lock_ref_for_update(): make error handling more uniform
[gitweb.git] / refs / files-backend.c
index b865ba5221ed30346b7d23425a04b7956150c84c..6f8fecd024d177afe2427d58fae603c52a4ee156 100644 (file)
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 
 struct ref_lock {
        char *ref_name;
-       char *orig_ref_name;
        struct lock_file *lk;
        struct object_id old_oid;
 };
@@ -1269,8 +1268,6 @@ static struct ref_dir *get_loose_refs(struct ref_cache *refs)
        return get_ref_dir(refs->loose);
 }
 
-/* We allow "recursive" symbolic refs. Only within reason, though */
-#define MAXDEPTH 5
 #define MAXREFLEN (1024)
 
 /*
@@ -1300,7 +1297,7 @@ static int resolve_gitlink_ref_recursive(struct ref_cache *refs,
        char buffer[128], *p;
        char *path;
 
-       if (recursion > MAXDEPTH || strlen(refname) > MAXREFLEN)
+       if (recursion > SYMREF_MAXDEPTH || strlen(refname) > MAXREFLEN)
                return -1;
        path = *refs->name
                ? git_pathdup_submodule(refs->name, "%s", refname)
@@ -1372,7 +1369,7 @@ static struct ref_entry *get_packed_ref(const char *refname)
  */
 static int resolve_missing_loose_ref(const char *refname,
                                     unsigned char *sha1,
-                                    int *flags)
+                                    unsigned int *flags)
 {
        struct ref_entry *entry;
 
@@ -1390,186 +1387,366 @@ static int resolve_missing_loose_ref(const char *refname,
        return -1;
 }
 
-/* This function needs to return a meaningful errno on failure */
-static const char *resolve_ref_1(const char *refname,
-                                int resolve_flags,
-                                unsigned char *sha1,
-                                int *flags,
-                                struct strbuf *sb_refname,
-                                struct strbuf *sb_path,
-                                struct strbuf *sb_contents)
+int read_raw_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1,
+                struct strbuf *referent, unsigned int *type)
 {
-       int symref_count;
+       struct strbuf sb_contents = STRBUF_INIT;
+       struct strbuf sb_path = STRBUF_INIT;
+       const char *path;
+       const char *buf;
+       struct stat st;
+       int fd;
+       int ret = -1;
+       int save_errno;
 
-       *flags = 0;
+       *type = 0;
+       strbuf_reset(&sb_path);
+       strbuf_git_path(&sb_path, "%s", refname);
+       path = sb_path.buf;
 
-       if (check_refname_format(refname, REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL)) {
-               if (!(resolve_flags & RESOLVE_REF_ALLOW_BAD_NAME) ||
-                   !refname_is_safe(refname)) {
-                       errno = EINVAL;
-                       return NULL;
+stat_ref:
+       /*
+        * We might have to loop back here to avoid a race
+        * condition: first we lstat() the file, then we try
+        * to read it as a link or as a file.  But if somebody
+        * changes the type of the file (file <-> directory
+        * <-> symlink) between the lstat() and reading, then
+        * we don't want to report that as an error but rather
+        * try again starting with the lstat().
+        */
+
+       if (lstat(path, &st) < 0) {
+               if (errno != ENOENT)
+                       goto out;
+               if (resolve_missing_loose_ref(refname, sha1, type)) {
+                       errno = ENOENT;
+                       goto out;
                }
+               ret = 0;
+               goto out;
+       }
+
+       /* Follow "normalized" - ie "refs/.." symlinks by hand */
+       if (S_ISLNK(st.st_mode)) {
+               strbuf_reset(&sb_contents);
+               if (strbuf_readlink(&sb_contents, path, 0) < 0) {
+                       if (errno == ENOENT || errno == EINVAL)
+                               /* inconsistent with lstat; retry */
+                               goto stat_ref;
+                       else
+                               goto out;
+               }
+               if (starts_with(sb_contents.buf, "refs/") &&
+                   !check_refname_format(sb_contents.buf, 0)) {
+                       strbuf_swap(&sb_contents, referent);
+                       *type |= REF_ISSYMREF;
+                       ret = 0;
+                       goto out;
+               }
+       }
 
+       /* Is it a directory? */
+       if (S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
                /*
-                * 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.
+                * Even though there is a directory where the loose
+                * ref is supposed to be, there could still be a
+                * packed ref:
                 */
-               *flags |= REF_BAD_NAME;
+               if (resolve_missing_loose_ref(refname, sha1, type)) {
+                       errno = EISDIR;
+                       goto out;
+               }
+               ret = 0;
+               goto out;
        }
 
-       for (symref_count = 0; symref_count < MAXDEPTH; symref_count++) {
-               const char *path;
-               struct stat st;
-               int fd;
+       /*
+        * Anything else, just open it and try to use it as
+        * a ref
+        */
+       fd = open(path, O_RDONLY);
+       if (fd < 0) {
+               if (errno == ENOENT)
+                       /* inconsistent with lstat; retry */
+                       goto stat_ref;
+               else
+                       goto out;
+       }
+       strbuf_reset(&sb_contents);
+       if (strbuf_read(&sb_contents, fd, 256) < 0) {
+               int save_errno = errno;
+               close(fd);
+               errno = save_errno;
+               goto out;
+       }
+       close(fd);
+       strbuf_rtrim(&sb_contents);
+       buf = sb_contents.buf;
+       if (starts_with(buf, "ref:")) {
+               buf += 4;
+               while (isspace(*buf))
+                       buf++;
+
+               strbuf_reset(referent);
+               strbuf_addstr(referent, buf);
+               *type |= REF_ISSYMREF;
+               ret = 0;
+               goto out;
+       }
 
-               strbuf_reset(sb_path);
-               strbuf_git_path(sb_path, "%s", refname);
-               path = sb_path->buf;
+       /*
+        * Please note that FETCH_HEAD has additional
+        * data after the sha.
+        */
+       if (get_sha1_hex(buf, sha1) ||
+           (buf[40] != '\0' && !isspace(buf[40]))) {
+               *type |= REF_ISBROKEN;
+               errno = EINVAL;
+               goto out;
+       }
 
