kubernetes/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/tools/reference/ref.go

var ErrNilObject …

// GetReference returns an ObjectReference which refers to the given
// object, or an error if the object doesn't follow the conventions
// that would allow this.
// TODO: should take a meta.Interface see https://issue.k8s.io/7127
func GetReference(scheme *runtime.Scheme, obj runtime.Object) (*v1.ObjectReference, error) { … }

// GetPartialReference is exactly like GetReference, but allows you to set the FieldPath.
func GetPartialReference(scheme *runtime.Scheme, obj runtime.Object, fieldPath string) (*v1.ObjectReference, error) { … }