v2, 43 partsrefs-be-files.c: rename refs to refs-be-files

refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 132eff5..ce551e9 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ struct ref_dir {
  * presence of an empty subdirectory does not block the creation of a
  * similarly-named reference.  (The fact that reference names with the
  * same leading components can conflict *with each other* is a
- * separate issue that is regulated by verify_refname_available().)
+ * separate issue that is regulated by verify_refname_available_dir().)
  *
  * Please note that the name field contains the fully-qualified
  * reference (or subdirectory) name.  Space could be saved by only
@@ -911,11 +911,11 @@ static int nonmatching_ref_fn(struct ref_entry *entry, void *vdata)
  *
  * extras and skip must be sorted.
  */
-static int verify_refname_available(const char *refname,
-				    const struct string_list *extras,
-				    const struct string_list *skip,
-				    struct ref_dir *dir,
-				    struct strbuf *err)
+static int verify_refname_available_dir(const char *refname,
+					const struct string_list *extras,
+					const struct string_list *skip,
+					struct ref_dir *dir,
+					struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	const char *slash;
 	int pos;
@@ -2464,9 +2464,12 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
 		 */
 		strbuf_git_path(&orig_ref_file, "%s", orig_refname);
 		if (remove_empty_directories(&orig_ref_file)) {
+			struct ref_dir *loose_refs;
+			loose_refs = get_loose_refs(&ref_cache);
 			last_errno = errno;
-			if (!verify_refname_available(orig_refname, extras, skip,
-						      get_loose_refs(&ref_cache), err))
+			if (!verify_refname_available_dir(orig_refname, extras,
+							  skip, loose_refs,
+							  err))
 				strbuf_addf(err, "there are still refs under '%s'",
 					    orig_refname);
 			goto error_return;
@@ -2479,8 +2482,9 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
 	if (!refname) {
 		last_errno = errno;
 		if (last_errno != ENOTDIR ||
-		    !verify_refname_available(orig_refname, extras, skip,
-					      get_loose_refs(&ref_cache), err))
+		    !verify_refname_available_dir(orig_refname, extras, skip,
+						  get_loose_refs(&ref_cache),
+						  err))
 			strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference %s: %s",
 				    orig_refname, strerror(last_errno));
 
@@ -2493,8 +2497,8 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
 	 * our refname.
 	 */
 	if (is_null_oid(&lock->old_oid) &&
-	    verify_refname_available(refname, extras, skip,
-				     get_packed_refs(&ref_cache), err)) {
+	    verify_refname_available_dir(refname, extras, skip,
+					 get_packed_refs(&ref_cache), err)) {
 		last_errno = ENOTDIR;
 		goto error_return;
 	}
@@ -3127,10 +3131,7 @@ static int rename_ref_available(const char *oldname, const char *newname)
 	int ret;
 
 	string_list_insert(&skip, oldname);
-	ret = !verify_refname_available(newname, NULL, &skip,
-					get_packed_refs(&ref_cache), &err)
-		&& !verify_refname_available(newname, NULL, &skip,
-					     get_loose_refs(&ref_cache), &err);
+	ret = !verify_refname_available(newname, NULL, &skip, &err);
 	if (!ret)
 		error("%s", err.buf);
 
@@ -3299,6 +3300,17 @@ static int should_autocreate_reflog(const char *refname)
 		!strcmp(refname, "HEAD");
 }
 
+int verify_refname_available(const char *newname, struct string_list *extra,
+			     struct string_list *skip, struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct ref_dir *packed_refs = get_packed_refs(&ref_cache);
+	struct ref_dir *loose_refs = get_loose_refs(&ref_cache);
+	return verify_refname_available_dir(newname, extra, skip,
+					    packed_refs, err) ||
+		verify_refname_available_dir(newname, extra, skip,
+					     loose_refs, err);
+}
+
 /*
  * Create a reflog for a ref.  If force_create = 0, the reflog will
  * only be created for certain refs (those for which
@@ -4334,8 +4346,6 @@ static int ref_present(const char *refname,
 int initial_ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 				   struct strbuf *err)
 {
-	struct ref_dir *loose_refs = get_loose_refs(&ref_cache);
-	struct ref_dir *packed_refs = get_packed_refs(&ref_cache);
 	int ret = 0, i;
 	int n = transaction->nr;
 	struct ref_update **updates = transaction->updates;
@@ -4378,10 +4388,7 @@ int initial_ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 			die("BUG: initial ref transaction with old_sha1 set");
 		if (verify_refname_available(update->refname,
 					     &affected_refnames, NULL,
-					     loose_refs, err) ||
-		    verify_refname_available(update->refname,
-					     &affected_refnames, NULL,
-					     packed_refs, err)) {
+					     err)) {
 			ret = TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT;
 			goto cleanup;
 		}
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 6d30c98..79ea220 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -218,6 +218,23 @@ extern void warn_dangling_symrefs(FILE *fp, const char *msg_fmt, const struct st
 int pack_refs(unsigned int flags);
 
 /*
+ * Return true iff a reference named refname could be created without
+ * conflicting with the name of an existing reference.  If
+ * skip is non-NULL, ignore potential conflicts with refs in skip
+ * (e.g., because they are scheduled for deletion in the same
+ * operation).
+ *
+ * Two reference names conflict if one of them exactly matches the
+ * leading components of the other; e.g., "foo/bar" conflicts with
+ * both "foo" and with "foo/bar/baz" but not with "foo/bar" or
+ * "foo/barbados".
+ *
+ * skip must be sorted.
+ */
+int verify_refname_available(const char *newname, struct string_list *extra,
+			     struct string_list *skip, struct strbuf *err);
+
+/*
  * Flags controlling ref_transaction_update(), ref_transaction_create(), etc.
  * REF_NODEREF: act on the ref directly, instead of dereferencing
  *              symbolic references.

refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index ce551e9..2741cc5 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -2826,14 +2826,7 @@ int pack_refs(unsigned int flags)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/*
- * Rewrite the packed-refs file, omitting any refs listed in
- * 'refnames'. On error, leave packed-refs unchanged, write an error
- * message to 'err', and return a nonzero value.
- *
- * The refs in 'refnames' needn't be sorted. `err` must not be NULL.
- */
-static int repack_without_refs(struct string_list *refnames, struct strbuf *err)
+int repack_without_refs(struct string_list *refnames, struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	struct ref_dir *packed;
 	struct string_list_item *refname;
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 79ea220..729bc3c 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -218,6 +218,19 @@ extern void warn_dangling_symrefs(FILE *fp, const char *msg_fmt, const struct st
 int pack_refs(unsigned int flags);
 
 /*
+ * Rewrite the packed-refs file, omitting any refs listed in
+ * 'refnames'. On error, packed-refs will be unchanged, the return
+ * value is nonzero, and a message about the error is written to the
+ * 'err' strbuf.
+ *
+ * The refs in 'refnames' needn't be sorted. `err` must not be NULL.
+ */
+extern int repack_without_refs(struct string_list *refnames,
+			       struct strbuf *err);
+
+extern int is_branch(const char *refname);
+
+/*
  * Return true iff a reference named refname could be created without
  * conflicting with the name of an existing reference.  If
  * skip is non-NULL, ignore potential conflicts with refs in skip

Makefile, refs.c

diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 46d0ca7..19036de 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ LIB_OBJS += quote.o
 LIB_OBJS += reachable.o
 LIB_OBJS += read-cache.o
 LIB_OBJS += reflog-walk.o
-LIB_OBJS += refs.o
+LIB_OBJS += refs-be-files.o
 LIB_OBJS += ref-filter.o
 LIB_OBJS += remote.o
 LIB_OBJS += replace_object.o
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs-be-files.c
similarity index 100%
rename from refs.c
rename to refs-be-files.c

Makefile, refs.c

diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 19036de..43ceab0 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -767,6 +767,7 @@ LIB_OBJS += reachable.o
 LIB_OBJS += read-cache.o
 LIB_OBJS += reflog-walk.o
 LIB_OBJS += refs-be-files.o
+LIB_OBJS += refs.o
 LIB_OBJS += ref-filter.o
 LIB_OBJS += remote.o
 LIB_OBJS += replace_object.o
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..77492ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+/*
+ * Common refs code for all backends.
+ */

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 2741cc5..2e8079e 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -2687,8 +2687,6 @@ struct pack_refs_cb_data {
 	struct ref_to_prune *ref_to_prune;
 };
 
-static int is_per_worktree_ref(const char *refname);
-
 /*
  * An each_ref_entry_fn that is run over loose references only.  If
  * the loose reference can be packed, add an entry in the packed ref
@@ -2703,7 +2701,7 @@ static int pack_if_possible_fn(struct ref_entry *entry, void *cb_data)
 	int is_tag_ref = starts_with(entry->name, "refs/tags/");
 
 	/* Do not pack per-worktree refs: */
-	if (is_per_worktree_ref(entry->name))
+	if (ref_type(entry->name) == REF_TYPE_PER_WORKTREE)
 		return 0;
 
 	/* ALWAYS pack tags */
@@ -2891,77 +2889,6 @@ static int delete_ref_loose(struct ref_lock *lock, int flag, struct strbuf *err)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int is_per_worktree_ref(const char *refname)
-{
-	return !strcmp(refname, "HEAD") ||
-		starts_with(refname, "refs/bisect/");
-}
-
-static int is_pseudoref_syntax(const char *refname)
-{
-	const char *c;
-
-	for (c = refname; *c; c++) {
-		if (!isupper(*c) && *c != '-' && *c != '_')
-			return 0;
-	}
-
-	return 1;
-}
-
-enum ref_type ref_type(const char *refname)
-{
-	if (is_per_worktree_ref(refname))
-		return REF_TYPE_PER_WORKTREE;
-	if (is_pseudoref_syntax(refname))
-		return REF_TYPE_PSEUDOREF;
-       return REF_TYPE_NORMAL;
-}
-
-static int write_pseudoref(const char *pseudoref, const unsigned char *sha1,
-			   const unsigned char *old_sha1, struct strbuf *err)
-{
-	const char *filename;
-	int fd;
-	static struct lock_file lock;
-	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
-	int ret = -1;
-
-	strbuf_addf(&buf, "%s\n", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
-
-	filename = git_path("%s", pseudoref);
-	fd = hold_lock_file_for_update(&lock, filename, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
-	if (fd < 0) {
-		strbuf_addf(err, "Could not open '%s' for writing: %s",
-			    filename, strerror(errno));
-		return -1;
-	}
-
-	if (old_sha1) {
-		unsigned char actual_old_sha1[20];
-
-		if (read_ref(pseudoref, actual_old_sha1))
-			die("could not read ref '%s'", pseudoref);
-		if (hashcmp(actual_old_sha1, old_sha1)) {
-			strbuf_addf(err, "Unexpected sha1 when writing %s", pseudoref);
-			rollback_lock_file(&lock);
-			goto done;
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (write_in_full(fd, buf.buf, buf.len) != buf.len) {
-		strbuf_addf(err, "Could not write to '%s'", filename);
-		rollback_lock_file(&lock);
-		goto done;
-	}
-
-	commit_lock_file(&lock);
-	ret = 0;
-done:
-	strbuf_release(&buf);
-	return ret;
-}
-
 static int delete_pseudoref(const char *pseudoref, const unsigned char *old_sha1)
 {
 	static struct lock_file lock;
@@ -4110,48 +4037,6 @@ int ref_transaction_verify(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 				      flags, NULL, err);
 }
 
-int update_ref(const char *msg, const char *refname,
-	       const unsigned char *new_sha1, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
-	       unsigned int flags, enum action_on_err onerr)
-{
-	struct ref_transaction *t = NULL;
-	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
-	int ret = 0;
-
-	if (ref_type(refname) == REF_TYPE_PSEUDOREF) {
-		ret = write_pseudoref(refname, new_sha1, old_sha1, &err);
-	} else {
-		t = ref_transaction_begin(&err);
-		if (!t ||
-		    ref_transaction_update(t, refname, new_sha1, old_sha1,
-					   flags, msg, &err) ||
-		    ref_transaction_commit(t, &err)) {
-			ret = 1;
-			ref_transaction_free(t);
-		}
-	}
-	if (ret) {
-		const char *str = "update_ref failed for ref '%s': %s";
-
-		switch (onerr) {
-		case UPDATE_REFS_MSG_ON_ERR:
-			error(str, refname, err.buf);
-			break;
-		case UPDATE_REFS_DIE_ON_ERR:
-			die(str, refname, err.buf);
-			break;
-		case UPDATE_REFS_QUIET_ON_ERR:
-			break;
-		}
-		strbuf_release(&err);
-		return 1;
-	}
-	strbuf_release(&err);
-	if (t)
-		ref_transaction_free(t);
-	return 0;
-}
-
 static int ref_update_reject_duplicates(struct string_list *refnames,
 					struct strbuf *err)
 {
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 77492ff..2d10708 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -1,3 +1,118 @@
 /*
  * Common refs code for all backends.
  */
+#include "cache.h"
+#include "refs.h"
+#include "lockfile.h"
+
+static int is_per_worktree_ref(const char *refname)
+{
+	return !strcmp(refname, "HEAD") ||
+		starts_with(refname, "refs/bisect/");
+}
+
+static int is_pseudoref_syntax(const char *refname)
+{
+	const char *c;
+
+	for (c = refname; *c; c++) {
+		if (!isupper(*c) && *c != '-' && *c != '_')
+			return 0;
+	}
+
+	return 1;
+}
+
+enum ref_type ref_type(const char *refname)
+{
+	if (is_per_worktree_ref(refname))
+		return REF_TYPE_PER_WORKTREE;
+	if (is_pseudoref_syntax(refname))
+		return REF_TYPE_PSEUDOREF;
+       return REF_TYPE_NORMAL;
+}
+
+static int write_pseudoref(const char *pseudoref, const unsigned char *sha1,
+			   const unsigned char *old_sha1, struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	const char *filename;
+	int fd;
+	static struct lock_file lock;
+	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int ret = -1;
+
+	strbuf_addf(&buf, "%s\n", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
+
+	filename = git_path("%s", pseudoref);
+	fd = hold_lock_file_for_update(&lock, filename, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+	if (fd < 0) {
+		strbuf_addf(err, "Could not open '%s' for writing: %s",
+			    filename, strerror(errno));
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (old_sha1) {
+		unsigned char actual_old_sha1[20];
+		read_ref(pseudoref, actual_old_sha1);
+		if (hashcmp(actual_old_sha1, old_sha1)) {
+			strbuf_addf(err, "Unexpected sha1 when writing %s", pseudoref);
+			rollback_lock_file(&lock);
+			goto done;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (write_in_full(fd, buf.buf, buf.len) != buf.len) {
+		strbuf_addf(err, "Could not write to '%s'", filename);
+		rollback_lock_file(&lock);
+		goto done;
+	}
+
+	commit_lock_file(&lock);
+	ret = 0;
+done:
+	strbuf_release(&buf);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+int update_ref(const char *msg, const char *refname,
+	       const unsigned char *new_sha1, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+	       unsigned int flags, enum action_on_err onerr)
+{
+	struct ref_transaction *t = NULL;
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int ret = 0;
+
+	if (ref_type(refname) == REF_TYPE_PSEUDOREF) {
+		ret = write_pseudoref(refname, new_sha1, old_sha1, &err);
+	} else {
+		t = ref_transaction_begin(&err);
+		if (!t ||
+		    ref_transaction_update(t, refname, new_sha1, old_sha1,
+					   flags, msg, &err) ||
+		    ref_transaction_commit(t, &err)) {
+			ret = 1;
+			ref_transaction_free(t);
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (ret) {
+		const char *str = "update_ref failed for ref '%s': %s";
+
+		switch (onerr) {
+		case UPDATE_REFS_MSG_ON_ERR:
+			error(str, refname, err.buf);
+			break;
+		case UPDATE_REFS_DIE_ON_ERR:
+			die(str, refname, err.buf);
+			break;
+		case UPDATE_REFS_QUIET_ON_ERR:
+			break;
+		}
+		strbuf_release(&err);
+		return 1;
+	}
+	strbuf_release(&err);
+	if (t)
+		ref_transaction_free(t);
+	return 0;
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 2e8079e..666ba7f 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -2889,100 +2889,6 @@ static int delete_ref_loose(struct ref_lock *lock, int flag, struct strbuf *err)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int delete_pseudoref(const char *pseudoref, const unsigned char *old_sha1)
-{
-	static struct lock_file lock;
-	const char *filename;
-
-	filename = git_path("%s", pseudoref);
-
-	if (old_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(old_sha1)) {
-		int fd;
-		unsigned char actual_old_sha1[20];
-
-		fd = hold_lock_file_for_update(&lock, filename,
-					       LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
-		if (fd < 0)
-			die_errno(_("Could not open '%s' for writing"), filename);
-		if (read_ref(pseudoref, actual_old_sha1))
-			die("could not read ref '%s'", pseudoref);
-		if (hashcmp(actual_old_sha1, old_sha1)) {
-			warning("Unexpected sha1 when deleting %s", pseudoref);
-			rollback_lock_file(&lock);
-			return -1;
-		}
-
-		unlink(filename);
-		rollback_lock_file(&lock);
-	} else {
-		unlink(filename);
-	}
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
-int delete_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
-	       unsigned int flags)
-{
-	struct ref_transaction *transaction;
-	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
-
-	if (ref_type(refname) == REF_TYPE_PSEUDOREF)
-		return delete_pseudoref(refname, old_sha1);
-
-	transaction = ref_transaction_begin(&err);
-	if (!transaction ||
-	    ref_transaction_delete(transaction, refname, old_sha1,
-				   flags, NULL, &err) ||
-	    ref_transaction_commit(transaction, &err)) {
-		error("%s", err.buf);
-		ref_transaction_free(transaction);
-		strbuf_release(&err);
-		return 1;
-	}
-	ref_transaction_free(transaction);
-	strbuf_release(&err);
-	return 0;
-}
-
-int delete_refs(struct string_list *refnames)
-{
-	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
-	int i, result = 0;
-
-	if (!refnames->nr)
-		return 0;
-
-	result = repack_without_refs(refnames, &err);
-	if (result) {
-		/*
-		 * If we failed to rewrite the packed-refs file, then
-		 * it is unsafe to try to remove loose refs, because
-		 * doing so might expose an obsolete packed value for
-		 * a reference that might even point at an object that
-		 * has been garbage collected.
-		 */
-		if (refnames->nr == 1)
-			error(_("could not delete reference %s: %s"),
-			      refnames->items[0].string, err.buf);
-		else
-			error(_("could not delete references: %s"), err.buf);
-
-		goto out;
-	}
-
-	for (i = 0; i < refnames->nr; i++) {
-		const char *refname = refnames->items[i].string;
-
-		if (delete_ref(refname, NULL, 0))
-			result |= error(_("could not remove reference %s"), refname);
-	}
-
-out:
-	strbuf_release(&err);
-	return result;
-}
-
 /*
  * People using contrib's git-new-workdir have .git/logs/refs ->
  * /some/other/path/.git/logs/refs, and that may live on another device.
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 2d10708..205a899 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -116,3 +116,97 @@ int update_ref(const char *msg, const char *refname,
 		ref_transaction_free(t);
 	return 0;
 }
+
+
+static int delete_pseudoref(const char *pseudoref, const unsigned char *old_sha1)
+{
+	static struct lock_file lock;
+	const char *filename;
+
+	filename = git_path("%s", pseudoref);
+
+	if (old_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(old_sha1)) {
+		int fd;
+		unsigned char actual_old_sha1[20];
+
+		fd = hold_lock_file_for_update(&lock, filename,
+					       LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+		if (fd < 0)
+			die_errno(_("Could not open '%s' for writing"), filename);
+		read_ref(pseudoref, actual_old_sha1);
+		if (hashcmp(actual_old_sha1, old_sha1)) {
+			warning("Unexpected sha1 when deleting %s", pseudoref);
+			rollback_lock_file(&lock);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		unlink(filename);
+		rollback_lock_file(&lock);
+	} else {
+		unlink(filename);
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int delete_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+	       unsigned int flags)
+{
+	struct ref_transaction *transaction;
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	if (ref_type(refname) == REF_TYPE_PSEUDOREF)
+		return delete_pseudoref(refname, old_sha1);
+
+	transaction = ref_transaction_begin(&err);
+	if (!transaction ||
+	    ref_transaction_delete(transaction, refname, old_sha1,
+				   flags, NULL, &err) ||
+	    ref_transaction_commit(transaction, &err)) {
+		error("%s", err.buf);
+		ref_transaction_free(transaction);
+		strbuf_release(&err);
+		return 1;
+	}
+	ref_transaction_free(transaction);
+	strbuf_release(&err);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int delete_refs(struct string_list *refnames)
+{
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int i, result = 0;
+
+	if (!refnames->nr)
+		return 0;
+
+	result = repack_without_refs(refnames, &err);
+	if (result) {
+		/*
+		 * If we failed to rewrite the packed-refs file, then
+		 * it is unsafe to try to remove loose refs, because
+		 * doing so might expose an obsolete packed value for
+		 * a reference that might even point at an object that
+		 * has been garbage collected.
+		 */
+		if (refnames->nr == 1)
+			error(_("could not delete reference %s: %s"),
+			      refnames->items[0].string, err.buf);
+		else
+			error(_("could not delete references: %s"), err.buf);
+
+		goto out;
+	}
+
+	for (i = 0; i < refnames->nr; i++) {
+		const char *refname = refnames->items[i].string;
+
+		if (delete_ref(refname, NULL, 0))
+			result |= error(_("could not remove reference %s"), refname);
+	}
+
+out:
+	strbuf_release(&err);
+	return result;
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 666ba7f..f6cdea9 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -3436,124 +3436,6 @@ int create_symref(const char *ref_target, const char *refs_heads_master,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-struct read_ref_at_cb {
-	const char *refname;
-	unsigned long at_time;
-	int cnt;
-	int reccnt;
-	unsigned char *sha1;
-	int found_it;
-
-	unsigned char osha1[20];
-	unsigned char nsha1[20];
-	int tz;
-	unsigned long date;
-	char **msg;
-	unsigned long *cutoff_time;
-	int *cutoff_tz;
-	int *cutoff_cnt;
-};
-
-static int read_ref_at_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
-		const char *email, unsigned long timestamp, int tz,
-		const char *message, void *cb_data)
-{
-	struct read_ref_at_cb *cb = cb_data;
-
-	cb->reccnt++;
-	cb->tz = tz;
-	cb->date = timestamp;
-
-	if (timestamp <= cb->at_time || cb->cnt == 0) {
-		if (cb->msg)
-			*cb->msg = xstrdup(message);
-		if (cb->cutoff_time)
-			*cb->cutoff_time = timestamp;
-		if (cb->cutoff_tz)
-			*cb->cutoff_tz = tz;
-		if (cb->cutoff_cnt)
-			*cb->cutoff_cnt = cb->reccnt - 1;
-		/*
-		 * we have not yet updated cb->[n|o]sha1 so they still
-		 * hold the values for the previous record.
-		 */
-		if (!is_null_sha1(cb->osha1)) {
-			hashcpy(cb->sha1, nsha1);
-			if (hashcmp(cb->osha1, nsha1))
-				warning("Log for ref %s has gap after %s.",
-					cb->refname, show_date(cb->date, cb->tz, DATE_MODE(RFC2822)));
-		}
-		else if (cb->date == cb->at_time)
-			hashcpy(cb->sha1, nsha1);
-		else if (hashcmp(nsha1, cb->sha1))
-			warning("Log for ref %s unexpectedly ended on %s.",
-				cb->refname, show_date(cb->date, cb->tz,
-						       DATE_MODE(RFC2822)));
-		hashcpy(cb->osha1, osha1);
-		hashcpy(cb->nsha1, nsha1);
-		cb->found_it = 1;
-		return 1;
-	}
-	hashcpy(cb->osha1, osha1);
-	hashcpy(cb->nsha1, nsha1);
-	if (cb->cnt > 0)
-		cb->cnt--;
-	return 0;
-}
-
-static int read_ref_at_ent_oldest(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
-				  const char *email, unsigned long timestamp,
-				  int tz, const char *message, void *cb_data)
-{
-	struct read_ref_at_cb *cb = cb_data;
-
-	if (cb->msg)
-		*cb->msg = xstrdup(message);
-	if (cb->cutoff_time)
-		*cb->cutoff_time = timestamp;
-	if (cb->cutoff_tz)
-		*cb->cutoff_tz = tz;
-	if (cb->cutoff_cnt)
-		*cb->cutoff_cnt = cb->reccnt;
-	hashcpy(cb->sha1, osha1);
-	if (is_null_sha1(cb->sha1))
-		hashcpy(cb->sha1, nsha1);
-	/* We just want the first entry */
-	return 1;
-}
-
-int read_ref_at(const char *refname, unsigned int flags, unsigned long at_time, int cnt,
-		unsigned char *sha1, char **msg,
-		unsigned long *cutoff_time, int *cutoff_tz, int *cutoff_cnt)
-{
-	struct read_ref_at_cb cb;
-
-	memset(&cb, 0, sizeof(cb));
-	cb.refname = refname;
-	cb.at_time = at_time;
-	cb.cnt = cnt;
-	cb.msg = msg;
-	cb.cutoff_time = cutoff_time;
-	cb.cutoff_tz = cutoff_tz;
-	cb.cutoff_cnt = cutoff_cnt;
-	cb.sha1 = sha1;
-
-	for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(refname, read_ref_at_ent, &cb);
-
-	if (!cb.reccnt) {
-		if (flags & GET_SHA1_QUIETLY)
-			exit(128);
-		else
-			die("Log for %s is empty.", refname);
-	}
-	if (cb.found_it)
-		return 0;
-
-	for_each_reflog_ent(refname, read_ref_at_ent_oldest, &cb);
-
-	return 1;
-}
-
 int reflog_exists(const char *refname)
 {
 	struct stat st;
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 205a899..5a8ef0c 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -210,3 +210,121 @@ out:
 	strbuf_release(&err);
 	return result;
 }
+
+struct read_ref_at_cb {
+	const char *refname;
+	unsigned long at_time;
+	int cnt;
+	int reccnt;
+	unsigned char *sha1;
+	int found_it;
+
+	unsigned char osha1[20];
+	unsigned char nsha1[20];
+	int tz;
+	unsigned long date;
+	char **msg;
+	unsigned long *cutoff_time;
+	int *cutoff_tz;
+	int *cutoff_cnt;
+};
+
+static int read_ref_at_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
+		const char *email, unsigned long timestamp, int tz,
+		const char *message, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct read_ref_at_cb *cb = cb_data;
+
+	cb->reccnt++;
+	cb->tz = tz;
+	cb->date = timestamp;
+
+	if (timestamp <= cb->at_time || cb->cnt == 0) {
+		if (cb->msg)
+			*cb->msg = xstrdup(message);
+		if (cb->cutoff_time)
+			*cb->cutoff_time = timestamp;
+		if (cb->cutoff_tz)
+			*cb->cutoff_tz = tz;
+		if (cb->cutoff_cnt)
+			*cb->cutoff_cnt = cb->reccnt - 1;
+		/*
+		 * we have not yet updated cb->[n|o]sha1 so they still
+		 * hold the values for the previous record.
+		 */
+		if (!is_null_sha1(cb->osha1)) {
+			hashcpy(cb->sha1, nsha1);
+			if (hashcmp(cb->osha1, nsha1))
+				warning("Log for ref %s has gap after %s.",
+					cb->refname, show_date(cb->date, cb->tz, DATE_MODE(RFC2822)));
+		}
+		else if (cb->date == cb->at_time)
+			hashcpy(cb->sha1, nsha1);
+		else if (hashcmp(nsha1, cb->sha1))
+			warning("Log for ref %s unexpectedly ended on %s.",
+				cb->refname, show_date(cb->date, cb->tz,
+						       DATE_MODE(RFC2822)));
+		hashcpy(cb->osha1, osha1);
+		hashcpy(cb->nsha1, nsha1);
+		cb->found_it = 1;
+		return 1;
+	}
+	hashcpy(cb->osha1, osha1);
+	hashcpy(cb->nsha1, nsha1);
+	if (cb->cnt > 0)
+		cb->cnt--;
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int read_ref_at_ent_oldest(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
+				  const char *email, unsigned long timestamp,
+				  int tz, const char *message, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct read_ref_at_cb *cb = cb_data;
+
+	if (cb->msg)
+		*cb->msg = xstrdup(message);
+	if (cb->cutoff_time)
+		*cb->cutoff_time = timestamp;
+	if (cb->cutoff_tz)
+		*cb->cutoff_tz = tz;
+	if (cb->cutoff_cnt)
+		*cb->cutoff_cnt = cb->reccnt;
+	hashcpy(cb->sha1, osha1);
+	if (is_null_sha1(cb->sha1))
+		hashcpy(cb->sha1, nsha1);
+	/* We just want the first entry */
+	return 1;
+}
+
+int read_ref_at(const char *refname, unsigned int flags, unsigned long at_time, int cnt,
+		unsigned char *sha1, char **msg,
+		unsigned long *cutoff_time, int *cutoff_tz, int *cutoff_cnt)
+{
+	struct read_ref_at_cb cb;
+
+	memset(&cb, 0, sizeof(cb));
+	cb.refname = refname;
+	cb.at_time = at_time;
+	cb.cnt = cnt;
+	cb.msg = msg;
+	cb.cutoff_time = cutoff_time;
+	cb.cutoff_tz = cutoff_tz;
+	cb.cutoff_cnt = cutoff_cnt;
+	cb.sha1 = sha1;
+
+	for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(refname, read_ref_at_ent, &cb);
+
+	if (!cb.reccnt) {
+		if (flags & GET_SHA1_QUIETLY)
+			exit(128);
+		else
+			die("Log for %s is empty.", refname);
+	}
+	if (cb.found_it)
+		return 0;
+
+	for_each_reflog_ent(refname, read_ref_at_ent_oldest, &cb);
+
+	return 1;
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index f6cdea9..3609d02 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -4181,57 +4181,6 @@ char *shorten_unambiguous_ref(const char *refname, int strict)
 	return xstrdup(refname);
 }
 
