Code navigation displays references when browsing repository

Problem to solve

GitLab's native code intelligence helps developers navigate code more efficiently as well as understand changes being introduced in merge requests. This is important to understand existing code as well ensure new code is added in a maintainable and responsible fashion.

GitLab 13.3 introduces the ability to display references for projects using GitLab's native code intelligence. Clicking on an object in your code will display the definition and offer the ability to browse references on the second tab, displaying the full path and line number where the object is being used.

Future iterations will include displaying the code for references in the popover as well as API support. You can follow along in the Code intelligence epic.

Further information

When browsing code files on GitLab I can currently go to definition but I can't currently find where else a particular object is being used. In order to find this I have to perform a manual search on the relevant code or clone the repo locally to use an IDE that supports code intelligence.

Intended users

Personas are described at https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/marketing/product-marketing/roles-personas/

User experience goal

The user should be able to click on a function while browsing code and see a find references option

Proposal

When browsing a repo, and an LSIF file has been uploaded for the current SHA:

provide Find references in addition to the existing Go to definition

Feature Flag

A code_navigation_references will be added.