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gitgithub.netrc

Git .netrc file authentication issue

I am using GitHub. I created a repository and cloned it on my Ubuntu machine. I have made an entry in the .netrc file as follows: 

machine https://github.com/xxx/yyy.git
login xxx
xxx

I am expecting that Git will not ask me for the username and password after this entry in the .netrc file. But Git prompts for credentials even after this.

Am I missing something?

Solution

  • The ~/.netrc (or %HOME%\_netrc on Windows) file isn't enough.

    It is best to use that file encrypted, with gpg + netrc alone, as I did here.

    Or to use a script managing the encryption.
    You would need, in that second case, to:

    • copy the git-credential-netrc.perl file anywhere in your $PATH/%PATH%,

    • add:

        cd yourRepo
  git config credential.helper "netrc -d -v"

    (You can remove -d and -v once it is working: those are debug flags)

    • use your login in the remote URL:

        git set-url origin https://[email protected]/yourLogin/yourRepo

    See "Git - How to use .netrc file on Windows to save user and password" for the general principle of a credential "netrc" helper (Git 1.8.3+).