diff --git a/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/assets.rs b/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/assets.rs
index e3b0b1a45..e21c076f8 100644
--- a/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/assets.rs
+++ b/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/assets.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use futures::future::join_all;
 
-use crate::{VirtualBranch, VirtualBranchCommit};
+use crate::{base::BaseBranch, VirtualBranch, VirtualBranchCommit};
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct Proxy {
@@ -44,4 +44,28 @@ impl Proxy {
             ..commit
         }
     }
+
+    pub async fn proxy_base_branch(&self, base_branch: BaseBranch) -> BaseBranch {
+        BaseBranch {
+            recent_commits: join_all(
+                base_branch
+                    .clone()
+                    .recent_commits
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .map(|commit| self.core_proxy.proxy_remote_commit(commit))
+                    .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+            )
+            .await,
+            upstream_commits: join_all(
+                base_branch
+                    .clone()
+                    .upstream_commits
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .map(|commit| self.core_proxy.proxy_remote_commit(commit))
+                    .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+            )
+            .await,
+            ..base_branch.clone()
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/base.rs b/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/base.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..885e15d35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/base.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,633 @@
+use std::{path::Path, time};
+
+use anyhow::{anyhow, Context, Result};
+use git2::Index;
+use serde::Serialize;
+
+use gitbutler_core::virtual_branches::integration::{
+    get_workspace_head, update_gitbutler_integration, GITBUTLER_INTEGRATION_REFERENCE,
+};
+use gitbutler_core::virtual_branches::{
+    branch, convert_to_real_branch, target, BranchId, RemoteCommit, VirtualBranchHunk,
+    VirtualBranchesHandle,
+};
+use gitbutler_core::{error::Marker, git::RepositoryExt, rebase::cherry_rebase};
+use gitbutler_core::{
+    git::{self, diff},
+    project_repository::{self, LogUntil},
+    projects::FetchResult,
+    virtual_branches::branch::BranchOwnershipClaims,
+};
+
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize, PartialEq, Clone)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct BaseBranch {
+    pub branch_name: String,
+    pub remote_name: String,
+    pub remote_url: String,
+    pub push_remote_name: Option<String>,
+    pub push_remote_url: String,
+    #[serde(with = "gitbutler_core::serde::oid")]
+    pub base_sha: git2::Oid,
+    #[serde(with = "gitbutler_core::serde::oid")]
+    pub current_sha: git2::Oid,
+    pub behind: usize,
+    pub upstream_commits: Vec<RemoteCommit>,
+    pub recent_commits: Vec<RemoteCommit>,
+    pub last_fetched_ms: Option<u128>,
+}
+
+pub fn get_base_branch_data(
+    project_repository: &project_repository::Repository,
+) -> Result<BaseBranch> {
+    let target = default_target(&project_repository.project().gb_dir())?;
+    let base = target_to_base_branch(project_repository, &target)?;
+    Ok(base)
+}
+
+fn go_back_to_integration(
+    project_repository: &project_repository::Repository,
+    default_target: &target::Target,
+) -> Result<BaseBranch> {
+    let statuses = project_repository
+        .repo()
+        .statuses(Some(
+            git2::StatusOptions::new()
+                .show(git2::StatusShow::IndexAndWorkdir)
+                .include_untracked(true),
+        ))
+        .context("failed to get status")?;
+    if !statuses.is_empty() {
+        return Err(anyhow!("current HEAD is dirty")).context(Marker::ProjectConflict);
+    }
+
+    let vb_state = project_repository.project().virtual_branches();
+    let all_virtual_branches = vb_state
+        .list_branches()
+        .context("failed to read virtual branches")?;
+
+    let applied_virtual_branches = all_virtual_branches
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|branch| branch.applied)
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+    let target_commit = project_repository
+        .repo()
+        .find_commit(default_target.sha)
+        .context("failed to find target commit")?;
+
+    let base_tree = target_commit
+        .tree()
+        .context("failed to get base tree from commit")?;
+    let mut final_tree = target_commit
+        .tree()
+        .context("failed to get base tree from commit")?;
+    for branch in &applied_virtual_branches {
+        // merge this branches tree with our tree
+        let branch_head = project_repository
+            .repo()
+            .find_commit(branch.head)
+            .context("failed to find branch head")?;
+        let branch_tree = branch_head
+            .tree()
+            .context("failed to get branch head tree")?;
+        let mut result = project_repository
+            .repo()
+            .merge_trees(&base_tree, &final_tree, &branch_tree, None)
+            .context("failed to merge")?;
+        let final_tree_oid = result
+            .write_tree_to(project_repository.repo())
+            .context("failed to write tree")?;