+       ret = 0;
+
+out:
+       save_errno = errno;
+       strbuf_release(&sb_path);
+       strbuf_release(&sb_contents);
+       errno = save_errno;
+       return ret;
+}
+
+static void unlock_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
+{
+       /* Do not free lock->lk -- atexit() still looks at them */
+       if (lock->lk)
+               rollback_lock_file(lock->lk);
+       free(lock->ref_name);
+       free(lock);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Lock refname, without following symrefs, and set *lock_p to point
+ * at a newly-allocated lock object. Fill in lock->old_oid, referent,
+ * and type similarly to read_raw_ref().
+ *
+ * The caller must verify that refname is a "safe" reference name (in
+ * the sense of refname_is_safe()) before calling this function.
+ *
+ * If the reference doesn't already exist, verify that refname doesn't
+ * have a D/F conflict with any existing references. extras and skip
+ * are passed to verify_refname_available_dir() for this check.
+ *
+ * If mustexist is not set and the reference is not found or is
+ * broken, lock the reference anyway but clear sha1.
+ *
+ * Return 0 on success. On failure, write an error message to err and
+ * return TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT or TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR.
+ *
+ * Implementation note: This function is basically
+ *
+ *     lock reference
+ *     read_raw_ref()
+ *
+ * but it includes a lot more code to
+ * - Deal with possible races with other processes
+ * - Avoid calling verify_refname_available_dir() when it can be
+ *   avoided, namely if we were successfully able to read the ref
+ * - Generate informative error messages in the case of failure
+ */
+static int lock_raw_ref(const char *refname, int mustexist,
+                       const struct string_list *extras,
+                       const struct string_list *skip,
+                       struct ref_lock **lock_p,
+                       struct strbuf *referent,
+                       unsigned int *type,
+                       struct strbuf *err)
+{
+       struct ref_lock *lock;
+       struct strbuf ref_file = STRBUF_INIT;
+       int attempts_remaining = 3;
+       int ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+
+       assert(err);
+       *type = 0;
+
+       /* First lock the file so it can't change out from under us. */
+
+       *lock_p = lock = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*lock));
+
+       lock->ref_name = xstrdup(refname);
+       strbuf_git_path(&ref_file, "%s", refname);
+
+retry:
+       switch (safe_create_leading_directories(ref_file.buf)) {
+       case SCLD_OK:
+               break; /* success */
+       case SCLD_EXISTS:
                /*
-                * We might have to loop back here to avoid a race
-                * condition: first we lstat() the file, then we try
-                * to read it as a link or as a file.  But if somebody
-                * changes the type of the file (file <-> directory
-                * <-> symlink) between the lstat() and reading, then
-                * we don't want to report that as an error but rather
-                * try again starting with the lstat().
+                * Suppose refname is "refs/foo/bar". We just failed
+                * to create the containing directory, "refs/foo",
+                * because there was a non-directory in the way. This
+                * indicates a D/F conflict, probably because of
+                * another reference such as "refs/foo". There is no
+                * reason to expect this error to be transitory.
                 */
-       stat_ref:
-               if (lstat(path, &st) < 0) {
-                       if (errno != ENOENT)
-                               return NULL;
-                       if (resolve_missing_loose_ref(refname, sha1, flags)) {
-                               if (resolve_flags & RESOLVE_REF_READING) {
-                                       errno = ENOENT;
-                                       return NULL;
-                               }
-                               hashclr(sha1);
-                       }
-                       if (*flags & REF_BAD_NAME) {
-                               hashclr(sha1);
-                               *flags |= REF_ISBROKEN;
+               if (verify_refname_available(refname, extras, skip, err)) {
+                       if (mustexist) {
+                               /*
+                                * To the user the relevant error is
+                                * that the "mustexist" reference is
+                                * missing:
+                                */
+                               strbuf_reset(err);
+                               strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s'",
+                                           refname);
+                       } else {
+                               /*
+                                * The error message set by
+                                * verify_refname_available_dir() is OK.
+                                */
+                               ret = TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT;
                        }
-                       return refname;
+               } else {
+                       /*
+                        * The file that is in the way isn't a loose
+                        * reference. Report it as a low-level
+                        * failure.
+                        */
+                       strbuf_addf(err, "unable to create lock file %s.lock; "
+                                   "non-directory in the way",
+                                   ref_file.buf);
                }
+               goto error_return;
+       case SCLD_VANISHED:
+               /* Maybe another process was tidying up. Try again. */
+               if (--attempts_remaining > 0)
+                       goto retry;
+               /* fall through */
+       default:
+               strbuf_addf(err, "unable to create directory for %s",
+                           ref_file.buf);
+               goto error_return;
+       }
 
-               /* Follow "normalized" - ie "refs/.." symlinks by hand */
-               if (S_ISLNK(st.st_mode)) {
-                       strbuf_reset(sb_contents);
-                       if (strbuf_readlink(sb_contents, path, 0) < 0) {
-                               if (errno == ENOENT || errno == EINVAL)
-                                       /* inconsistent with lstat; retry */
-                                       goto stat_ref;
-                               else
-                                       return NULL;
-                       }
-                       if (starts_with(sb_contents->buf, "refs/") &&
-                           !check_refname_format(sb_contents->buf, 0)) {
-                               strbuf_swap(sb_refname, sb_contents);
-                               refname = sb_refname->buf;
-                               *flags |= REF_ISSYMREF;
-                               if (resolve_flags & RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE) {
-                                       hashclr(sha1);
-                                       return refname;
-                               }
-                               continue;
-                       }
-               }
+       if (!lock->lk)
+               lock->lk = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
 
-               /* Is it a directory? */
-               if (S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
-                       errno = EISDIR;
-                       return NULL;
+       if (hold_lock_file_for_update(lock->lk, ref_file.buf, LOCK_NO_DEREF) < 0) {
+               if (errno == ENOENT && --attempts_remaining > 0) {
+                       /*
+                        * Maybe somebody just deleted one of the
+                        * directories leading to ref_file.  Try
+                        * again:
+                        */
+                       goto retry;
+               } else {
+                       unable_to_lock_message(ref_file.buf, errno, err);
+                       goto error_return;
                }
+       }
 
-               /*
-                * Anything else, just open it and try to use it as
-                * a ref
-                */
-               fd = open(path, O_RDONLY);
-               if (fd < 0) {
-                       if (errno == ENOENT)
-                               /* inconsistent with lstat; retry */
-                               goto stat_ref;
-                       else
-                               return NULL;
-               }
-               strbuf_reset(sb_contents);
-               if (strbuf_read(sb_contents, fd, 256) < 0) {
-                       int save_errno = errno;
-                       close(fd);
-                       errno = save_errno;
-                       return NULL;
-               }
-               close(fd);
-               strbuf_rtrim(sb_contents);
+       /*
+        * Now we hold the lock and can read the reference without
+        * fear that its value will change.
+        */
 