-static struct string_list *hide_refs;
-
-int parse_hide_refs_config(const char *var, const char *value, const char *section)
-{
-	if (!strcmp("transfer.hiderefs", var) ||
-	    /* NEEDSWORK: use parse_config_key() once both are merged */
-	    (starts_with(var, section) && var[strlen(section)] == '.' &&
-	     !strcmp(var + strlen(section), ".hiderefs"))) {
-		char *ref;
-		int len;
-
-		if (!value)
-			return config_error_nonbool(var);
-		ref = xstrdup(value);
-		len = strlen(ref);
-		while (len && ref[len - 1] == '/')
-			ref[--len] = '\0';
-		if (!hide_refs) {
-			hide_refs = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*hide_refs));
-			hide_refs->strdup_strings = 1;
-		}
-		string_list_append(hide_refs, ref);
-	}
-	return 0;
-}
-
-int ref_is_hidden(const char *refname)
-{
-	int i;
-
-	if (!hide_refs)
-		return 0;
-	for (i = hide_refs->nr - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
-		const char *match = hide_refs->items[i].string;
-		int neg = 0;
-		int len;
-
-		if (*match == '!') {
-			neg = 1;
-			match++;
-		}
-
-		if (!starts_with(refname, match))
-			continue;
-		len = strlen(match);
-		if (!refname[len] || refname[len] == '/')
-			return !neg;
-	}
-	return 0;
-}
-
 struct expire_reflog_cb {
 	unsigned int flags;
 	reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn *should_prune_fn;
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 5a8ef0c..6b2fc39 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -328,3 +328,53 @@ int read_ref_at(const char *refname, unsigned int flags, unsigned long at_time,
 
 	return 1;
 }
+
+static struct string_list *hide_refs;
+
+int parse_hide_refs_config(const char *var, const char *value, const char *section)
+{
+	if (!strcmp("transfer.hiderefs", var) ||
+	    /* NEEDSWORK: use parse_config_key() once both are merged */
+	    (starts_with(var, section) && var[strlen(section)] == '.' &&
+	     !strcmp(var + strlen(section), ".hiderefs"))) {
+		char *ref;
+		int len;
+
+		if (!value)
+			return config_error_nonbool(var);
+		ref = xstrdup(value);
+		len = strlen(ref);
+		while (len && ref[len - 1] == '/')
+			ref[--len] = '\0';
+		if (!hide_refs) {
+			hide_refs = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*hide_refs));
+			hide_refs->strdup_strings = 1;
+		}
+		string_list_append(hide_refs, ref);
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int ref_is_hidden(const char *refname)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	if (!hide_refs)
+		return 0;
+	for (i = hide_refs->nr - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+		const char *match = hide_refs->items[i].string;
+		int neg = 0;
+		int len;
+		if (*match == '!') {
+			neg = 1;
+			match++;
+		}
+
+		if (!starts_with(refname, match))
+			continue;
+		len = strlen(match);
+		if (!refname[len] || refname[len] == '/')
+			return !neg;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 3609d02..eb660bb 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -2259,30 +2259,6 @@ const char *prettify_refname(const char *name)
 		0);
 }
 
-static const char *ref_rev_parse_rules[] = {
-	"%.*s",
-	"refs/%.*s",
-	"refs/tags/%.*s",
-	"refs/heads/%.*s",
-	"refs/remotes/%.*s",
-	"refs/remotes/%.*s/HEAD",
-	NULL
-};
-
-int refname_match(const char *abbrev_name, const char *full_name)
-{
-	const char **p;
-	const int abbrev_name_len = strlen(abbrev_name);
-
-	for (p = ref_rev_parse_rules; *p; p++) {
-		if (!strcmp(full_name, mkpath(*p, abbrev_name_len, abbrev_name))) {
-			return 1;
-		}
-	}
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 static void unlock_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 {
 	/* Do not free lock->lk -- atexit() still looks at them */
@@ -2335,92 +2311,6 @@ static int remove_empty_directories(struct strbuf *path)
 }
 
 /*
- * *string and *len will only be substituted, and *string returned (for
- * later free()ing) if the string passed in is a magic short-hand form
- * to name a branch.
- */
-static char *substitute_branch_name(const char **string, int *len)
-{
-	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
-	int ret = interpret_branch_name(*string, *len, &buf);
-
-	if (ret == *len) {
-		size_t size;
-		*string = strbuf_detach(&buf, &size);
-		*len = size;
-		return (char *)*string;
-	}
-
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-int dwim_ref(const char *str, int len, unsigned char *sha1, char **ref)
-{
-	char *last_branch = substitute_branch_name(&str, &len);
-	const char **p, *r;
-	int refs_found = 0;
-
-	*ref = NULL;
-	for (p = ref_rev_parse_rules; *p; p++) {
-		char fullref[PATH_MAX];
-		unsigned char sha1_from_ref[20];
-		unsigned char *this_result;
-		int flag;
-
-		this_result = refs_found ? sha1_from_ref : sha1;
-		mksnpath(fullref, sizeof(fullref), *p, len, str);
-		r = resolve_ref_unsafe(fullref, RESOLVE_REF_READING,
-				       this_result, &flag);
-		if (r) {
-			if (!refs_found++)
-				*ref = xstrdup(r);
-			if (!warn_ambiguous_refs)
-				break;
-		} else if ((flag & REF_ISSYMREF) && strcmp(fullref, "HEAD")) {
-			warning("ignoring dangling symref %s.", fullref);
-		} else if ((flag & REF_ISBROKEN) && strchr(fullref, '/')) {
-			warning("ignoring broken ref %s.", fullref);
-		}
-	}
-	free(last_branch);
-	return refs_found;
-}
-
-int dwim_log(const char *str, int len, unsigned char *sha1, char **log)
-{
-	char *last_branch = substitute_branch_name(&str, &len);
-	const char **p;
-	int logs_found = 0;
-
-	*log = NULL;
-	for (p = ref_rev_parse_rules; *p; p++) {
-		unsigned char hash[20];
-		char path[PATH_MAX];
-		const char *ref, *it;
-
-		mksnpath(path, sizeof(path), *p, len, str);
-		ref = resolve_ref_unsafe(path, RESOLVE_REF_READING,
-					 hash, NULL);
-		if (!ref)
-			continue;
-		if (reflog_exists(path))
-			it = path;
-		else if (strcmp(ref, path) && reflog_exists(ref))
-			it = ref;
-		else
-			continue;
-		if (!logs_found++) {
-			*log = xstrdup(it);
-			hashcpy(sha1, hash);
-		}
-		if (!warn_ambiguous_refs)
-			break;
-	}
-	free(last_branch);
-	return logs_found;
-}
-
-/*
  * Locks a ref returning the lock on success and NULL on failure.
  * On failure errno is set to something meaningful.
  */
@@ -4088,99 +3978,6 @@ cleanup:
 	return ret;
 }
 
-char *shorten_unambiguous_ref(const char *refname, int strict)
-{
-	int i;
-	static char **scanf_fmts;
-	static int nr_rules;
-	char *short_name;
-
-	if (!nr_rules) {
-		/*
-		 * Pre-generate scanf formats from ref_rev_parse_rules[].
-		 * Generate a format suitable for scanf from a
-		 * ref_rev_parse_rules rule by interpolating "%s" at the
-		 * location of the "%.*s".
-		 */
-		size_t total_len = 0;
-		size_t offset = 0;
-
-		/* the rule list is NULL terminated, count them first */
-		for (nr_rules = 0; ref_rev_parse_rules[nr_rules]; nr_rules++)
-			/* -2 for strlen("%.*s") - strlen("%s"); +1 for NUL */
-			total_len += strlen(ref_rev_parse_rules[nr_rules]) - 2 + 1;
-
-		scanf_fmts = xmalloc(nr_rules * sizeof(char *) + total_len);
-
-		offset = 0;
-		for (i = 0; i < nr_rules; i++) {
-			assert(offset < total_len);
-			scanf_fmts[i] = (char *)&scanf_fmts[nr_rules] + offset;
-			offset += snprintf(scanf_fmts[i], total_len - offset,
-					   ref_rev_parse_rules[i], 2, "%s") + 1;
-		}
-	}
-
-	/* bail out if there are no rules */
-	if (!nr_rules)
-		return xstrdup(refname);
-
-	/* buffer for scanf result, at most refname must fit */
-	short_name = xstrdup(refname);
-
-	/* skip first rule, it will always match */
-	for (i = nr_rules - 1; i > 0 ; --i) {
-		int j;
-		int rules_to_fail = i;
-		int short_name_len;
-
-		if (1 != sscanf(refname, scanf_fmts[i], short_name))
-			continue;
-
-		short_name_len = strlen(short_name);
-
-		/*
-		 * in strict mode, all (except the matched one) rules
-		 * must fail to resolve to a valid non-ambiguous ref
-		 */
-		if (strict)
-			rules_to_fail = nr_rules;
-
-		/*
-		 * check if the short name resolves to a valid ref,
-		 * but use only rules prior to the matched one
-		 */
-		for (j = 0; j < rules_to_fail; j++) {
-			const char *rule = ref_rev_parse_rules[j];
-			char refname[PATH_MAX];
-
-			/* skip matched rule */
-			if (i == j)
-				continue;
-
-			/*
-			 * the short name is ambiguous, if it resolves
-			 * (with this previous rule) to a valid ref
-			 * read_ref() returns 0 on success
-			 */
-			mksnpath(refname, sizeof(refname),
-				 rule, short_name_len, short_name);
-			if (ref_exists(refname))
-				break;
-		}
-
-		/*
-		 * short name is non-ambiguous if all previous rules
-		 * haven't resolved to a valid ref
-		 */
-		if (j == rules_to_fail)
-			return short_name;
-	}
-
-	free(short_name);
-	return xstrdup(refname);
-}
-
 struct expire_reflog_cb {
 	unsigned int flags;
 	reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn *should_prune_fn;
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 6b2fc39..310b7f5 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -378,3 +378,206 @@ int ref_is_hidden(const char *refname)
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
+
+static const char *ref_rev_parse_rules[] = {
+	"%.*s",
+	"refs/%.*s",
+	"refs/tags/%.*s",
+	"refs/heads/%.*s",
+	"refs/remotes/%.*s",
+	"refs/remotes/%.*s/HEAD",
+	NULL
+};
+
+int refname_match(const char *abbrev_name, const char *full_name)
+{
+	const char **p;
+	const int abbrev_name_len = strlen(abbrev_name);
+
+	for (p = ref_rev_parse_rules; *p; p++) {
+		if (!strcmp(full_name, mkpath(*p, abbrev_name_len, abbrev_name))) {
+			return 1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/*
+ * *string and *len will only be substituted, and *string returned (for
+ * later free()ing) if the string passed in is a magic short-hand form
+ * to name a branch.
+ */
+static char *substitute_branch_name(const char **string, int *len)
+{
+	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int ret = interpret_branch_name(*string, *len, &buf);
+
+	if (ret == *len) {
+		size_t size;
+		*string = strbuf_detach(&buf, &size);
+		*len = size;
+		return (char *)*string;
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+int dwim_ref(const char *str, int len, unsigned char *sha1, char **ref)
+{
+	char *last_branch = substitute_branch_name(&str, &len);
+	const char **p, *r;
+	int refs_found = 0;
+
+	*ref = NULL;
+	for (p = ref_rev_parse_rules; *p; p++) {
+		char fullref[PATH_MAX];
+		unsigned char sha1_from_ref[20];
+		unsigned char *this_result;
+		int flag;
+
+		this_result = refs_found ? sha1_from_ref : sha1;
+		mksnpath(fullref, sizeof(fullref), *p, len, str);
+		r = resolve_ref_unsafe(fullref, RESOLVE_REF_READING,
+				       this_result, &flag);
+		if (r) {
+			if (!refs_found++)
+				*ref = xstrdup(r);
+			if (!warn_ambiguous_refs)
+				break;
+		} else if ((flag & REF_ISSYMREF) && strcmp(fullref, "HEAD")) {
+			warning("ignoring dangling symref %s.", fullref);
+		} else if ((flag & REF_ISBROKEN) && strchr(fullref, '/')) {
+			warning("ignoring broken ref %s.", fullref);
+		}
+	}
+	free(last_branch);
+	return refs_found;
+}
+
+int dwim_log(const char *str, int len, unsigned char *sha1, char **log)
+{
+	char *last_branch = substitute_branch_name(&str, &len);
+	const char **p;
+	int logs_found = 0;
+
+	*log = NULL;
+	for (p = ref_rev_parse_rules; *p; p++) {
+		unsigned char hash[20];
+		char path[PATH_MAX];
+		const char *ref, *it;
+
+		mksnpath(path, sizeof(path), *p, len, str);
+		ref = resolve_ref_unsafe(path, RESOLVE_REF_READING,
+					 hash, NULL);
+		if (!ref)
+			continue;
+		if (reflog_exists(path))
+			it = path;
+		else if (strcmp(ref, path) && reflog_exists(ref))
+			it = ref;
+		else
+			continue;
+		if (!logs_found++) {
+			*log = xstrdup(it);
+			hashcpy(sha1, hash);
+		}
+		if (!warn_ambiguous_refs)
+			break;
+	}
+	free(last_branch);
+	return logs_found;
+}
+
+char *shorten_unambiguous_ref(const char *refname, int strict)
+{
+	int i;
+	static char **scanf_fmts;
+	static int nr_rules;
+	char *short_name;
+
+	if (!nr_rules) {
+		/*
+		 * Pre-generate scanf formats from ref_rev_parse_rules[].
+		 * Generate a format suitable for scanf from a
+		 * ref_rev_parse_rules rule by interpolating "%s" at the
+		 * location of the "%.*s".
+		 */
+		size_t total_len = 0;
+		size_t offset = 0;
+
+		/* the rule list is NULL terminated, count them first */
+		for (nr_rules = 0; ref_rev_parse_rules[nr_rules]; nr_rules++)
+			/* -2 for strlen("%.*s") - strlen("%s"); +1 for NUL */
+			total_len += strlen(ref_rev_parse_rules[nr_rules]) - 2 + 1;
+
+		scanf_fmts = xmalloc(nr_rules * sizeof(char *) + total_len);
+
+		offset = 0;
+		for (i = 0; i < nr_rules; i++) {
+			assert(offset < total_len);
+			scanf_fmts[i] = (char *)&scanf_fmts[nr_rules] + offset;
+			offset += snprintf(scanf_fmts[i], total_len - offset,
+					   ref_rev_parse_rules[i], 2, "%s") + 1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* bail out if there are no rules */
+	if (!nr_rules)
+		return xstrdup(refname);
+
+	/* buffer for scanf result, at most refname must fit */
+	short_name = xstrdup(refname);
+
+	/* skip first rule, it will always match */
+	for (i = nr_rules - 1; i > 0 ; --i) {
+		int j;
+		int rules_to_fail = i;
+		int short_name_len;
+
+		if (1 != sscanf(refname, scanf_fmts[i], short_name))
+			continue;
+
+		short_name_len = strlen(short_name);
+
+		/*
+		 * in strict mode, all (except the matched one) rules
+		 * must fail to resolve to a valid non-ambiguous ref
+		 */
+		if (strict)
+			rules_to_fail = nr_rules;
+
+		/*
+		 * check if the short name resolves to a valid ref,
+		 * but use only rules prior to the matched one
+		 */
+		for (j = 0; j < rules_to_fail; j++) {
+			const char *rule = ref_rev_parse_rules[j];
+			char refname[PATH_MAX];
+
+			/* skip matched rule */
+			if (i == j)
+				continue;
+
+			/*
+			 * the short name is ambiguous, if it resolves
+			 * (with this previous rule) to a valid ref
+			 * read_ref() returns 0 on success
+			 */
+			mksnpath(refname, sizeof(refname),
+				 rule, short_name_len, short_name);
+			if (ref_exists(refname))
+				break;
+		}
+
+		/*
+		 * short name is non-ambiguous if all previous rules
+		 * haven't resolved to a valid ref
+		 */
+		if (j == rules_to_fail)
+			return short_name;
+	}
+
+	free(short_name);
+	return xstrdup(refname);
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index eb660bb..2495d42 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -1956,58 +1956,6 @@ int peel_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1)
 	return peel_object(base, sha1);
 }
 
-struct warn_if_dangling_data {
-	FILE *fp;
-	const char *refname;
-	const struct string_list *refnames;
-	const char *msg_fmt;
-};
-
-static int warn_if_dangling_symref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
-				   int flags, void *cb_data)
-{
-	struct warn_if_dangling_data *d = cb_data;
-	const char *resolves_to;
-	struct object_id junk;
-
-	if (!(flags & REF_ISSYMREF))
-		return 0;
-
-	resolves_to = resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, 0, junk.hash, NULL);
-	if (!resolves_to
-	    || (d->refname
-		? strcmp(resolves_to, d->refname)
-		: !string_list_has_string(d->refnames, resolves_to))) {
-		return 0;
-	}
-
-	fprintf(d->fp, d->msg_fmt, refname);
-	fputc('\n', d->fp);
-	return 0;
-}
-
-void warn_dangling_symref(FILE *fp, const char *msg_fmt, const char *refname)
-{
-	struct warn_if_dangling_data data;
-
-	data.fp = fp;
-	data.refname = refname;
-	data.refnames = NULL;
-	data.msg_fmt = msg_fmt;
-	for_each_rawref(warn_if_dangling_symref, &data);
-}
-
-void warn_dangling_symrefs(FILE *fp, const char *msg_fmt, const struct string_list *refnames)
-{
-	struct warn_if_dangling_data data;
-
-	data.fp = fp;
-	data.refname = NULL;
-	data.refnames = refnames;
-	data.msg_fmt = msg_fmt;
-	for_each_rawref(warn_if_dangling_symref, &data);
-}
-
 /*
  * Call fn for each reference in the specified ref_cache, omitting
  * references not in the containing_dir of base.  fn is called for all
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 310b7f5..24d5e28 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -581,3 +581,55 @@ char *shorten_unambiguous_ref(const char *refname, int strict)
 	free(short_name);
 	return xstrdup(refname);
 }
+
+struct warn_if_dangling_data {
+	FILE *fp;
+	const char *refname;
+	const struct string_list *refnames;
+	const char *msg_fmt;
+};
+
+static int warn_if_dangling_symref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+				   int flags, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct warn_if_dangling_data *d = cb_data;
+	const char *resolves_to;
+	struct object_id junk;
+
+	if (!(flags & REF_ISSYMREF))
+		return 0;
+
+	resolves_to = resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, 0, junk.hash, NULL);
+	if (!resolves_to
+	    || (d->refname
+		? strcmp(resolves_to, d->refname)
+		: !string_list_has_string(d->refnames, resolves_to))) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	fprintf(d->fp, d->msg_fmt, refname);
+	fputc('\n', d->fp);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+void warn_dangling_symref(FILE *fp, const char *msg_fmt, const char *refname)
+{
+	struct warn_if_dangling_data data;
+
+	data.fp = fp;
+	data.refname = refname;
+	data.refnames = NULL;
+	data.msg_fmt = msg_fmt;
+	for_each_rawref(warn_if_dangling_symref, &data);
+}
+
+void warn_dangling_symrefs(FILE *fp, const char *msg_fmt, const struct string_list *refnames)
+{
+	struct warn_if_dangling_data data;
+
+	data.fp = fp;
+	data.refname = NULL;
+	data.refnames = refnames;
+	data.msg_fmt = msg_fmt;
+	for_each_rawref(warn_if_dangling_symref, &data);
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 2495d42..d46474a 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -1803,24 +1803,6 @@ struct ref_filter {
 	void *cb_data;
 };
 
-int read_ref_full(const char *refname, int resolve_flags, unsigned char *sha1, int *flags)
-{
-	if (resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, resolve_flags, sha1, flags))
-		return 0;
-	return -1;
-}
-
-int read_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1)
-{
-	return read_ref_full(refname, RESOLVE_REF_READING, sha1, NULL);
-}
-
-int ref_exists(const char *refname)
-{
-	unsigned char sha1[20];
-	return !!resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, RESOLVE_REF_READING, sha1, NULL);
-}
-
 static int filter_refs(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 			   int flags, void *data)
 {
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 24d5e28..242f66d 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -633,3 +633,21 @@ void warn_dangling_symrefs(FILE *fp, const char *msg_fmt, const struct string_li
 	data.msg_fmt = msg_fmt;
 	for_each_rawref(warn_if_dangling_symref, &data);
 }
+
+int read_ref_full(const char *refname, int resolve_flags, unsigned char *sha1, int *flags)
+{
+	if (resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, resolve_flags, sha1, flags))
+		return 0;
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int read_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1)
+{
+	return read_ref_full(refname, RESOLVE_REF_READING, sha1, NULL);
+}
+
+int ref_exists(const char *refname)
+{
+	unsigned char sha1[20];
+	return !!resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, RESOLVE_REF_READING, sha1, NULL);
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index d46474a..e3f7b1d 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -1789,13 +1789,6 @@ const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-char *resolve_refdup(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
-		     unsigned char *sha1, int *flags)
-{
-	return xstrdup_or_null(resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, resolve_flags,
-						  sha1, flags));
-}
-
 /* The argument to filter_refs */
 struct ref_filter {
 	const char *pattern;
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 242f66d..039e5c0 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -651,3 +651,10 @@ int ref_exists(const char *refname)
 	unsigned char sha1[20];
 	return !!resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, RESOLVE_REF_READING, sha1, NULL);
 }
+
+char *resolve_refdup(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
+		     unsigned char *sha1, int *flags)
+{
+	return xstrdup_or_null(resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, resolve_flags,
+						  sha1, flags));
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index e3f7b1d..f920b65 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -14,27 +14,6 @@ struct ref_lock {
 };
 
 /*
- * How to handle various characters in refnames:
- * 0: An acceptable character for refs
- * 1: End-of-component
- * 2: ., look for a preceding . to reject .. in refs
- * 3: {, look for a preceding @ to reject @{ in refs
- * 4: A bad character: ASCII control characters, and
- *    ":", "?", "[", "\", "^", "~", SP, or TAB
- * 5: *, reject unless REFNAME_REFSPEC_PATTERN is set
- */
-static unsigned char refname_disposition[256] = {
-	1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4,
-	4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4,
-	4, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1,
-	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4,
-	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
-	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4, 4, 0, 4, 0,
-	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
-	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0, 4, 4
-};
-
-/*
  * Flag passed to lock_ref_sha1_basic() telling it to tolerate broken
  * refs (i.e., because the reference is about to be deleted anyway).
  */
@@ -69,94 +48,6 @@ static unsigned char refname_disposition[256] = {
  * value to ref_update::flags
  */
 