+        final_tree = project_repository
+            .repo()
+            .find_tree(final_tree_oid)
+            .context("failed to find written tree")?;
+    }
+
+    project_repository
+        .repo()
+        .checkout_tree_builder(&final_tree)
+        .force()
+        .checkout()
+        .context("failed to checkout tree")?;
+
+    let base = target_to_base_branch(project_repository, default_target)?;
+    update_gitbutler_integration(&vb_state, project_repository)?;
+    Ok(base)
+}
+
+pub fn set_base_branch(
+    project_repository: &project_repository::Repository,
+    target_branch_ref: &git::RemoteRefname,
+) -> Result<BaseBranch> {
+    let repo = project_repository.repo();
+
+    // if target exists, and it is the same as the requested branch, we should go back
+    if let Ok(target) = default_target(&project_repository.project().gb_dir()) {
+        if target.branch.eq(target_branch_ref) {
+            return go_back_to_integration(project_repository, &target);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // lookup a branch by name
+    let target_branch = match repo.find_branch_by_refname(&target_branch_ref.clone().into()) {
+        Ok(branch) => branch,
+        Err(err) => return Err(err),
+    }
+    .ok_or(anyhow!("remote branch '{}' not found", target_branch_ref))?;
+
+    let remote = repo
+        .find_remote(target_branch_ref.remote())
+        .context(format!(
+            "failed to find remote for branch {}",
+            target_branch.get().name().unwrap()
+        ))?;
+    let remote_url = remote.url().context(format!(
+        "failed to get remote url for {}",
+        target_branch_ref.remote()
+    ))?;
+
+    let target_branch_head = target_branch.get().peel_to_commit().context(format!(
+        "failed to peel branch {} to commit",
+        target_branch.get().name().unwrap()
+    ))?;
+
+    let current_head = repo.head().context("Failed to get HEAD reference")?;
+    let current_head_commit = current_head
+        .peel_to_commit()
+        .context("Failed to peel HEAD reference to commit")?;
+
+    // calculate the commit as the merge-base between HEAD in project_repository and this target commit
+    let target_commit_oid = repo
+        .merge_base(current_head_commit.id(), target_branch_head.id())
+        .context(format!(
+            "Failed to calculate merge base between {} and {}",
+            current_head_commit.id(),
+            target_branch_head.id()
+        ))?;
+
+    let target = target::Target {
+        branch: target_branch_ref.clone(),
+        remote_url: remote_url.to_string(),
+        sha: target_commit_oid,
+        push_remote_name: None,
+    };
+
+    let vb_state = project_repository.project().virtual_branches();
+    vb_state.set_default_target(target.clone())?;
+
+    // TODO: make sure this is a real branch
+    let head_name: git::Refname = current_head
+        .name()
+        .map(|name| name.parse().expect("libgit2 provides valid refnames"))
+        .context("Failed to get HEAD reference name")?;
+    if !head_name
+        .to_string()
+        .eq(&GITBUTLER_INTEGRATION_REFERENCE.to_string())
+    {
+        // if there are any commits on the head branch or uncommitted changes in the working directory, we need to
+        // put them into a virtual branch
+
+        let wd_diff = diff::workdir(repo, &current_head_commit.id())?;
+        if !wd_diff.is_empty() || current_head_commit.id() != target.sha {
+            // assign ownership to the branch
+            let ownership = wd_diff.iter().fold(
+                BranchOwnershipClaims::default(),
+                |mut ownership, (file_path, diff)| {
+                    for hunk in &diff.hunks {
+                        ownership.put(
+                            format!(
+                                "{}:{}",
+                                file_path.display(),
+                                VirtualBranchHunk::gen_id(hunk.new_start, hunk.new_lines)
+                            )
+                            .parse()
+                            .unwrap(),
+                        );
+                    }
+                    ownership
+                },
+            );
+
+            let now_ms = gitbutler_core::time::now_ms();
+
+            let (upstream, upstream_head) = if let git::Refname::Local(head_name) = &head_name {
+                let upstream_name = target_branch_ref.with_branch(head_name.branch());
+                if upstream_name.eq(target_branch_ref) {
+                    (None, None)
+                } else {
+                    match repo.find_reference(&git::Refname::from(&upstream_name).to_string()) {
+                        Ok(upstream) => {
+                            let head = upstream
+                                .peel_to_commit()
+                                .map(|commit| commit.id())
+                                .context(format!(
+                                    "failed to peel upstream {} to commit",
+                                    upstream.name().unwrap()
+                                ))?;
+                            Ok((Some(upstream_name), Some(head)))
+                        }
+                        Err(err) if err.code() == git2::ErrorCode::NotFound => Ok((None, None)),
+                        Err(error) => Err(error),
+                    }
+                    .context(format!("failed to find upstream for {}", head_name))?
