void create_branch(const char *head, const char *name, const char *start_name,
int force, int reflog, enum branch_track track);
+/*
+ * Validates that the requested branch may be created, returning the
+ * interpreted ref in ref, force indicates whether (non-head) branches
+ * may be overwritten. A non-zero return value indicates that the force
+ * parameter was non-zero and the branch already exists.
+ */
+int validate_new_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, int force);
+
/*
* Remove information about the state of working on the current
* branch. (E.g., MERGE_HEAD)