+int validate_new_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, int force)
+{
+ const char *head;
+ unsigned char sha1[20];
+
+ if (strbuf_check_branch_ref(ref, name))
+ die("'%s' is not a valid branch name.", name);
+
+ if (!ref_exists(ref->buf))
+ return 0;
+ else if (!force)
+ die("A branch named '%s' already exists.", name);
+
+ head = resolve_ref("HEAD", sha1, 0, NULL);
+ if (!is_bare_repository() && head && !strcmp(head, ref->buf))
+ die("Cannot force update the current branch.");
+
+ return 1;
+}
+