+                }
+            } else {
+                (None, None)
+            };
+
+            let branch = branch::Branch {
+                id: BranchId::generate(),
+                name: head_name.to_string().replace("refs/heads/", ""),
+                notes: String::new(),
+                applied: true,
+                upstream,
+                upstream_head,
+                created_timestamp_ms: now_ms,
+                updated_timestamp_ms: now_ms,
+                head: current_head_commit.id(),
+                tree: gitbutler_core::virtual_branches::write_tree_onto_commit(
+                    project_repository,
+                    current_head_commit.id(),
+                    diff::diff_files_into_hunks(wd_diff),
+                )?,
+                ownership,
+                order: 0,
+                selected_for_changes: None,
+                allow_rebasing: project_repository.project().ok_with_force_push.into(),
+            };
+
+            vb_state.set_branch(branch)?;
+        }
+    }
+
+    set_exclude_decoration(project_repository)?;
+
+    update_gitbutler_integration(&vb_state, project_repository)?;
+
+    let base = target_to_base_branch(project_repository, &target)?;
+    Ok(base)
+}
+
+pub fn set_target_push_remote(
+    project_repository: &project_repository::Repository,
+    push_remote_name: &str,
+) -> Result<()> {
+    let remote = project_repository
+        .repo()
+        .find_remote(push_remote_name)
+        .context(format!("failed to find remote {}", push_remote_name))?;
+
+    // if target exists, and it is the same as the requested branch, we should go back
+    let mut target = default_target(&project_repository.project().gb_dir())?;
+    target.push_remote_name = remote
+        .name()
+        .context("failed to get remote name")?
+        .to_string()
+        .into();
+    let vb_state = project_repository.project().virtual_branches();
+    vb_state.set_default_target(target)?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn set_exclude_decoration(project_repository: &project_repository::Repository) -> Result<()> {
+    let repo = project_repository.repo();
+    let mut config = repo.config()?;
+    config
+        .set_multivar("log.excludeDecoration", "refs/gitbutler", "refs/gitbutler")
+        .context("failed to set log.excludeDecoration")?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn _print_tree(repo: &git2::Repository, tree: &git2::Tree) -> Result<()> {
+    println!("tree id: {}", tree.id());
+    for entry in tree {
+        println!(
+            "  entry: {} {}",
+            entry.name().unwrap_or_default(),
+            entry.id()
+        );
+        // get entry contents
+        let object = entry.to_object(repo).context("failed to get object")?;
+        let blob = object.as_blob().context("failed to get blob")?;
+        // convert content to string
+        if let Ok(content) = std::str::from_utf8(blob.content()) {
+            println!("    blob: {}", content);
+        } else {
+            println!("    blob: BINARY");
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+// try to update the target branch
+// this means that we need to:
+// determine if what the target branch is now pointing to is mergeable with our current working directory
+// merge the target branch into our current working directory
+// update the target sha
+pub fn update_base_branch(
+    project_repository: &project_repository::Repository,
+) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<git2::Branch<'_>>> {
+    project_repository.assure_resolved()?;
+
+    // look up the target and see if there is a new oid
+    let target = default_target(&project_repository.project().gb_dir())?;
+    let repo = project_repository.repo();
+    let target_branch = repo
+        .find_branch_by_refname(&target.branch.clone().into())
+        .context(format!("failed to find branch {}", target.branch))?;
+
+    let new_target_commit = target_branch
+        .ok_or(anyhow!("failed to get branch"))?
+        .get()
+        .peel_to_commit()
+        .context(format!("failed to peel branch {} to commit", target.branch))?;
+
+    let mut unapplied_branch_names: Vec<git2::Branch> = Vec::new();
+
+    if new_target_commit.id() == target.sha {
+        return Ok(unapplied_branch_names);
+    }
+
+    let new_target_tree = new_target_commit
+        .tree()
+        .context("failed to get new target commit tree")?;
+
+    let old_target_tree = repo.find_commit(target.sha)?.tree().context(format!(
+        "failed to get old target commit tree {}",
+        target.sha
+    ))?;
+
+    let vb_state = project_repository.project().virtual_branches();
+    let integration_commit = get_workspace_head(&vb_state, project_repository)?;
+
+    // try to update every branch
+    let updated_vbranches = gitbutler_core::virtual_branches::get_status_by_branch(
+        project_repository,
+        Some(&integration_commit),
+    )?
+    .0
+    .into_iter()
+    .map(|(branch, _)| branch)
+    .map(
+        |mut branch: branch::Branch| -> Result<Option<branch::Branch>> {
+            let branch_tree = repo.find_tree(branch.tree)?;
+
+            let branch_head_commit = repo.find_commit(branch.head).context(format!(
+                "failed to find commit {} for branch {}",
+                branch.head, branch.id
+            ))?;
+            let branch_head_tree = branch_head_commit.tree().context(format!(