-/*
- * Try to read one refname component from the front of refname.
- * Return the length of the component found, or -1 if the component is
- * not legal.  It is legal if it is something reasonable to have under
- * ".git/refs/"; We do not like it if:
- *
- * - any path component of it begins with ".", or
- * - it has double dots "..", or
- * - it has ASCII control characters, or
- * - it has ":", "?", "[", "\", "^", "~", SP, or TAB anywhere, or
- * - it has "*" anywhere unless REFNAME_REFSPEC_PATTERN is set, or
- * - it ends with a "/", or
- * - it ends with ".lock", or
- * - it contains a "@{" portion
- */
-static int check_refname_component(const char *refname, int *flags)
-{
-	const char *cp;
-	char last = '\0';
-
-	for (cp = refname; ; cp++) {
-		int ch = *cp & 255;
-		unsigned char disp = refname_disposition[ch];
-		switch (disp) {
-		case 1:
-			goto out;
-		case 2:
-			if (last == '.')
-				return -1; /* Refname contains "..". */
-			break;
-		case 3:
-			if (last == '@')
-				return -1; /* Refname contains "@{". */
-			break;
-		case 4:
-			return -1;
-		case 5:
-			if (!(*flags & REFNAME_REFSPEC_PATTERN))
-				return -1; /* refspec can't be a pattern */
-
-			/*
-			 * Unset the pattern flag so that we only accept
-			 * a single asterisk for one side of refspec.
-			 */
-			*flags &= ~ REFNAME_REFSPEC_PATTERN;
-			break;
-		}
-		last = ch;
-	}
-out:
-	if (cp == refname)
-		return 0; /* Component has zero length. */
-	if (refname[0] == '.')
-		return -1; /* Component starts with '.'. */
-	if (cp - refname >= LOCK_SUFFIX_LEN &&
-	    !memcmp(cp - LOCK_SUFFIX_LEN, LOCK_SUFFIX, LOCK_SUFFIX_LEN))
-		return -1; /* Refname ends with ".lock". */
-	return cp - refname;
-}
-
-int check_refname_format(const char *refname, int flags)
-{
-	int component_len, component_count = 0;
-
-	if (!strcmp(refname, "@"))
-		/* Refname is a single character '@'. */
-		return -1;
-
-	while (1) {
-		/* We are at the start of a path component. */
-		component_len = check_refname_component(refname, &flags);
-		if (component_len <= 0)
-			return -1;
-
-		component_count++;
-		if (refname[component_len] == '\0')
-			break;
-		/* Skip to next component. */
-		refname += component_len + 1;
-	}
-
-	if (refname[component_len - 1] == '.')
-		return -1; /* Refname ends with '.'. */
-	if (!(flags & REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL) && component_count < 2)
-		return -1; /* Refname has only one component. */
-	return 0;
-}
-
 struct ref_entry;
 
 /*
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 039e5c0..e9cc2d4 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -658,3 +658,112 @@ char *resolve_refdup(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
 	return xstrdup_or_null(resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, resolve_flags,
 						  sha1, flags));
 }
+
+/*
+ * How to handle various characters in refnames:
+ * 0: An acceptable character for refs
+ * 1: End-of-component
+ * 2: ., look for a preceding . to reject .. in refs
+ * 3: {, look for a preceding @ to reject @{ in refs
+ * 4: A bad character: ASCII control characters, and
+ *    ":", "?", "[", "\", "^", "~", SP, or TAB
+ * 5: *, reject unless REFNAME_REFSPEC_PATTERN is set
+ */
+static unsigned char refname_disposition[256] = {
+	1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4,
+	4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4,
+	4, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1,
+	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4,
+	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4, 4, 0, 4, 0,
+	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0, 4, 4
+};
+
+/*
+ * Try to read one refname component from the front of refname.
+ * Return the length of the component found, or -1 if the component is
+ * not legal.  It is legal if it is something reasonable to have under
+ * ".git/refs/"; We do not like it if:
+ *
+ * - any path component of it begins with ".", or
+ * - it has double dots "..", or
+ * - it has ASCII control characters, or
+ * - it has ":", "?", "[", "\", "^", "~", SP, or TAB anywhere, or
+ * - it has "*" anywhere unless REFNAME_REFSPEC_PATTERN is set, or
+ * - it ends with a "/", or
+ * - it ends with ".lock", or
+ * - it contains a "@{" portion
+ */
+static int check_refname_component(const char *refname, int *flags)
+{
+	const char *cp;
+	char last = '\0';
+
+	for (cp = refname; ; cp++) {
+		int ch = *cp & 255;
+		unsigned char disp = refname_disposition[ch];
+		switch (disp) {
+		case 1:
+			goto out;
+		case 2:
+			if (last == '.')
+				return -1; /* Refname contains "..". */
+			break;
+		case 3:
+			if (last == '@')
+				return -1; /* Refname contains "@{". */
+			break;
+		case 4:
+			return -1;
+		case 5:
+			if (!(*flags & REFNAME_REFSPEC_PATTERN))
+				return -1; /* refspec can't be a pattern */
+
+			/*
+			 * Unset the pattern flag so that we only accept
+			 * a single asterisk for one side of refspec.
+			 */
+			*flags &= ~ REFNAME_REFSPEC_PATTERN;
+			break;
+		}
+		last = ch;
+	}
+out:
+	if (cp == refname)
+		return 0; /* Component has zero length. */
+	if (refname[0] == '.')
+		return -1; /* Component starts with '.'. */
+	if (cp - refname >= LOCK_SUFFIX_LEN &&
+	    !memcmp(cp - LOCK_SUFFIX_LEN, LOCK_SUFFIX, LOCK_SUFFIX_LEN))
+		return -1; /* Refname ends with ".lock". */
+	return cp - refname;
+}
+
+int check_refname_format(const char *refname, int flags)
+{
+	int component_len, component_count = 0;
+
+	if (!strcmp(refname, "@"))
+		/* Refname is a single character '@'. */
+		return -1;
+
+	while (1) {
+		/* We are at the start of a path component. */
+		component_len = check_refname_component(refname, &flags);
+		if (component_len <= 0)
+			return -1;
+
+		component_count++;
+		if (refname[component_len] == '\0')
+			break;
+		/* Skip to next component. */
+		refname += component_len + 1;
+	}
+
+	if (refname[component_len - 1] == '.')
+		return -1; /* Refname ends with '.'. */
+	if (!(flags & REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL) && component_count < 2)
+		return -1; /* Refname has only one component. */
+	return 0;
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index f920b65..58ff453 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -2969,11 +2969,6 @@ static int log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int is_branch(const char *refname)
-{
-	return !strcmp(refname, "HEAD") || starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/");
-}
-
 /*
  * Write sha1 into the open lockfile, then close the lockfile. On
  * errors, rollback the lockfile, fill in *err and
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index e9cc2d4..bc8750c 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -767,3 +767,8 @@ int check_refname_format(const char *refname, int flags)
 		return -1; /* Refname has only one component. */
 	return 0;
 }
+
+int is_branch(const char *refname)
+{
+	return !strcmp(refname, "HEAD") || starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/");
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 58ff453..9c27851 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -2064,15 +2064,6 @@ int for_each_rawref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 			       DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN, cb_data);
 }
 
-const char *prettify_refname(const char *name)
-{
-	return name + (
-		starts_with(name, "refs/heads/") ? 11 :
-		starts_with(name, "refs/tags/") ? 10 :
-		starts_with(name, "refs/remotes/") ? 13 :
-		0);
-}
-
 static void unlock_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 {
 	/* Do not free lock->lk -- atexit() still looks at them */
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index bc8750c..44ee4f4 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -772,3 +772,12 @@ int is_branch(const char *refname)
 {
 	return !strcmp(refname, "HEAD") || starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/");
 }
+
+const char *prettify_refname(const char *name)
+{
+	return name + (
+		starts_with(name, "refs/heads/") ? 11 :
+		starts_with(name, "refs/tags/") ? 10 :
+		starts_with(name, "refs/remotes/") ? 13 :
+		0);
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 9c27851..5a7e406 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -1680,23 +1680,6 @@ const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-/* The argument to filter_refs */
-struct ref_filter {
-	const char *pattern;
-	each_ref_fn *fn;
-	void *cb_data;
-};
-
-static int filter_refs(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
-			   int flags, void *data)
-{
-	struct ref_filter *filter = (struct ref_filter *)data;
-
-	if (wildmatch(filter->pattern, refname, 0, NULL))
-		return 0;
-	return filter->fn(refname, oid, flags, filter->cb_data);
-}
-
 enum peel_status {
 	/* object was peeled successfully: */
 	PEEL_PEELED = 0,
@@ -1962,37 +1945,6 @@ int for_each_ref_in_submodule(const char *submodule, const char *prefix,
 {
 	return do_for_each_ref(get_ref_cache(submodule), prefix, fn, strlen(prefix), 0, cb_data);
 }
-
-int for_each_tag_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
-{
-	return for_each_ref_in("refs/tags/", fn, cb_data);
-}
-
-int for_each_tag_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
-{
-	return for_each_ref_in_submodule(submodule, "refs/tags/", fn, cb_data);
-}
-
-int for_each_branch_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
-{
-	return for_each_ref_in("refs/heads/", fn, cb_data);
-}
-
-int for_each_branch_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
-{
-	return for_each_ref_in_submodule(submodule, "refs/heads/", fn, cb_data);
-}
-
-int for_each_remote_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
-{
-	return for_each_ref_in("refs/remotes/", fn, cb_data);
-}
-
-int for_each_remote_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
-{
-	return for_each_ref_in_submodule(submodule, "refs/remotes/", fn, cb_data);
-}
-
 int for_each_replace_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	return do_for_each_ref(&ref_cache, git_replace_ref_base, fn,
@@ -2024,40 +1976,6 @@ int for_each_namespaced_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int for_each_glob_ref_in(each_ref_fn fn, const char *pattern,
-	const char *prefix, void *cb_data)
-{
-	struct strbuf real_pattern = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct ref_filter filter;
-	int ret;
-
-	if (!prefix && !starts_with(pattern, "refs/"))
-		strbuf_addstr(&real_pattern, "refs/");
-	else if (prefix)
-		strbuf_addstr(&real_pattern, prefix);
-	strbuf_addstr(&real_pattern, pattern);
-
-	if (!has_glob_specials(pattern)) {
-		/* Append implied '/' '*' if not present. */
-		strbuf_complete(&real_pattern, '/');
-		/* No need to check for '*', there is none. */
-		strbuf_addch(&real_pattern, '*');
-	}
-
-	filter.pattern = real_pattern.buf;
-	filter.fn = fn;
-	filter.cb_data = cb_data;
-	ret = for_each_ref(filter_refs, &filter);
-
-	strbuf_release(&real_pattern);
-	return ret;
-}
-
-int for_each_glob_ref(each_ref_fn fn, const char *pattern, void *cb_data)
-{
-	return for_each_glob_ref_in(fn, pattern, NULL, cb_data);
-}
-
 int for_each_rawref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	return do_for_each_ref(&ref_cache, "", fn, 0,
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 44ee4f4..7714dad 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -781,3 +781,84 @@ const char *prettify_refname(const char *name)
 		starts_with(name, "refs/remotes/") ? 13 :
 		0);
 }
+
+/* The argument to filter_refs */
+struct ref_filter {
+	const char *pattern;
+	each_ref_fn *fn;
+	void *cb_data;
+};
+
+static int filter_refs(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid, int flags,
+		       void *data)
+{
+	struct ref_filter *filter = (struct ref_filter *)data;
+	if (wildmatch(filter->pattern, refname, 0, NULL))
+		return 0;
+	return filter->fn(refname, oid, flags, filter->cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_glob_ref_in(each_ref_fn fn, const char *pattern,
+	const char *prefix, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct strbuf real_pattern = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct ref_filter filter;
+	int ret;
+
+	if (!prefix && !starts_with(pattern, "refs/"))
+		strbuf_addstr(&real_pattern, "refs/");
+	else if (prefix)
+		strbuf_addstr(&real_pattern, prefix);
+	strbuf_addstr(&real_pattern, pattern);
+
+	if (!has_glob_specials(pattern)) {
+		/* Append implied '/' '*' if not present. */
+		if (real_pattern.buf[real_pattern.len - 1] != '/')
+			strbuf_addch(&real_pattern, '/');
+		/* No need to check for '*', there is none. */
+		strbuf_addch(&real_pattern, '*');
+	}
+
+	filter.pattern = real_pattern.buf;
+	filter.fn = fn;
+	filter.cb_data = cb_data;
+	ret = for_each_ref(filter_refs, &filter);
+
+	strbuf_release(&real_pattern);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+int for_each_glob_ref(each_ref_fn fn, const char *pattern, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return for_each_glob_ref_in(fn, pattern, NULL, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_tag_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return for_each_ref_in("refs/tags/", fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_tag_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return for_each_ref_in_submodule(submodule, "refs/tags/", fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_branch_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return for_each_ref_in("refs/heads/", fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_branch_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return for_each_ref_in_submodule(submodule, "refs/heads/", fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_remote_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return for_each_ref_in("refs/remotes/", fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_remote_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return for_each_ref_in_submodule(submodule, "refs/remotes/", fn, cb_data);
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 5a7e406..05a4b88 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -1951,21 +1951,6 @@ int for_each_replace_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 			       strlen(git_replace_ref_base), 0, cb_data);
 }
 
-int head_ref_namespaced(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
-{
-	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
-	int ret = 0;
-	struct object_id oid;
-	int flag;
-
-	strbuf_addf(&buf, "%sHEAD", get_git_namespace());
-	if (!read_ref_full(buf.buf, RESOLVE_REF_READING, oid.hash, &flag))
-		ret = fn(buf.buf, &oid, flag, cb_data);
-	strbuf_release(&buf);
-
-	return ret;
-}
-
 int for_each_namespaced_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 7714dad..0f4e19a 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -862,3 +862,18 @@ int for_each_remote_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *c
 {
 	return for_each_ref_in_submodule(submodule, "refs/remotes/", fn, cb_data);
 }
+
+int head_ref_namespaced(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int ret = 0;
+	struct object_id oid;
+	int flag;
+
+	strbuf_addf(&buf, "%sHEAD", get_git_namespace());
+	if (!read_ref_full(buf.buf, RESOLVE_REF_READING, oid.hash, &flag))
+		ret = fn(buf.buf, &oid, flag, cb_data);
+	strbuf_release(&buf);
+
+	return ret;
+}

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 05a4b88..6e6f092 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -3310,14 +3310,14 @@ struct ref_transaction {
 	enum ref_transaction_state state;
 };
 
-struct ref_transaction *ref_transaction_begin(struct strbuf *err)
+static struct ref_transaction *files_transaction_begin(struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	assert(err);
 
 	return xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct ref_transaction));
 }
 
-void ref_transaction_free(struct ref_transaction *transaction)
+static void files_transaction_free(struct ref_transaction *transaction)
 {
 	int i;
 
@@ -3344,12 +3344,12 @@ static struct ref_update *add_update(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 	return update;
 }
 
-int ref_transaction_update(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
-			   const char *refname,
-			   const unsigned char *new_sha1,
-			   const unsigned char *old_sha1,
-			   unsigned int flags, const char *msg,
-			   struct strbuf *err)
+static int files_transaction_update(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				  const char *refname,
+				  const unsigned char *new_sha1,
+				  const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+				  unsigned int flags, const char *msg,
+				  struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	struct ref_update *update;
 
@@ -3380,11 +3380,11 @@ int ref_transaction_update(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int ref_transaction_create(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
-			   const char *refname,
-			   const unsigned char *new_sha1,
-			   unsigned int flags, const char *msg,
-			   struct strbuf *err)
+static int files_transaction_create(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				  const char *refname,
+				  const unsigned char *new_sha1,
+				  unsigned int flags, const char *msg,
+				  struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	if (!new_sha1 || is_null_sha1(new_sha1))
 		die("BUG: create called without valid new_sha1");
@@ -3392,11 +3392,11 @@ int ref_transaction_create(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 				      null_sha1, flags, msg, err);
 }
 
-int ref_transaction_delete(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
-			   const char *refname,
-			   const unsigned char *old_sha1,
-			   unsigned int flags, const char *msg,
-			   struct strbuf *err)
+static int files_transaction_delete(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				  const char *refname,
+				  const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+				  unsigned int flags, const char *msg,
+				  struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	if (old_sha1 && is_null_sha1(old_sha1))
 		die("BUG: delete called with old_sha1 set to zeros");
@@ -3405,11 +3405,11 @@ int ref_transaction_delete(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 				      flags, msg, err);
 }
 
-int ref_transaction_verify(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
-			   const char *refname,
-			   const unsigned char *old_sha1,
-			   unsigned int flags,
-			   struct strbuf *err)
+int files_transaction_verify(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+			     const char *refname,
+			     const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+			     unsigned int flags,
+			     struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	if (!old_sha1)
 		die("BUG: verify called with old_sha1 set to NULL");
@@ -3435,8 +3435,8 @@ static int ref_update_reject_duplicates(struct string_list *refnames,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
-			   struct strbuf *err)
+static int files_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				  struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	int ret = 0, i;
 	int n = transaction->nr;
@@ -3822,3 +3822,15 @@ int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 	unlock_ref(lock);
 	return -1;
 }
+
+struct ref_be refs_be_files = {
+	NULL,
+	"files",
+	files_transaction_begin,
+	files_transaction_update,
+	files_transaction_create,
+	files_transaction_delete,
+	files_transaction_verify,
+	files_transaction_commit,
+	files_transaction_free,
+};
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 0f4e19a..98aa357 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -4,6 +4,29 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "refs.h"
 #include "lockfile.h"
+/*
+ * We always have a files backend and it is the default.
+ */
+struct ref_be *the_refs_backend = &refs_be_files;
+/*
+ * List of all available backends
+ */
+struct ref_be *refs_backends = &refs_be_files;
+
+/*
+ * This function is used to switch to an alternate backend.
+ */
+int set_refs_backend(const char *name)
+{
+	struct ref_be *be;
+
+	for (be = refs_backends; be; be = be->next)
+		if (!strcmp(be->name, name)) {
+			the_refs_backend = be;
+			return 0;
+		}
+	return 1;
+}
 
 static int is_per_worktree_ref(const char *refname)
 {
@@ -877,3 +900,57 @@ int head_ref_namespaced(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 
 	return ret;
 }
+
+
+/* backend functions */
+struct ref_transaction *ref_transaction_begin(struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->transaction_begin(err);
+}
+
+
+int ref_transaction_update(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+			   const char *refname, const unsigned char *new_sha1,
+			   const unsigned char *old_sha1, unsigned int flags,
+			   const char *msg, struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->transaction_update(transaction,
+			refname, new_sha1, old_sha1, flags, msg, err);
+}
+
+int ref_transaction_create(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+			   const char *refname, const unsigned char *new_sha1,
+			   unsigned int flags, const char *msg,
+			   struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->transaction_create(transaction,
+			refname, new_sha1, flags, msg, err);
+}
+int ref_transaction_delete(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+			   const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+			   unsigned int flags, const char *msg,
+			   struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->transaction_delete(transaction,
+			refname, old_sha1, flags, msg, err);
+}
+
+int ref_transaction_verify(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+			   const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+			   unsigned int flags,
+			   struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->transaction_verify(transaction,
+			refname, old_sha1, flags, err);
+}
+
+int ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+			   struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->transaction_commit(transaction, err);
+}
+
+void ref_transaction_free(struct ref_transaction *transaction)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->transaction_free(transaction);
+}
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 729bc3c..a1db3ef 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -530,4 +530,40 @@ extern int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 			 reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
 			 void *policy_cb_data);
 
+/* refs backends */
+typedef struct ref_transaction *(*ref_transaction_begin_fn)(struct strbuf *err);
+typedef int (*ref_transaction_update_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+		const char *refname, const unsigned char *new_sha1,
+		const unsigned char *old_sha1, unsigned int flags,
+		const char *msg, struct strbuf *err);
+typedef int (*ref_transaction_create_fn)(
+		struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+		const char *refname, const unsigned char *new_sha1,
+		unsigned int flags, const char *msg, struct strbuf *err);
+typedef int (*ref_transaction_delete_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+		const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+		unsigned int flags, const char *msg, struct strbuf *err);
+typedef int (*ref_transaction_verify_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+		const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+		unsigned int flags, struct strbuf *err);
+typedef int (*ref_transaction_commit_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				     struct strbuf *err);
+typedef void (*ref_transaction_free_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction);
+
+struct ref_be {
+	struct ref_be *next;
+	const char *name;
+	ref_transaction_begin_fn transaction_begin;
+	ref_transaction_update_fn transaction_update;
+	ref_transaction_create_fn transaction_create;
+	ref_transaction_delete_fn transaction_delete;
+	ref_transaction_verify_fn transaction_verify;
+	ref_transaction_commit_fn transaction_commit;
+	ref_transaction_free_fn transaction_free;
+};
+
+
+extern struct ref_be refs_be_files;
+int set_refs_backend(const char *name);
+
 #endif /* REFS_H */

cache.h, refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index 497d296..1c45b62 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -1104,6 +1104,13 @@ extern char *oid_to_hex(const struct object_id *oid);	/* same static buffer as s
 extern int interpret_branch_name(const char *str, int len, struct strbuf *);
 extern int get_sha1_mb(const char *str, unsigned char *sha1);
 
+/*
+ * Return true iff abbrev_name is a possible abbreviation for
+ * full_name according to the rules defined by ref_rev_parse_rules in
+ * refs.c.
+ */
+extern int refname_match(const char *abbrev_name, const char *full_name);
+
 extern int validate_headref(const char *ref);
 
 extern int base_name_compare(const char *name1, int len1, int mode1, const char *name2, int len2, int mode2);
diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 6e6f092..7101e31 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -1433,7 +1433,8 @@ static int resolve_gitlink_ref_recursive(struct ref_cache *refs,
 	return resolve_gitlink_ref_recursive(refs, p, sha1, recursion+1);
 }
 
-int resolve_gitlink_ref(const char *path, const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1)
+static int files_resolve_gitlink_ref(const char *path, const char *refname,
+				     unsigned char *sha1)
 {
 	int len = strlen(path), retval;
 	char *submodule;
@@ -1665,8 +1666,10 @@ static const char *resolve_ref_1(const char *refname,
 	}
 }
 
-const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
-			       unsigned char *sha1, int *flags)
+static const char *files_resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname,
+					    int resolve_flags,
+					    unsigned char *sha1,
+					    int *flags)
 {
 	static struct strbuf sb_refname = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf sb_contents = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -1768,7 +1771,7 @@ static enum peel_status peel_entry(struct ref_entry *entry, int repeel)
 	return status;
 }
 
-int peel_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1)
+static int files_peel_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1)
 {
 	int flag;
 	unsigned char base[20];
@@ -2402,7 +2405,7 @@ static void prune_refs(struct ref_to_prune *r)
 	}
 }
 
-int pack_refs(unsigned int flags)
+static int files_pack_refs(unsigned int flags)
 {
 	struct pack_refs_cb_data cbdata;
 
@@ -2724,8 +2727,10 @@ static int should_autocreate_reflog(const char *refname)
 		!strcmp(refname, "HEAD");
 }
 
-int verify_refname_available(const char *newname, struct string_list *extra,
-			     struct string_list *skip, struct strbuf *err)
+static int files_verify_refname_available(const char *newname,
+					  struct string_list *extra,
+					  struct string_list *skip,
+					  struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	struct ref_dir *packed_refs = get_packed_refs(&ref_cache);
 	struct ref_dir *loose_refs = get_loose_refs(&ref_cache);
@@ -2960,8 +2965,10 @@ static int commit_ref_update(struct ref_lock *lock,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int create_symref(const char *ref_target, const char *refs_heads_master,
-		  const char *logmsg)
+static int files_create_symref(struct ref_transaction *trans,
+			       const char *ref_target,
+			       const char *refs_heads_master,
+			       const char *logmsg)
 {
 	char *lockpath = NULL;
 	char ref[1000];
@@ -3833,4 +3840,10 @@ struct ref_be refs_be_files = {
 	files_transaction_verify,
 	files_transaction_commit,
 	files_transaction_free,
+	files_resolve_ref_unsafe,
+	files_verify_refname_available,
+	files_pack_refs,
+	files_peel_ref,
+	files_create_symref,
+	files_resolve_gitlink_ref,
 };
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 98aa357..a9901f3 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -954,3 +954,51 @@ void ref_transaction_free(struct ref_transaction *transaction)
 {
 	return the_refs_backend->transaction_free(transaction);
 }
+
+const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *ref, int resolve_flags,
+			       unsigned char *sha1, int *flags)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->resolve_ref_unsafe(ref, resolve_flags, sha1,
+						    flags);
+}
+
+int verify_refname_available(const char *refname, struct string_list *extra,
+			     struct string_list *skip, struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->verify_refname_available(refname, extra, skip,
+							  err);
+}
+
+int pack_refs(unsigned int flags)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->pack_refs(flags);
+}
+
+int peel_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->peel_ref(refname, sha1);
+}
+
+int create_symref(const char *ref_target, const char *refs_heads_master,
+		  const char *logmsg)
+{
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct ref_transaction *transaction = ref_transaction_begin(&err);
+	if (!transaction)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (the_refs_backend->create_symref(transaction, ref_target,
+					    refs_heads_master, logmsg))
+		return -1;
+
+	if (ref_transaction_commit(transaction, &err))
+		return -1;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int resolve_gitlink_ref(const char *path, const char *refname,
+			unsigned char *sha1)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->resolve_gitlink_ref(path, refname, sha1);
+}
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index a1db3ef..6e88909 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -549,6 +549,21 @@ typedef int (*ref_transaction_verify_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 typedef int (*ref_transaction_commit_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 				     struct strbuf *err);
 typedef void (*ref_transaction_free_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction);
+typedef const char *(*resolve_ref_unsafe_fn)(const char *ref,
+					     int resolve_flags,
+					     unsigned char *sha1, int *flags);
+typedef int (*verify_refname_available_fn)(const char *refname,
+					   struct string_list *extra,
+					   struct string_list *skip,
+					   struct strbuf *err);
+typedef int (*pack_refs_fn)(unsigned int flags);
+typedef int (*peel_ref_fn)(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1);
+typedef int (*create_symref_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				const char *ref_target,
+				const char *refs_heads_master,
+				const char *logmsg);
+typedef int (*resolve_gitlink_ref_fn)(const char *path, const char *refname,
+				      unsigned char *sha1);
 
 struct ref_be {
 	struct ref_be *next;
@@ -560,6 +575,12 @@ struct ref_be {
 	ref_transaction_verify_fn transaction_verify;
 	ref_transaction_commit_fn transaction_commit;
 	ref_transaction_free_fn transaction_free;
+	resolve_ref_unsafe_fn resolve_ref_unsafe;
+	verify_refname_available_fn verify_refname_available;
+	pack_refs_fn pack_refs;
+	peel_ref_fn peel_ref;
+	create_symref_fn create_symref;
+	resolve_gitlink_ref_fn resolve_gitlink_ref;
 };
 
 

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 7101e31..9b45468 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -1909,32 +1909,36 @@ static int do_head_ref(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int head_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+static int files_head_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	return do_head_ref(NULL, fn, cb_data);
 }
 
-int head_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+static int files_head_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn,
+				    void *cb_data)
 {
 	return do_head_ref(submodule, fn, cb_data);
 }
 
-int for_each_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+static int files_for_each_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	return do_for_each_ref(&ref_cache, "", fn, 0, 0, cb_data);
 }
 
-int for_each_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+static int files_for_each_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn,
+					void *cb_data)
 {
 	return do_for_each_ref(get_ref_cache(submodule), "", fn, 0, 0, cb_data);
 }
 
-int for_each_ref_in(const char *prefix, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+static int files_for_each_ref_in(const char *prefix, each_ref_fn fn,
+				 void *cb_data)
 {
 	return do_for_each_ref(&ref_cache, prefix, fn, strlen(prefix), 0, cb_data);
 }
 
