Files::CreateService can now commit file to empty repository

app/services/files/create_service.rb

@@ -9,10 +9,6 @@ module Files
         return error("You are not allowed to create file in this branch")
       end
 
-      unless repository.branch_names.include?(ref)
-        return error("You can only create files if you are on top of a branch")
-      end
-
       file_name = File.basename(path)
       file_path = path
 
@@ -23,11 +19,20 @@ module Files
         )
       end
 
+      if project.empty_repo?
+        # everything is ok because repo does not have a commits yet
+      else
+        unless repository.branch_names.include?(ref)
+          return error("You can only create files if you are on top of a branch")
+        end
+
         blob = repository.blob_at_branch(ref, file_path)
 
         if blob
           return error("Your changes could not be committed, because file with such name exists")
         end
+      end
+
 
       new_file_action = Gitlab::Satellite::NewFileAction.new(current_user, project, ref, file_path)
       created_successfully = new_file_action.commit!(

lib/gitlab/satellite/files/new_file_action.rb

@@ -14,7 +14,14 @@ module Gitlab
           prepare_satellite!(repo)
 
           # create target branch in satellite at the corresponding commit from bare repo
+          current_ref =
+            if repo.commits.any?
               repo.git.checkout({raise: true, timeout: true, b: true}, ref, "origin/#{ref}")
+              ref
+            else
+              # skip this step if we want to add first file to empty repo
+              Satellite::PARKING_BRANCH
+            end
 
           file_path_in_satellite = File.join(repo.working_dir, file_path)
           dir_name_in_satellite = File.dirname(file_path_in_satellite)
@@ -38,10 +45,9 @@ module Gitlab
           # will raise CommandFailed when commit fails
           repo.git.commit(raise: true, timeout: true, a: true, m: commit_message)
 
-
           # push commit back to bare repo
           # will raise CommandFailed when push fails
-          repo.git.push({raise: true, timeout: true}, :origin, ref)
+          repo.git.push({raise: true, timeout: true}, :origin, "#{current_ref}:#{ref}")
 
           # everything worked
           true