+                "failed to find tree for commit {} for branch {}",
+                branch.head, branch.id
+            ))?;
+
+            let result_integrated_detected =
+                |mut branch: branch::Branch| -> Result<Option<branch::Branch>> {
+                    // branch head tree is the same as the new target tree.
+                    // meaning we can safely use the new target commit as the branch head.
+
+                    branch.head = new_target_commit.id();
+
+                    // it also means that the branch is fully integrated into the target.
+                    // disconnect it from the upstream
+                    branch.upstream = None;
+                    branch.upstream_head = None;
+
+                    let non_commited_files =
+                        diff::trees(project_repository.repo(), &branch_head_tree, &branch_tree)?;
+                    if non_commited_files.is_empty() {
+                        // if there are no commited files, then the branch is fully merged
+                        // and we can delete it.
+                        vb_state.remove_branch(branch.id)?;
+                        project_repository.delete_branch_reference(&branch)?;
+                        Ok(None)
+                    } else {
+                        vb_state.set_branch(branch.clone())?;
+                        Ok(Some(branch))
+                    }
+                };
+
+            if branch_head_tree.id() == new_target_tree.id() {
+                return result_integrated_detected(branch);
+            }
+
+            // try to merge branch head with new target
+            let mut branch_tree_merge_index = repo
+                .merge_trees(&old_target_tree, &branch_tree, &new_target_tree, None)
+                .context(format!("failed to merge trees for branch {}", branch.id))?;
+
+            if branch_tree_merge_index.has_conflicts() {
+                // branch tree conflicts with new target, unapply branch for now. we'll handle it later, when user applies it back.
+                let unapplied_real_branch =
+                    convert_to_real_branch(project_repository, branch.id, Default::default())?;
+
+                unapplied_branch_names.push(unapplied_real_branch);
+
+                return Ok(None);
+            }
+
+            let branch_merge_index_tree_oid =
+                branch_tree_merge_index.write_tree_to(project_repository.repo())?;
+
+            if branch_merge_index_tree_oid == new_target_tree.id() {
+                return result_integrated_detected(branch);
+            }
+
+            if branch.head == target.sha {
+                // there are no commits on the branch, so we can just update the head to the new target and calculate the new tree
+                branch.head = new_target_commit.id();
+                branch.tree = branch_merge_index_tree_oid;
+                vb_state.set_branch(branch.clone())?;
+                return Ok(Some(branch));
+            }
+
+            let mut branch_head_merge_index = repo
+                .merge_trees(&old_target_tree, &branch_head_tree, &new_target_tree, None)
+                .context(format!(
+                    "failed to merge head tree for branch {}",
+                    branch.id
+                ))?;
+
+            if branch_head_merge_index.has_conflicts() {
+                // branch commits conflict with new target, make sure the branch is
+                // unapplied. conflicts witll be dealt with when applying it back.
+                let unapplied_real_branch =
+                    convert_to_real_branch(project_repository, branch.id, Default::default())?;
+                unapplied_branch_names.push(unapplied_real_branch);
+
+                return Ok(None);
+            }
+
+            // branch commits do not conflict with new target, so lets merge them
+            let branch_head_merge_tree_oid = branch_head_merge_index
+                .write_tree_to(project_repository.repo())
+                .context(format!(
+                    "failed to write head merge index for {}",
+                    branch.id
+                ))?;
+
+            let ok_with_force_push = branch.allow_rebasing;
+
+            let result_merge = |mut branch: branch::Branch| -> Result<Option<branch::Branch>> {
+                // branch was pushed to upstream, and user doesn't like force pushing.
+                // create a merge commit to avoid the need of force pushing then.
+                let branch_head_merge_tree = repo
+                    .find_tree(branch_head_merge_tree_oid)
+                    .context("failed to find tree")?;
+
+                let new_target_head = project_repository
+                    .commit(
+                        format!(
+                            "Merged {}/{} into {}",
+                            target.branch.remote(),
+                            target.branch.branch(),
+                            branch.name,
+                        )
+                        .as_str(),
+                        &branch_head_merge_tree,
+                        &[&branch_head_commit, &new_target_commit],
+                        None,
+                    )
+                    .context("failed to commit merge")?;
+
+                branch.head = new_target_head;
+                branch.tree = branch_merge_index_tree_oid;
+                vb_state.set_branch(branch.clone())?;
