Methods to Save Credentials

Method 1. Using Git Credential Helper

Git includes a credential helper that can save your credentials. There are different types of credential helpers, including:

1. cache Helper

The cache helper temporarily stores your credentials in memory for a configurable period.

• Set Up Cache Helper: Configure Git to use the cache helper with a timeout (e.g., 3600 seconds = 1 hour):

git config --global credential.helper 'cache --timeout=3600'

2. store Helper

The store helper saves your credentials in a plain-text file on disk.

• Set Up Store Helper: Configure Git to use the store helper:

git config --global credential.helper store

• First Usage: The first time you push or pull, Git will ask for your username and password and store them in ~/.git-credentials.

3. manager-core (Windows and macOS) / osxkeychain (macOS) / libsecret (Linux)

These helpers store credentials securely in the OS-specific credential storage.

For Windows

git config --global credential.helper manager-core

For macOS:

git config --global credential.helper osxkeychain

For Linux:

git config --global credential.helper libsecret

Method 2. Saving Credentials for HTTPS Repositories

If you are working with HTTPS repositories, you can directly save the username and password in the repository URL. However, this method is not recommended due to security risks.

• Clone Repository with Credentials:

git clone https://username:password@github.com/username/repository.git

• Update Remote URL with Credentials:

git remote set-url origin https://username:password@github.com/username/repository.git

Warning: Storing credentials in URLs is insecure and should be avoided whenever possible.

Method 3: Using SSH Keys

A more secure and recommended method is to use SSH keys instead of saving plain-text credentials.

• Generate SSH Key:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com"

• Add SSH Key to SSH-Agent:

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa

• Add SSH Key to GitHub/GitLab: Copy the contents of ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub and add it to your GitHub/GitLab account under SSH keys.
• Clone Repository Using SSH:

git clone git@github.com:username/repository.git

Method 4. Using Personal Access Tokens

For increased security, especially with platforms like GitHub, you can use Personal Access Tokens (PATs).

• Generate PAT: Go to your GitHub account settings and generate a PAT with the necessary permissions.
• Use PAT Instead of Password: When prompted for a password, use the PAT instead.

git clone https://github.com/username/repository.git
Username: your_username
Password: your_token

Managing credentials efficiently is important for seamless interaction with remote Git repositories. By default, Git prompts for a username and password each time you interact with a remote repository. To simplify this process, you can configure Git to save your credentials, allowing for a smoother workflow. This article will guide you through various methods to save your username and password in Git.