-int for_each_fullref_in(const char *prefix, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data, unsigned int broken)
+static int files_for_each_fullref_in(const char *prefix, each_ref_fn fn,
+				     void *cb_data, unsigned int broken)
 {
 	unsigned int flag = 0;
 
@@ -1943,18 +1947,21 @@ int for_each_fullref_in(const char *prefix, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data, unsig
 	return do_for_each_ref(&ref_cache, prefix, fn, 0, flag, cb_data);
 }
 
-int for_each_ref_in_submodule(const char *submodule, const char *prefix,
-		each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+static int files_for_each_ref_in_submodule(const char *submodule,
+					   const char *prefix,
+					   each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
-	return do_for_each_ref(get_ref_cache(submodule), prefix, fn, strlen(prefix), 0, cb_data);
+	return do_for_each_ref(get_ref_cache(submodule), prefix, fn,
+			       strlen(prefix), 0, cb_data);
 }
-int for_each_replace_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+
+static int files_for_each_replace_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	return do_for_each_ref(&ref_cache, git_replace_ref_base, fn,
 			       strlen(git_replace_ref_base), 0, cb_data);
 }
 
-int for_each_namespaced_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+static int files_for_each_namespaced_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int ret;
@@ -1964,7 +1971,7 @@ int for_each_namespaced_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int for_each_rawref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+static int files_for_each_rawref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	return do_for_each_ref(&ref_cache, "", fn, 0,
 			       DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN, cb_data);
@@ -3846,4 +3853,14 @@ struct ref_be refs_be_files = {
 	files_peel_ref,
 	files_create_symref,
 	files_resolve_gitlink_ref,
+	files_head_ref,
+	files_head_ref_submodule,
+	files_for_each_ref,
+	files_for_each_ref_submodule,
+	files_for_each_ref_in,
+	files_for_each_fullref_in,
+	files_for_each_ref_in_submodule,
+	files_for_each_rawref,
+	files_for_each_namespaced_ref,
+	files_for_each_replace_ref,
 };
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index a9901f3..0375bb5 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -1002,3 +1002,57 @@ int resolve_gitlink_ref(const char *path, const char *refname,
 {
 	return the_refs_backend->resolve_gitlink_ref(path, refname, sha1);
 }
+
+int head_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->head_ref(fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int head_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->head_ref_submodule(submodule, fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_ref(fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_ref_submodule(submodule, fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_ref_in(const char *prefix, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_ref_in(prefix, fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_fullref_in(const char *prefix, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data,
+			unsigned int broken)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_fullref_in(prefix, fn, cb_data,
+						     broken);
+}
+
+int for_each_ref_in_submodule(const char *submodule, const char *prefix,
+			      each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_ref_in_submodule(submodule, prefix,
+							   fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_rawref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_rawref(fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_namespaced_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_namespaced_ref(fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_replace_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_replace_ref(fn, cb_data);
+}
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 6e88909..b26cffc 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -564,6 +564,22 @@ typedef int (*create_symref_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 				const char *logmsg);
 typedef int (*resolve_gitlink_ref_fn)(const char *path, const char *refname,
 				      unsigned char *sha1);
+typedef int (*head_ref_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*head_ref_submodule_fn)(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn,
+				     void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*for_each_ref_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*for_each_ref_submodule_fn)(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn,
+					 void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*for_each_ref_in_fn)(const char *prefix, each_ref_fn fn,
+				  void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*for_each_fullref_in_fn)(const char *prefix, each_ref_fn fn,
+				      void *cb_data, unsigned int broken);
+typedef int (*for_each_ref_in_submodule_fn)(const char *submodule,
+					    const char *prefix,
+					    each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*for_each_rawref_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*for_each_namespaced_ref_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*for_each_replace_ref_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
 
 struct ref_be {
 	struct ref_be *next;
@@ -581,6 +597,16 @@ struct ref_be {
 	peel_ref_fn peel_ref;
 	create_symref_fn create_symref;
 	resolve_gitlink_ref_fn resolve_gitlink_ref;
+	head_ref_fn head_ref;
+	head_ref_submodule_fn head_ref_submodule;
+	for_each_ref_fn for_each_ref;
+	for_each_ref_submodule_fn for_each_ref_submodule;
+	for_each_ref_in_fn for_each_ref_in;
+	for_each_fullref_in_fn for_each_fullref_in;
+	for_each_ref_in_submodule_fn for_each_ref_in_submodule;
+	for_each_rawref_fn for_each_rawref;
+	for_each_namespaced_ref_fn for_each_namespaced_ref;
+	for_each_replace_ref_fn for_each_replace_ref;
 };
 
 

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 9b45468..eb18a20 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -1961,6 +1961,16 @@ static int files_for_each_replace_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 			       strlen(git_replace_ref_base), 0, cb_data);
 }
 
+static int files_for_each_reftype_fullpath(each_ref_fn fn, char *type,
+					   unsigned int broken, void *cb_data)
+{
+	unsigned int flag = 0;
+
+	if (broken)
+		flag = DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN;
+	return do_for_each_ref(&ref_cache, type, fn, 0, flag, cb_data);
+}
+
 static int files_for_each_namespaced_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -3863,4 +3873,5 @@ struct ref_be refs_be_files = {
 	files_for_each_rawref,
 	files_for_each_namespaced_ref,
 	files_for_each_replace_ref,
+	files_for_each_reftype_fullpath,
 };
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 0375bb5..c6112ac 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -1056,3 +1056,10 @@ int for_each_replace_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	return the_refs_backend->for_each_replace_ref(fn, cb_data);
 }
+
+int for_each_reftype_fullpath(each_ref_fn fn, char *type, unsigned int broken,
+			      void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_reftype_fullpath(fn, type, broken,
+							   cb_data);
+}
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index b26cffc..5875fe5 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -580,6 +580,8 @@ typedef int (*for_each_ref_in_submodule_fn)(const char *submodule,
 typedef int (*for_each_rawref_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
 typedef int (*for_each_namespaced_ref_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
 typedef int (*for_each_replace_ref_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*for_each_reftype_fullpath_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, char *type,
+					    unsigned int broken, void *cb_data);
 
 struct ref_be {
 	struct ref_be *next;
@@ -607,6 +609,7 @@ struct ref_be {
 	for_each_rawref_fn for_each_rawref;
 	for_each_namespaced_ref_fn for_each_namespaced_ref;
 	for_each_replace_ref_fn for_each_replace_ref;
+	for_each_reftype_fullpath_fn for_each_reftype_fullpath;
 };
 
 

refs-be-files.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index eb18a20..dc89289 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -587,9 +587,6 @@ static void sort_ref_dir(struct ref_dir *dir)
 	dir->sorted = dir->nr = i;
 }
 
-/* Include broken references in a do_for_each_ref*() iteration: */
-#define DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN 0x01
-
 /*
  * Return true iff the reference described by entry can be resolved to
  * an object in the database.  Emit a warning if the referred-to
@@ -637,6 +634,10 @@ static int do_one_ref(struct ref_entry *entry, void *cb_data)
 	struct ref_entry *old_current_ref;
 	int retval;
 
+	if (data->flags & DO_FOR_EACH_PER_WORKTREE_ONLY &&
+	    ref_type(entry->name) != REF_TYPE_PER_WORKTREE)
+		return 0;
+
 	if (!starts_with(entry->name, data->base))
 		return 0;
 
@@ -1891,6 +1892,14 @@ static int do_for_each_ref(struct ref_cache *refs, const char *base,
 	return do_for_each_entry(refs, base, do_one_ref, &data);
 }
 
+int do_for_each_per_worktree_ref(const char *submodule, const char *base,
+				 each_ref_fn fn, int trim, int flags,
+				 void *cb_data)
+{
+	return do_for_each_ref(get_ref_cache(submodule), base, fn, trim,
+			       flags | DO_FOR_EACH_PER_WORKTREE_ONLY, cb_data);
+}
+
 static int do_head_ref(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct object_id oid;
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 5875fe5..09d140d 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -152,6 +152,12 @@ struct ref_transaction;
  */
 #define REF_BAD_NAME 0x08
 
+/* Include broken references in a do_for_each_ref*() iteration */
+#define DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN 0x01
+
+/* Only include per-worktree refs in a do_for_each_ref*() iteration */
+#define DO_FOR_EACH_PER_WORKTREE_ONLY 0x02
+
 /*
  * The signature for the callback function for the for_each_*()
  * functions below.  The memory pointed to by the refname and sha1
@@ -195,6 +201,11 @@ extern int for_each_namespaced_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
 /* can be used to learn about broken ref and symref */
 extern int for_each_rawref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
 
+
+int do_for_each_per_worktree_ref(const char *submodule, const char *base,
+				 each_ref_fn fn, int trim, int flags,
+				 void *cb_data);
+
 static inline const char *has_glob_specials(const char *pattern)
 {
 	return strpbrk(pattern, "?*[");

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index dc89289..bb5a3ad 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -231,39 +231,6 @@ static struct ref_dir *get_ref_dir(struct ref_entry *entry)
 	return dir;
 }
 
-/*
- * Check if a refname is safe.
- * For refs that start with "refs/" we consider it safe as long they do
- * not try to resolve to outside of refs/.
- *
- * For all other refs we only consider them safe iff they only contain
- * upper case characters and '_' (like "HEAD" AND "MERGE_HEAD", and not like
- * "config").
- */
-static int refname_is_safe(const char *refname)
-{
-	if (starts_with(refname, "refs/")) {
-		char *buf;
-		int result;
-
-		buf = xmalloc(strlen(refname) + 1);
-		/*
-		 * Does the refname try to escape refs/?
-		 * For example: refs/foo/../bar is safe but refs/foo/../../bar
-		 * is not.
-		 */
-		result = !normalize_path_copy(buf, refname + strlen("refs/"));
-		free(buf);
-		return result;
-	}
-	while (*refname) {
-		if (!isupper(*refname) && *refname != '_')
-			return 0;
-		refname++;
-	}
-	return 1;
-}
-
 static struct ref_entry *create_ref_entry(const char *refname,
 					  const unsigned char *sha1, int flag,
 					  int check_name)
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index c6112ac..aa49db5 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -901,6 +901,29 @@ int head_ref_namespaced(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+int refname_is_safe(const char *refname)
+{
+	if (starts_with(refname, "refs/")) {
+		char *buf;
+		int result;
+
+		buf = xmalloc(strlen(refname) + 1);
+		/*
+		 * Does the refname try to escape refs/?
+		 * For example: refs/foo/../bar is safe but refs/foo/../../bar
+		 * is not.
+		 */
+		result = !normalize_path_copy(buf, refname + strlen("refs/"));
+		free(buf);
+		return result;
+	}
+	while (*refname) {
+		if (!isupper(*refname) && *refname != '_')
+			return 0;
+		refname++;
+	}
+	return 1;
+}
 
 /* backend functions */
 struct ref_transaction *ref_transaction_begin(struct strbuf *err)
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 09d140d..2bafa55 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -326,6 +326,8 @@ extern int for_each_reflog(each_ref_fn, void *);
  */
 extern int check_refname_format(const char *refname, int flags);
 
+extern int refname_is_safe(const char *refname);
+
 extern const char *prettify_refname(const char *refname);
 
 extern char *shorten_unambiguous_ref(const char *refname, int strict);

diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 2bafa55..db60bfe 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -259,6 +259,17 @@ int verify_refname_available(const char *newname, struct string_list *extra,
 			     struct string_list *skip, struct strbuf *err);
 
 /*
+ * Check if a refname is safe.
+ * For refs that start with "refs/" we consider it safe as long they do
+ * not try to resolve to outside of refs/.
+ *
+ * For all other refs we only consider them safe iff they only contain
+ * upper case characters and '_' (like "HEAD" AND "MERGE_HEAD", and not like
+ * "config").
+ */
+int refname_is_safe(const char *refname);
+
+/*
  * Flags controlling ref_transaction_update(), ref_transaction_create(), etc.
  * REF_NODEREF: act on the ref directly, instead of dereferencing
  *              symbolic references.

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index bb5a3ad..8898e86 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -2684,32 +2684,6 @@ static int commit_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/*
- * copy the reflog message msg to buf, which has been allocated sufficiently
- * large, while cleaning up the whitespaces.  Especially, convert LF to space,
- * because reflog file is one line per entry.
- */
-static int copy_msg(char *buf, const char *msg)
-{
-	char *cp = buf;
-	char c;
-	int wasspace = 1;
-
-	*cp++ = '\t';
-	while ((c = *msg++)) {
-		if (wasspace && isspace(c))
-			continue;
-		wasspace = isspace(c);
-		if (wasspace)
-			c = ' ';
-		*cp++ = c;
-	}
-	while (buf < cp && isspace(cp[-1]))
-		cp--;
-	*cp++ = '\n';
-	return cp - buf;
-}
-
 static int should_autocreate_reflog(const char *refname)
 {
 	if (!log_all_ref_updates)
@@ -2806,7 +2780,7 @@ static int log_ref_write_fd(int fd, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 			sha1_to_hex(new_sha1),
 			committer);
 	if (msglen)
-		len += copy_msg(logrec + len - 1, msg) - 1;
+		len += copy_reflog_msg(logrec + len - 1, msg) - 1;
 
 	written = len <= maxlen ? write_in_full(fd, logrec, len) : -1;
 	free(logrec);
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index aa49db5..db650b6 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -886,6 +886,32 @@ int for_each_remote_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *c
 	return for_each_ref_in_submodule(submodule, "refs/remotes/", fn, cb_data);
 }
 
+/*
+ * copy the reflog message msg to buf, which has been allocated sufficiently
+ * large, while cleaning up the whitespaces.  Especially, convert LF to space,
+ * because reflog file is one line per entry.
+ */
+int copy_reflog_msg(char *buf, const char *msg)
+{
+	char *cp = buf;
+	char c;
+	int wasspace = 1;
+
+	*cp++ = '\t';
+	while ((c = *msg++)) {
+		if (wasspace && isspace(c))
+			continue;
+		wasspace = isspace(c);
+		if (wasspace)
+			c = ' ';
+		*cp++ = c;
+	}
+	while (buf < cp && isspace(cp[-1]))
+		cp--;
+	*cp++ = '\n';
+	return cp - buf;
+}
+
 int head_ref_namespaced(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index db60bfe..c224f0e 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -508,6 +508,8 @@ enum ref_type {
 
 enum ref_type ref_type(const char *refname);
 
+int copy_reflog_msg(char *buf, const char *msg);
+
 enum expire_reflog_flags {
 	EXPIRE_REFLOGS_DRY_RUN = 1 << 0,
 	EXPIRE_REFLOGS_UPDATE_REF = 1 << 1,

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 8898e86..5971526 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -1651,59 +1651,6 @@ static const char *files_resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-enum peel_status {
-	/* object was peeled successfully: */
-	PEEL_PEELED = 0,
-
-	/*
-	 * object cannot be peeled because the named object (or an
-	 * object referred to by a tag in the peel chain), does not
-	 * exist.
-	 */
-	PEEL_INVALID = -1,
-
-	/* object cannot be peeled because it is not a tag: */
-	PEEL_NON_TAG = -2,
-
-	/* ref_entry contains no peeled value because it is a symref: */
-	PEEL_IS_SYMREF = -3,
-
-	/*
-	 * ref_entry cannot be peeled because it is broken (i.e., the
-	 * symbolic reference cannot even be resolved to an object
-	 * name):
-	 */
-	PEEL_BROKEN = -4
-};
-
-/*
- * Peel the named object; i.e., if the object is a tag, resolve the
- * tag recursively until a non-tag is found.  If successful, store the
- * result to sha1 and return PEEL_PEELED.  If the object is not a tag
- * or is not valid, return PEEL_NON_TAG or PEEL_INVALID, respectively,
- * and leave sha1 unchanged.
- */
-static enum peel_status peel_object(const unsigned char *name, unsigned char *sha1)
-{
-	struct object *o = lookup_unknown_object(name);
-
-	if (o->type == OBJ_NONE) {
-		int type = sha1_object_info(name, NULL);
-		if (type < 0 || !object_as_type(o, type, 0))
-			return PEEL_INVALID;
-	}
-
-	if (o->type != OBJ_TAG)
-		return PEEL_NON_TAG;
-
-	o = deref_tag_noverify(o);
-	if (!o)
-		return PEEL_INVALID;
-
-	hashcpy(sha1, o->sha1);
-	return PEEL_PEELED;
-}
-
 /*
  * Peel the entry (if possible) and return its new peel_status.  If
  * repeel is true, re-peel the entry even if there is an old peeled
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index db650b6..d13b854 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "refs.h"
 #include "lockfile.h"
+#include "object.h"
+#include "tag.h"
+
 /*
  * We always have a files backend and it is the default.
  */
@@ -951,6 +954,34 @@ int refname_is_safe(const char *refname)
 	return 1;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Peel the named object; i.e., if the object is a tag, resolve the
+ * tag recursively until a non-tag is found.  If successful, store the
+ * result to sha1 and return PEEL_PEELED.  If the object is not a tag
+ * or is not valid, return PEEL_NON_TAG or PEEL_INVALID, respectively,
+ * and leave sha1 unchanged.
+ */
+enum peel_status peel_object(const unsigned char *name, unsigned char *sha1)
+{
+	struct object *o = lookup_unknown_object(name);
+
+	if (o->type == OBJ_NONE) {
+		int type = sha1_object_info(name, NULL);
+		if (type < 0 || !object_as_type(o, type, 0))
+			return PEEL_INVALID;
+	}
+
+	if (o->type != OBJ_TAG)
+		return PEEL_NON_TAG;
+
+	o = deref_tag_noverify(o);
+	if (!o)
+		return PEEL_INVALID;
+
+	hashcpy(sha1, o->sha1);
+	return PEEL_PEELED;
+}
+
 /* backend functions */
 struct ref_transaction *ref_transaction_begin(struct strbuf *err)
 {
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index c224f0e..60a98cf 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -76,6 +76,33 @@ extern int is_branch(const char *refname);
  */
 extern int peel_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1);
 
+enum peel_status {
+	/* object was peeled successfully: */
+	PEEL_PEELED = 0,
+
+	/*
+	 * object cannot be peeled because the named object (or an
+	 * object referred to by a tag in the peel chain), does not
+	 * exist.
+	 */
+	PEEL_INVALID = -1,
+
+	/* object cannot be peeled because it is not a tag: */
+	PEEL_NON_TAG = -2,
+
+	/* ref_entry contains no peeled value because it is a symref: */
+	PEEL_IS_SYMREF = -3,
+
+	/*
+	 * ref_entry cannot be peeled because it is broken (i.e., the
+	 * symbolic reference cannot even be resolved to an object
+	 * name):
+	 */
+	PEEL_BROKEN = -4
+};
+
+enum peel_status peel_object(const unsigned char *name, unsigned char *sha1);
+
 /**
  * Resolve refname in the nested "gitlink" repository that is located
  * at path.  If the resolution is successful, return 0 and set sha1 to

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 5971526..37e244a 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -2631,16 +2631,6 @@ static int commit_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int should_autocreate_reflog(const char *refname)
-{
-	if (!log_all_ref_updates)
-		return 0;
-	return starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/") ||
-		starts_with(refname, "refs/remotes/") ||
-		starts_with(refname, "refs/notes/") ||
-		!strcmp(refname, "HEAD");
-}
-
 static int files_verify_refname_available(const char *newname,
 					  struct string_list *extra,
 					  struct string_list *skip,
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index d13b854..769574d 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -685,6 +685,16 @@ char *resolve_refdup(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
 						  sha1, flags));
 }
 
+int should_autocreate_reflog(const char *refname)
+{
+	if (!log_all_ref_updates)
+		return 0;
+	return starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/") ||
+		starts_with(refname, "refs/remotes/") ||
+		starts_with(refname, "refs/notes/") ||
+		!strcmp(refname, "HEAD");
+}
+
 /*
  * How to handle various characters in refnames:
  * 0: An acceptable character for refs
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 60a98cf..0b407b2 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ extern const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
 extern char *resolve_refdup(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
 			    unsigned char *sha1, int *flags);
 
+extern int should_autocreate_reflog(const char *refname);
+
 extern int read_ref_full(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
 			 unsigned char *sha1, int *flags);
 extern int read_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1);

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 37e244a..eaa74b6 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -3737,6 +3737,7 @@ int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 struct ref_be refs_be_files = {
 	NULL,
 	"files",
+	NULL,
 	files_transaction_begin,
 	files_transaction_update,
 	files_transaction_create,
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 769574d..9ce10b7 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -19,13 +19,15 @@ struct ref_be *refs_backends = &refs_be_files;
 /*
  * This function is used to switch to an alternate backend.
  */
-int set_refs_backend(const char *name)
+int set_refs_backend(const char *name, void *init_data)
 {
 	struct ref_be *be;
 
 	for (be = refs_backends; be; be = be->next)
 		if (!strcmp(be->name, name)) {
 			the_refs_backend = be;
+			if (be->init_backend)
+				be->init_backend(init_data);
 			return 0;
 		}
 	return 1;
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 0b407b2..0dc626e 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -586,6 +586,7 @@ extern int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 			 void *policy_cb_data);
 
 /* refs backends */
+typedef void (*ref_backend_init_fn)(void *data);
 typedef struct ref_transaction *(*ref_transaction_begin_fn)(struct strbuf *err);
 typedef int (*ref_transaction_update_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 		const char *refname, const unsigned char *new_sha1,
@@ -641,6 +642,7 @@ typedef int (*for_each_reftype_fullpath_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, char *type,
 struct ref_be {
 	struct ref_be *next;
 	const char *name;
+	ref_backend_init_fn init_backend;
 	ref_transaction_begin_fn transaction_begin;
 	ref_transaction_update_fn transaction_update;
 	ref_transaction_create_fn transaction_create;
@@ -669,6 +671,6 @@ struct ref_be {
 
 
 extern struct ref_be refs_be_files;
-int set_refs_backend(const char *name);
+int set_refs_backend(const char *name, void *init_data);
 
 #endif /* REFS_H */

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index eaa74b6..fdb47e0 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -2691,7 +2691,8 @@ static int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *logfile, struct str
 }
 
 
-int safe_create_reflog(const char *refname, int force_create, struct strbuf *err)
+static int files_create_reflog(const char *refname, int force_create,
+			       struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	int ret;
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -2940,7 +2941,7 @@ static int files_create_symref(struct ref_transaction *trans,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int reflog_exists(const char *refname)
+static int files_reflog_exists(const char *refname)
 {
 	struct stat st;
 
@@ -2948,7 +2949,7 @@ int reflog_exists(const char *refname)
 		S_ISREG(st.st_mode);
 }
 
-int delete_reflog(const char *refname)
+static int files_delete_reflog(const char *refname)
 {
 	return remove_path(git_path("logs/%s", refname));
 }
@@ -2992,7 +2993,9 @@ static char *find_beginning_of_line(char *bob, char *scan)
 	return scan;
 }
 
-int for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(const char *refname, each_reflog_ent_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+static int files_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(const char *refname,
+					     each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
+					     void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 	FILE *logfp;
@@ -3094,7 +3097,8 @@ int for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(const char *refname, each_reflog_ent_fn fn, void
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int for_each_reflog_ent(const char *refname, each_reflog_ent_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+static int files_for_each_reflog_ent(const char *refname,
+				     each_reflog_ent_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	FILE *logfp;
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -3156,7 +3160,7 @@ static int do_for_each_reflog(struct strbuf *name, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data
 	return retval;
 }
 
-int for_each_reflog(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+static int files_for_each_reflog(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	int retval;
 	struct strbuf name;
@@ -3630,11 +3634,11 @@ static int expire_reflog_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
 }
 
 int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
-		 unsigned int flags,
-		 reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
-		 reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
-		 reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
-		 void *policy_cb_data)
+		  unsigned int flags,
+		  reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
+		  reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
+		  reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
+		  void *policy_cb_data)
 {
 	static struct lock_file reflog_lock;
 	struct expire_reflog_cb cb;
@@ -3745,6 +3749,12 @@ struct ref_be refs_be_files = {
 	files_transaction_verify,
 	files_transaction_commit,
 	files_transaction_free,
+	files_for_each_reflog_ent,
+	files_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse,
+	files_for_each_reflog,
+	files_reflog_exists,
+	files_create_reflog,
+	files_delete_reflog,
 	files_resolve_ref_unsafe,
 	files_verify_refname_available,
 	files_pack_refs,
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 9ce10b7..7b2a47b 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -1155,3 +1155,37 @@ int for_each_reftype_fullpath(each_ref_fn fn, char *type, unsigned int broken,
 	return the_refs_backend->for_each_reftype_fullpath(fn, type, broken,
 							   cb_data);
 }
+
+int for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(const char *refname, each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
+				void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(refname, fn,
+							     cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_reflog_ent(const char *refname, each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
+			void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_reflog_ent(refname, fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int for_each_reflog(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->for_each_reflog(fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+int reflog_exists(const char *refname)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->reflog_exists(refname);
+}
+
+int safe_create_reflog(const char *refname, int force_create,
+		       struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->create_reflog(refname, force_create, err);
+}
+
+int delete_reflog(const char *refname)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->delete_reflog(refname);
+}
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 0dc626e..494f8c8 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -605,6 +605,21 @@ typedef int (*ref_transaction_verify_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 typedef int (*ref_transaction_commit_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 				     struct strbuf *err);
 typedef void (*ref_transaction_free_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction);
+
+/* reflog functions */
+typedef int (*for_each_reflog_ent_fn)(const char *refname,
+				      each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
+				      void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*for_each_reflog_ent_reverse_fn)(const char *refname,
+					      each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
+					      void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*for_each_reflog_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
+typedef int (*reflog_exists_fn)(const char *refname);
+typedef int (*create_reflog_fn)(const char *refname, int force_create,
+				struct strbuf *err);
+typedef int (*delete_reflog_fn)(const char *refname);
+
+/* resolution functions */
 typedef const char *(*resolve_ref_unsafe_fn)(const char *ref,
 					     int resolve_flags,
 					     unsigned char *sha1, int *flags);
@@ -620,6 +635,8 @@ typedef int (*create_symref_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 				const char *logmsg);
 typedef int (*resolve_gitlink_ref_fn)(const char *path, const char *refname,
 				      unsigned char *sha1);
+
+/* iteration functions */
 typedef int (*head_ref_fn)(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data);
 typedef int (*head_ref_submodule_fn)(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn,
 				     void *cb_data);
@@ -650,6 +667,12 @@ struct ref_be {
 	ref_transaction_verify_fn transaction_verify;
 	ref_transaction_commit_fn transaction_commit;
 	ref_transaction_free_fn transaction_free;
+	for_each_reflog_ent_fn for_each_reflog_ent;
+	for_each_reflog_ent_reverse_fn for_each_reflog_ent_reverse;
+	for_each_reflog_fn for_each_reflog;
+	reflog_exists_fn reflog_exists;
+	create_reflog_fn create_reflog;
+	delete_reflog_fn delete_reflog;
 	resolve_ref_unsafe_fn resolve_ref_unsafe;
 	verify_refname_available_fn verify_refname_available;
 	pack_refs_fn pack_refs;

