Show empty repository page if repository don't have branches

CHANGELOG

@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ v 8.0.5
   - Correct lookup-by-email for LDAP logins
   - Fix loading spinner sometimes not being hidden on Merge Request tab switches
   - Animate the logo on hover
+  - Show "Empty Repository Page" for repository without branches (#9728)
 
 v 8.0.4
   - Fix Message-ID header to be RFC 2111-compliant to prevent e-mails being dropped (Stan Hu)

app/models/project.rb

@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ class Project < ActiveRecord::Base
   end
 
   def empty_repo?
-    !repository.exists? || repository.empty?
+    !repository.exists? || !repository.has_visible_content?
   end
 
   def repo

app/models/repository.rb

@@ -44,6 +44,19 @@ class Repository
     raw_repository.empty?
   end
 
+  #
+  # Git repository can contains some hidden refs like:
+  #   /refs/notes/*
+  #   /refs/git-as-svn/*
+  #   /refs/pulls/*
+  # This refs by default not visible in project page and not cloned to client side.
+  #
+  # This method return true if repository contains some content visible in project page.
+  #
+  def has_visible_content?
+    !raw_repository.branches.empty?
+  end
+
   def commit(id = 'HEAD')
     return nil unless raw_repository
     commit = Gitlab::Git::Commit.find(raw_repository, id)