-               /*
-                * Is it a symbolic ref?
-                */
-               if (!starts_with(sb_contents->buf, "ref:")) {
+       if (read_raw_ref(refname, lock->old_oid.hash, referent, type)) {
+               if (errno == ENOENT) {
+                       if (mustexist) {
+                               /* Garden variety missing reference. */
+                               strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s'",
+                                           refname);
+                               goto error_return;
+                       } else {
+                               /*
+                                * Reference is missing, but that's OK. We
+                                * know that there is not a conflict with
+                                * another loose reference because
+                                * (supposing that we are trying to lock
+                                * reference "refs/foo/bar"):
+                                *
+                                * - We were successfully able to create
+                                *   the lockfile refs/foo/bar.lock, so we
+                                *   know there cannot be a loose reference
+                                *   named "refs/foo".
+                                *
+                                * - We got ENOENT and not EISDIR, so we
+                                *   know that there cannot be a loose
+                                *   reference named "refs/foo/bar/baz".
+                                */
+                       }
+               } else if (errno == EISDIR) {
                        /*
-                        * Please note that FETCH_HEAD has a second
-                        * line containing other data.
+                        * There is a directory in the way. It might have
+                        * contained references that have been deleted. If
+                        * we don't require that the reference already
+                        * exists, try to remove the directory so that it
+                        * doesn't cause trouble when we want to rename the
+                        * lockfile into place later.
                         */
-                       if (get_sha1_hex(sb_contents->buf, sha1) ||
-                           (sb_contents->buf[40] != '\0' && !isspace(sb_contents->buf[40]))) {
-                               *flags |= REF_ISBROKEN;
-                               errno = EINVAL;
-                               return NULL;
-                       }
-                       if (*flags & REF_BAD_NAME) {
-                               hashclr(sha1);
-                               *flags |= REF_ISBROKEN;
+                       if (mustexist) {
+                               /* Garden variety missing reference. */
+                               strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s'",
+                                           refname);
+                               goto error_return;
+                       } else if (remove_dir_recursively(&ref_file,
+                                                         REMOVE_DIR_EMPTY_ONLY)) {
+                               if (verify_refname_available_dir(
+                                                   refname, extras, skip,
+                                                   get_loose_refs(&ref_cache),
+                                                   err)) {
+                                       /*
+                                        * The error message set by
+                                        * verify_refname_available() is OK.
+                                        */
+                                       ret = TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT;
+                                       goto error_return;
+                               } else {
+                                       /*
+                                        * We can't delete the directory,
+                                        * but we also don't know of any
+                                        * references that it should
+                                        * contain.
+                                        */
+                                       strbuf_addf(err, "there is a non-empty directory '%s' "
+                                                   "blocking reference '%s'",
+                                                   ref_file.buf, refname);
+                                       goto error_return;
+                               }
                        }
-                       return refname;
-               }
-               *flags |= REF_ISSYMREF;
-               refname = sb_contents->buf + 4;
-               while (isspace(*refname))
-                       refname++;
-               strbuf_reset(sb_refname);
-               strbuf_addstr(sb_refname, refname);
-               refname = sb_refname->buf;
-               if (resolve_flags & RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE) {
-                       hashclr(sha1);
-                       return refname;
+               } else if (errno == EINVAL && (*type & REF_ISBROKEN)) {
+                       strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s': "
+                                   "reference broken", refname);
+                       goto error_return;
+               } else {
+                       strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s': %s",
+                                   refname, strerror(errno));
+                       goto error_return;
                }
-               if (check_refname_format(refname, REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL)) {
-                       if (!(resolve_flags & RESOLVE_REF_ALLOW_BAD_NAME) ||
-                           !refname_is_safe(refname)) {
-                               errno = EINVAL;
-                               return NULL;
-                       }
 
-                       *flags |= REF_ISBROKEN | REF_BAD_NAME;
+               /*
+                * If the ref did not exist and we are creating it,
+                * make sure there is no existing packed ref whose
+                * name begins with our refname, nor a packed ref
+                * whose name is a proper prefix of our refname.
+                */
+               if (verify_refname_available_dir(
+                                   refname, extras, skip,
+                                   get_packed_refs(&ref_cache),
+                                   err)) {
+                       goto error_return;
                }
        }
 
-       errno = ELOOP;
-       return NULL;
-}
-
-const char *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;
-       struct strbuf sb_path = STRBUF_INIT;
-       int unused_flags;
-       const char *ret;
+       ret = 0;
+       goto out;
 
-       if (!flags)
-               flags = &unused_flags;
+error_return:
+       unlock_ref(lock);
+       *lock_p = NULL;
 
-       ret = resolve_ref_1(refname, resolve_flags, sha1, flags,
-                           &sb_refname, &sb_path, &sb_contents);
-       strbuf_release(&sb_path);
-       strbuf_release(&sb_contents);
+out:
+       strbuf_release(&ref_file);
        return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1731,16 +1908,6 @@ int do_for_each_ref(const char *submodule, const char *base,
        return do_for_each_entry(refs, base, do_one_ref, &data);
 }
 
-static void unlock_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
-{
-       /* Do not free lock->lk -- atexit() still looks at them */
-       if (lock->lk)
-               rollback_lock_file(lock->lk);
-       free(lock->ref_name);
-       free(lock->orig_ref_name);
-       free(lock);
-}
-
 /*
  * Verify that the reference locked by lock has the value old_sha1.
  * Fail if the reference doesn't exist and mustexist is set. Return 0
@@ -1758,7 +1925,7 @@ static int verify_lock(struct ref_lock *lock,
                          lock->old_oid.hash, NULL)) {
                if (old_sha1) {
                        int save_errno = errno;
-                       strbuf_addf(err, "can't verify ref %s", lock->ref_name);
+                       strbuf_addf(err, "can't verify ref '%s'", lock->ref_name);
                        errno = save_errno;
                        return -1;
                } else {
@@ -1767,7 +1934,7 @@ static int verify_lock(struct ref_lock *lock,
                }
        }
        if (old_sha1 && hashcmp(lock->old_oid.hash, old_sha1)) {
-               strbuf_addf(err, "ref %s is at %s but expected %s",
+               strbuf_addf(err, "ref '%s' is at %s but expected %s",
                            lock->ref_name,
                            sha1_to_hex(lock->old_oid.hash),
                            sha1_to_hex(old_sha1));
@@ -1795,19 +1962,17 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
                                            const unsigned char *old_sha1,
                                            const struct string_list *extras,
                                            const struct string_list *skip,
-                                           unsigned int flags, int *type_p,
+                                           unsigned int flags, int *type,
                                            struct strbuf *err)
 {
        struct strbuf ref_file = STRBUF_INIT;
-       struct strbuf orig_ref_file = STRBUF_INIT;
-       const char *orig_refname = refname;
        struct ref_lock *lock;
        int last_errno = 0;
-       int type;
-       int lflags = 0;
+       int lflags = LOCK_NO_DEREF;
        int mustexist = (old_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(old_sha1));
-       int resolve_flags = 0;
+       int resolve_flags = RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE;
        int attempts_remaining = 3;
+       int resolved;
 
        assert(err);
 
@@ -1817,48 +1982,39 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
                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;
-               lflags |= LOCK_NO_DEREF;
-       }
 
