adds the ability to create branch refs from the UI

apps/desktop/src/lib/commit/CommitCard.svelte

@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@
 	import { BaseBranch } from '$lib/baseBranch/baseBranch';
 	import CommitMessageInput from '$lib/commit/CommitMessageInput.svelte';
 	import { persistedCommitMessage } from '$lib/config/config';
+	import { featureBranchStacking } from '$lib/config/uiFeatureFlags';
 	import { draggableCommit } from '$lib/dragging/draggable';
 	import { DraggableCommit, nonDraggable } from '$lib/dragging/draggables';
 	import BranchFilesList from '$lib/file/BranchFilesList.svelte';
 	import { ModeService } from '$lib/modes/service';
+	import TextBox from '$lib/shared/TextBox.svelte';
 	import { copyToClipboard } from '$lib/utils/clipboard';
 	import { getContext, getContextStore, maybeGetContext } from '$lib/utils/context';
 	import { openExternalUrl } from '$lib/utils/url';
@@ -48,6 +50,8 @@
 
 	const currentCommitMessage = persistedCommitMessage(project.id, branch?.id || '');
 
+	const branchStacking = featureBranchStacking();
+
 	let draggableCommitElement: HTMLElement | null = null;
 	let files: RemoteFile[] = [];
 	let showDetails = false;
@@ -82,6 +86,14 @@
 	let commitMessageValid = false;
 	let description = '';
 
+	let createRefModal: Modal;
+	let createRefName = $baseBranch.remoteName + '/';
+
+	function openCreateRefModal(e: Event, commit: DetailedCommit | Commit) {
+		e.stopPropagation();
+		createRefModal.show(commit);
+	}
+
 	function openCommitMessageModal(e: Event) {
 		e.stopPropagation();
 
@@ -156,6 +168,29 @@
 	{/snippet}
 </Modal>
 
+<Modal bind:this={createRefModal} width="small">
+	{#snippet children(commit)}
+		<TextBox label="Remote branch name" id="newRemoteName" bind:value={createRefName} focus />
+		<Button
+			style="pop"
+			kind="solid"
+			onclick={() => {
+				branchController.createBranchReference(
+					branch?.id || '',
+					'refs/remotes/' + createRefName,
+					commit.id
+				);
+				createRefModal.close();
+			}}
+		>
+			Ok
+		</Button>
+	{/snippet}
+	{#snippet controls(close)}
+		<Button style="ghost" outline type="reset" onclick={close}>Cancel</Button>
+	{/snippet}
+</Modal>
+
 <div
 	class="commit-row"
 	class:is-commit-open={showDetails}
@@ -352,6 +387,15 @@
 										icon="edit-small"
 										onclick={openCommitMessageModal}>Edit message</Button
 									>
+									{#if $branchStacking}
+										<Button
+											size="tag"
+											style="ghost"
+											outline
+											icon="branch"
+											onclick={(e: Event) => {openCreateRefModal(e, commit)}}>Create ref</Button
+										>
+									{/if}
 								{/if}
 								{#if canEdit() && project.succeedingRebases}
 									<Button size="tag" style="ghost" outline onclick={editPatch}>

apps/desktop/src/lib/vbranches/branchController.ts

@@ -96,6 +96,26 @@ export class BranchController {
 		}
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Creates a new GitButler reference associated with a branch.
+	 * @param branchId
+	 * @param reference in the format refs/remotes/origin/my-branch (must be remote)
+	 * @param commitOid The commit oid to point the reference
+	 */
+	async createBranchReference(branchId: string, reference: string, commitOid: string) {
+		console.log('createBranchReference', branchId, reference, commitOid);
+		try {
+			await invoke<void>('create_branch_reference', {
+				projectId: this.projectId,
+				branchId: branchId,
+				reference: reference,
+				commitOid: commitOid
+			});
+		} catch (err) {
+			showError('Failed to create branch reference', err);
+		}
+	}
+
 	async updateBranchRemoteName(branchId: string, upstream: string) {
 		try {
 			await invoke<void>('update_virtual_branch', {

crates/gitbutler-branch-actions/src/actions.rs

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
-use gitbutler_branch::{BranchCreateRequest, BranchId, BranchOwnershipClaims, BranchUpdateRequest};
+use gitbutler_branch::{
+    BranchCreateRequest, BranchId, BranchOwnershipClaims, BranchReference, BranchUpdateRequest,
+};
 use gitbutler_command_context::CommandContext;
 use gitbutler_operating_modes::assure_open_workspace_mode;
 use gitbutler_oplog::{
@@ -355,6 +357,18 @@ impl VirtualBranchActions {
         branch::insert_blank_commit(&ctx, branch_id, commit_oid, offset).map_err(Into::into)
     }
 
+    pub fn create_branch_reference(
+        &self,
+        project: &Project,
+        branch_id: BranchId,
+        reference: ReferenceName,
+        commit_oid: git2::Oid,
+    ) -> Result<BranchReference> {
+        let ctx = open_with_verify(project)?;
+        assure_open_workspace_mode(&ctx).context("Requires an open workspace mode")?;
+        gitbutler_repo::create_branch_reference(&ctx, branch_id, reference, commit_oid)
+    }
+
     pub fn reorder_commit(
         &self,
         project: &Project,

crates/gitbutler-tauri/src/main.rs

@@ -171,6 +171,7 @@ fn main() {
                     virtual_branches::commands::move_commit_file,
                     virtual_branches::commands::undo_commit,
                     virtual_branches::commands::insert_blank_commit,
+                    virtual_branches::commands::create_branch_reference,
                     virtual_branches::commands::reorder_commit,
                     virtual_branches::commands::update_commit_message,
                     virtual_branches::commands::list_remote_branches,

crates/gitbutler-tauri/src/virtual_branches.rs

@@ -396,6 +396,23 @@ pub mod commands {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    #[tauri::command(async)]
+    #[instrument(skip(projects, windows), err(Debug))]
+    pub fn create_branch_reference(
+        windows: State<'_, WindowState>,
+        projects: State<'_, projects::Controller>,
+        project_id: ProjectId,
+        branch_id: BranchId,
+        reference: ReferenceName,
+        commit_oid: String,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        let project = projects.get(project_id)?;
+        let commit_oid = git2::Oid::from_str(&commit_oid).map_err(|e| anyhow!(e))?;
+        VirtualBranchActions.create_branch_reference(&project, branch_id, reference, commit_oid)?;
+        emit_vbranches(&windows, project_id);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     #[tauri::command(async)]
     #[instrument(skip(projects, windows), err(Debug))]
     pub fn reorder_commit(