How to use the command git credential-cache (with examples)

This article will guide you through the different use cases of the git credential-cache command, which is a Git helper that allows you to temporarily store passwords in memory. This can be useful for avoiding the need to provide credentials every time you interact with a remote Git repository.

Use case 1: Store Git credentials for a specific amount of time

Code:

git config credential.helper 'cache --timeout=time_in_seconds'

Motivation: The motivation behind using this use case is to avoid having to repeatedly enter your credentials when interacting with a remote Git repository. By caching the credentials for a specific amount of time, you can easily perform Git operations without the hassle of providing your password every time.

Explanation: The git config credential.helper command is used to set a configuration option for the Git credential helper. In this case, we are setting the credential.helper option to cache --timeout=time_in_seconds. The cache helper stores the credentials in memory, and the --timeout flag specifies the duration for which the credentials will be valid, in seconds.

Example output:

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

In this example, we are setting the credentials to be cached for 3600 seconds (1 hour). After entering this command, the next time you perform a Git operation that requires authentication, the credentials will be automatically used without prompting for your password. The credentials will remain valid for the specified duration.

Conclusion:

The git credential-cache command provides a convenient way to temporarily store passwords in memory, allowing you to avoid the need for repeatedly entering your credentials when interacting with a remote Git repository. By using the cache helper and specifying a timeout, you can ensure that the credentials are stored for a specific duration, making it easier to perform Git operations.