Manually switching users in each repository can become a tedious and error-prone process. Today, we want to share this article with you that will guide you on how to efficiently set up multiple Git users. With these tips, you'll optimize your workflow and ensure that your commits are made under the correct account, depending on the host and the project. Keep reading to discover how to simplify this task and enhance your productivity!

Let’s get started step by step:

Configure the File

First, you need to associate specific SSH keys with each host. Edit or create the file with:

nano ~/.ssh/config

Add the following configurations for different platforms and accounts:

# Personal GitHub
Host github-personal
    HostName github.com
    User git
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa_personal

# GitHub for the "Apple" project
Host github-project-apple
    HostName github.com
    User git
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa_apple

# Company GitLab "Tomato"
Host gitlab-company-tomato
    HostName gitlab.com
    User git
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa_tomato

Explanation:

• Host github-personal and similar entries: Custom aliases for each account, typically linked to the project or company (e.g., gitlab.companytomato.com, github.projectapple). Otherwise, it defaults to the platform (github.com, gitlab.com).
• HostName: The actual domain of the Git service.
• IdentityFile: The SSH key corresponding to that account.

If you don’t have SSH keys created and added in GitHub or GitLab, here’s a brief explanation of how to do it:

Use the following command, specifying the identifier you want your key to have with the -C flag and the name and location of the file with the -f flag. The keys should be in the .ssh folder.

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com" -f ~/.ssh/id_rsa_personal

Make sure to replace "your_email@example.com" with your actual email and adjust the file name accordingly for different accounts.

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "[your_email@example.com](mailto:your_email@example.com)" -f ~/.ssh
/my_personal_key

This will generate two files: one containing the private key and another with the public key (ending in .pub). You will need to add this public key to the platform you are going to use (GitHub, GitLab).

Next, make sure to protect the permissions of the private key:

chmod 600 ~/.ssh/my_personal_key

Add the SSH Key to the Agent

First, check if the SSH agent is running:

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
Then, add the private key to the agent:
ssh-add ~/.ssh/my_personal_key

If prompted, enter the passphrase for the key (if you set one).

Verify that the Key is Loaded

To check that the key was added correctly, use:

ssh-add -l

This command will list the identities added to the SSH agent, confirming that your key is loaded and ready to use.

Setting Up Multiple Users in Git

To use a different Git user for each project, I recommend creating a folder structure where the Git configuration will be based. Then, associate the contents of each of these folders with the respective Git user in the .gitconfig file. This user will be used for commits, while a general user will remain for any other repositories outside this folder structure.

📂      home

├── 📂       personal_projects 

│ ├── 📂        repository-1

│ ├── 📂        repository-2

│ ├── ...

│

│

├── 📂       Apple-projects

│ ├── 📂        repository-1

│ ├── 📂       repository-2

│ ├── ...

│

│

├── 📂       Tomato_projects

│ ├── 📂        repository-1

│ ├── 📂        repository-2

│ ├── ...

│

│

├──📄         .gitconfig-personal

├── 📄       .gitconfig-tomato

├── 📄       .gitconfig-apple

Now, let's edit your global Git configuration

git config --global --edit

Add the following rules that define specific users based on the location of the projects:

[user]
name = General User email = user@general.com

[includeIf "gitdir:~/personal_projects/"] path = ~/.gitconfig-personal

[includeIf "gitdir:~/personal_projects/"] path = ~/.gitconfig-apple

Create Specific Configuration Files

Now, create the configuration files for each user:

For Personal Projects ~/.gitconfig-personal

[user]
name = User Personal
email = user.personal@email.com
Para el proyecto "Manzana" (   ~/.gitconfig-apple ):
[user]
name = User Apple
email = user.apple@email.com

For the Company "Tomato" (  ~/.gitconfig-tomato  ):
[user]
name = User Tomato
email = user.tomato@email.com

Cloning and Working with Repositories

When cloning a repository using SSH, make sure to use the appropriate user and keys based on the folder where the repository will be downloaded.

Verify the Configuration

To ensure you are using the correct configuration in a project, navigate to the project's folder and run:

git config user.name
git config user.email

To check which SSH key is being used, run:

ssh -T git@github.com
ssh -T git@gitlab.com

With this configuration, you can manage multiple Git accounts without the hassle of manually switching users or SSH keys for each repository. Simply define the necessary aliases in your configuration and set up the specific configurations for each project. This way, you can focus on what truly matters: developing and delivering quality code.

Happy coding!

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us at Digitalprojex.

We are here to help!