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index fdb47e0..93a5a33 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -3633,12 +3633,12 @@ static int expire_reflog_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
-		  unsigned int flags,
-		  reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
-		  reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
-		  reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
-		  void *policy_cb_data)
+static int files_reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
+			       unsigned int flags,
+			       reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
+			       reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
+			       reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
+			       void *policy_cb_data)
 {
 	static struct lock_file reflog_lock;
 	struct expire_reflog_cb cb;
@@ -3755,6 +3755,7 @@ struct ref_be refs_be_files = {
 	files_reflog_exists,
 	files_create_reflog,
 	files_delete_reflog,
+	files_reflog_expire,
 	files_resolve_ref_unsafe,
 	files_verify_refname_available,
 	files_pack_refs,
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 7b2a47b..96fa699 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -1189,3 +1189,15 @@ int delete_reflog(const char *refname)
 {
 	return the_refs_backend->delete_reflog(refname);
 }
+
+int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
+		  unsigned int flags,
+		  reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
+		  reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
+		  reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
+		  void *policy_cb_data)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->reflog_expire(refname, sha1, flags,
+					       prepare_fn, should_prune_fn,
+					       cleanup_fn, policy_cb_data);
+}
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 494f8c8..06089f8 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -618,6 +618,12 @@ typedef int (*reflog_exists_fn)(const char *refname);
 typedef int (*create_reflog_fn)(const char *refname, int force_create,
 				struct strbuf *err);
 typedef int (*delete_reflog_fn)(const char *refname);
+typedef int (*reflog_expire_fn)(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
+				unsigned int flags,
+				reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
+				reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
+				reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
+				void *policy_cb_data);
 
 /* resolution functions */
 typedef const char *(*resolve_ref_unsafe_fn)(const char *ref,
@@ -673,6 +679,7 @@ struct ref_be {
 	reflog_exists_fn reflog_exists;
 	create_reflog_fn create_reflog;
 	delete_reflog_fn delete_reflog;
+	reflog_expire_fn reflog_expire;
 	resolve_ref_unsafe_fn resolve_ref_unsafe;
 	verify_refname_available_fn verify_refname_available;
 	pack_refs_fn pack_refs;

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 93a5a33..ea91afd 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -3517,8 +3517,8 @@ static int ref_present(const char *refname,
 	return string_list_has_string(affected_refnames, refname);
 }
 
-int initial_ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
-				   struct strbuf *err)
+static int files_initial_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+					    struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	int ret = 0, i;
 	int n = transaction->nr;
@@ -3748,6 +3748,7 @@ struct ref_be refs_be_files = {
 	files_transaction_delete,
 	files_transaction_verify,
 	files_transaction_commit,
+	files_initial_transaction_commit,
 	files_transaction_free,
 	files_for_each_reflog_ent,
 	files_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse,
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 96fa699..530edcf 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -1201,3 +1201,9 @@ int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 					       prepare_fn, should_prune_fn,
 					       cleanup_fn, policy_cb_data);
 }
+
+int initial_ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				   struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->initial_transaction_commit(transaction, err);
+}
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 06089f8..bd46d0f 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -672,6 +672,7 @@ struct ref_be {
 	ref_transaction_delete_fn transaction_delete;
 	ref_transaction_verify_fn transaction_verify;
 	ref_transaction_commit_fn transaction_commit;
+	ref_transaction_commit_fn initial_transaction_commit;
 	ref_transaction_free_fn transaction_free;
 	for_each_reflog_ent_fn for_each_reflog_ent;
 	for_each_reflog_ent_reverse_fn for_each_reflog_ent_reverse;

builtin/init-db.c, cache.h, path.c

diff --git a/builtin/init-db.c b/builtin/init-db.c
index cf6a3c8..f0b095c 100644
--- a/builtin/init-db.c
+++ b/builtin/init-db.c
@@ -24,18 +24,6 @@ static int init_shared_repository = -1;
 static const char *init_db_template_dir;
 static const char *git_link;
 
-static void safe_create_dir(const char *dir, int share)
-{
-	if (mkdir(dir, 0777) < 0) {
-		if (errno != EEXIST) {
-			perror(dir);
-			exit(1);
-		}
-	}
-	else if (share && adjust_shared_perm(dir))
-		die(_("Could not make %s writable by group"), dir);
-}
-
 static void copy_templates_1(struct strbuf *path, struct strbuf *template,
 			     DIR *dir)
 {
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index 1c45b62..cc817dc 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -1749,4 +1749,9 @@ void stat_validity_update(struct stat_validity *sv, int fd);
 int versioncmp(const char *s1, const char *s2);
 void sleep_millisec(int millisec);
 
+/*
+ * Create a directory and (if share is nonzero) adjust its permissions
+ * according to the shared_repository setting.
+ */
+void safe_create_dir(const char *dir, int share);
 #endif /* CACHE_H */
diff --git a/path.c b/path.c
index 48bd252..9ab2710 100644
--- a/path.c
+++ b/path.c
@@ -740,6 +740,18 @@ int adjust_shared_perm(const char *path)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+void safe_create_dir(const char *dir, int share)
+{
+	if (mkdir(dir, 0777) < 0) {
+		if (errno != EEXIST) {
+			perror(dir);
+			exit(1);
+		}
+	}
+	else if (share && adjust_shared_perm(dir))
+		die(_("Could not make %s writable by group"), dir);
+}
+
 static int have_same_root(const char *path1, const char *path2)
 {
 	int is_abs1, is_abs2;

builtin/init-db.c, refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/builtin/init-db.c b/builtin/init-db.c
index f0b095c..504a2dc 100644
--- a/builtin/init-db.c
+++ b/builtin/init-db.c
@@ -177,13 +177,7 @@ static int create_default_files(const char *template_path)
 	char junk[2];
 	int reinit;
 	int filemode;
-
-	/*
-	 * Create .git/refs/{heads,tags}
-	 */
-	safe_create_dir(git_path_buf(&buf, "refs"), 1);
-	safe_create_dir(git_path_buf(&buf, "refs/heads"), 1);
-	safe_create_dir(git_path_buf(&buf, "refs/tags"), 1);
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
 
 	/* Just look for `init.templatedir` */
 	git_config(git_init_db_config, NULL);
@@ -207,11 +201,11 @@ static int create_default_files(const char *template_path)
 	 */
 	if (shared_repository) {
 		adjust_shared_perm(get_git_dir());
-		adjust_shared_perm(git_path_buf(&buf, "refs"));
-		adjust_shared_perm(git_path_buf(&buf, "refs/heads"));
-		adjust_shared_perm(git_path_buf(&buf, "refs/tags"));
 	}
 
+	if (refs_initdb(&err, shared_repository))
+		die("failed to set up refs db: %s", err.buf);
+
 	/*
 	 * Create the default symlink from ".git/HEAD" to the "master"
 	 * branch, if it does not exist yet.
diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index ea91afd..0a76c8e 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -3738,10 +3738,27 @@ static int files_reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 	return -1;
 }
 
+static int files_initdb(struct strbuf *err, int shared)
+{
+	/*
+	 * Create .git/refs/{heads,tags}
+	 */
+	safe_create_dir(git_path("refs"), 1);
+	safe_create_dir(git_path("refs/heads"), 1);
+	safe_create_dir(git_path("refs/tags"), 1);
+	if (shared) {
+		adjust_shared_perm(git_path("refs"));
+		adjust_shared_perm(git_path("refs/heads"));
+		adjust_shared_perm(git_path("refs/tags"));
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
 struct ref_be refs_be_files = {
 	NULL,
 	"files",
 	NULL,
+	files_initdb,
 	files_transaction_begin,
 	files_transaction_update,
 	files_transaction_create,
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 530edcf..930c85c 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -995,6 +995,11 @@ enum peel_status peel_object(const unsigned char *name, unsigned char *sha1)
 }
 
 /* backend functions */
+int refs_initdb(struct strbuf *err, int shared)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->initdb(err, shared);
+}
+
 struct ref_transaction *ref_transaction_begin(struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	return the_refs_backend->transaction_begin(err);
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index bd46d0f..64dba64 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ extern int ref_exists(const char *refname);
 
 extern int is_branch(const char *refname);
 
+extern int refs_initdb(struct strbuf *err, int shared);
+
 /*
  * If refname is a non-symbolic reference that refers to a tag object,
  * and the tag can be (recursively) dereferenced to a non-tag object,
@@ -587,6 +589,7 @@ extern int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 
 /* refs backends */
 typedef void (*ref_backend_init_fn)(void *data);
+typedef int (*ref_backend_initdb_fn)(struct strbuf *err, int shared);
 typedef struct ref_transaction *(*ref_transaction_begin_fn)(struct strbuf *err);
 typedef int (*ref_transaction_update_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 		const char *refname, const unsigned char *new_sha1,
@@ -666,6 +669,7 @@ struct ref_be {
 	struct ref_be *next;
 	const char *name;
 	ref_backend_init_fn init_backend;
+	ref_backend_initdb_fn initdb;
 	ref_transaction_begin_fn transaction_begin;
 	ref_transaction_update_fn transaction_update;
 	ref_transaction_create_fn transaction_create;

refs-be-files.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 0a76c8e..3f2d194 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -3218,7 +3218,8 @@ enum ref_transaction_state {
  * consist of checks and updates to multiple references, carried out
  * as atomically as possible.  This structure is opaque to callers.
  */
-struct ref_transaction {
+struct files_ref_transaction {
+	struct ref_transaction base;
 	struct ref_update **updates;
 	size_t alloc;
 	size_t nr;
@@ -3229,13 +3230,16 @@ static struct ref_transaction *files_transaction_begin(struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	assert(err);
 
-	return xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct ref_transaction));
+	return xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct files_ref_transaction));
 }
 
-static void files_transaction_free(struct ref_transaction *transaction)
+static void files_transaction_free(struct ref_transaction *trans)
 {
 	int i;
 
+	struct files_ref_transaction *transaction =
+		(struct files_ref_transaction *)trans;
+
 	if (!transaction)
 		return;
 
@@ -3247,7 +3251,7 @@ static void files_transaction_free(struct ref_transaction *transaction)
 	free(transaction);
 }
 
-static struct ref_update *add_update(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+static struct ref_update *add_update(struct files_ref_transaction *transaction,
 				     const char *refname)
 {
 	size_t len = strlen(refname) + 1;
@@ -3259,7 +3263,7 @@ static struct ref_update *add_update(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 	return update;
 }
 
-static int files_transaction_update(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+static int files_transaction_update(struct ref_transaction *trans,
 				  const char *refname,
 				  const unsigned char *new_sha1,
 				  const unsigned char *old_sha1,
@@ -3267,6 +3271,8 @@ static int files_transaction_update(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 				  struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	struct ref_update *update;
+	struct files_ref_transaction *transaction =
+		(struct files_ref_transaction *)trans;
 
 	assert(err);
 
@@ -3350,10 +3356,12 @@ static int ref_update_reject_duplicates(struct string_list *refnames,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int files_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+static int files_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *trans,
 				  struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	int ret = 0, i;
+	struct files_ref_transaction *transaction =
+		(struct files_ref_transaction *)trans;
 	int n = transaction->nr;
 	struct ref_update **updates = transaction->updates;
 	struct string_list refs_to_delete = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
@@ -3517,10 +3525,12 @@ static int ref_present(const char *refname,
 	return string_list_has_string(affected_refnames, refname);
 }
 
-static int files_initial_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+static int files_initial_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *trans,
 					    struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	int ret = 0, i;
+	struct files_ref_transaction *transaction =
+		(struct files_ref_transaction *)trans;
 	int n = transaction->nr;
 	struct ref_update **updates = transaction->updates;
 	struct string_list affected_refnames = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 64dba64..02001ef 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ extern int dwim_log(const char *str, int len, unsigned char *sha1, char **ref);
  *
  * Calling sequence
  * ----------------
- * - Allocate and initialize a `struct ref_transaction` by calling
+ * - Allocate and initialize a transaction by calling
  *   `ref_transaction_begin()`.
  *
  * - List intended ref updates by calling functions like
@@ -156,7 +156,10 @@ extern int dwim_log(const char *str, int len, unsigned char *sha1, char **ref);
  * The message is appended to err without first clearing err.
  * err will not be '\n' terminated.
  */
-struct ref_transaction;
+
+struct ref_transaction {
+	/* ref backends should extend this */
+};
 
 /*
  * Bit values set in the flags argument passed to each_ref_fn():
@@ -629,6 +632,7 @@ typedef int (*reflog_expire_fn)(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 				void *policy_cb_data);
 
 /* resolution functions */
+typedef void (*ref_transaction_free_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction);
 typedef const char *(*resolve_ref_unsafe_fn)(const char *ref,
 					     int resolve_flags,
 					     unsigned char *sha1, int *flags);

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 3f2d194..3bcfab3 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -2491,29 +2491,14 @@ out:
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int rename_ref_available(const char *oldname, const char *newname)
-{
-	struct string_list skip = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
-	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
-	int ret;
-
-	string_list_insert(&skip, oldname);
-	ret = !verify_refname_available(newname, NULL, &skip, &err);
-	if (!ret)
-		error("%s", err.buf);
-
-	string_list_clear(&skip, 0);
-	strbuf_release(&err);
-	return ret;
-}
-
 static int write_ref_to_lockfile(struct ref_lock *lock,
 				 const unsigned char *sha1, struct strbuf *err);
 static int commit_ref_update(struct ref_lock *lock,
 			     const unsigned char *sha1, const char *logmsg,
 			     int flags, struct strbuf *err);
 
-int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logmsg)
+static int files_rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname,
+			    const char *logmsg)
 {
 	unsigned char sha1[20], orig_sha1[20];
 	int flag = 0, logmoved = 0;
@@ -3777,6 +3762,7 @@ struct ref_be refs_be_files = {
 	files_transaction_commit,
 	files_initial_transaction_commit,
 	files_transaction_free,
+	files_rename_ref,
 	files_for_each_reflog_ent,
 	files_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse,
 	files_for_each_reflog,
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 930c85c..1c2dd79 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -1052,6 +1052,11 @@ void ref_transaction_free(struct ref_transaction *transaction)
 	return the_refs_backend->transaction_free(transaction);
 }
 
+int rename_ref(const char *oldref, const char *newref, const char *logmsg)
+{
+	return the_refs_backend->rename_ref(oldref, newref, logmsg);
+}
+
 const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *ref, int resolve_flags,
 			       unsigned char *sha1, int *flags)
 {
@@ -1066,6 +1071,22 @@ int verify_refname_available(const char *refname, struct string_list *extra,
 							  err);
 }
 
+int rename_ref_available(const char *oldname, const char *newname)
+{
+	struct string_list skip = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int ret;
+
+	string_list_insert(&skip, oldname);
+	ret = !verify_refname_available(newname, NULL, &skip, &err);
+	if (!ret)
+		error("%s", err.buf);
+
+	string_list_clear(&skip, 0);
+	strbuf_release(&err);
+	return ret;
+}
+
 int pack_refs(unsigned int flags)
 {
 	return the_refs_backend->pack_refs(flags);
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 02001ef..823983b 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -378,10 +378,13 @@ extern const char *prettify_refname(const char *refname);
 extern char *shorten_unambiguous_ref(const char *refname, int strict);
 
 /** rename ref, return 0 on success **/
-extern int rename_ref(const char *oldref, const char *newref, const char *logmsg);
+extern int rename_ref(const char *oldref, const char *newref,
+		      const char *logmsg);
 
 extern int create_symref(const char *ref, const char *refs_heads_master, const char *logmsg);
 
+int rename_ref_available(const char *oldname, const char *newname);
+
 enum action_on_err {
 	UPDATE_REFS_MSG_ON_ERR,
 	UPDATE_REFS_DIE_ON_ERR,
@@ -633,6 +636,7 @@ typedef int (*reflog_expire_fn)(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 
 /* resolution functions */
 typedef void (*ref_transaction_free_fn)(struct ref_transaction *transaction);
+typedef int (*rename_ref_fn)(const char *oldref, const char *newref, const char *logmsg);
 typedef const char *(*resolve_ref_unsafe_fn)(const char *ref,
 					     int resolve_flags,
 					     unsigned char *sha1, int *flags);
@@ -682,6 +686,7 @@ struct ref_be {
 	ref_transaction_commit_fn transaction_commit;
 	ref_transaction_commit_fn initial_transaction_commit;
 	ref_transaction_free_fn transaction_free;
+	rename_ref_fn rename_ref;
 	for_each_reflog_ent_fn for_each_reflog_ent;
 	for_each_reflog_ent_reverse_fn for_each_reflog_ent_reverse;
 	for_each_reflog_fn for_each_reflog;

run-command.c, run-command.h

diff --git a/run-command.c b/run-command.c
index ceee5d1..9ee6c85 100644
--- a/run-command.c
+++ b/run-command.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ struct child_to_clean {
 };
 static struct child_to_clean *children_to_clean;
 static int installed_child_cleanup_handler;
+int total_commands_run = 0;
 
 static void cleanup_children(int sig, int in_signal)
 {
@@ -349,6 +350,7 @@ fail_pipe:
 		cmd->err = fderr[0];
 	}
 
+	total_commands_run++;
 	trace_argv_printf(cmd->argv, "trace: run_command:");
 	fflush(NULL);
 
diff --git a/run-command.h b/run-command.h
index aa2a528..ef7ae7a 100644
--- a/run-command.h
+++ b/run-command.h
@@ -158,4 +158,5 @@ int run_processes_parallel(int n, void *data,
 			   start_failure_fn,
 			   return_value_fn);
 
+extern int total_commands_run;
 #endif

refs-be-files.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 3bcfab3..2727943 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -14,30 +14,6 @@ struct ref_lock {
 };
 
 /*
- * Flag passed to lock_ref_sha1_basic() telling it to tolerate broken
- * refs (i.e., because the reference is about to be deleted anyway).
- */
-#define REF_DELETING	0x02
-
-/*
- * Used as a flag in ref_update::flags when a loose ref is being
- * pruned.
- */
-#define REF_ISPRUNING	0x04
-
-/*
- * Used as a flag in ref_update::flags when the reference should be
- * updated to new_sha1.
- */
-#define REF_HAVE_NEW	0x08
-
-/*
- * Used as a flag in ref_update::flags when old_sha1 should be
- * checked.
- */
-#define REF_HAVE_OLD	0x10
-
-/*
  * Used as a flag in ref_update::flags when the lockfile needs to be
  * committed.
  */
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 823983b..d8ae9af 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -193,6 +193,30 @@ struct ref_transaction {
 #define DO_FOR_EACH_PER_WORKTREE_ONLY 0x02
 
 /*
+ * Flag passed to lock_ref_sha1_basic() telling it to tolerate broken
+ * refs (i.e., because the reference is about to be deleted anyway).
+ */
+#define REF_DELETING	0x02
+
+/*
+ * Used as a flag in ref_update::flags when a loose ref is being
+ * pruned.
+ */
+#define REF_ISPRUNING	0x04
+
+/*
+ * Used as a flag in ref_update::flags when the reference should be
+ * updated to new_sha1.
+ */
+#define REF_HAVE_NEW	0x08
+
+/*
+ * Used as a flag in ref_update::flags when old_sha1 should be
+ * checked.
+ */
+#define REF_HAVE_OLD	0x10
+
+/*
  * The signature for the callback function for the for_each_*()
  * functions below.  The memory pointed to by the refname and sha1
  * arguments is only guaranteed to be valid for the duration of a

refs-be-files.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 2727943..943604c 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -2727,6 +2727,14 @@ static int log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 			 const unsigned char *new_sha1, const char *msg,
 			 int flags, struct strbuf *err)
 {
+	return files_log_ref_write(refname, old_sha1, new_sha1, msg, flags,
+				   err);
+}
+
+int files_log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+			const unsigned char *new_sha1, const char *msg,
+			int flags, struct strbuf *err)
+{
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int ret = log_ref_write_1(refname, old_sha1, new_sha1, msg, &sb, flags,
 				  err);
@@ -2902,7 +2910,7 @@ static int files_create_symref(struct ref_transaction *trans,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int files_reflog_exists(const char *refname)
+int files_reflog_exists(const char *refname)
 {
 	struct stat st;
 
@@ -2910,7 +2918,7 @@ static int files_reflog_exists(const char *refname)
 		S_ISREG(st.st_mode);
 }
 
-static int files_delete_reflog(const char *refname)
+int files_delete_reflog(const char *refname)
 {
 	return remove_path(git_path("logs/%s", refname));
 }
@@ -2954,9 +2962,9 @@ static char *find_beginning_of_line(char *bob, char *scan)
 	return scan;
 }
 
-static int files_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(const char *refname,
-					     each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
-					     void *cb_data)
+int files_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(const char *refname,
+				      each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
+				      void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 	FILE *logfp;
@@ -3058,8 +3066,8 @@ static int files_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(const char *refname,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int files_for_each_reflog_ent(const char *refname,
-				     each_reflog_ent_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+int files_for_each_reflog_ent(const char *refname,
+			      each_reflog_ent_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	FILE *logfp;
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -3604,12 +3612,12 @@ static int expire_reflog_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int files_reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
-			       unsigned int flags,
-			       reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
-			       reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
-			       reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
-			       void *policy_cb_data)
+int files_reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
+			unsigned int flags,
+			reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
+			reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
+			reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
+			void *policy_cb_data)
 {
 	static struct lock_file reflog_lock;
 	struct expire_reflog_cb cb;
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index d8ae9af..da29232 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -571,6 +571,10 @@ enum ref_type ref_type(const char *refname);
 
 int copy_reflog_msg(char *buf, const char *msg);
 
+int files_log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+			const unsigned char *new_sha1, const char *msg,
+			int flags, struct strbuf *err);
+
 enum expire_reflog_flags {
 	EXPIRE_REFLOGS_DRY_RUN = 1 << 0,
 	EXPIRE_REFLOGS_UPDATE_REF = 1 << 1,
@@ -604,6 +608,22 @@ typedef int reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn(unsigned char *osha1,
 					  const char *message, void *cb_data);
 typedef void reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn(void *cb_data);
 
+int files_reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
+			unsigned int flags,
+			reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
+			reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
+			reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
+			void *policy_cb_data);
+
+int files_for_each_reflog_ent(const char *refname,
+			      each_reflog_ent_fn fn, void *cb_data);
+
+int files_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(const char *refname,
+				      each_reflog_ent_fn fn, void *cb_data);
+
+int files_delete_reflog(const char *refname);
+int files_reflog_exists(const char *refname);
+
 /*
  * Expire reflog entries for the specified reference. sha1 is the old
  * value of the reference. flags is a combination of the constants in

refs-be-files.c, refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs-be-files.c b/refs-be-files.c
index 943604c..8815111 100644
--- a/refs-be-files.c
+++ b/refs-be-files.c
@@ -753,6 +753,7 @@ static int verify_refname_available_dir(const char *refname,
 					struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	const char *slash;
+	const char *extra_refname;
 	int pos;
 	struct strbuf dirname = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int ret = -1;
@@ -858,33 +859,15 @@ static int verify_refname_available_dir(const char *refname,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (extras) {
-		/*
-		 * Check for entries in extras that start with
-		 * "$refname/". We do that by looking for the place
-		 * where "$refname/" would be inserted in extras. If
-		 * there is an entry at that position that starts with
-		 * "$refname/" and is not in skip, then we have a
-		 * conflict.
-		 */
-		for (pos = string_list_find_insert_index(extras, dirname.buf, 0);
-		     pos < extras->nr; pos++) {
-			const char *extra_refname = extras->items[pos].string;
-
-			if (!starts_with(extra_refname, dirname.buf))
-				break;
-
-			if (!skip || !string_list_has_string(skip, extra_refname)) {
-				strbuf_addf(err, "cannot process '%s' and '%s' at the same time",
-					    refname, extra_refname);
-				goto cleanup;
-			}
-		}
+	extra_refname = find_descendant_ref(dirname.buf, extras, skip);
+	if (extra_refname) {
+		strbuf_addf(err,
+			    "cannot process '%s' and '%s' at the same time",
+			    refname, extra_refname);
+	} else {
+		ret = 0;
 	}
 
-	/* No conflicts were found */
-	ret = 0;
-
 cleanup:
 	strbuf_release(&dirname);
 	return ret;
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 1c2dd79..17a364a 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -994,6 +994,34 @@ enum peel_status peel_object(const unsigned char *name, unsigned char *sha1)
 	return PEEL_PEELED;
 }
 
+const char *find_descendant_ref(const char *refname,
+				const struct string_list *extras,
+				const struct string_list *skip)
+{
+	int pos;
+	if (!extras)
+		return NULL;
+
+	/*
+	 * Check for entries in extras that start with "$refname/". We
+	 * do that by looking for the place where "$refname/" would be
+	 * inserted in extras. If there is an entry at that position
+	 * that starts with "$refname/" and is not in skip, then we
+	 * have a conflict.
+	 */
+	for (pos = string_list_find_insert_index(extras, refname, 0);
+	     pos < extras->nr; pos++) {
+		const char *extra_refname = extras->items[pos].string;
+
+		if (!starts_with(extra_refname, refname))
+			break;
+
+		if (!skip || !string_list_has_string(skip, extra_refname))
+			return extra_refname;
+	}
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 /* backend functions */
 int refs_initdb(struct strbuf *err, int shared)
 {
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index da29232..cf1780e 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -571,6 +571,10 @@ enum ref_type ref_type(const char *refname);
 
 int copy_reflog_msg(char *buf, const char *msg);
 
+const char *find_descendant_ref(const char *refname,
+				const struct string_list *extras,
+				const struct string_list *skip);
+
 int files_log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 			const unsigned char *new_sha1, const char *msg,
 			int flags, struct strbuf *err);

Documentation/git-clone.txt, builtin/clone.c, builtin/submodule--helper.c, cache.h, refs.c

diff --git a/Documentation/git-clone.txt b/Documentation/git-clone.txt
index f1f2a3f..d7a4cb0 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-clone.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-clone.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
 	  [-o <name>] [-b <name>] [-u <upload-pack>] [--reference <repository>]
 	  [--dissociate] [--separate-git-dir <git dir>]
 	  [--depth <depth>] [--[no-]single-branch]
+	  [--refs-backend-type=<name>]
 	  [--recursive | --recurse-submodules] [--] <repository>
 	  [<directory>]
 
@@ -216,6 +217,9 @@ objects from the source repository into a pack in the cloned repository.
 	The result is Git repository can be separated from working
 	tree.
 
+--refs-backend-type=<name>::
+	Type of refs backend. Default is to use the original files based
+	backend.
 