+                Ok(Some(branch))
+            };
+
+            if branch.upstream.is_some() && !ok_with_force_push {
+                return result_merge(branch);
+            }
+
+            // branch was not pushed to upstream yet. attempt a rebase,
+            let rebased_head_oid = cherry_rebase(
+                project_repository,
+                new_target_commit.id(),
+                new_target_commit.id(),
+                branch.head,
+            );
+
+            // rebase failed, just do the merge
+            if rebased_head_oid.is_err() {
+                return result_merge(branch);
+            }
+
+            if let Some(rebased_head_oid) = rebased_head_oid? {
+                // rebase worked out, rewrite the branch head
+                branch.head = rebased_head_oid;
+                branch.tree = branch_merge_index_tree_oid;
+                vb_state.set_branch(branch.clone())?;
+                return Ok(Some(branch));
+            }
+
+            result_merge(branch)
+        },
+    )
+    .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?
+    .into_iter()
+    .flatten()
+    .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+    // ok, now all the problematic branches have been unapplied
+    // now we calculate and checkout new tree for the working directory
+
+    let final_tree = updated_vbranches
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|branch| branch.applied)
+        .fold(new_target_commit.tree(), |final_tree, branch| {
+            let repo: &git2::Repository = repo;
+            let final_tree = final_tree?;
+            let branch_tree = repo.find_tree(branch.tree)?;
+            let mut merge_result: Index =
+                repo.merge_trees(&new_target_tree, &final_tree, &branch_tree, None)?;
+            let final_tree_oid = merge_result.write_tree_to(repo)?;
+            repo.find_tree(final_tree_oid)
+        })
+        .context("failed to calculate final tree")?;
+
+    repo.checkout_tree_builder(&final_tree)
+        .force()
+        .checkout()
+        .context("failed to checkout index, this should not have happened, we should have already detected this")?;
+
+    // write new target oid
+    vb_state.set_default_target(target::Target {
+        sha: new_target_commit.id(),
+        ..target
+    })?;
+
+    // Rewriting the integration commit is necessary after changing target sha.
+    gitbutler_core::virtual_branches::integration::update_gitbutler_integration(
+        &vb_state,
+        project_repository,
+    )?;
+    Ok(unapplied_branch_names)
+}
+
+pub fn target_to_base_branch(
+    project_repository: &project_repository::Repository,
+    target: &target::Target,
+) -> Result<BaseBranch> {
+    let repo = project_repository.repo();
+    let branch = repo
+        .find_branch_by_refname(&target.branch.clone().into())?
+        .ok_or(anyhow!("failed to get branch"))?;
+    let commit = branch.get().peel_to_commit()?;
+    let oid = commit.id();
+
+    // gather a list of commits between oid and target.sha
+    let upstream_commits = project_repository
+        .log(oid, project_repository::LogUntil::Commit(target.sha))
+        .context("failed to get upstream commits")?
+        .iter()
+        .map(gitbutler_core::virtual_branches::commit_to_remote_commit)
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+    // get some recent commits
+    let recent_commits = project_repository
+        .log(target.sha, LogUntil::Take(20))
+        .context("failed to get recent commits")?
+        .iter()
+        .map(gitbutler_core::virtual_branches::commit_to_remote_commit)
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+    // there has got to be a better way to do this.
+    let push_remote_url = match target.push_remote_name {
+        Some(ref name) => match repo.find_remote(name) {
+            Ok(remote) => match remote.url() {
+                Some(url) => url.to_string(),
+                None => target.remote_url.clone(),
+            },
+            Err(_err) => target.remote_url.clone(),
+        },
+        None => target.remote_url.clone(),
+    };
+
+    let base = BaseBranch {
+        branch_name: format!("{}/{}", target.branch.remote(), target.branch.branch()),
+        remote_name: target.branch.remote().to_string(),
+        remote_url: target.remote_url.clone(),
+        push_remote_name: target.push_remote_name.clone(),
+        push_remote_url,
+        base_sha: target.sha,
+        current_sha: oid,
+        behind: upstream_commits.len(),
+        upstream_commits,
+        recent_commits,
+        last_fetched_ms: project_repository
+            .project()
+            .project_data_last_fetch
+            .as_ref()
+            .map(FetchResult::timestamp)
+            .copied()
+            .map(|t| t.duration_since(time::UNIX_EPOCH).unwrap().as_millis()),
+    };
+    Ok(base)
+}
+
+fn default_target(base_path: &Path) -> Result<target::Target> {
+    VirtualBranchesHandle::new(base_path).get_default_target()
+}
diff --git a/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/controller.rs b/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/controller.rs
index cb0c04e90..5cacc0b4a 100644
--- a/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/controller.rs
+++ b/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/controller.rs
@@ -10,12 +10,16 @@ use std::{path::Path, sync::Arc};
 