-       refname = resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, resolve_flags,
-                                    lock->old_oid.hash, &type);
-       if (!refname && errno == EISDIR) {
+       strbuf_git_path(&ref_file, "%s", refname);
+       resolved = !!resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, resolve_flags,
+                                       lock->old_oid.hash, type);
+       if (!resolved && errno == EISDIR) {
                /*
                 * we are trying to lock foo but we used to
                 * have foo/bar which now does not exist;
                 * it is normal for the empty directory 'foo'
                 * to remain.
                 */
-               strbuf_git_path(&orig_ref_file, "%s", orig_refname);
-               if (remove_empty_directories(&orig_ref_file)) {
+               if (remove_empty_directories(&ref_file)) {
                        last_errno = errno;
-                       if (!verify_refname_available_dir(orig_refname, extras, skip,
+                       if (!verify_refname_available_dir(refname, extras, skip,
                                                          get_loose_refs(&ref_cache), err))
                                strbuf_addf(err, "there are still refs under '%s'",
-                                           orig_refname);
+                                           refname);
                        goto error_return;
                }
-               refname = resolve_ref_unsafe(orig_refname, resolve_flags,
-                                            lock->old_oid.hash, &type);
+               resolved = !!resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, resolve_flags,
+                                               lock->old_oid.hash, type);
        }
-       if (type_p)
-           *type_p = type;
-       if (!refname) {
+       if (!resolved) {
                last_errno = errno;
                if (last_errno != ENOTDIR ||
-                   !verify_refname_available_dir(orig_refname, extras, skip,
+                   !verify_refname_available_dir(refname, extras, skip,
                                                  get_loose_refs(&ref_cache), err))
-                       strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference %s: %s",
-                                   orig_refname, strerror(last_errno));
+                       strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s': %s",
+                                   refname, strerror(last_errno));
 
                goto error_return;
        }
 
-       if (flags & REF_NODEREF)
-               refname = orig_refname;
-
        /*
         * If the ref did not exist and we are creating it, make sure
         * there is no existing packed ref whose name begins with our
@@ -1875,8 +2031,6 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
        lock->lk = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
 
        lock->ref_name = xstrdup(refname);
-       lock->orig_ref_name = xstrdup(orig_refname);
-       strbuf_git_path(&ref_file, "%s", refname);
 
  retry:
        switch (safe_create_leading_directories_const(ref_file.buf)) {
@@ -1888,7 +2042,7 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
                /* fall through */
        default:
                last_errno = errno;
-               strbuf_addf(err, "unable to create directory for %s",
+               strbuf_addf(err, "unable to create directory for '%s'",
                            ref_file.buf);
                goto error_return;
        }
@@ -1919,7 +2073,6 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
 
  out:
        strbuf_release(&ref_file);
-       strbuf_release(&orig_ref_file);
        errno = last_errno;
        return lock;
 }
@@ -2147,7 +2300,7 @@ static void prune_ref(struct ref_to_prune *r)
        transaction = ref_transaction_begin(&err);
        if (!transaction ||
            ref_transaction_delete(transaction, r->name, r->sha1,
-                                  REF_ISPRUNING, NULL, &err) ||
+                                  REF_ISPRUNING | REF_NODEREF, NULL, &err) ||
            ref_transaction_commit(transaction, &err)) {
                ref_transaction_free(transaction);
                error("%s", err.buf);
@@ -2359,8 +2512,8 @@ static int rename_tmp_log(const char *newrefname)
 }
 
 int verify_refname_available(const char *newname,
-                            struct string_list *extras,
-                            struct string_list *skip,
+                            const struct string_list *extras,
+                            const struct string_list *skip,
                             struct strbuf *err)
 {
        struct ref_dir *packed_refs = get_packed_refs(&ref_cache);
@@ -2379,7 +2532,7 @@ 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);
+                            struct strbuf *err);
 
 int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logmsg)
 {
@@ -2388,20 +2541,18 @@ int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logms
        struct ref_lock *lock;
        struct stat loginfo;
        int log = !lstat(git_path("logs/%s", oldrefname), &loginfo);
-       const char *symref = NULL;
        struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
 
        if (log && S_ISLNK(loginfo.st_mode))
                return error("reflog for %s is a symlink", oldrefname);
 
-       symref = resolve_ref_unsafe(oldrefname, RESOLVE_REF_READING,
-                                   orig_sha1, &flag);
+       if (!resolve_ref_unsafe(oldrefname, RESOLVE_REF_READING | RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE,
+                               orig_sha1, &flag))
+               return error("refname %s not found", oldrefname);
+
        if (flag & REF_ISSYMREF)
                return error("refname %s is a symbolic ref, renaming it is not supported",
                        oldrefname);
-       if (!symref)
-               return error("refname %s not found", oldrefname);
-
        if (!rename_ref_available(oldrefname, newrefname))
                return 1;
 
@@ -2414,8 +2565,16 @@ int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logms
                goto rollback;
        }
 
-       if (!read_ref_full(newrefname, RESOLVE_REF_READING, sha1, NULL) &&
-           delete_ref(newrefname, sha1, REF_NODEREF)) {
+       /*
+        * Since we are doing a shallow lookup, sha1 is not the
+        * correct value to pass to delete_ref as old_sha1. But that
+        * doesn't matter, because an old_sha1 check wouldn't add to
+        * the safety anyway; we want to delete the reference whatever
+        * its current value.
+        */
+       if (!read_ref_full(newrefname, RESOLVE_REF_READING | RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE,
+                          sha1, NULL) &&
+           delete_ref(newrefname, NULL, REF_NODEREF)) {
                if (errno==EISDIR) {
                        struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
                        int result;
@@ -2439,7 +2598,8 @@ int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logms
 
        logmoved = log;
 
-       lock = lock_ref_sha1_basic(newrefname, NULL, NULL, NULL, 0, NULL, &err);
+       lock = lock_ref_sha1_basic(newrefname, NULL, NULL, NULL, REF_NODEREF,
+                                  NULL, &err);
        if (!lock) {
                error("unable to rename '%s' to '%s': %s", oldrefname, newrefname, err.buf);
                strbuf_release(&err);
@@ -2448,7 +2608,7 @@ int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logms
        hashcpy(lock->old_oid.hash, orig_sha1);
 
        if (write_ref_to_lockfile(lock, orig_sha1, &err) ||
-           commit_ref_update(lock, orig_sha1, logmsg, 0, &err)) {
+           commit_ref_update(lock, orig_sha1, logmsg, &err)) {
                error("unable to write current sha1 into %s: %s", newrefname, err.buf);
                strbuf_release(&err);
                goto rollback;
@@ -2457,7 +2617,8 @@ int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logms
        return 0;
 