 <repository>::
 	The (possibly remote) repository to clone from.  See the
diff --git a/builtin/clone.c b/builtin/clone.c
index 3e14491..d489a87 100644
--- a/builtin/clone.c
+++ b/builtin/clone.c
@@ -92,11 +92,13 @@ static struct option builtin_clone_options[] = {
 		   N_("separate git dir from working tree")),
 	OPT_STRING_LIST('c', "config", &option_config, N_("key=value"),
 			N_("set config inside the new repository")),
+	OPT_STRING(0, "refs-backend-type", &refs_backend_type,
+		   N_("name"), N_("name of backend type to use")),
 	OPT_END()
 };
 
 static const char *argv_submodule[] = {
-	"submodule", "update", "--init", "--recursive", NULL
+	"submodule", "update", "--init", "--recursive", NULL, NULL
 };
 
 static const char *get_repo_path_1(struct strbuf *path, int *is_bundle)
@@ -724,8 +726,24 @@ static int checkout(void)
 	err |= run_hook_le(NULL, "post-checkout", sha1_to_hex(null_sha1),
 			   sha1_to_hex(sha1), "1", NULL);
 
-	if (!err && option_recursive)
+	if (!err && option_recursive) {
+		const char **backend_arg = argv_submodule;
+		char *new_backend_arg = NULL;
+		if (refs_backend_type) {
+			while (*backend_arg)
+				++backend_arg;
+
+			new_backend_arg = xmalloc(21 + strlen(refs_backend_type));
+			sprintf(new_backend_arg, "--refs-backend-type=%s",
+				refs_backend_type);
+			*backend_arg = new_backend_arg;
+		}
 		err = run_command_v_opt(argv_submodule, RUN_GIT_CMD);
+		if (refs_backend_type) {
+			free(new_backend_arg);
+			*backend_arg = NULL;
+		}
+	}
 
 	return err;
 }
@@ -744,6 +762,11 @@ static void write_config(struct string_list *config)
 					       write_one_config, NULL) < 0)
 			die("unable to write parameters to config file");
 	}
+
+	if (refs_backend_type &&
+	    write_one_config("core.refs-backend-type",
+			     refs_backend_type, NULL) < 0)
+			die("unable to write backend parameter to config file");
 }
 
 static void write_refspec_config(const char *src_ref_prefix,
diff --git a/builtin/submodule--helper.c b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
index f4c3eff..5c9ca4e 100644
--- a/builtin/submodule--helper.c
+++ b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
@@ -140,7 +140,10 @@ static int clone_submodule(const char *path, const char *gitdir, const char *url
 		argv_array_pushl(&cp.args, "--reference", reference, NULL);
 	if (gitdir && *gitdir)
 		argv_array_pushl(&cp.args, "--separate-git-dir", gitdir, NULL);
-
+	if (refs_backend_type && *refs_backend_type) {
+		argv_array_push(&cp.args, "--refs-backend-type");
+		argv_array_push(&cp.args, refs_backend_type);
+	}
 	argv_array_push(&cp.args, url);
 	argv_array_push(&cp.args, path);
 
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index cc817dc..692cfd3 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -695,6 +695,7 @@ enum object_creation_mode {
 extern enum object_creation_mode object_creation_mode;
 
 extern char *notes_ref_name;
+extern const char *refs_backend_type;
 
 extern int grafts_replace_parents;
 
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 17a364a..4f2ab25 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ struct ref_be *the_refs_backend = &refs_be_files;
  */
 struct ref_be *refs_backends = &refs_be_files;
 
+const char *refs_backend_type;
+
 /*
  * This function is used to switch to an alternate backend.
  */

refs.c, refs.h

diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 4f2ab25..4195657 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ struct ref_be *refs_backends = &refs_be_files;
 
 const char *refs_backend_type;
 
+void register_refs_backend(struct ref_be *be)
+{
+	be->next = refs_backends;
+	refs_backends = be;
+}
+
 /*
  * This function is used to switch to an alternate backend.
  */
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index cf1780e..ac88371 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -764,5 +764,6 @@ struct ref_be {
 
 extern struct ref_be refs_be_files;
 int set_refs_backend(const char *name, void *init_data);
+void register_refs_backend(struct ref_be *be);
 
 #endif /* REFS_H */

.gitignore, Documentation/git-clone.txt, Documentation/git-init-db.txt, Documentation/git-init.txt, Documentation/technical/refs-be-lmdb.txt, Makefile, builtin/init-db.c, config.c, configure.ac, contrib/workdir/git-new-workdir, environment.c, refs-be-lmdb.c, refs.h, setup.c, test-refs-be-lmdb.c

diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 1c2f832..7decc2f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@
 /test-path-utils
 /test-prio-queue
 /test-read-cache
+/test-refs-be-lmdb
 /test-regex
 /test-revision-walking
 /test-run-command
diff --git a/Documentation/git-clone.txt b/Documentation/git-clone.txt
index d7a4cb0..6a4cf28 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-clone.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-clone.txt
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ objects from the source repository into a pack in the cloned repository.
 
 --refs-backend-type=<name>::
 	Type of refs backend. Default is to use the original files based
-	backend.
+	backend. Set to "lmdb" to activate the lmdb database backend.
 
 <repository>::
 	The (possibly remote) repository to clone from.  See the
diff --git a/Documentation/git-init-db.txt b/Documentation/git-init-db.txt
index 648a6cd..72fbd71 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-init-db.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-init-db.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ git-init-db - Creates an empty Git repository
 SYNOPSIS
 --------
 [verse]
-'git init-db' [-q | --quiet] [--bare] [--template=<template_directory>] [--separate-git-dir <git dir>] [--shared[=<permissions>]]
+'git init-db' [-q | --quiet] [--bare] [--template=<template_directory>] [--separate-git-dir <git dir>] [--shared[=<permissions>]] [--refs-backend-type=<name>]
 
 
 DESCRIPTION
diff --git a/Documentation/git-init.txt b/Documentation/git-init.txt
index 8174d27..d352788 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-init.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-init.txt
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
 'git init' [-q | --quiet] [--bare] [--template=<template_directory>]
 	  [--separate-git-dir <git dir>]
 	  [--shared[=<permissions>]] [directory]
+	  [--refs-backend-type=<name>]
 
 
 DESCRIPTION
@@ -113,6 +114,11 @@ does not exist, it will be created.
 
 --
 
+--refs-backend-type=<name>::
+Type of refs backend. Default is to use the original "files" backend,
+which stores ref data in files in .git/refs and .git/packed-refs.  Set
+to "lmdb" to activate the lmdb database backend.
+
 TEMPLATE DIRECTORY
 ------------------
 
diff --git a/Documentation/technical/refs-be-lmdb.txt b/Documentation/technical/refs-be-lmdb.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98c13ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/technical/refs-be-lmdb.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+Notes on the LMDB refs backend
+==============================
+
+Design:
+------
+
+Refs and reflogs are stored in a lmdb database in .git/refdb.  All
+keys and values are \0-terminated.
+
+Keys for refs are the name of the ref (e.g. refs/heads/master).
+Values are the value of the ref
+(e.g. 61f23eb0f81357c19fa91e2b8c6f3906c3a8f9b0).
+
+All per-worktree refs (refs/bisect/* and HEAD) are store using
+the traditional files-based backend.
+
+Reflogs are stored as a series of database entries.
+
+For an empty reflog, there is a "header" entry to show that a reflog
+exists.  For non-empty reflogs, there is one entry per logged ref
+update.  The key format is logs/[refname]\0[timestamp].  The timestamp
+is a 64-bit unsigned integer number of nanoseconds since 1/1/1970.
+This means that reflog entries are chronologically ordered.  Because
+LMDB is a btree database, we can efficiently iterate over these keys.
+
+Reflog values are in the same format as the original files-based
+reflog.
+
+Weaknesses:
+-----------
+
+The reflog format is somewhat inefficient: a binary format could store
+reflog date/time information in somewhat less space.
+
+The rsync and file:// transports don't work yet, because they
+don't use the refs API.
+
+git new-workdir is incompatible with the lmdb backend.  Fortunately,
+git new-workdir is deprecated, and worktrees work fine.
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 43ceab0..e96f84b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1036,6 +1036,17 @@ ifdef USE_LIBPCRE
 	EXTLIBS += -lpcre
 endif
 
+ifdef USE_LIBLMDB
+	BASIC_CFLAGS += -DUSE_LIBLMDB
+	ifdef LIBLMDBDIR
+		BASIC_CFLAGS += -I$(LIBLMDBDIR)/include
+		EXTLIBS += -L$(LIBLMDBDIR)/$(lib) $(CC_LD_DYNPATH)$(LIBLMDBDIR)/$(lib)
+	endif
+	EXTLIBS += -llmdb
+	LIB_OBJS += refs-be-lmdb.o
+	TEST_PROGRAMS_NEED_X += test-refs-be-lmdb
+endif
+
 ifdef HAVE_ALLOCA_H
 	BASIC_CFLAGS += -DHAVE_ALLOCA_H
 endif
@@ -2122,6 +2133,7 @@ GIT-BUILD-OPTIONS: FORCE
 	@echo NO_CURL=\''$(subst ','\'',$(subst ','\'',$(NO_CURL)))'\' >>$@+
 	@echo NO_EXPAT=\''$(subst ','\'',$(subst ','\'',$(NO_EXPAT)))'\' >>$@+
 	@echo USE_LIBPCRE=\''$(subst ','\'',$(subst ','\'',$(USE_LIBPCRE)))'\' >>$@+
+	@echo USE_LIBLMDB=\''$(subst ','\'',$(subst ','\'',$(USE_LIBLMDB)))'\' >>$@+
 	@echo NO_PERL=\''$(subst ','\'',$(subst ','\'',$(NO_PERL)))'\' >>$@+
 	@echo NO_PYTHON=\''$(subst ','\'',$(subst ','\'',$(NO_PYTHON)))'\' >>$@+
 	@echo NO_UNIX_SOCKETS=\''$(subst ','\'',$(subst ','\'',$(NO_UNIX_SOCKETS)))'\' >>$@+
diff --git a/builtin/init-db.c b/builtin/init-db.c
index 504a2dc..89f2c05 100644
--- a/builtin/init-db.c
+++ b/builtin/init-db.c
@@ -203,6 +203,17 @@ static int create_default_files(const char *template_path)
 		adjust_shared_perm(get_git_dir());
 	}
 
+	if (refs_backend_type) {
+		struct refdb_config_data config_data = {NULL};
+		git_config_set("core.refs-backend-type", refs_backend_type);
+		config_data.refs_backend_type = refs_backend_type;
+		config_data.refs_base = get_git_dir();
+#ifdef USE_LIBLMDB
+		register_refs_backend(&refs_be_lmdb);
+#endif
+		set_refs_backend(refs_backend_type, &config_data);
+	}
+
 	if (refs_initdb(&err, shared_repository))
 		die("failed to set up refs db: %s", err.buf);
 
@@ -468,6 +479,8 @@ int cmd_init_db(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_BIT('q', "quiet", &flags, N_("be quiet"), INIT_DB_QUIET),
 		OPT_STRING(0, "separate-git-dir", &real_git_dir, N_("gitdir"),
 			   N_("separate git dir from working tree")),
+		OPT_STRING(0, "refs-backend-type", &refs_backend_type,
+			   N_("name"), N_("name of backend type to use")),
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 248a21a..9ce2ed2 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "exec_cmd.h"
 #include "strbuf.h"
 #include "quote.h"
+#include "refs.h"
 #include "hashmap.h"
 #include "string-list.h"
 #include "utf8.h"
@@ -1207,6 +1208,32 @@ int git_config_early(config_fn_t fn, void *data, const char *repo_config)
 	}
 
 	if (repo_config && !access_or_die(repo_config, R_OK, 0)) {
+		struct refdb_config_data refdb_data = {NULL};
+		char *repo_config_copy;
+
+		/*
+		 * make sure we always read the backend config from the
+		 * core section on startup
+		 */
+		ret += git_config_from_file(refdb_config, repo_config,
+					    &refdb_data);
+
+		repo_config_copy = xstrdup(repo_config);
+		refdb_data.refs_base = strdup(dirname(repo_config_copy));
+		free(repo_config_copy);
+
+		if (refdb_data.refs_backend_type &&
+		    !strcmp(refdb_data.refs_backend_type, "lmdb")) {
+
+#ifdef USE_LIBLMDB
+			refs_backend_type = refdb_data.refs_backend_type;
+			register_refs_backend(&refs_be_lmdb);
+			set_refs_backend(refs_backend_type, &refdb_data);
+#else
+			die("Git was not built with USE_LIBLMDB, so the db refs backend is not available");
+#endif
+		}
+
 		ret += git_config_from_file(fn, repo_config, data);
 		found += 1;
 	}
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 63b7244..ea8e93d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -271,6 +271,24 @@ AS_HELP_STRING([],           [ARG can be also prefix for libpcre library and hea
         dnl it yet.
 	GIT_CONF_SUBST([LIBPCREDIR])
     fi)
+
+USE_LIBLMDB=YesPlease
+AC_ARG_WITH(liblmdb,
+AS_HELP_STRING([--with-liblmdb],[support lmdb (default is YES])
+AS_HELP_STRING([],           [ARG can be also prefix for liblmdb library and headers]),
+    if test "$withval" = "no"; then
+	USE_LIBLMDB=
+    elif test "$withval" = "yes"; then
+	USE_LIBLMDB=YesPlease
+    else
+	USE_LIBLMDB=YesPlease
+	LIBLMDBDIR=$withval
+	AC_MSG_NOTICE([Setting LIBLMDBDIR to $LIBLMDBDIR])
+        dnl USE_LIBLMDB can still be modified below, so don't substitute
+        dnl it yet.
+	GIT_CONF_SUBST([LIBLMDBDIR])
+    fi)
+
 #
 # Define HAVE_ALLOCA_H if you have working alloca(3) defined in that header.
 AC_FUNC_ALLOCA
@@ -510,6 +528,21 @@ GIT_CONF_SUBST([USE_LIBPCRE])
 
 fi
 
+if test -n "$USE_LIBLMDB"; then
+
+GIT_STASH_FLAGS($LIBLMDBDIR)
+
+AC_CHECK_LIB([lmdb], [mdb_env_open],
+[USE_LIBLMDB=YesPlease],
+[USE_LIBLMDB=])
+
+GIT_UNSTASH_FLAGS($LIBLMDBDIR)
+
+GIT_CONF_SUBST([USE_LIBLMDB])
+
+fi
+
+
 #
 # Define NO_CURL if you do not have libcurl installed.  git-http-pull and
 # git-http-push are not built, and you cannot use http:// and https://
diff --git a/contrib/workdir/git-new-workdir b/contrib/workdir/git-new-workdir
index 888c34a..9761a1a 100755
--- a/contrib/workdir/git-new-workdir
+++ b/contrib/workdir/git-new-workdir
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ git_dir=$(cd "$orig_git" 2>/dev/null &&
   git rev-parse --git-dir 2>/dev/null) ||
   die "Not a git repository: \"$orig_git\""
 
+test -d $git_dir/refdb && die "git-new-workdir is incompatible with the refs db backend"
+
 case "$git_dir" in
 .git)
 	git_dir="$orig_git/.git"
diff --git a/environment.c b/environment.c
index c5b65f5..6a2f639 100644
--- a/environment.c
+++ b/environment.c
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ int merge_log_config = -1;
 int precomposed_unicode = -1; /* see probe_utf8_pathname_composition() */
 struct startup_info *startup_info;
 unsigned long pack_size_limit_cfg;
+const char *refs_backend_type;
 
