Git using alternate userid although git config and git remote do not reference it

Question

I have two github ids: javadxx and stephencompanyid.

While attempting to push to the github repo shown in the screenshot below it seems the incorrect userid were applied: the intention is to use the javadxx but the error message seem to indicate the other one were applied.

Here are the remote refs:

$git remote -v
origin  https://github.com/javadxx/jfreechart-fse (fetch)
origin  https://github.com/javadxx/jfreechart-fse (push)

Screenshot shows the fork was created under javadxx id:

Here is the command attempted:

6:40:01/jfreechart-fse $git push origin InitFromArray
remote: Permission to javadxx/jfreechart-fse.git denied to stephencompanyid.

The strange thing is that both the .gitconfig and the local git config -l indicate otherwise - i.e. that the javadxx were active.

jfreechart-fse $git config user.name
javadxx
16:48:04/jfreechart-fse $git config user.email
javadxx@<blah>

Inside .gitconfig:

[user]
    name = javadxx 
    email = javadxx@<blah>

I even looked inside the .git folder for any remnants of the other id:

grep companyname .git/*

(no results)

Can you try pushing to GitHub using `https`? This should force GitHub to prompt you for a username and password thus eliminating the chance that the wrong user gets used. — Tim Biegeleisen, Aug 03 '15 at 01:37
@TimBiegeleisen it looks like the remotes are already using https. — larsks, Aug 03 '15 at 01:53

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 03 '15 at 06:27

1

The user.name is for the commits. Not for the actual GitHub https session.

The account used for the GitHub session is entered on git push.
Or it can be part of the url:

git remote set-url https://javadxx@github.com/javadxx/jfreechart-fse
                           ^^^^^^^^

That way, a git push will always require javadxx's password;

answered Aug 03 '15 at 06:27

VonC

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The error says `denied to stephencompanyid.` Where did that other ID come from : it is not included in the remote url. – WestCoastProjects Aug 03 '15 at 06:31
@javadba it won't say that if you include the right id in the url – VonC Aug 03 '15 at 06:33
ah! I did not pay close enough attention. (even with the ^^^ hit me with a mallet hint) – WestCoastProjects Aug 03 '15 at 06:40
@javadba qso do you really need a credential helper here? – VonC Aug 03 '15 at 06:41
Is there an alternative that avoids entering a password each time? – WestCoastProjects Aug 03 '15 at 06:51
@javadba That was not your question. Your question was about the right user account used for GitHub. – VonC Aug 03 '15 at 06:51
OK so i searched a bit and found something along the line of this one http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16052602/disable-git-credential-osxkeychain (and yes you have an answer on it). I will not touch now but will consider digging more down the road. – WestCoastProjects Aug 03 '15 at 07:02

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 03 '15 at 06:30

The data used by git config (and in your config) file is used for creating the author of the commit. You can put in anything in there - it doesn't matter, there's no verification that this is actually you or any other valid address.

What you are seeing is the authentication for pushing to the server - that's handled separately by Git. Depending on your operating system, your credentials may be cached - this is likely what you're seeing here.

Git comes with a credential helper, which stores your Git credentials in the operating system's credential store (on Windows and on Mac OS X. Linux does not have a secure Git credential store).

To clear the stored authentication data, type the following in a terminal/shell window (hit the ENTER key where it says <ENTER>):

git credential reject<ENTER>
url=https://github.com<ENTER>
<ENTER>

This should clear the stored information, once you try to push again, it should ask for username and password again.

Alternatively, you can use your operating system's credential store (e.g. Keychain Access on Mac OS X) to delete the credentials manually.

More info on the credential storage here:

Wow! You nailed it there. – WestCoastProjects Aug 03 '15 at 06:39 — WestCoastProjects, Aug 03 '15 at 06:39

Git using alternate userid although git config and git remote do not reference it

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