  rollback:
-       lock = lock_ref_sha1_basic(oldrefname, NULL, NULL, NULL, 0, NULL, &err);
+       lock = lock_ref_sha1_basic(oldrefname, NULL, NULL, NULL, REF_NODEREF,
+                                  NULL, &err);
        if (!lock) {
                error("unable to lock %s for rollback: %s", oldrefname, err.buf);
                strbuf_release(&err);
@@ -2467,7 +2628,7 @@ int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logms
        flag = log_all_ref_updates;
        log_all_ref_updates = 0;
        if (write_ref_to_lockfile(lock, orig_sha1, &err) ||
-           commit_ref_update(lock, orig_sha1, NULL, 0, &err)) {
+           commit_ref_update(lock, orig_sha1, NULL, &err)) {
                error("unable to write current sha1 into %s: %s", oldrefname, err.buf);
                strbuf_release(&err);
        }
@@ -2494,6 +2655,30 @@ static int close_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 
 static int commit_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 {
+       char *path = get_locked_file_path(lock->lk);
+       struct stat st;
+
+       if (!lstat(path, &st) && S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
+               /*
+                * There is a directory at the path we want to rename
+                * the lockfile to. Hopefully it is empty; try to
+                * delete it.
+                */
+               size_t len = strlen(path);
+               struct strbuf sb_path = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+               strbuf_attach(&sb_path, path, len, len);
+
+               /*
+                * If this fails, commit_lock_file() will also fail
+                * and will report the problem.
+                */
+               remove_empty_directories(&sb_path);
+               strbuf_release(&sb_path);
+       } else {
+               free(path);
+       }
+
        if (commit_lock_file(lock->lk))
                return -1;
        return 0;
@@ -2512,7 +2697,7 @@ static int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *logfile, struct str
        strbuf_git_path(logfile, "logs/%s", refname);
        if (force_create || should_autocreate_reflog(refname)) {
                if (safe_create_leading_directories(logfile->buf) < 0) {
-                       strbuf_addf(err, "unable to create directory for %s: "
+                       strbuf_addf(err, "unable to create directory for '%s': "
                                    "%s", logfile->buf, strerror(errno));
                        return -1;
                }
@@ -2526,7 +2711,7 @@ static int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *logfile, struct str
 
                if (errno == EISDIR) {
                        if (remove_empty_directories(logfile)) {
-                               strbuf_addf(err, "There are still logs under "
+                               strbuf_addf(err, "there are still logs under "
                                            "'%s'", logfile->buf);
                                return -1;
                        }
@@ -2534,7 +2719,7 @@ static int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *logfile, struct str
                }
 
                if (logfd < 0) {
-                       strbuf_addf(err, "unable to append to %s: %s",
+                       strbuf_addf(err, "unable to append to '%s': %s",
                                    logfile->buf, strerror(errno));
                        return -1;
                }
@@ -2603,13 +2788,13 @@ static int log_ref_write_1(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
        result = log_ref_write_fd(logfd, old_sha1, new_sha1,
                                  git_committer_info(0), msg);
        if (result) {
-               strbuf_addf(err, "unable to append to %s: %s", logfile->buf,
+               strbuf_addf(err, "unable to append to '%s': %s", logfile->buf,
                            strerror(errno));
                close(logfd);
                return -1;
        }
        if (close(logfd)) {
-               strbuf_addf(err, "unable to append to %s: %s", logfile->buf,
+               strbuf_addf(err, "unable to append to '%s': %s", logfile->buf,
                            strerror(errno));
                return -1;
        }
@@ -2650,14 +2835,14 @@ static int write_ref_to_lockfile(struct ref_lock *lock,
        o = parse_object(sha1);
        if (!o) {
                strbuf_addf(err,
-                           "Trying to write ref %s with nonexistent object %s",
+                           "trying to write ref '%s' with nonexistent object %s",
                            lock->ref_name, sha1_to_hex(sha1));
                unlock_ref(lock);
                return -1;
        }
        if (o->type != OBJ_COMMIT && is_branch(lock->ref_name)) {
                strbuf_addf(err,
-                           "Trying to write non-commit object %s to branch %s",
+                           "trying to write non-commit object %s to branch '%s'",
                            sha1_to_hex(sha1), lock->ref_name);
                unlock_ref(lock);
                return -1;
@@ -2667,7 +2852,7 @@ static int write_ref_to_lockfile(struct ref_lock *lock,
            write_in_full(fd, &term, 1) != 1 ||
            close_ref(lock) < 0) {
                strbuf_addf(err,
-                           "Couldn't write %s", get_lock_file_path(lock->lk));
+                           "couldn't write '%s'", get_lock_file_path(lock->lk));
                unlock_ref(lock);
                return -1;
        }
@@ -2681,20 +2866,19 @@ static int write_ref_to_lockfile(struct ref_lock *lock,
  */
 static int commit_ref_update(struct ref_lock *lock,
                             const unsigned char *sha1, const char *logmsg,
-                            int flags, struct strbuf *err)
+                            struct strbuf *err)
 {
        clear_loose_ref_cache(&ref_cache);
-       if (log_ref_write(lock->ref_name, lock->old_oid.hash, sha1, logmsg, flags, err) < 0 ||
-           (strcmp(lock->ref_name, lock->orig_ref_name) &&
-            log_ref_write(lock->orig_ref_name, lock->old_oid.hash, sha1, logmsg, flags, err) < 0)) {
+       if (log_ref_write(lock->ref_name, lock->old_oid.hash, sha1, logmsg, 0, err)) {
                char *old_msg = strbuf_detach(err, NULL);
-               strbuf_addf(err, "Cannot update the ref '%s': %s",
+               strbuf_addf(err, "cannot update the ref '%s': %s",
                            lock->ref_name, old_msg);
                free(old_msg);
                unlock_ref(lock);
                return -1;
        }
-       if (strcmp(lock->orig_ref_name, "HEAD") != 0) {
+
+       if (strcmp(lock->ref_name, "HEAD") != 0) {
                /*
                 * Special hack: If a branch is updated directly and HEAD
                 * points to it (may happen on the remote side of a push
@@ -2710,6 +2894,7 @@ static int commit_ref_update(struct ref_lock *lock,
                unsigned char head_sha1[20];
                int head_flag;
                const char *head_ref;
+
                head_ref = resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", RESOLVE_REF_READING,
                                              head_sha1, &head_flag);
                if (head_ref && (head_flag & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
@@ -2722,8 +2907,9 @@ static int commit_ref_update(struct ref_lock *lock,
                        }
                }
        }
+
        if (commit_ref(lock)) {
-               error("Couldn't set %s", lock->ref_name);
+               strbuf_addf(err, "couldn't set '%s'", lock->ref_name);
                unlock_ref(lock);
                return -1;
        }
@@ -2800,6 +2986,41 @@ int create_symref(const char *refname, const char *target, const char *logmsg)
        return ret;
 }
 