 #ifndef PROTECT_HFS_DEFAULT
 #define PROTECT_HFS_DEFAULT 0
diff --git a/refs-be-lmdb.c b/refs-be-lmdb.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..99cbd29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/refs-be-lmdb.c
@@ -0,0 +1,2003 @@
+/*
+ * This file implements a lmdb backend for refs.
+ *
+ * The design of this backend relies on lmdb's write lock -- that is, any
+ * write transaction blocks all other writers.  Thus, as soon as a ref
+ * transaction is opened, we know that any values we read won't
+ * change out from under us, and we have a fully-consistent view of the
+ * database.
+ *
+ * We store the content of refs including the trailing \0 so that
+ * standard C string functions can handle them.  Just like struct
+ * strbuf.
+ */
+#include <lmdb.h>
+#include <sys/uio.h>
+#include "cache.h"
+#include "object.h"
+#include "refs.h"
+#include "tag.h"
+#include "lockfile.h"
+#include "run-command.h"
+
+static struct trace_key db_trace = TRACE_KEY_INIT(LMDB);
+
+static MDB_env *env;
+
+static char *db_path;
+
+struct lmdb_transaction_info {
+	MDB_txn *txn;
+	MDB_dbi dbi;
+	const char *submodule;
+};
+
+struct lmdb_transaction {
+	struct ref_transaction base;
+	MDB_cursor *cursor;
+	struct lmdb_transaction_info info;
+	struct hashmap updated_refs;
+	unsigned int flags;
+};
+
+static struct lmdb_transaction transaction = {{}, NULL};
+
+struct ref_update {
+	struct hashmap_entry ent;  /* must be first */
+	size_t len;
+	char refname[FLEX_ARRAY];
+};
+
+static char *get_refdb_path(const char *base)
+{
+	struct strbuf path_buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	strbuf_addf(&path_buf, "%s/refdb", base);
+	return strbuf_detach(&path_buf, NULL);
+}
+
+static int in_write_transaction(void)
+{
+	return transaction.info.txn && !(transaction.flags & MDB_RDONLY);
+}
+
+static void init_env(MDB_env **env, const char *path)
+{
+	int ret;
+	if (*env)
+		return;
+
+	if ((ret = mdb_env_create(env)) != MDB_SUCCESS)
+		die("mdb_env_create failed: %s", mdb_strerror(ret));
+	if ((ret = mdb_env_set_maxreaders(*env, 1000)) != MDB_SUCCESS)
+		die("BUG: mdb_env_set_maxreaders failed: %s", mdb_strerror(ret));
+	if ((ret = mdb_env_set_mapsize(*env, (1<<30))) != MDB_SUCCESS)
+		die("BUG: mdb_set_mapsize failed: %s", mdb_strerror(ret));
+	if ((ret = mdb_env_open(*env, path, 0 , 0664)) != MDB_SUCCESS)
+		die("BUG: mdb_env_open (%s) failed: %s", path, mdb_strerror(ret));
+}
+
+static int lmdb_initdb(struct strbuf *err, int shared)
+{
+	/* To create a db, all we need to do is make a directory for
+	   it to live in; lmdb will do the rest. */
+
+	assert(db_path);
+	if (mkdir(db_path, 0775)) {
+		if (errno != EEXIST) {
+			strbuf_addf(err, "%s", strerror(errno));
+			return -1;
+		}
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void lmdb_init_backend(struct refdb_config_data *data)
+{
+	if (db_path)
+		return;
+
+	db_path = xstrdup(real_path(get_refdb_path(data->refs_base)));
+	trace_printf_key(&db_trace, "Init backend\n");
+}
+
+int ref_update_cmp(const void *entry, const void *entry_or_key, const void *keydata)
+{
+
+	const struct ref_update *existing = entry;
+	const struct ref_update *incoming = entry_or_key;
+
+	return existing->len != incoming->len ||
+		memcmp(existing->refname, incoming->refname, existing->len);
+}
+
+static void mdb_cursor_open_or_die(struct lmdb_transaction_info *info,
+				   MDB_cursor **cursor)
+{
+	int ret = mdb_cursor_open(info->txn, info->dbi, cursor);
+	if (ret)
+		die("mdb_cursor_open failed: %s", mdb_strerror(ret));
+}
+
+static void submodule_path(struct strbuf *sb, const char *submodule,
+			   const char *refname)
+{
+	if (submodule)
+		strbuf_git_path_submodule(sb, submodule, "%s", refname);
+	else
+		strbuf_git_path(sb, "%s", refname);
+}
+
+static int read_per_worktree_ref(const char *submodule, const char *refname,
+				 struct MDB_val *val)
+{
+	static struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	static struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	submodule_path(&path, submodule, refname);
+
+	if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, path.buf, 200) < 0) {
+		strbuf_release(&sb);
+		strbuf_release(&path);
+		if (errno == ENOENT)
+			return MDB_NOTFOUND;
+		return -1;
+	}
+	strbuf_setlen(&sb, sb.len - 1);
+
+	val->mv_data = sb.buf;
+	val->mv_size = sb.len + 1;
+
+	strbuf_detach(&sb, NULL);
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void write_per_worktree_ref(const char *submodule, const char *refname,
+				   MDB_val *val)
+{
+	static struct lock_file lock;
+	int fd;
+	int len = val->mv_size - 1;
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	submodule_path(&path, submodule, refname);
+	safe_create_leading_directories(path.buf);
+
+	fd = hold_lock_file_for_update(&lock, path.buf, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+
+	if (write_in_full(fd, val->mv_data, len) != len ||
+	    write_in_full(fd, "\n", 1) != 1)
+		die_errno("failed to write new HEAD");
+
+	if (commit_lock_file(&lock))
+		die_errno("failed to write new HEAD");
+}
+
+static int del_per_worktree_ref(const char *submodule, const char *refname,
+				MDB_val *val)
+{
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int result;
+
+	/*
+	 * Returning deleted ref data is not yet implemented, but no
+	 * callers need it.
+	 */
+	assert(val == NULL);
+
+	submodule_path(&path, submodule, refname);
+
+	result = unlink(path.buf);
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+	if (result) {
+		if (errno == ENOENT)
+			return 0;
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int mdb_get_or_die(struct lmdb_transaction_info *info, MDB_val *key, MDB_val *val)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	if (ref_type(key->mv_data) != REF_TYPE_NORMAL)
+		return read_per_worktree_ref(info->submodule, key->mv_data, val);
+
+	ret = mdb_get(info->txn, info->dbi, key, val);
+	if (ret) {
+		if (ret != MDB_NOTFOUND)
+			die("mdb_get failed: %s", mdb_strerror(ret));
+		return ret;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int mdb_del_or_die(struct lmdb_transaction_info *info, MDB_val *key, MDB_val *val)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	if (ref_type(key->mv_data) != REF_TYPE_NORMAL)
+		return del_per_worktree_ref(info->submodule, key->mv_data, val);
+
+	ret = mdb_del(info->txn, info->dbi, key, val);
+	if (ret) {
+		if (ret != MDB_NOTFOUND)
+			die("mdb_del failed: %s", mdb_strerror(ret));
+		return ret;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void mdb_put_or_die(struct lmdb_transaction_info *info, MDB_val *key, MDB_val *val, int mode)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	if (ref_type(key->mv_data) != REF_TYPE_NORMAL) {
+		write_per_worktree_ref(info->submodule, key->mv_data, val);
+		return;
+	}
+	assert(val->mv_size == 0 || ((char *)val->mv_data)[val->mv_size - 1] == 0);
+
+	ret = mdb_put(info->txn, info->dbi, key, val, mode);
+	if (ret) {
+		if (ret == MDB_BAD_VALSIZE)
+			die("Ref name %s too long (max size is %d)",
+			    (const char *)key->mv_data,
+			    mdb_env_get_maxkeysize(env));
+		else
+			die("mdb_put failed: %s", mdb_strerror(ret));
+	}
+}
+
+static int mdb_cursor_get_or_die(MDB_cursor *cursor, MDB_val *key, MDB_val *val, int mode)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = mdb_cursor_get(cursor, key, val, mode);
+	if (ret) {
+		if (ret != MDB_NOTFOUND)
+			die("mdb_cursor_get failed: %s", mdb_strerror(ret));
+		return ret;
+	}
+	assert(((char *)val->mv_data)[val->mv_size - 1] == 0);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int mdb_cursor_del_or_die(MDB_cursor *cursor, int flags)
+{
+	int ret = mdb_cursor_del(cursor, flags);
+	if (ret) {
+		if (ret != MDB_NOTFOUND)
+			die("mdb_cursor_del failed: %s", mdb_strerror(ret));
+		return ret;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Begin a transaction. Because only one transaction per thread is
+ * permitted, we use a global transaction object.  If a read-write
+ * transaction is presently already in-progress, and a read-only
+ * transaction is requested, the read-write transaction will be
+ * returned instead.  If a read-write transaction is requested and a
+ * read-only transaction is open, the read-only transaction will be
+ * closed.
+ *
+ * It is a bug to request a read-write transaction during another
+ * read-write transaction.
+ *
+ * As a result, it is unsafe to retain read-only transactions past the
+ * point where a read-write transaction might be needed.  For
+ * instance, any call that has callbacks outside this module must
+ * conclude all of its reads from the database before calling those
+ * callbacks, or must reacquire the transaction after its callbacks
+ * are completed.
+ */
+int lmdb_transaction_begin_flags(struct strbuf *err, unsigned int flags)
+{
+	int ret;
+	MDB_txn *txn;
+	static int last_commands_run = 0;
+	int force_restart = 0;
+
+	init_env(&env, db_path);
+
+	if (total_commands_run != last_commands_run) {
+		/*
+		 * Since each transaction sees a consistent view of
+		 * the db, downstream processes that write the db
+		 * won't be seen in this transaction.  We don't know
+		 * whether any given downstream process has made any
+		 * writes, so if there have been any downstream processes,
+		 * we had better reopen the transaction.
+		 */
+		force_restart = 1;
+		last_commands_run = total_commands_run;
+	}
+
+	if (!transaction.info.txn) {
+		hashmap_init(&transaction.updated_refs, ref_update_cmp, 0);
+		if ((ret = mdb_txn_begin(env, NULL, flags, &txn)) != MDB_SUCCESS) {
+			strbuf_addf(err, "mdb_txn_begin failed: %s",
+				    mdb_strerror(ret));
+			return -1;
+		}
+		if ((ret = mdb_dbi_open(txn, NULL, 0, &transaction.info.dbi)) != MDB_SUCCESS) {
+			strbuf_addf(err, "mdb_txn_open failed: %s",
+				    mdb_strerror(ret));
+			return -1;
+		}
+		transaction.info.txn = txn;
+		transaction.flags = flags;
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	if (transaction.flags == flags && !(flags & MDB_RDONLY)) {
+		die("BUG: rw transaction started during another rw txn");
+	}
+
+	if (force_restart || (transaction.flags != flags && transaction.flags & MDB_RDONLY)) {
+		/*
+		 * RO -> RW, or forced restart due to possible changes
+		 * from downstream processes.
+		 */
+		mdb_txn_abort(transaction.info.txn);
+		if ((ret = mdb_txn_begin(env, NULL, flags, &txn)) != MDB_SUCCESS) {
+			strbuf_addf(err, "restarting txn: mdb_txn_begin failed: %s",
+				    mdb_strerror(ret));
+			return -1;
+		}
+		if ((ret = mdb_dbi_open(txn, NULL, 0, &transaction.info.dbi)) != MDB_SUCCESS) {
+			strbuf_addf(err, "mdb_txn_open failed: %s",
+				    mdb_strerror(ret));
+			return -1;
+		}
+		transaction.info.txn = txn;
+		transaction.flags = flags;
+	}
+	/* RW -> RO just keeps the RW txn */
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static struct ref_transaction *lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(int flags)
+{
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+	if (lmdb_transaction_begin_flags(&err, flags))
+		die("%s", err.buf);
+	return (struct ref_transaction *)&transaction;
+}
+
+static struct ref_transaction *lmdb_transaction_begin(struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	if (lmdb_transaction_begin_flags(err, 0))
+		return NULL;
+	return (struct ref_transaction *)&transaction;
+}
+
+#define MAXDEPTH 5
+
+static const char *parse_ref_data(struct lmdb_transaction_info *info,
+				  const char *refname, const char *ref_data,
+				  unsigned char *sha1, int resolve_flags,
+				  int *flags, int bad_name)
+{
+	int depth = MAXDEPTH;
+	const char *buf;
+	static struct strbuf refname_buffer = STRBUF_INIT;
+	static struct strbuf refdata_buffer = STRBUF_INIT;
+	MDB_val key, val;
+	const char *ret;
+
+	strbuf_reset(&refname_buffer);
+	strbuf_reset(&refdata_buffer);
+
+	for (;;) {
+		if (--depth < 0) {
+			return NULL;
+		}
+
+		if (!starts_with(ref_data, "ref:")) {
+			if (get_sha1_hex(ref_data, sha1) ||
+			    (ref_data[40] != '\0' && !isspace(ref_data[40]))) {
+				if (flags)
+					*flags |= REF_ISBROKEN;
+				errno = EINVAL;
+				return NULL;
+			}
+
+			if (bad_name) {
+				hashclr(sha1);
+				if (flags)
+					*flags |= REF_ISBROKEN;
+			} else if (is_null_sha1(sha1)) {
+				if (flags)
+					*flags |= REF_ISBROKEN;
+			}
+			return refname;
+		}
+		if (flags)
+			*flags |= REF_ISSYMREF;
+		buf = ref_data + 4;
+		while (isspace(*buf))
+			buf++;
+		strbuf_addf(&refname_buffer, buf);
+		refname = refname_buffer.buf;
+		if (resolve_flags & RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE) {
+			hashclr(sha1);
+			return refname;
+		}
+		if (check_refname_format(buf, REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL)) {
+			if (flags)
+				*flags |= REF_ISBROKEN;
+
+			if (!(resolve_flags & RESOLVE_REF_ALLOW_BAD_NAME) ||
+			    !refname_is_safe(buf)) {
+				errno = EINVAL;
+				return NULL;
+			}
+			bad_name = 1;
+		}
+
+		key.mv_data = (char *)refname;
+		key.mv_size = strlen(refname) + 1;
+		if (mdb_get_or_die(info, &key, &val)) {
+			hashclr(sha1);
+			if (bad_name) {
+				if (flags)
+					*flags |= REF_ISBROKEN;
+			}
+			if (resolve_flags & RESOLVE_REF_READING)
+				return NULL;
+
+			return refname;
+		}
+		strbuf_reset(&refdata_buffer);
+		strbuf_add(&refdata_buffer, val.mv_data, val.mv_size);
+		ref_data = refdata_buffer.buf;
+	}
+	return refname;
+}
+
+static int verify_refname_available_txn(struct lmdb_transaction_info *info,
+					const char *refname,
+					struct string_list *extras,
+					struct string_list *skip,
+					struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	MDB_cursor *cursor;
+	MDB_val key;
+	MDB_val val;
+	int mdb_ret;
+	size_t refname_len;
+	char *search_key;
+	const char *extra_refname;
+	int ret = 1;
+	size_t i;
+
+	mdb_cursor_open_or_die(info, &cursor);
+
+	refname_len = strlen(refname) + 2;
+	key.mv_size = refname_len;
+	search_key = xmalloc(refname_len);
+	memcpy(search_key, refname, refname_len - 2);
+	search_key[refname_len - 2] = '/';
+	search_key[refname_len - 1] = 0;
+	key.mv_data = search_key;
+
+	/*
+	 * Check for subdirs of refname: we start at refname/
+	 */
+	mdb_ret = mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_SET_RANGE);
+
+	while (!mdb_ret) {
+		if (starts_with(key.mv_data, refname) &&
+		    ((char*)key.mv_data)[refname_len - 2] == '/') {
+			if (skip && string_list_has_string(skip, key.mv_data))
+				goto next;
+
+			strbuf_addf(err, "'%s' exists; cannot create '%s'", (char *)key.mv_data, refname);
+			goto done;
+		}
+		break;
+	next:
+		mdb_ret = mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_NEXT);
+	}
+
+	/* Check for parent dirs of refname. */
+	for (i = 0; i < refname_len - 2; ++i) {
+		if (search_key[i] == '/') {
+			search_key[i] = 0;
+			if (skip && string_list_has_string(skip, search_key)) {
+				search_key[i] = '/';
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			if (extras && string_list_has_string(extras, search_key)) {
+				strbuf_addf(err, "cannot process '%s' and '%s' at the same time",
+					    refname, search_key);
+				goto done;
+			}
+
+			key.mv_data = search_key;
+			key.mv_size = i + 1;
+			if (!mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_SET)) {
+				strbuf_addf(err, "'%s' exists; cannot create '%s'", (char *)key.mv_data, refname);
+				goto done;
+			}
+			search_key[i] = '/';
+		}
+	}
+
+	extra_refname = find_descendant_ref(refname, extras, skip);
+	if (extra_refname) {
+		strbuf_addf(err,
+			    "cannot process '%s' and '%s' at the same time",
+			    refname, extra_refname);
+		ret = 1;
+	} else {
+		ret = 0;
+	}
+done:
+	mdb_cursor_close(cursor);
+	free(search_key);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+static const char *resolve_ref_unsafe_txn(struct lmdb_transaction_info *info,
+					  const char *refname,
+					  int resolve_flags,
+					  unsigned char *sha1,
+					  int *flags)
+{
+	int bad_name = 0;
+	char *ref_data;
+	struct MDB_val key, val;
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	val.mv_size = 0;
+	val.mv_data = NULL;
+
+	if (flags)
+		*flags = 0;
+
+	if (check_refname_format(refname, REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL)) {
+		if (flags)
+			*flags |= REF_BAD_NAME;
+
+		if (!(resolve_flags & RESOLVE_REF_ALLOW_BAD_NAME) ||
+		    !refname_is_safe(refname)) {
+			errno = EINVAL;
+			return NULL;
+		}
+		/*
+		 * dwim_ref() uses REF_ISBROKEN to distinguish between
+		 * missing refs and refs that were present but invalid,
+		 * to complain about the latter to stderr.
+		 *
+		 * We don't know whether the ref exists, so don't set
+		 * REF_ISBROKEN yet.
+		 */
+		bad_name = 1;
+	}
+
+	key.mv_data = (void *)refname;
+	key.mv_size = strlen(refname) + 1;
+	if (mdb_get_or_die(info, &key, &val)) {
+		if (bad_name) {
+			hashclr(sha1);
+			if (flags)
+				*flags |= REF_ISBROKEN;
+		}
+
+		if (resolve_flags & RESOLVE_REF_READING)
+			return NULL;
+
+		if (verify_refname_available_txn(info, refname, NULL, NULL, &err)) {
+			error("%s", err.buf);
+			strbuf_release(&err);
+			return NULL;
+		}
+
+		hashclr(sha1);
+		return refname;
+	}
+
+	ref_data = val.mv_data;
+	assert(ref_data[val.mv_size - 1] == 0);
+
+	return parse_ref_data(info, refname, ref_data, sha1, resolve_flags,
+			      flags, bad_name);
+}
+
+static const char *lmdb_resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, int resolve_flags,
+					   unsigned char *sha1, int *flags)
+{
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+	return resolve_ref_unsafe_txn(&transaction.info, refname,
+				      resolve_flags, sha1, flags);
+}
+
+static void write_u64(char *buf, uint64_t number)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < 8; ++i)
+		buf[i] = (number >> (i * 8)) & 0xff;
+}
+
+static int show_one_reflog_ent(struct strbuf *sb, each_reflog_ent_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	unsigned char osha1[20], nsha1[20];
+	char *email_end, *message;
+	unsigned long timestamp;
+	int tz;
+
+	/* old (raw) new (raw) name <email> SP time TAB msg LF */
+	if (sb->len < 41 || sb->buf[sb->len - 1] != '\n' ||
+	    !(email_end = strchr(sb->buf + 40, '>')) ||
+	    email_end[1] != ' ' ||
+	    !(timestamp = strtoul(email_end + 2, &message, 10)) ||
+	    !message || message[0] != ' ' ||
+	    (message[1] != '+' && message[1] != '-') ||
+	    !isdigit(message[2]) || !isdigit(message[3]) ||
+	    !isdigit(message[4]) || !isdigit(message[5]))
+		return 0; /* corrupt? */
+
+	hashcpy(osha1, (const unsigned char *)sb->buf);
+	hashcpy(nsha1, (const unsigned char *)sb->buf + 20);
+
+	email_end[1] = '\0';
+	tz = strtol(message + 1, NULL, 10);
+	if (message[6] != '\t')
+		message += 6;
+	else
+		message += 7;
+	return fn(osha1, nsha1, sb->buf + 40, timestamp, tz, message, cb_data);
+}
+
+static void format_reflog_entry(struct strbuf *buf,
+				const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+				const unsigned char *new_sha1,
+				const char *committer, const char *msg)
+{
+	int len;
+	int msglen;
+
+	assert(buf->len == 0);
+	strbuf_add(buf, old_sha1, 20);
+	strbuf_add(buf, new_sha1, 20);
+	strbuf_addstr(buf, committer);
+	strbuf_addch(buf, '\n');
+
+	len = buf->len;
+	msglen = msg ? strlen(msg) : 0;
+	if (msglen) {
+		strbuf_grow(buf, msglen + 1);
+		int copied = copy_reflog_msg(buf->buf + 40 + strlen(committer), msg) - 1;
+		buf->len = len + copied;
+		buf->buf[buf->len] = 0;
+	}
+}
+
+static int log_ref_write(const char *refname,
+			 const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+			 const unsigned char *new_sha1,
+			 const char *msg,
+			 int flags,
+			 struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	MDB_val key, val;
+	uint64_t now = getnanotime();
+	int result;
+	char *log_key;
+	int refname_len;
+	MDB_cursor *cursor;
+	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	const char *timestamp;
+
+	if (log_all_ref_updates < 0)
+		log_all_ref_updates = !is_bare_repository();
+
+	if (ref_type(refname) != REF_TYPE_NORMAL) {
+		return files_log_ref_write(refname, old_sha1, new_sha1,
+					   msg, flags, err);
+	}
+
+	/* it is assumed that we are in a ref transaction here */
+	assert(transaction.info.txn);
+
+	result = safe_create_reflog(refname, flags & REF_FORCE_CREATE_REFLOG, err);
+	if (result)
+		return result;
+
+	/* "logs/" + refname + \0 + 8-byte timestamp for sorting and expiry. */
+	refname_len = strlen(refname);
+	key.mv_size = refname_len + 14;
+	log_key = xcalloc(1, key.mv_size);
+	sprintf(log_key, "logs/%s", refname);
+	key.mv_data = log_key;
+
+	mdb_cursor_open_or_die(&transaction.info, &cursor);
+
+	/* check that a reflog exists */
+	if (mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_SET_RANGE) ||
+	    strcmp(key.mv_data, log_key)) {
+		free(log_key);
+		mdb_cursor_close(cursor);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	/* Is this a header?  We only need the header for empty reflogs */
+	timestamp = (const char *)key.mv_data + refname_len + 6;
+	if (ntohll(*(uint64_t *)timestamp) == 0)
+		mdb_cursor_del_or_die(cursor, 0);
+
+	key.mv_data = log_key;
+
+	write_u64(key.mv_data + refname_len + 6, htonll(now));
+
+	format_reflog_entry(&buf, old_sha1, new_sha1,
+			    git_committer_info(0), msg);
+	assert(buf.len >= 42);
+	val.mv_data = buf.buf;
+	val.mv_size = buf.len + 1;
+
+	mdb_put_or_die(&transaction.info, &key, &val, 0);
+
+	strbuf_release(&buf);
+	free(log_key);
+	mdb_cursor_close(cursor);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_verify_refname_available(const char *refname,
+					 struct string_list *extras,
+					 struct string_list *skip,
+					 struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+	return verify_refname_available_txn(&transaction.info, refname, extras, skip, err);
+}
+
+static const char *check_ref(MDB_txn *txn, const char *refname,
+			     const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+			     unsigned char *resolved_sha1, int flags,
+			     int *type_p)
+{
+	int mustexist = (old_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(old_sha1));
+	int resolve_flags = 0;
+	int type;
+
+	if (mustexist)
+		resolve_flags |= RESOLVE_REF_READING;
+	if (flags & REF_DELETING) {
+		resolve_flags |= RESOLVE_REF_ALLOW_BAD_NAME;
+		if (flags & REF_NODEREF)
+			resolve_flags |= RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE;
+	}
+
+	refname = resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, resolve_flags,
+				     resolved_sha1, &type);
+	if (type_p)
+	    *type_p = type;
+	if (!refname) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	if (old_sha1) {
+		if (flags & REF_NODEREF) {
+			resolve_flags &= ~RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE;
+			resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, resolve_flags,
+					   resolved_sha1, &type);
+		}
+		if (hashcmp(old_sha1, resolved_sha1)) {
+			error("Ref %s is at %s but expected %s", refname,
+			      sha1_to_hex(resolved_sha1), sha1_to_hex(old_sha1));
+
+			return NULL;
+		}
+	}
+	return refname;
+}
+
+int lmdb_transaction_create(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+			    const char *refname,
+			    const unsigned char *new_sha1,
+			    unsigned int flags, const char *msg,
+			    struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	if (!new_sha1 || is_null_sha1(new_sha1))
+		die("BUG: create called without valid new_sha1");
+	return ref_transaction_update(transaction, refname, new_sha1,
+				      null_sha1, flags, msg, err);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_transaction_delete(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				   const char *refname,
+				   const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+				   unsigned int flags, const char *msg,
+				   struct strbuf *err)
+{
+		if (old_sha1 && is_null_sha1(old_sha1))
+		die("BUG: delete called with old_sha1 set to zeros");
+	return ref_transaction_update(transaction, refname,
+				      null_sha1, old_sha1,
+				      flags, msg, err);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_transaction_verify(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				  const char *refname,
+				  const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+				  unsigned int flags,
+				  struct strbuf *err)
+{
+		if (!old_sha1)
+		die("BUG: verify called with old_sha1 set to NULL");
+	return ref_transaction_update(transaction, refname,
+				      NULL, old_sha1,
+				      flags, NULL, err);
+}
+
+static void lmdb_transaction_free_1(struct lmdb_transaction *transaction)
+{
+	hashmap_free(&transaction->updated_refs, 1);
+	transaction->info.txn = NULL;
+}
+
+static void lmdb_transaction_free(struct ref_transaction *trans)
+{
+	struct lmdb_transaction *transaction = (struct lmdb_transaction *)trans;
+	if (!transaction->info.txn)
+		return;
+
+	mdb_txn_abort(transaction->info.txn);
+	lmdb_transaction_free_1(transaction);
+	return;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *trans,
+				   struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct lmdb_transaction *transaction = (struct lmdb_transaction *)trans;
+	int result;
+
+	result = mdb_txn_commit(transaction->info.txn);
+	lmdb_transaction_free_1(transaction);
+	return result;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_delete_reflog(const char *refname)
+{
+	MDB_val key, val;
+	char *log_path;
+	int len;
+	MDB_cursor *cursor;
+	int ret = 0;
+	int mdb_ret;
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int in_transaction;
+
+	if (ref_type(refname) != REF_TYPE_NORMAL)
+		return files_delete_reflog(refname);
+
+	in_transaction = in_write_transaction();
+
+	len = strlen(refname) + 6;
+	log_path = xmalloc(len);
+	sprintf(log_path, "logs/%s", refname);
+
+	key.mv_data = log_path;
+	key.mv_size = len;
+
+	if (!in_transaction)
+		lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(0);
+
+	mdb_cursor_open_or_die(&transaction.info, &cursor);
+
+	mdb_ret = mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_SET_RANGE);
+
+	while (!mdb_ret) {
+		if (key.mv_size < len)
+			break;
+
+		if (!starts_with(key.mv_data, log_path) || ((char*)key.mv_data)[len - 1] != 0)
+			break;
+
+		mdb_cursor_del_or_die(cursor, 0);
+		mdb_ret = mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_NEXT);
+	}
+
+	free(log_path);
+	mdb_cursor_close(cursor);
+	transaction.cursor = NULL;
+
+	if (!in_transaction)
+		lmdb_transaction_commit((struct ref_transaction *)&transaction, &err);
+	strbuf_release(&err);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+#define REF_NO_REFLOG 0x8000
+
+static int lmdb_transaction_update(struct ref_transaction *trans,
+				   const char *refname,
+				   const unsigned char *new_sha1,
+				   const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+				   unsigned int flags, const char *msg,
+				   struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct lmdb_transaction *transaction = (struct lmdb_transaction *)trans;
+	const char *orig_refname = refname;
+	MDB_val key, val;
+	struct ref_update *update, *old;
+	unsigned char resolved_sha1[20];
+	size_t len;
+	int type;
+
+	if (new_sha1)
+		flags |= REF_HAVE_NEW;
+	if (old_sha1)
+		flags |= REF_HAVE_OLD;
+
+	if ((flags & REF_HAVE_NEW) && is_null_sha1(new_sha1))
+		flags |= REF_DELETING;
+
+	if (new_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(new_sha1) &&
+	    check_refname_format(refname, REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL)) {
+		strbuf_addf(err, "refusing to update ref with bad name %s",
+			    refname);
+		return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+	}
+
+	len = strlen(orig_refname);
+	update = xmalloc(sizeof(*update) + len + 1);
+	update->len = len;
+	strcpy(update->refname, orig_refname);
+	hashmap_entry_init(update, memhash(update->refname, len));
+	old = hashmap_put(&(transaction->updated_refs), update);
+	if (old) {
+		strbuf_addf(err, "Multiple updates for ref '%s' not allowed.",
+			    orig_refname);
+		free(old);
+		return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+	}
+
+	refname = check_ref(transaction->info.txn, orig_refname, old_sha1,
+			    resolved_sha1, flags, &type);
+
+	if (refname == NULL) {
+		strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock the ref '%s'", orig_refname);
+		return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+	}
+
+	if (!(flags & REF_DELETING) && is_null_sha1(resolved_sha1) &&
+	    verify_refname_available_txn(&transaction->info, refname, NULL, NULL, err))
+		return TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT;
+
+	if (flags & REF_NODEREF)
+		refname = orig_refname;
+
+	key.mv_size = strlen(refname) + 1;
+	key.mv_data = (void *)refname;
+
+	if ((flags & REF_HAVE_NEW) && !is_null_sha1(new_sha1)) {
+		int overwriting_symref = ((type & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
+					  (flags & REF_NODEREF));
+
+		struct object *o = parse_object(new_sha1);
+		if (!o) {
+			strbuf_addf(err,
+				    "Trying to write ref %s with nonexistent object %s",
+				    refname, sha1_to_hex(new_sha1));
+			return -1;
+		}
+		if (o->type != OBJ_COMMIT && is_branch(refname)) {
+			strbuf_addf(err,
+				    "Trying to write non-commit object %s to branch %s",
+				    sha1_to_hex(new_sha1), refname);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		if (!overwriting_symref
+		    && !hashcmp(resolved_sha1, new_sha1)) {
+			/*
+			 * The reference already has the desired
+			 * value, so we don't need to write it.
+			 */
+			flags |= REF_NO_REFLOG;
+		} else {
+			val.mv_size = 41;
+			if (new_sha1)
+				val.mv_data  = sha1_to_hex(new_sha1);
+			else
+				val.mv_data = sha1_to_hex(null_sha1);
+			mdb_put_or_die(&transaction->info, &key, &val, 0);
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (flags & REF_DELETING) {
+		if (mdb_del_or_die(&transaction->info, &key, NULL)) {
+			if (old_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(old_sha1)) {
+				strbuf_addf(err, "No such ref %s", refname);
+				return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+			}
+		}
+		lmdb_delete_reflog(orig_refname);
+	} else if (!(flags & REF_NO_REFLOG)) {
+		if (log_ref_write(orig_refname, resolved_sha1,
+				  new_sha1 ? new_sha1 : null_sha1,
+				  msg, flags, err) < 0)
+			return -1;
+		if (strcmp (refname, orig_refname) &&
+		    log_ref_write(refname, resolved_sha1,
+				  new_sha1 ? new_sha1 : null_sha1,
+				  msg, flags, err) < 0)
+			return -1;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int rename_reflog_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
+			     const char *email, unsigned long timestamp, int tz,
+			     const char *message, void *cb_data)
+{
+
+	const char *newrefname = cb_data;
+	MDB_val key, new_key, val;
+
+	assert(transaction.cursor);
+
+	if (mdb_cursor_get_or_die(transaction.cursor, &key, &val, MDB_GET_CURRENT))
+		die("renaming ref: mdb_cursor_get failed to get current");
+
+	new_key.mv_size = strlen(newrefname) + 5 + 1 + 8;
+	new_key.mv_data = xmalloc(new_key.mv_size);
+	strcpy(new_key.mv_data, "logs/");
+	strcpy(new_key.mv_data + 5, newrefname);
+	memcpy(new_key.mv_data + new_key.mv_size - 8, key.mv_data + key.mv_size - 8, 8);
+	mdb_put_or_die(&transaction.info, &new_key, &val, 0);
+	mdb_cursor_del_or_die(transaction.cursor, 0);
+	free(new_key.mv_data);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_rename_ref(const char *oldref, const char *newref, const char *logmsg)
+{
+	unsigned char orig_sha1[20];
+	int flag = 0;
+	int log = reflog_exists(oldref);
+	const char *symref = NULL;
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct ref_transaction *ref_transaction;
+
+	assert(!in_write_transaction());
+
+	if (!strcmp(oldref, newref))
+		return 0;
+
+	ref_transaction = lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(0);
+
+	symref = resolve_ref_unsafe(oldref, RESOLVE_REF_READING,
+				    orig_sha1, &flag);
+	if (flag & REF_ISSYMREF)
+		return error("refname %s is a symbolic ref, renaming it is not supported",
+			oldref);
+	if (!symref)
+		return error("refname %s not found", oldref);
+
+	if (!rename_ref_available(oldref, newref))
+		return 1;
+
+	if (log) {
+		struct strbuf old_log_sentinel = STRBUF_INIT;
+		MDB_val key;
+		int log_all;
+
+		log_all = log_all_ref_updates;
+		log_all_ref_updates = 1;
+		if (safe_create_reflog(newref, 0, &err)) {
+			error("can't create reflog for %s: %s", newref, err.buf);
+			strbuf_release(&err);
+			return 1;
+		}
+		log_all_ref_updates = log_all;
+
+		for_each_reflog_ent(oldref, rename_reflog_ent, (void *)newref);
+		strbuf_addf(&old_log_sentinel, "logs/%sxxxxxxxx", oldref);
+		memset(old_log_sentinel.buf + old_log_sentinel.len - 8, 0, 8);
+
+		key.mv_size = old_log_sentinel.len;
+		key.mv_data = old_log_sentinel.buf;
+		/* It's OK if the old reflog is missing */
+		mdb_del_or_die(&transaction.info, &key, NULL);
+
+		strbuf_release(&old_log_sentinel);
+	}
+
+	if (ref_transaction_delete(ref_transaction, oldref,
+		orig_sha1, REF_NODEREF, NULL, &err)) {
+		error("unable to delete old %s", oldref);
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	if (lmdb_transaction_update(ref_transaction, newref, orig_sha1, NULL,
+				    0, logmsg, &err)) {
+		error("%s", err.buf);
+		strbuf_release(&err);
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	if (lmdb_transaction_commit(ref_transaction, &err)) {
+		error("%s", err.buf);
+		strbuf_release(&err);
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_reflog_ent_order(const char *refname,
+					  each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
+					  void *cb_data, int reverse)
+{
+	MDB_val key, val;
+	char *search_key;
+	char *log_path;
+	int len;
+	MDB_cursor *cursor;
+	int ret = 0;
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	enum MDB_cursor_op direction = reverse ? MDB_PREV : MDB_NEXT;
+	uint64_t zero = 0ULL;
+
+	len = strlen(refname) + 6;
+	log_path = xmalloc(len);
+	search_key = xmalloc(len + 1);
+	sprintf(log_path, "logs/%s", refname);
+	strcpy(search_key, log_path);
+
+	if (reverse) {
+		/*
+		 * For a reverse search, start at the key
+		 * lexicographically after the searched-for key.
+		 * That's the one with \001 appended to the key.
+		 */
+
+		search_key[len - 1] = 1;
+		search_key[len] = 0;
+		key.mv_size = len + 1;
+	} else {
+		key.mv_size = len;
+	}
+
+	key.mv_data = search_key;
+
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+
+	mdb_cursor_open_or_die(&transaction.info, &cursor);
+
+	transaction.cursor = cursor;
+
+	/*
+	 * MDB's cursor API requires that the first mdb_cursor_get be
+	 * called with MDB_SET_RANGE.  For reverse searches, this will
+	 * give us the entry one-past the entry we're looking for, so
+	 * we should jump back using MDB_PREV.
+	 */
+	mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_SET_RANGE);
+	if (direction == MDB_PREV)
+		mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, direction);
+
+	do {
+		if (key.mv_size < len)
+			break;
+
+		if (!starts_with(key.mv_data, log_path) || ((char *)key.mv_data)[len - 1] != 0)
+			break;
+
+		if (!memcmp(&zero, ((char *)key.mv_data) + key.mv_size - 8, 8))
+			continue;
+
+		assert(val.mv_size != 0);
+
+		strbuf_add(&sb, val.mv_data, val.mv_size - 1);
+		ret = show_one_reflog_ent(&sb, fn, cb_data);
+		if (ret)
+			break;
+
+		strbuf_reset(&sb);
+	} while (!mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, direction));
+
+	strbuf_release(&sb);
+	free(log_path);
+	free(search_key);
+	mdb_cursor_close(cursor);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_reflog_ent(const char *refname,
+				    each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
+				    void *cb_data)
+{
+	if (ref_type(refname) != REF_TYPE_NORMAL)
+		return files_for_each_reflog_ent(refname, fn, cb_data);
+	return lmdb_for_each_reflog_ent_order(refname, fn, cb_data, 0);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(const char *refname,
+					    each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
+					    void *cb_data)
+{
+	if (ref_type(refname) != REF_TYPE_NORMAL)
+		return files_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(refname, fn, cb_data);
+	return lmdb_for_each_reflog_ent_order(refname, fn, cb_data, 1);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_reflog_exists(const char *refname)
+{
+	MDB_val key, val;
+	char *log_path;
+	int len;
+	MDB_cursor *cursor;
+	int ret = 1;
+
+	if (ref_type(refname) != REF_TYPE_NORMAL)
+		return files_reflog_exists(refname);
+
+	len = strlen(refname) + 6;
+	log_path = xmalloc(len);
+	sprintf(log_path, "logs/%s", refname);
+
+	key.mv_data = log_path;
+	key.mv_size = len;
+
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+	mdb_cursor_open_or_die(&transaction.info, &cursor);
+
+	if (mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_SET_RANGE)) {
+		ret = 0;
+	} else if (!starts_with(key.mv_data, log_path)) {
+		ret = 0;
+	}
+
+	free(log_path);
+	mdb_cursor_close(cursor);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+struct wrapped_each_ref_fn {
+	each_ref_fn *fn;
+	void *cb_data;
+};
+
+static int check_reflog(const char *refname,
+			const struct object_id *oid, int flags, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct wrapped_each_ref_fn *wrapped = cb_data;
+
+	if (reflog_exists(refname))
+		return wrapped->fn(refname, oid, 0, wrapped->cb_data);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_reflog(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct wrapped_each_ref_fn wrapped = {fn, cb_data};
+	int result = head_ref(fn, cb_data);
+	if (result)
+	    return result;
+	return for_each_ref(check_reflog, &wrapped);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_create_reflog(const char *refname, int force_create, struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	/*
+	 * We mark that there is a reflog by creating a key of the
+	 * form logs/$refname followed by nine \0 (one for
+	 * string-termination, 8 in lieu of a timestamp), with an empty
+	 * value.
+	 */
+
+	int in_transaction = in_write_transaction();
+	MDB_val key, val;
+
+	if (!force_create && !should_autocreate_reflog(refname))
+		return 0;
+
+	if (!in_transaction)
+		lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(0);
+
+	key.mv_size = strlen(refname) + 5 + 1 + 8;
+	key.mv_data = xcalloc(1, key.mv_size);
+	sprintf((char *)key.mv_data, "logs/%s", refname);
+	val.mv_size = 0;
+	val.mv_data = NULL;
+	mdb_put_or_die(&transaction.info, &key, &val, 0);
+
+	free(key.mv_data);
+	if (!in_transaction)
+		return lmdb_transaction_commit(
+			(struct ref_transaction *)&transaction, err);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+struct expire_reflog_cb {
+	unsigned int flags;
+	reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn *should_prune_fn;
+	void *policy_cb;
+	unsigned char last_kept_sha1[20];
+};
+
+static int expire_reflog_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
+			     const char *email, unsigned long timestamp, int tz,
+			     const char *message, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct expire_reflog_cb *cb = cb_data;
+	struct expire_reflog_policy_cb *policy_cb = cb->policy_cb;
+
+	if (cb->flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_REWRITE)
+		osha1 = cb->last_kept_sha1;
+
+	if ((*cb->should_prune_fn)(osha1, nsha1, email, timestamp, tz,
+				   message, policy_cb)) {
+		if (cb->flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_DRY_RUN)
+			printf("would prune %s", message);
+		else {
+			if (cb->flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_VERBOSE)
+				printf("prune %s", message);
+
+			mdb_cursor_del_or_die(transaction.cursor, 0);
+		}
+	} else {
+		hashcpy(cb->last_kept_sha1, nsha1);
+		if (cb->flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_VERBOSE)
+			printf("keep %s", message);
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int write_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1)
+{
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct ref_transaction *transaction;
+
+	transaction = lmdb_transaction_begin(&err);
+	if (!transaction) {
+		error("%s", err.buf);
+		strbuf_release(&err);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (lmdb_transaction_update(transaction, refname, sha1, NULL,
+				    REF_NO_REFLOG, NULL, &err)) {
+		error("%s", err.buf);
+		strbuf_release(&err);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (lmdb_transaction_commit(transaction, &err)) {
+		error("%s", err.buf);
+		strbuf_release(&err);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int lmdb_reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
+		       unsigned int flags,
+		       reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
+		       reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
+		       reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
+		       void *policy_cb_data)
+{
+	struct expire_reflog_cb cb;
+	int dry_run = flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_DRY_RUN;
+	int status = 0;
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+	unsigned char resolved_sha1[20];
+	int type;
+
+	if (ref_type(refname) != REF_TYPE_NORMAL)
+		return files_reflog_expire(refname, sha1, flags, prepare_fn,
+					   should_prune_fn, cleanup_fn,
+					   policy_cb_data);
+
+	memset(&cb, 0, sizeof(cb));
+	cb.flags = flags;
+	cb.policy_cb = policy_cb_data;
+	cb.should_prune_fn = should_prune_fn;
+
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(dry_run ? MDB_RDONLY : 0);
+
+	check_ref(transaction.info.txn, refname, sha1,
+		  resolved_sha1, 0, &type);
+
+	(*prepare_fn)(refname, sha1, cb.policy_cb);
+	lmdb_for_each_reflog_ent(refname, expire_reflog_ent, &cb);
+	(*cleanup_fn)(cb.policy_cb);
+
+	if (!dry_run) {
+		/*
+		 * It doesn't make sense to adjust a reference pointed
+		 * to by a symbolic ref based on expiring entries in
+		 * the symbolic reference's reflog. Nor can we update
+		 * a reference if there are no remaining reflog
+		 * entries.
+		 */
+		int update = (flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_UPDATE_REF) &&
+			!(type & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
+			!is_null_sha1(cb.last_kept_sha1);
+
+		if (lmdb_transaction_commit(
+			    (struct ref_transaction *)&transaction, &err)) {
+			status |= error("couldn't write logs/%s: %s", refname,
+					err.buf);
+			strbuf_release(&err);
+		} else if (update &&
+			   write_ref(refname, cb.last_kept_sha1)) {
+			status |= error("couldn't set %s",
+					refname);
+		}
+	}
+	return status;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_pack_refs(unsigned int flags)
+{
+	/* This concept does not exist in this backend. */
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_peel_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1)
+{
+	int flag;
+	unsigned char base[20];
+
+	if (read_ref_full(refname, RESOLVE_REF_READING, base, &flag))
+		return -1;
+
+	return peel_object(base, sha1);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_create_symref(struct ref_transaction *trans,
+			      const char *ref_target,
+			      const char *refs_heads_master,
+			      const char *logmsg)
+{
+
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+	unsigned char old_sha1[20], new_sha1[20];
+	MDB_val key, val;
+	char *valdata;
+	struct lmdb_transaction *transaction = (struct lmdb_transaction *)trans;
+
+	if (logmsg && read_ref(ref_target, old_sha1))
+		hashclr(old_sha1);
+
+	key.mv_size = strlen(ref_target) + 1;
+	key.mv_data = xstrdup(ref_target);
+
+	val.mv_size = strlen(refs_heads_master) + 1 + 5;
+	valdata = xmalloc(val.mv_size);
+	sprintf(valdata, "ref: %s", refs_heads_master);
+	val.mv_data = valdata;
+
+	mdb_put_or_die(&transaction->info, &key, &val, 0);
+
+	if (logmsg && !read_ref(refs_heads_master, new_sha1) &&
+	    log_ref_write(ref_target, old_sha1, new_sha1, logmsg, 0, &err)) {
+		error("log_ref_write failed: %s", err.buf);
+		strbuf_release(&err);
+	}
+
+	free(key.mv_data);
+	free(valdata);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+MDB_env *submodule_txn_begin(struct lmdb_transaction_info *info)
+{
+	int ret;
+	MDB_env *submodule_env = NULL;
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	strbuf_git_path_submodule(&path, info->submodule, "refdb");
+
+	if (!is_directory(path.buf))
+		goto done;
+
+	mkdir(path.buf, 0775);
+
+	init_env(&submodule_env, path.buf);
+
+	if ((ret = mdb_txn_begin(submodule_env, NULL, MDB_RDONLY, &info->txn)) != MDB_SUCCESS) {
+		die("mdb_txn_begin failed: %s", mdb_strerror(ret));
+
+	}
+	if ((ret = mdb_dbi_open(info->txn, NULL, 0, &info->dbi)) != MDB_SUCCESS) {
+		die("mdb_txn_open failed: %s", mdb_strerror(ret));
+	}
+
+done:
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+	return submodule_env;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_resolve_gitlink_ref(const char *submodule, const char *refname,
+				     unsigned char *sha1)
+{
+	struct lmdb_transaction_info info;
+	MDB_env *submodule_env;
+	int result;
+
+	info.txn = NULL;
+	info.submodule = submodule;
+	submodule_env = submodule_txn_begin(&info);
+	if (!submodule_env)
+		return -1;
+	result = !resolve_ref_unsafe_txn(&info, refname,
+					 RESOLVE_REF_READING, sha1, NULL);
+
+	mdb_txn_abort(info.txn);
+	mdb_env_close(submodule_env);
+	return result ? -1 : 0;
+}
+
+static int do_head_ref(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct object_id oid;
+	int flag;
+
+	if (submodule) {
+		if (resolve_gitlink_ref(submodule, "HEAD", oid.hash) == 0)
+			return fn("HEAD", &oid, 0, cb_data);
+
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	if (!read_ref_full("HEAD", RESOLVE_REF_READING, oid.hash, &flag))
+		return fn("HEAD", &oid, flag, cb_data);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_head_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	return do_head_ref(NULL, fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_head_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn,
+				    void *cb_data)
+{
+	return do_head_ref(submodule, fn, cb_data);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Call fn for each reference for which the refname begins with base.
+ * If trim is non-zero, then trim that many characters off the
+ * beginning of each refname before passing the refname to fn.  flags
+ * can be DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN to include broken references in
+ * the iteration.  If fn ever returns a non-zero value, stop the
+ * iteration and return that value; otherwise, return 0.
+ */
+static int do_for_each_ref(struct lmdb_transaction_info *info,
+			   const char *base, each_ref_fn fn, int trim,
+			   int flags, void *cb_data)
+{
+
+	MDB_val key, val;
+	MDB_cursor *cursor;
+	int baselen;
+	char *search_key;
+	int retval;
+	int mdb_ret;
+
+	retval = do_for_each_per_worktree_ref(info->submodule, base, fn, trim,
+					      flags, cb_data);
+	if (retval)
+		return retval;
+
+	if (ref_paranoia < 0)
+		ref_paranoia = git_env_bool("GIT_REF_PARANOIA", 0);
+	if (ref_paranoia)
+		flags |= DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN;
+
+	if (!base || !*base) {
+		base = "refs/";
+		trim = 0;
+	}
+
+	baselen = strlen(base);
+	search_key = xmalloc(baselen + 1);
+	strcpy(search_key, base);
+	key.mv_size = baselen + 1;
+	key.mv_data = search_key;
+
+	mdb_cursor_open_or_die(info, &cursor);
+
+	mdb_ret = mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_SET_RANGE);
+
+	while (!mdb_ret) {
+		struct object_id oid;
+		int parsed_flags = 0;
+
+		if (memcmp(key.mv_data, base, baselen))
+			break;
+
+		parse_ref_data(info, key.mv_data + (trim ? baselen : 0),
+			       val.mv_data, oid.hash, 0, &parsed_flags, 0);
+
+		if (flags & DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN ||
+		    (!(parsed_flags & REF_ISBROKEN) &&
+		     has_sha1_file(oid.hash))) {
+			retval = fn(key.mv_data + (trim ? baselen : 0), &oid, parsed_flags, cb_data);
+			if (retval)
+				break;
+		}
+
+		mdb_ret = mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_NEXT);
+	}
+
+	mdb_cursor_close(cursor);
+	free(search_key);
+
+	return retval;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+	return do_for_each_ref(&transaction.info, "", fn, 0, 0, cb_data);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_ref_submodule(const char *submodule, each_ref_fn fn,
+					void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct lmdb_transaction_info info;
+	MDB_env *submodule_env;
+	int result;
+
+	if (!submodule)
+		return for_each_ref(fn, cb_data);
+
+	info.txn = NULL;
+	info.submodule = submodule;
+
+	submodule_env = submodule_txn_begin(&info);
+	if (!submodule_env)
+		return 0;
+	result = do_for_each_ref(&info, "", fn, 0, 0, cb_data);
+	mdb_txn_abort(info.txn);
+	mdb_env_close(submodule_env);
+	return result;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_ref_in(const char *prefix, each_ref_fn fn,
+				 void *cb_data)
+{
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+	return do_for_each_ref(&transaction.info, prefix, fn, strlen(prefix),
+			       0, cb_data);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_fullref_in(const char *prefix, each_ref_fn fn,
+				     void *cb_data, unsigned int broken)
+{
+	unsigned int flag = 0;
+
+	if (broken)
+		flag = DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN;
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+	return do_for_each_ref(&transaction.info, prefix, fn, 0, flag, cb_data);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_ref_in_submodule(const char *submodule,
+					   const char *prefix,
+					   each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct lmdb_transaction_info info = {NULL};
+	MDB_env *submodule_env;
+	int result;
+
+	if (!submodule)
+		return for_each_ref_in(prefix, fn, cb_data);
+
+	info.submodule = submodule;
+	submodule_env = submodule_txn_begin(&info);
+	if (!submodule_env)
+		return 0;
+	result = do_for_each_ref(&info, prefix, fn,
+				 strlen(prefix), 0, cb_data);
+	mdb_txn_abort(info.txn);
+	mdb_env_close(submodule_env);
+	return result;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_replace_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+	return do_for_each_ref(&transaction.info, git_replace_ref_base, fn,
+			       strlen(git_replace_ref_base), 0, cb_data);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_reftype_fullpath(each_ref_fn fn, char *type, unsigned int broken, void *cb_data)
+{
+	unsigned int flag = 0;
+
+	if (broken)
+		flag = DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN;
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+	return do_for_each_ref(&transaction.info, type, fn, 0, flag, cb_data);
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_namespaced_ref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int ret;
+	strbuf_addf(&buf, "%srefs/", get_git_namespace());
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+	ret = do_for_each_ref(&transaction.info, buf.buf, fn, 0, 0, cb_data);
+	strbuf_release(&buf);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+static int lmdb_for_each_rawref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
+{
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+	return do_for_each_ref(&transaction.info, "", fn, 0,
+			       DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN, cb_data);
+}
+
+/* For testing only! */
+int test_refdb_raw_read(const char *key)
+{
+	MDB_val key_val, val;
+	char *keydup;
+	int ret;
+
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(MDB_RDONLY);
+	keydup = xstrdup(key);
+	key_val.mv_data = keydup;
+	key_val.mv_size = strlen(key) + 1;
+
+	ret = mdb_get_or_die(&transaction.info, &key_val, &val);
+	free(keydup);
+	switch (ret) {
+	case 0:
+		printf("%s\n", (char *)val.mv_data);
+		return 0;
+	case MDB_NOTFOUND:
+		fprintf(stderr, "%s not found\n", key);
+		return 1;
+	default:
+		return 2;
+	}
+}
+
+/* For testing only! */
+void test_refdb_raw_write(const char *key, const char *value)
+{
+	MDB_val key_val, val;
+	char *keydup, *valdup;
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(0);
+
+	keydup = xstrdup(key);
+	key_val.mv_data = keydup;
+	key_val.mv_size = strlen(key) + 1;
+
+	valdup = xstrdup(value);
+	val.mv_data = valdup;
+	val.mv_size = strlen(value) + 1;
+
+	mdb_put_or_die(&transaction.info, &key_val, &val, 0);
+	assert(lmdb_transaction_commit((struct ref_transaction *)&transaction,
+				       &err) == 0);
+
+	free(keydup);
+	free(valdup);
+}
+
+/* For testing only! */
+int test_refdb_raw_delete(const char *key)
+{
+	MDB_val key_val;
+	char *keydup;
+	int ret;
+
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(0);
+	keydup = xstrdup(key);
+	key_val.mv_data = keydup;
+	key_val.mv_size = strlen(key) + 1;
+
+	ret = mdb_del_or_die(&transaction.info, &key_val, NULL);
+
+	assert(lmdb_transaction_commit((struct lmdb_transaction *)&transaction,
+				       &err) == 0);
+
+	free(keydup);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+static int print_raw_reflog_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
+				const char *email, unsigned long timestamp,
+				int tz, const char *message, void *cb_data)
+{
+	int *any = cb_data;
+	*any = 1;
+
+	if (*message != '\n')
+		printf("%s %s %s %lu %+05d\t%s", sha1_to_hex(osha1),
+		       sha1_to_hex(nsha1),
+		       email, timestamp, tz, message);
+	else
+		printf("%s %s %s %lu %+05d\n", sha1_to_hex(osha1),
+		       sha1_to_hex(nsha1),
+		       email, timestamp, tz);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/* For testing only! */
+int test_refdb_raw_reflog(const char *refname)
+{
+	MDB_val key, val;
+	char *search_key;
+	char *log_path;
+	int len;
+	MDB_cursor *cursor;
+	int result = 1;
+	int any = 0;
+
+	for_each_reflog_ent(refname, print_raw_reflog_ent, &any);
+
+	return !any;
+}
+
+/* For testing only! */
+void test_refdb_raw_delete_reflog(char *refname)
+{
+	MDB_val key, val;
+	int mdb_ret;
+	char *search_key;
+	MDB_cursor *cursor;
+	int len;
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	if (refname) {
+		len = strlen(refname) + 5 + 1; /* logs/ + 0*/
+		search_key = xmalloc(len);
+		sprintf(search_key, "logs/%s", refname);
+	} else {
+		len = 6; /* logs/ + 0*/
+		search_key = xstrdup("logs/");
+	}
+	key.mv_data = search_key;
+	key.mv_size = len;
+
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(0);
+
+	mdb_cursor_open_or_die(&transaction.info, &cursor);
+
+	mdb_ret = mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_SET_RANGE);
+	while (!mdb_ret) {
+		if (!starts_with(key.mv_data, search_key))
+			break;
+		if (refname && ((char *)val.mv_data)[len - 1] == 0)
+			break;
+
+		mdb_cursor_del_or_die(cursor, 0);
+		mdb_ret = mdb_cursor_get_or_die(cursor, &key, &val, MDB_NEXT);
+	}
+
+	free(search_key);
+	mdb_cursor_close(cursor);
+
+	assert(lmdb_transaction_commit(
+		       (struct ref_transaction *)&transaction, &err) == 0);
+	return;
+}
+
+static void format_lmdb_reflog_ent(struct strbuf *dst, struct strbuf *src)
+{
+	unsigned char osha1[20], nsha1[20];
+	const char *msg;
+
+	get_sha1_hex(src->buf, osha1);
+	get_sha1_hex(src->buf + 41, nsha1);
+
+	msg = strchr(src->buf + 82, '\n');
+	assert(msg);
+	msg += 1;
+
+	format_reflog_entry(dst, osha1, nsha1, src->buf + 82, msg);
+}
+
+/* For testing only! */
+void test_refdb_raw_append_reflog(const char *refname)
+{
+	struct strbuf input = STRBUF_INIT;
+	uint64_t now = getnanotime();
+	MDB_val key, val;
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	key.mv_size = strlen(refname) + 14;
+	key.mv_data = xcalloc(1, key.mv_size);
+	sprintf(key.mv_data, "logs/%s", refname);
+
+	lmdb_transaction_begin_flags_or_die(0);
+
+	/* We do not remove the header here, because this is just for
+	 * tests, so it's OK to be a bit inefficient */
+
+	while (strbuf_getwholeline(&input, stdin, '\n') != EOF) {
+		struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+		/* "logs/" + \0 + 8-byte timestamp for sorting and expiry */
+		write_u64(key.mv_data + key.mv_size - 8, htonll(now++));
+
+		/* Convert the input from files-reflog format to
+		 * lmdb-reflog-format */
+
+		format_lmdb_reflog_ent(&sb, &input);
+		val.mv_data = sb.buf;
+		val.mv_size = sb.len + 1;
+		mdb_put_or_die(&transaction.info, &key, &val, 0);
+		strbuf_reset(&sb);
+		input.len = 0;
+	}
+
+	assert(lmdb_transaction_commit(&transaction, &err) == 0);
+	free(key.mv_data);
+}
+
+struct ref_be refs_be_lmdb = {
+	NULL,
+	"lmdb",
+	lmdb_init_backend,
+	lmdb_initdb,
+	lmdb_transaction_begin,
+	lmdb_transaction_update,
+	lmdb_transaction_create,
+	lmdb_transaction_delete,
+	lmdb_transaction_verify,
+	lmdb_transaction_commit,
+	lmdb_transaction_commit, /* initial commit */
+	lmdb_transaction_free,
+	lmdb_rename_ref,
+	lmdb_for_each_reflog_ent,
+	lmdb_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse,
+	lmdb_for_each_reflog,
+	lmdb_reflog_exists,
+	lmdb_create_reflog,
+	lmdb_delete_reflog,
+	lmdb_reflog_expire,
+	lmdb_resolve_ref_unsafe,
+	lmdb_verify_refname_available,
+	lmdb_pack_refs,
+	lmdb_peel_ref,
+	lmdb_create_symref,
+	lmdb_resolve_gitlink_ref,
+	lmdb_head_ref,
+	lmdb_head_ref_submodule,
+	lmdb_for_each_ref,
+	lmdb_for_each_ref_submodule,
+	lmdb_for_each_ref_in,
+	lmdb_for_each_fullref_in,
+	lmdb_for_each_ref_in_submodule,
+	lmdb_for_each_rawref,
+	lmdb_for_each_namespaced_ref,
+	lmdb_for_each_replace_ref,
+	lmdb_for_each_reftype_fullpath,
+};
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index ac88371..f499093 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -641,6 +641,15 @@ extern int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 			 reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
 			 void *policy_cb_data);
 
