Learn Git in a Day

Set Up SSH So You Never Type a Password

Every time you push code to or pull code from GitLab, you need to prove who you are. You could type your username and password each time, but that gets old fast. SSH keys are a much better option - they let your computer authenticate automatically.

An SSH key is a pair of files: a private key (stays on your machine, never shared) and a public key (you give to GitLab). When you connect, Git uses these keys to verify your identity without needing a password.

First, check if you already have SSH keys:

ls ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub 2>/dev/null && echo "Key exists" || echo "No key found"

If no key exists, generate one:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your.email@example.com"