+def branch_exists(branch):
+ """Existance check for the named branch
+ """
+ for line in _output_lines(['git-rev-parse', '--symbolic', '--all']):
+ if line.strip() == branch:
+ return True
+ return False
+
+def create_branch(new_branch, tree_id = None):
+ """Create a new branch in the git repository
+ """
+ new_head = os.path.join('refs', 'heads', new_branch)
+ if branch_exists(new_head):
+ raise GitException, 'Branch "%s" already exists' % new_branch
+
+ current_head = get_head()
+ set_head_file(new_head)
+ __set_head(current_head)
+
+ # a checkout isn't needed if new branch points to the current head
+ if tree_id:
+ git.switch(tree_id)
+
+ if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(base_dir, 'MERGE_HEAD')):
+ os.remove(os.path.join(base_dir, 'MERGE_HEAD'))
+