 use tokio::sync::Semaphore;
 
+use crate::base::{
+    get_base_branch_data, set_base_branch, set_target_push_remote, update_base_branch, BaseBranch,
+};
+
 use super::r#virtual as branch;
 use gitbutler_core::virtual_branches;
 
 use gitbutler_core::virtual_branches::{
     branch::{BranchId, BranchOwnershipClaims},
-    target, BaseBranch, RemoteBranchFile, VirtualBranchesHandle,
+    target, RemoteBranchFile, VirtualBranchesHandle,
 };
 use gitbutler_core::{
     git,
@@ -110,7 +114,7 @@ impl Controller {
 
     pub async fn get_base_branch_data(&self, project: &Project) -> Result<BaseBranch> {
         let project_repository = Repository::open(project)?;
-        virtual_branches::get_base_branch_data(&project_repository)
+        get_base_branch_data(&project_repository)
     }
 
     pub async fn list_remote_commit_files(
@@ -132,12 +136,12 @@ impl Controller {
         let _ = project_repository
             .project()
             .create_snapshot(SnapshotDetails::new(OperationKind::SetBaseBranch));
-        virtual_branches::set_base_branch(&project_repository, target_branch)
+        set_base_branch(&project_repository, target_branch)
     }
 
     pub async fn set_target_push_remote(&self, project: &Project, push_remote: &str) -> Result<()> {
         let project_repository = Repository::open(project)?;
-        virtual_branches::set_target_push_remote(&project_repository, push_remote)
+        set_target_push_remote(&project_repository, push_remote)
     }
 
     pub async fn integrate_upstream_commits(
@@ -162,7 +166,7 @@ impl Controller {
         let _ = project_repository
             .project()
             .create_snapshot(SnapshotDetails::new(OperationKind::UpdateWorkspaceBase));
-        virtual_branches::update_base_branch(&project_repository)
+        update_base_branch(&project_repository)
             .map(|unapplied_branches| {
                 unapplied_branches
                     .iter()
diff --git a/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/lib.rs b/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/lib.rs
index 2fe2e8171..ca12ba39d 100644
--- a/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/gitbutler-branch/src/lib.rs
@@ -6,3 +6,5 @@ pub mod r#virtual;
 pub use r#virtual::*;
 
 pub mod assets;
+
+pub mod base;
diff --git a/crates/gitbutler-core/src/assets.rs b/crates/gitbutler-core/src/assets.rs
index 873c3a7ac..98b320062 100644
--- a/crates/gitbutler-core/src/assets.rs
+++ b/crates/gitbutler-core/src/assets.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use url::Url;
 
 use crate::{
     users,
-    virtual_branches::{Author, BaseBranch, RemoteBranchData, RemoteCommit},
+    virtual_branches::{Author, RemoteBranchData, RemoteCommit},
 };
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
@@ -62,37 +62,13 @@ impl Proxy {
         }
     }
 
