CREATE_REFLOG | REF_NO_DEREF, NULL, data->errbuf);
 		if (ret < 0)
-- 
2.53.0

[PATCH 4/5] refs/reftable-backend: drop uses of the_repository

[Shreyansh Paliwal]

reftable_be_init() and reftable_be_create_on_disk() use the_repository even
though a repository instance is already available, either directly or via
struct ref_store.

Replace these uses with the appropriate local repository instance (repo or
ref_store->repo) to avoid relying on global state.

Note that USE_THE_REPOSITORY_VARIABLE cannot be removed yet, as
is_bare_repository() is still there in the file.

Signed-off-by: Shreyansh Paliwal <shreyanshpaliwalcmsmn@gmail.com>
---
 refs/reftable-backend.c | 6 +++---
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/refs/reftable-backend.c b/refs/reftable-backend.c
index b124404663..7c8a992fcb 100644
--- a/refs/reftable-backend.c
+++ b/refs/reftable-backend.c
@@ -404,13 +404,13 @@ static struct ref_store *reftable_be_init(struct repository *repo,
 	default:
 		BUG("unknown hash algorithm %d", repo->hash_algo->format_id);
 	}
-	refs->write_options.default_permissions = calc_shared_perm(the_repository, 0666 & ~mask);
+	refs->write_options.default_permissions = calc_shared_perm(repo, 0666 & ~mask);
 	refs->write_options.disable_auto_compact =
 		!git_env_bool("GIT_TEST_REFTABLE_AUTOCOMPACTION", 1);
 	refs->write_options.lock_timeout_ms = 100;
 	refs->write_options.fsync = reftable_be_fsync;
 
-	repo_config(the_repository, reftable_be_config, &refs->write_options);
+	repo_config(repo, reftable_be_config, &refs->write_options);
 
 	/*
 	 * It is somewhat unfortunate that we have to mirror the default block
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ static int reftable_be_create_on_disk(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 
 	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/reftable", refs->base.gitdir);
-	safe_create_dir(the_repository, sb.buf, 1);
+	safe_create_dir(ref_store->repo, sb.buf, 1);
 	strbuf_reset(&sb);
 
 	strbuf_release(&sb);
-- 
2.53.0

[PATCH 5/5] refs/packed-backend: use ref_store->repo instead of the_repository

[Shreyansh Paliwal]

In refs/packed-backend.c, repo_config_get_int() is called using the global
the_repository, even though a repository instance is available via struct
ref_store.

Replace the use of the_repository with ref_store->repo to make the code
explicitly repository-aware. With no remaining users of the_repository in
this file, drop the USE_THE_REPOSITORY_VARIABLE macro.

Signed-off-by: Shreyansh Paliwal <shreyanshpaliwalcmsmn@gmail.com>
---
 refs/packed-backend.c | 3 +--
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/refs/packed-backend.c b/refs/packed-backend.c
index 23ed62984b..ebc10dab4d 100644
--- a/refs/packed-backend.c
+++ b/refs/packed-backend.c
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-#define USE_THE_REPOSITORY_VARIABLE
 #define DISABLE_SIGN_COMPARE_WARNINGS
 
 #include "../git-compat-util.h"
@@ -1223,7 +1222,7 @@ int packed_refs_lock(struct ref_store *ref_store, int flags, struct strbuf *err)
 	static int timeout_value = 1000;
 
 	if (!timeout_configured) {
-		repo_config_get_int(the_repository, "core.packedrefstimeout", &timeout_value);
+		repo_config_get_int(ref_store->repo, "core.packedrefstimeout", &timeout_value);
 		timeout_configured = 1;
 	}
 
-- 
2.53.0

Re: [PATCH 1/5] refs: make branchname helpers repository aware

[Patrick Steinhardt]

On Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 10:14:18PM +0530, Shreyansh Paliwal wrote:
> diff --git a/branch.h b/branch.h
> index 3dc6e2a0ff..3aa53eb243 100644
> --- a/branch.h
> +++ b/branch.h
> @@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ const char *branch_checked_out(const char *refname);
>   * Return 1 if the named branch already exists; return 0 otherwise.
>   * Fill ref with the full refname for the branch.
>   */
> -int validate_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref);
> +int validate_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, struct repository *repo);
>  
>  /*
>   * Check if a branch 'name' can be created as a new branch; die otherwise.
> @@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ int validate_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref);
>   * Return 1 if the named branch already exists; return 0 otherwise.
>   * Fill ref with the full refname for the branch.
>   */
> -int validate_new_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, int force);
> +int validate_new_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, int force,
> +			    struct repository *repo);
>  
>  /*
>   * Remove information about the merge state on the current

It's more customary in our code base to have the repository be the first
parameter. Other than that this patch looks good to me.

Patrick

Re: [PATCH 2/5] refs: make get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms() repostory aware

[Patrick Steinhardt]

On Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 10:14:19PM +0530, Shreyansh Paliwal wrote:
> diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
> index 7ce0d57478..ee8dd771a4 100644
> --- a/refs/files-backend.c
> +++ b/refs/files-backend.c
> @@ -1190,13 +1190,17 @@ static int remove_empty_directories(struct strbuf *path)
>  	return remove_dir_recursively(path, REMOVE_DIR_EMPTY_ONLY);
>  }
>  
> +struct create_reflock_cb {
> +    struct lock_file *lk;
> +    struct repository *repo;
> +};
> +
>  static int create_reflock(const char *path, void *cb)
>  {
> -	struct lock_file *lk = cb;
> -
> +	struct create_reflock_cb *data = cb;
>  	return hold_lock_file_for_update_timeout(
> -			lk, path, LOCK_NO_DEREF,
> -			get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms()) < 0 ? -1 : 0;
> +			data->lk, path, LOCK_NO_DEREF,
> +			get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms(data->repo)) < 0 ? -1 : 0;
>  }
>  
>  /*

Makes sense. This function is used as a callback to
`raceproof_create_file()`, and that callsite is adapted accordingly to
pass the new struct as payload.

Patrick

Re: [PATCH 4/5] refs/reftable-backend: drop uses of the_repository

[Patrick Steinhardt]

On Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 10:14:21PM +0530, Shreyansh Paliwal wrote:
> reftable_be_init() and reftable_be_create_on_disk() use the_repository even
> though a repository instance is already available, either directly or via
> struct ref_store.
> 
> Replace these uses with the appropriate local repository instance (repo or
> ref_store->repo) to avoid relying on global state.
> 
> Note that USE_THE_REPOSITORY_VARIABLE cannot be removed yet, as
> is_bare_repository() is still there in the file.

Yeah, `is_bare_repository()` is a blocker in many files :(

Patrick

Re: [PATCH 2/5] refs: make get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms() repostory aware

[Burak Kaan Karaçay]

On Wed Mar 25, 2026 at 7:44 PM +03, Shreyansh Paliwal wrote:
> -long get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms(void)
> +long get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms(struct repository *repo)
>  {
>  	static int configured = 0;
>  
> @@ -998,7 +998,7 @@ long get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms(void)
>  	static int timeout_ms = 100;
>  
>  	if (!configured) {
> -		repo_config_get_int(the_repository, "core.filesreflocktimeout", &timeout_ms);
> +		repo_config_get_int(repo, "core.filesreflocktimeout", &timeout_ms);
>  		configured = 1;
>  	}
>  

Looks like the existing code uses static local variables for
performance. They can behave unexpectedly in multi-repo cases.

I think moving the config into 'repo-settings' should be considered. The
config is already lazy-parsed, migrating it shouldn't be a problem.

Best,
Burak Kaan Karaçay