rstudio: error when pushing to github

[bbest]

When pushing commits within RStudio to github, getting this error:

error: unable to read askpass response from 'rpostback-askpass'
fatal: could not read Username for 'https://github.com': Device not configured

[bbest]

Hi @Melsteroni, @jules32, @katlongo, @jafflerbach,

If you're using the latest version of RStudio (eg version 0.98.501) on Mac or Linux, you're probably getting this error when pushing commits within RStudio to github:

error: unable to read askpass response from 'rpostback-askpass'
fatal: could not read Username for 'https://github.com': Device not configured

In the GUI, this looks like this:

There's a problem with the latest https authentication using RStudio. This is not actually a problem with git or storing your username password, since the following works from Terminal:

cd ~/[github_dir]/[repo]
git push

So the solution to get RStudio to play nicely again is to switch the repository URL from https to ssh by editing the repository's config. Since it's in a hidden folder (prefixed with .) and you may want to edit from terminal after ssh user@neptune.nceas.ucsb.edu, I recommend editing the file like so:

pico ~/[github_dir]/[repo]/.git/config

Then you'll want to comment out the https and use the alternative ssh address that begins with git to look like:

[remote "origin"]
        #url = https://github.com/bbest/ohiprep.git
        url = git@github.com:bbest/ohiprep.git

Note that in the above example you'll want to switch to out: bbest=[user] and ohicore=[repo].

Apologies for the hassle, but it's actually quick to fix. Then you're back to being smooth operators (cue Sade 🎶).

PS I've logged this in the ohiprep/wiki/Using GitHub page, where I've also updated help on Resolving Conflicts .

[bbest]

PS Another quick way to get the ssh URL that starts with git is to visit your repository online, click for the SSH clone URL like so:

[drperpo]

Have same problem with ssh. My repo is also private so does not connect when I change to ssh.
Any suggestions?

[jules32]

Hi there,

We've been able to solve the problem when we have encountered it and have written up the following instructions (we wrote this for our Ocean Health Index project, but the solution is obviously relevant far beyond our project). Instructions are in our Ocean Health Index Manual, in the rpostback-askpass error section.

error: unable to read askpass response from 'rpostback-askpass' 
fatal: could not read Username for 'https://github.com': Device not configured 

[xrobin]

git config --global credential.helper osxkeychain fixed the problem here. Ssh was not available with the remote I was pushing to.