+int set_worktree_head_symref(const char *gitdir, const char *target)
+{
+       static struct lock_file head_lock;
+       struct ref_lock *lock;
+       struct strbuf head_path = STRBUF_INIT;
+       const char *head_rel;
+       int ret;
+
+       strbuf_addf(&head_path, "%s/HEAD", absolute_path(gitdir));
+       if (hold_lock_file_for_update(&head_lock, head_path.buf,
+                                     LOCK_NO_DEREF) < 0) {
+               struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+               unable_to_lock_message(head_path.buf, errno, &err);
+               error("%s", err.buf);
+               strbuf_release(&err);
+               strbuf_release(&head_path);
+               return -1;
+       }
+
+       /* head_rel will be "HEAD" for the main tree, "worktrees/wt/HEAD" for
+          linked trees */
+       head_rel = remove_leading_path(head_path.buf,
+                                      absolute_path(get_git_common_dir()));
+       /* to make use of create_symref_locked(), initialize ref_lock */
+       lock = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct ref_lock));
+       lock->lk = &head_lock;
+       lock->ref_name = xstrdup(head_rel);
+
+       ret = create_symref_locked(lock, head_rel, target, NULL);
+
+       unlock_ref(lock); /* will free lock */
+       strbuf_release(&head_path);
+       return ret;
+}
+
 int reflog_exists(const char *refname)
 {
        struct stat st;
@@ -3036,142 +3257,437 @@ static int ref_update_reject_duplicates(struct string_list *refnames,
        for (i = 1; i < n; i++)
                if (!strcmp(refnames->items[i - 1].string, refnames->items[i].string)) {
                        strbuf_addf(err,
-                                   "Multiple updates for ref '%s' not allowed.",
+                                   "multiple updates for ref '%s' not allowed.",
                                    refnames->items[i].string);
                        return 1;
                }
        return 0;
 }
 
+/*
+ * If update is a direct update of head_ref (the reference pointed to
+ * by HEAD), then add an extra REF_LOG_ONLY update for HEAD.
+ */
+static int split_head_update(struct ref_update *update,
+                            struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+                            const char *head_ref,
+                            struct string_list *affected_refnames,
+                            struct strbuf *err)
+{
+       struct string_list_item *item;
+       struct ref_update *new_update;
+
+       if ((update->flags & REF_LOG_ONLY) ||
+           (update->flags & REF_ISPRUNING) ||
+           (update->flags & REF_UPDATE_VIA_HEAD))
+               return 0;
+
+       if (strcmp(update->refname, head_ref))
+               return 0;
+
+       /*
+        * First make sure that HEAD is not already in the
+        * transaction. This insertion is O(N) in the transaction
+        * size, but it happens at most once per transaction.
+        */
+       item = string_list_insert(affected_refnames, "HEAD");
+       if (item->util) {
+               /* An entry already existed */
+               strbuf_addf(err,
+                           "multiple updates for 'HEAD' (including one "
+                           "via its referent '%s') are not allowed",
+                           update->refname);
+               return TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT;
+       }
+
+       new_update = ref_transaction_add_update(
+                       transaction, "HEAD",
+                       update->flags | REF_LOG_ONLY | REF_NODEREF,
+                       update->new_sha1, update->old_sha1,
+                       update->msg);
+
+       item->util = new_update;
+
+       return 0;
+}
+
+/*
+ * update is for a symref that points at referent and doesn't have
+ * REF_NODEREF set. Split it into two updates:
+ * - The original update, but with REF_LOG_ONLY and REF_NODEREF set
+ * - A new, separate update for the referent reference
+ * Note that the new update will itself be subject to splitting when
+ * the iteration gets to it.
+ */
+static int split_symref_update(struct ref_update *update,
+                              const char *referent,
+                              struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+                              struct string_list *affected_refnames,
+                              struct strbuf *err)
+{
+       struct string_list_item *item;
+       struct ref_update *new_update;
+       unsigned int new_flags;
+
+       /*
+        * First make sure that referent is not already in the
+        * transaction. This insertion is O(N) in the transaction
+        * size, but it happens at most once per symref in a
+        * transaction.
+        */
+       item = string_list_insert(affected_refnames, referent);
+       if (item->util) {
+               /* An entry already existed */
+               strbuf_addf(err,
+                           "multiple updates for '%s' (including one "
+                           "via symref '%s') are not allowed",
+                           referent, update->refname);
+               return TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT;
+       }
+
+       new_flags = update->flags;
+       if (!strcmp(update->refname, "HEAD")) {
+               /*
+                * Record that the new update came via HEAD, so that
+                * when we process it, split_head_update() doesn't try
+                * to add another reflog update for HEAD. Note that
+                * this bit will be propagated if the new_update
+                * itself needs to be split.
+                */
+               new_flags |= REF_UPDATE_VIA_HEAD;
+       }
+
+       new_update = ref_transaction_add_update(
+                       transaction, referent, new_flags,
+                       update->new_sha1, update->old_sha1,
+                       update->msg);
+
+       new_update->parent_update = update;
+
+       /*
+        * Change the symbolic ref update to log only. Also, it
+        * doesn't need to check its old SHA-1 value, as that will be
+        * done when new_update is processed.
+        */
+       update->flags |= REF_LOG_ONLY | REF_NODEREF;
+       update->flags &= ~REF_HAVE_OLD;
+
+       item->util = new_update;
+
+       return 0;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Return the refname under which update was originally requested.
+ */
+static const char *original_update_refname(struct ref_update *update)
+{
+       while (update->parent_update)
+               update = update->parent_update;
+
+       return update->refname;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Check whether the REF_HAVE_OLD and old_oid values stored in update
+ * are consistent with oid, which is the reference's current value. If
+ * everything is OK, return 0; otherwise, write an error message to
+ * err and return -1.
+ */
+static int check_old_oid(struct ref_update *update, struct object_id *oid,
+                        struct strbuf *err)
+{
+       if (!(update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) ||
+                  !hashcmp(oid->hash, update->old_sha1))
+               return 0;
+
+       if (is_null_sha1(update->old_sha1))
+               strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': "
+                           "reference already exists",
+                           original_update_refname(update));
+       else if (is_null_oid(oid))
+               strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': "
+                           "reference is missing but expected %s",
+                           original_update_refname(update),
+                           sha1_to_hex(update->old_sha1));
+       else
+               strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': "
+                           "is at %s but expected %s",
+                           original_update_refname(update),
+                           oid_to_hex(oid),
+                           sha1_to_hex(update->old_sha1));
+
+       return -1;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Prepare for carrying out update:
+ * - Lock the reference referred to by update.
+ * - Read the reference under lock.
+ * - Check that its old SHA-1 value (if specified) is correct, and in
+ *   any case record it in update->lock->old_oid for later use when
+ *   writing the reflog.
+ * - If it is a symref update without REF_NODEREF, split it up into a
+ *   REF_LOG_ONLY update of the symref and add a separate update for
+ *   the referent to transaction.
+ * - If it is an update of head_ref, add a corresponding REF_LOG_ONLY
+ *   update of HEAD.
+ */
+static int lock_ref_for_update(struct ref_update *update,
+                              struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+                              const char *head_ref,
+                              struct string_list *affected_refnames,
+                              struct strbuf *err)
+{
+       struct strbuf referent = STRBUF_INIT;
+       int mustexist = (update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) &&
+               !is_null_sha1(update->old_sha1);
+       int ret;
+       struct ref_lock *lock;
+
+       if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_NEW) && is_null_sha1(update->new_sha1))
+               update->flags |= REF_DELETING;
+
+       if (head_ref) {
+               ret = split_head_update(update, transaction, head_ref,
+                                       affected_refnames, err);
+               if (ret)
+                       return ret;
+       }
+
+       ret = lock_raw_ref(update->refname, mustexist,
+                          affected_refnames, NULL,
+                          &update->lock, &referent,
+                          &update->type, err);
+
+       if (ret) {
+               char *reason;
+
+               reason = strbuf_detach(err, NULL);
+               strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': %s",
+                           original_update_refname(update), reason);
+               free(reason);
+               return ret;
+       }
+
+       lock = update->lock;
+
+       if (update->type & REF_ISSYMREF) {
+               if (update->flags & REF_NODEREF) {
+                       /*
+                        * We won't be reading the referent as part of
+                        * the transaction, so we have to read it here
+                        * to record and possibly check old_sha1:
+                        */
+                       if (read_ref_full(update->refname, 0,
+                                         lock->old_oid.hash, NULL)) {
+                               if (update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) {
+                                       strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': "
+                                                   "error reading reference",
+                                                   original_update_refname(update));
+                                       return -1;
+                               }
+                       } else if (check_old_oid(update, &lock->old_oid, err)) {
+                               return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+                       }
+               } else {
+                       /*
+                        * Create a new update for the reference this
+                        * symref is pointing at. Also, we will record
+                        * and verify old_sha1 for this update as part
+                        * of processing the split-off update, so we
+                        * don't have to do it here.
+                        */
+                       ret = split_symref_update(update, referent.buf, transaction,
+                                                 affected_refnames, err);
+                       if (ret)
+                               return ret;
+               }
+       } else {
+               struct ref_update *parent_update;
+
+               if (check_old_oid(update, &lock->old_oid, err))
+                       return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+
+               /*
+                * If this update is happening indirectly because of a
+                * symref update, record the old SHA-1 in the parent
+                * update:
+                */
+               for (parent_update = update->parent_update;
+                    parent_update;
+                    parent_update = parent_update->parent_update) {
+                       oidcpy(&parent_update->lock->old_oid, &lock->old_oid);
+               }
+       }
+
+       if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_NEW) &&
+           !(update->flags & REF_DELETING) &&
+           !(update->flags & REF_LOG_ONLY)) {
+               if (!(update->type & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
+                   !hashcmp(lock->old_oid.hash, update->new_sha1)) {
+                       /*
+                        * The reference already has the desired
+                        * value, so we don't need to write it.
+                        */
+               } else if (write_ref_to_lockfile(lock, update->new_sha1,
+                                                err)) {
+                       char *write_err = strbuf_detach(err, NULL);
+
+                       /*
+                        * The lock was freed upon failure of
+                        * write_ref_to_lockfile():
+                        */
+                       update->lock = NULL;
+                       strbuf_addf(err,
+                                   "cannot update ref '%s': %s",
+                                   update->refname, write_err);
+                       free(write_err);
+                       return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+               } else {
+                       update->flags |= REF_NEEDS_COMMIT;
+               }
+       }
+       if (!(update->flags & REF_NEEDS_COMMIT)) {
+               /*
+                * We didn't call write_ref_to_lockfile(), so
+                * the lockfile is still open. Close it to
+                * free up the file descriptor:
+                */
+               if (close_ref(lock)) {
+                       strbuf_addf(err, "couldn't close '%s.lock'",
+                                   update->refname);
+                       return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+               }
+       }
+       return 0;
+}
+
 int ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
                           struct strbuf *err)
 {
        int ret = 0, i;
-       int n = transaction->nr;
-       struct ref_update **updates = transaction->updates;
        struct string_list refs_to_delete = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
        struct string_list_item *ref_to_delete;
        struct string_list affected_refnames = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
+       char *head_ref = NULL;
+       int head_type;
+       struct object_id head_oid;
 
