Karthik Nayak <karthik.188@xxxxxxxxx> writes: >>> +int is_headref(struct ref_store *refs, const char *refname) >>> +{ >>> + if (!strcmp(refname, "HEAD")) >>> + return refs_ref_exists(refs, refname); >> >> Given that "git for-each-ref refs/remotes" does not show >> "refs/remotes/origin/HEAD" in the output when we do not have the >> remote-tracking branch that symref points at, we probably do want >> to omit "HEAD" from the output when the HEAD symref points at an >> unborn branch. If refs_ref_exists() says "no, it does not exist" >> in such a case, we are perfectly fine with this code. >> >> We do not have to worry about the unborn state for pseudorefs >> because they would never be symbolic. But that in turn makes me >> suspect that the check done with refs_ref_exists() in the >> is_pseudoref() helper is a bit too lenient by allowing it to be a >> symbolic ref. Shouldn't we be using a check based on >> read_ref_full(), like we did in another topic recently [*]? >> >> >> [Reference] >> >> * https://lore.kernel.org/git/xmqqzfxa9usx.fsf@gitster.g/ >> > > Thanks, this makes sense and the link is helpful. I'll do something > similar, but since HEAD can be a symref, I'll drop the > `RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE` flag and only use `RESOLVE_REF_READING`. Just to make sure there is no misunderstanding, I think how is_headref() does what it does in the patch is perfectly fine, including its use of refs_ref_exists(). The side I was referring to with "in turn makes me suspect" is the other helper function that will never have to deal with a symref. Use of refs_ref_exists() in that function is too loose.