-    async fn proxy_remote_commit(&self, commit: RemoteCommit) -> RemoteCommit {
+    pub async fn proxy_remote_commit(&self, commit: RemoteCommit) -> RemoteCommit {
         RemoteCommit {
             author: self.proxy_author(commit.author).await,
             ..commit
         }
     }
 
-    pub async fn proxy_base_branch(&self, base_branch: BaseBranch) -> BaseBranch {
-        BaseBranch {
-            recent_commits: join_all(
-                base_branch
-                    .clone()
-                    .recent_commits
-                    .into_iter()
-                    .map(|commit| self.proxy_remote_commit(commit))
-                    .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
-            )
-            .await,
-            upstream_commits: join_all(
-                base_branch
-                    .clone()
-                    .upstream_commits
-                    .into_iter()
-                    .map(|commit| self.proxy_remote_commit(commit))
-                    .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
-            )
-            .await,
-            ..base_branch.clone()
-        }
-    }
-
     // takes a url of a remote assets, downloads it into cache and returns a url that points to the cached file
     pub async fn proxy(&self, src: &Url) -> Result<Url> {
         #[cfg(unix)]
diff --git a/crates/gitbutler-core/src/virtual_branches/mod.rs b/crates/gitbutler-core/src/virtual_branches/mod.rs
index e5304d1d3..c512dba2f 100644
--- a/crates/gitbutler-core/src/virtual_branches/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/gitbutler-core/src/virtual_branches/mod.rs
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@ pub use files::*;
 pub mod integration;
 pub use integration::GITBUTLER_INTEGRATION_REFERENCE;
 
-mod base;
-pub use base::*;
-
 mod r#virtual;
 pub use r#virtual::*;
 
diff --git a/crates/gitbutler-core/src/virtual_branches/virtual.rs b/crates/gitbutler-core/src/virtual_branches/virtual.rs
index 68fd9feb6..3c15516fd 100644
--- a/crates/gitbutler-core/src/virtual_branches/virtual.rs
+++ b/crates/gitbutler-core/src/virtual_branches/virtual.rs
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ pub struct VirtualBranchHunk {
 
 /// Lifecycle
 impl VirtualBranchHunk {
-    pub(crate) fn gen_id(new_start: u32, new_lines: u32) -> String {
+    pub fn gen_id(new_start: u32, new_lines: u32) -> String {
         format!("{}-{}", new_start, new_start + new_lines)
     }
     fn from_git_hunk(
diff --git a/crates/gitbutler-tauri/src/virtual_branches.rs b/crates/gitbutler-tauri/src/virtual_branches.rs
index c07bb0a28..89cecb0f4 100644
--- a/crates/gitbutler-tauri/src/virtual_branches.rs
+++ b/crates/gitbutler-tauri/src/virtual_branches.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pub mod commands {
     use crate::error::Error;
     use anyhow::{anyhow, Context};
+    use gitbutler_branch::base::BaseBranch;
     use gitbutler_branch::{Controller, NameConflitResolution, VirtualBranches};
     use gitbutler_core::{
         assets,
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ pub mod commands {
         types::ReferenceName,
         virtual_branches::{
             branch::{self, BranchId, BranchOwnershipClaims},
-            BaseBranch, RemoteBranch, RemoteBranchData, RemoteBranchFile,
+            RemoteBranch, RemoteBranchData, RemoteBranchFile,
         },
     };
     use tauri::{AppHandle, Manager};
@@ -118,7 +119,9 @@ pub mod commands {
             .get_base_branch_data(&project)
             .await
         {
-            let proxy = handle.state::<assets::Proxy>();
+            let proxy = gitbutler_branch::assets::Proxy::new(
+                handle.state::<assets::Proxy>().inner().clone(),
+            );
             let base_branch = proxy.proxy_base_branch(base_branch).await;
             return Ok(Some(base_branch));
         }
@@ -141,10 +144,10 @@ pub mod commands {
             .state::<Controller>()
             .set_base_branch(&project, &branch_name)
             .await?;
-        let base_branch = handle
-            .state::<assets::Proxy>()
-            .proxy_base_branch(base_branch)
-            .await;
+
+        let proxy =
+            gitbutler_branch::assets::Proxy::new(handle.state::<assets::Proxy>().inner().clone());
+        let base_branch = proxy.proxy_base_branch(base_branch).await;
 
         // if they also sent a different push remote, set that too
         if let Some(push_remote) = push_remote {