+/*
+ * Read the refdb configuration data out of the config file
+ */
+struct refdb_config_data {
+	const char *refs_backend_type;
+	const char *refs_base;
+};
+int refdb_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *ptr);
+
 /* refs backends */
 typedef void (*ref_backend_init_fn)(void *data);
 typedef int (*ref_backend_initdb_fn)(struct strbuf *err, int shared);
@@ -763,6 +772,7 @@ struct ref_be {
 
 
 extern struct ref_be refs_be_files;
+extern struct ref_be refs_be_lmdb;
 int set_refs_backend(const char *name, void *init_data);
 void register_refs_backend(struct ref_be *be);
 
diff --git a/setup.c b/setup.c
index b264471..3e31112 100644
--- a/setup.c
+++ b/setup.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "dir.h"
+#include "refs.h"
 #include "string-list.h"
 
 static int inside_git_dir = -1;
@@ -262,16 +263,26 @@ int get_common_dir_noenv(struct strbuf *sb, const char *gitdir)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+int refdb_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *ptr)
+{
+       struct refdb_config_data *cdata = ptr;
+
+       if (!strcmp(var, "core.refs-backend-type"))
+	       cdata->refs_backend_type = strdup((char *)value);
+       return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Test if it looks like we're at a git directory.
  * We want to see:
  *
  *  - either an objects/ directory _or_ the proper
  *    GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY environment variable
- *  - a refs/ directory
- *  - either a HEAD symlink or a HEAD file that is formatted as
- *    a proper "ref:", or a regular file HEAD that has a properly
- *    formatted sha1 object name.
+ *  - a refdb/ directory or
+ *    - a refs/ directory
+ *    - either a HEAD symlink or a HEAD file that is formatted as
+ *      a proper "ref:", or a regular file HEAD that has a properly
+ *      formatted sha1 object name.
  */
 int is_git_directory(const char *suspect)
 {
@@ -302,8 +313,13 @@ int is_git_directory(const char *suspect)
 
 	strbuf_setlen(&path, len);
 	strbuf_addstr(&path, "/refs");
-	if (access(path.buf, X_OK))
-		goto done;
+
+	if (access(path.buf, X_OK)) {
+		strbuf_setlen(&path, len);
+		strbuf_addstr(&path, "/refdb");
+		if (access(path.buf, X_OK))
+			goto done;
+	}
 
 	ret = 1;
 done:
diff --git a/test-refs-be-lmdb.c b/test-refs-be-lmdb.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb875ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test-refs-be-lmdb.c
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+#include "cache.h"
+#include "string-list.h"
+#include "parse-options.h"
+#include "refs.h"
+
+static const char * const test_refs_be_lmdb_usage[] = {
+	"git test-refs-be-lmdb <key>",
+	"git test-refs-be-lmdb <key> <value>",
+	NULL,
+};
+
+int test_refdb_raw_read(const char *key);
+void test_refdb_raw_write(const char *key, const char *value);
+int test_refdb_raw_reflog(const char *refname);
+int test_refdb_raw_delete(const char *key);
+void test_refdb_raw_delete_reflog(const char *refname);
+void test_refdb_raw_append_reflog(const char *refname);
+
+int main(int argc, const char **argv)
+{
+	const char *delete = NULL;
+	const char *reflog = NULL;
+	const char *append_reflog = NULL;
+	int delete_missing_error = 0;
+	int clear_reflog = 0;
+	struct refdb_config_data config_data = {NULL};
+
+	struct option options[] = {
+		OPT_STRING('d', NULL, &delete, "branch", "delete refdb entry"),
+		OPT_STRING('l', NULL, &reflog, "branch", "show reflog"),
+		OPT_STRING('a', NULL, &append_reflog, "branch", "append to reflog"),
+		OPT_BOOL('c', NULL, &clear_reflog, "delete reflog. If a branch is provided, the reflog for that branch will be deleted; else all reflogs will be deleted."),
+		OPT_BOOL('x', NULL, &delete_missing_error,
+			 "deleting a missing key is an error"),
+		OPT_END(),
+	};
+
+	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, "", options, test_refs_be_lmdb_usage,
+			     0);
+
+	if (!append_reflog && !clear_reflog && !delete && !reflog && argc != 1 && argc != 2)
+		usage_with_options(test_refs_be_lmdb_usage,
+				   options);
+
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
+
+	config_data.refs_backend_type = "lmdb";
+	config_data.refs_base = get_git_dir();
+
+	register_refs_backend(&refs_be_lmdb);
+	set_refs_backend("lmdb", &config_data);
+
+	if (clear_reflog) {
+		test_refdb_raw_delete_reflog(argv[0]);
+	} else if (append_reflog) {
+		test_refdb_raw_append_reflog(append_reflog);
+	} else if (reflog) {
+		return test_refdb_raw_reflog(reflog);
+	} else if (delete) {
+		if (test_refdb_raw_delete(delete) && delete_missing_error)
+			return 1;
+	} else if (argc == 1) {
+		return test_refdb_raw_read(argv[0]);
+	} else {
+		test_refdb_raw_write(argv[0], argv[1]);
+	}
+	return 0;
+}