Guide to follow when it is required more than one GitHub account and make commits on distinct contexts.

many-github-profiles.md

Github credentials

Index

• Tell to GitHub what GPG key to use
• Use many users on GitHub and relate them with specific projects
• Create SSH key for every account
• Edit the git local config
• Original git config

Many of the content has been collected from this places:

• https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/managing-commit-signature-verification/generating-a-new-gpg-key
• https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent
• https://www.ayyaztech.com/blog/how-to-use-multiple-github-accounts-on-the-same-machine

Check the gpg version from your current host, some commands will be different between them

gpg --version

generate the key using the gpg command

gpg --full-generate-key

algorithm: RSA, option 1 size: 4096 expiration: 0, means no expiration

comment: my-comment passphrase: watch-internally

list the keys:

gpg --list-secret-keys --keyid-format=long

gpg: checking the trustdb
gpg: marginals needed: 3  completes needed: 1  trust model: pgp
gpg: depth: 0  valid:   2  signed:   0  trust: 0-, 0q, 0n, 0m, 0f, 2u
[keyboxd]
---------
sec   rsa4096/xxx 2024-05-10 [SC]
      random.codexxx
uid                 [ultimate] FrancoGil (my-comment) <email>
ssb   rsa4096/yyy 2024-05-10 [E]

go to GitHub, create a new gpg key copy the next output, write the gpg title yoy want: gpg --armor --export xxx

Tell to GitHub what GPG key to use

https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/managing-commit-signature-verification/telling-git-about-your-signing-key#telling-git-about-your-gpg-key

git config --global --unset gpg.format

# list the keys

gpg --list-secret-keys --keyid-format=long

git config --global user.signingkey xxx

git config --global commit.gpgsign true

Use many users on GitHub and relate them with specific projects

new gpg key, in this case for the "enterprise1" GitHub account

comment: my-comment pass watch-internally

introduce a current configuration on local in order to define the correct account to use

list the keys

gpg --armor --export xxx

# Remember to add a specific configuration when it is need it, for example when working
# on projects your secondary account. Otherwise the credentials will be globals
# your main account
git config --local --list

git config --local user.name 'my-username or my-real-name'

git config --local user.email my-email

git config --local --unset gpg.format

gpg --list-secret-keys --keyid-format=long

git config --local user.signingkey xxx

git config --local commit.gpgsign true

git config --local core.editor nano

# observe again the local configuration:
git config --local --list

Create SSH key for every account

• my-email
• my-another-email

# generate key:
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "my-email"

# the location will have a syntax like this, a postfix at the end:
# /Users/francogil/.ssh/id_ed25519_francogilenterprise1

# add the ssh key to the ssh agent:
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"

# edit the config
~/.ssh/config

Host github.com.global
  HostName github.com
  AddKeysToAgent yes
  UseKeychain yes
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519_francogil

Host github.com.enterprise1
  HostName github.com
  AddKeysToAgent yes
  UseKeychain yes
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519_francogilenterprise1

# add your SSH private key to the ssh-agent and store your passphrase
# in the keychain
# ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519_francogil
# or:
ssh-add --apple-use-keychain ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519_francogilenterprise1
# Identify added ...

# test the ssh key, will fail, but test it anyway
# you could type the `ssh-agent` command again to reload the git config
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh -T git@github.com.global
ssh -T git@github.com.enterprise1

# add the ssh key to Github

# shh key title:
my-ssh-key-title

# ssh key content, type `cat` and copy the output:
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519_francogil.pub

# ssh key type:
# Authentication key

# to save the key, possibly will be required a double authentication key, grab your phone or configure it

# test again your credentials

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh -T git@github.com.global
ssh -T git@github.com.enterprise1

# But do not as expected, return the same account name for both "aliases"
# Hi account-name! You've successfully authenticated, ...

# clone a repository using the expected host:
git clone git@github.com.global:your_username/your_repository.git
git clone git@github.com.enterprise1:your_username/your_repository.git

Edit the git local config

See the section: Use many users on GitHub and relate them with specific projects

# introduce a change in the code.
git commit

git push # remember to add your passphrase.

Repeat these steps for every GitHub account to add more accounts!

Original git config

At least for my current host.

path: /Users/francogil/.ssh/config

Host *.github.com
  AddKeysToAgent yes
  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519_ssh