        assert(err);
 
        if (transaction->state != REF_TRANSACTION_OPEN)
                die("BUG: commit called for transaction that is not open");
 
-       if (!n) {
+       if (!transaction->nr) {
                transaction->state = REF_TRANSACTION_CLOSED;
                return 0;
        }
 
-       /* Fail if a refname appears more than once in the transaction: */
-       for (i = 0; i < n; i++)
-               string_list_append(&affected_refnames, updates[i]->refname);
+       /*
+        * Fail if a refname appears more than once in the
+        * transaction. (If we end up splitting up any updates using
+        * split_symref_update() or split_head_update(), those
+        * functions will check that the new updates don't have the
+        * same refname as any existing ones.)
+        */
+       for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++) {
+               struct ref_update *update = transaction->updates[i];
+               struct string_list_item *item =
+                       string_list_append(&affected_refnames, update->refname);
+
+               /*
+                * We store a pointer to update in item->util, but at
+                * the moment we never use the value of this field
+                * except to check whether it is non-NULL.
+                */
+               item->util = update;
+       }
        string_list_sort(&affected_refnames);
        if (ref_update_reject_duplicates(&affected_refnames, err)) {
                ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
                goto cleanup;
        }
 
+       /*
+        * Special hack: If a branch is updated directly and HEAD
+        * points to it (may happen on the remote side of a push
+        * for example) then logically the HEAD reflog should be
+        * updated too.
+        *
+        * A generic solution would require reverse symref lookups,
+        * but finding all symrefs pointing to a given branch would be
+        * rather costly for this rare event (the direct update of a
+        * branch) to be worth it. So let's cheat and check with HEAD
+        * only, which should cover 99% of all usage scenarios (even
+        * 100% of the default ones).
+        *
+        * So if HEAD is a symbolic reference, then record the name of
+        * the reference that it points to. If we see an update of
+        * head_ref within the transaction, then split_head_update()
+        * arranges for the reflog of HEAD to be updated, too.
+        */
+       head_ref = resolve_refdup("HEAD", RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE,
+                                 head_oid.hash, &head_type);
+
+       if (head_ref && !(head_type & REF_ISSYMREF)) {
+               free(head_ref);
+               head_ref = NULL;
+       }
+
        /*
         * Acquire all locks, verify old values if provided, check
         * that new values are valid, and write new values to the
         * lockfiles, ready to be activated. Only keep one lockfile
         * open at a time to avoid running out of file descriptors.
         */
-       for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-               struct ref_update *update = updates[i];
+       for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++) {
+               struct ref_update *update = transaction->updates[i];
 
