TIL37 - Git Credentials - Caching, Deleting, and Updating

This post is targeted for macOS users

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Git credentials

• When you clone GitHub repositories using HTTPS, you will need to authenticate your credentials. Git will prompt you to enter your GitHub username and password
• This authentification process must pass before the cloning between local and remote repositories can be successfully completed.

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Caching your GitHub credentials in Git

• You can tell Git to remember your credentials so that you don't have to enter your username and pw every time you clone a git repository by using a credential helper
• On Mac, you can use osxkeychain helper
• Use the following command:

git config --global credential.helper osxkeychain

• This tells Git to use the osxkeychain credentials helper. Once you have authenticated successfully, your credentials will be stored in the macOS keychain and will be used everytime you clone your GitHub repository
• you won't have to re-enter your credentials unless you change your credentials (username, password) on GitHub

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Updating your GitHub credentials in Git from macOS keychain

• If you have changed your GitHub username and/or password for your GitHub account, you will have to update your credentials stored in your local computer
• If you have set credentials.helper osxkeychain on your Mac, you can update using macOS's Keychain Access app

Updating via Keychain Access

• To update existing GitHub keychain, open Keychain Access on your mac (you can use spotlight to search for and open), search for and select github.com
• After selecting the github.com keychain item, you can update your GitHub username

Deleting credentials via command line

• You can use command line command to delete exising credentials and re-enter your new username and/or password when prompted
• To delete existing credentials, enter the following command:

git credential-osxkeychain erase
host=github.com
protocol=https
> [Press Return]

• If successful, nothing will print out. Now when you try to clone a GitHub repository, you will be prompted to enter your credentials. Here you can enter your new credentials
• To tell Git to remember the new credentials, you can use the git config --global credentials.helper osxkeychain command again

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Reference:
docs.github.com - Caching your GitHub credentials in Git
docs.github.com - Updating credentials from the macOS Keychain