-               if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_NEW) &&
-                   is_null_sha1(update->new_sha1))
-                       update->flags |= REF_DELETING;
-               update->lock = lock_ref_sha1_basic(
-                               update->refname,
-                               ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) ?
-                                update->old_sha1 : NULL),
-                               &affected_refnames, NULL,
-                               update->flags,
-                               &update->type,
-                               err);
-               if (!update->lock) {
-                       char *reason;
-
-                       ret = (errno == ENOTDIR)
-                               ? TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT
-                               : TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
-                       reason = strbuf_detach(err, NULL);
-                       strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': %s",
-                                   update->refname, reason);
-                       free(reason);
+               ret = lock_ref_for_update(update, transaction, head_ref,
+                                         &affected_refnames, err);
+               if (ret)
                        goto cleanup;
-               }
-               if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_NEW) &&
-                   !(update->flags & REF_DELETING)) {
-                       int overwriting_symref = ((update->type & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
-                                                 (update->flags & REF_NODEREF));
-
-                       if (!overwriting_symref &&
-                           !hashcmp(update->lock->old_oid.hash, update->new_sha1)) {
-                               /*
-                                * The reference already has the desired
-                                * value, so we don't need to write it.
-                                */
-                       } else if (write_ref_to_lockfile(update->lock,
-                                                        update->new_sha1,
-                                                        err)) {
-                               char *write_err = strbuf_detach(err, NULL);
+       }
 
-                               /*
-                                * The lock was freed upon failure of
-                                * write_ref_to_lockfile():
-                                */
+       /* Perform updates first so live commits remain referenced */
+       for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++) {
+               struct ref_update *update = transaction->updates[i];
+               struct ref_lock *lock = update->lock;
+
+               if (update->flags & REF_NEEDS_COMMIT ||
+                   update->flags & REF_LOG_ONLY) {
+                       if (log_ref_write(lock->ref_name, lock->old_oid.hash,
+                                         update->new_sha1,
+                                         update->msg, update->flags, err)) {
+                               char *old_msg = strbuf_detach(err, NULL);
+
+                               strbuf_addf(err, "cannot update the ref '%s': %s",
+                                           lock->ref_name, old_msg);
+                               free(old_msg);
+                               unlock_ref(lock);
                                update->lock = NULL;
-                               strbuf_addf(err,
-                                           "cannot update the ref '%s': %s",
-                                           update->refname, write_err);
-                               free(write_err);
                                ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
                                goto cleanup;
-                       } else {
-                               update->flags |= REF_NEEDS_COMMIT;
-                       }
-               }
-               if (!(update->flags & REF_NEEDS_COMMIT)) {
-                       /*
-                        * We didn't have to write anything to the lockfile.
-                        * Close it to free up the file descriptor:
-                        */
-                       if (close_ref(update->lock)) {
-                               strbuf_addf(err, "Couldn't close %s.lock",
-                                           update->refname);
-                               goto cleanup;
                        }
                }
-       }
-
-       /* Perform updates first so live commits remain referenced */
-       for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-               struct ref_update *update = updates[i];
-
                if (update->flags & REF_NEEDS_COMMIT) {
-                       if (commit_ref_update(update->lock,
-                                             update->new_sha1, update->msg,
-                                             update->flags, err)) {
-                               /* freed by commit_ref_update(): */
+                       clear_loose_ref_cache(&ref_cache);
+                       if (commit_ref(lock)) {
+                               strbuf_addf(err, "couldn't set '%s'", lock->ref_name);
+                               unlock_ref(lock);
                                update->lock = NULL;
                                ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
                                goto cleanup;
-                       } else {
-                               /* freed by commit_ref_update(): */
-                               update->lock = NULL;
                        }
                }
        }
-
        /* Perform deletes now that updates are safely completed */
-       for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-               struct ref_update *update = updates[i];
+       for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++) {
+               struct ref_update *update = transaction->updates[i];
 
-               if (update->flags & REF_DELETING) {
+               if (update->flags & REF_DELETING &&
+                   !(update->flags & REF_LOG_ONLY)) {
                        if (delete_ref_loose(update->lock, update->type, err)) {
                                ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
                                goto cleanup;
@@ -3194,11 +3710,13 @@ int ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 cleanup:
        transaction->state = REF_TRANSACTION_CLOSED;
 
-       for (i = 0; i < n; i++)
-               if (updates[i]->lock)
-                       unlock_ref(updates[i]->lock);
+       for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++)
+               if (transaction->updates[i]->lock)
+                       unlock_ref(transaction->updates[i]->lock);
        string_list_clear(&refs_to_delete, 0);
+       free(head_ref);
        string_list_clear(&affected_refnames, 0);
+
        return ret;
 }
 
@@ -3214,8 +3732,6 @@ int initial_ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
                                   struct strbuf *err)
 {
        int ret = 0, i;
-       int n = transaction->nr;
-       struct ref_update **updates = transaction->updates;
        struct string_list affected_refnames = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
 
        assert(err);
@@ -3224,8 +3740,9 @@ int initial_ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
                die("BUG: commit called for transaction that is not open");
 
        /* Fail if a refname appears more than once in the transaction: */
-       for (i = 0; i < n; i++)
-               string_list_append(&affected_refnames, updates[i]->refname);
+       for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++)
+               string_list_append(&affected_refnames,
+                                  transaction->updates[i]->refname);
        string_list_sort(&affected_refnames);
        if (ref_update_reject_duplicates(&affected_refnames, err)) {
                ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
@@ -3247,8 +3764,8 @@ int initial_ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
        if (for_each_rawref(ref_present, &affected_refnames))
                die("BUG: initial ref transaction called with existing refs");
 
-       for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-               struct ref_update *update = updates[i];
+       for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++) {
+               struct ref_update *update = transaction->updates[i];
 
                if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) &&
                    !is_null_sha1(update->old_sha1))
@@ -3268,8 +3785,8 @@ int initial_ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
                goto cleanup;
        }
 
-       for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-               struct ref_update *update = updates[i];
+       for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++) {
+               struct ref_update *update = transaction->updates[i];
 
                if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_NEW) &&
                    !is_null_sha1(update->new_sha1))
@@ -3351,7 +3868,8 @@ int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
         * reference itself, plus we might need to update the
         * reference if --updateref was specified:
         */
-       lock = lock_ref_sha1_basic(refname, sha1, NULL, NULL, 0, &type, &err);
+       lock = lock_ref_sha1_basic(refname, sha1, NULL, NULL, REF_NODEREF,
+                                  &type, &err);
        if (!lock) {
                error("cannot lock ref '%s': %s", refname, err.buf);
                strbuf_release(&err);