issues/authentication_issue.md

Git Authentication with Hugging Face and Similar Services

When interacting with Git hosting services like Hugging Face, GitHub, or GitLab over HTTPS, you might encounter authentication failures if you try to use your regular account password for git push or git pull operations.

The Issue: Password Authentication Deprecation

Many services have deprecated or entirely removed support for password-based authentication for Git operations over HTTPS. This is a security enhancement to protect user accounts and prevent credentials from being compromised.

Instead of passwords, these platforms require more secure methods, primarily:

1. Personal Access Tokens (PATs):

   • These are randomly generated tokens that you create in your account settings on the service (e.g., Hugging Face settings -> Access Tokens).
   • You can grant specific permissions (scopes) to a token, such as read, write, or admin access to repositories. For pushing code, you'll typically need a token with write access.
   • When Git prompts for a username and password, you use your platform username and the PAT as the password.
   • Important: Treat PATs like passwords. Store them securely and do not share them publicly. You usually only see the token once when it's generated, so copy it to a safe place immediately.

2. SSH Keys:

   • This method involves generating a pair of cryptographic keys (a public key and a private key) on your local machine.
   • You upload the public key to your account on the Git hosting service.
   • When you perform Git operations using an SSH remote URL (e.g., [email protected]:spaces/username/spacename.git), Git uses your private key to authenticate securely without needing a password or token for each operation.

Why the "Authentication Failed" Error Occurs

If you encounter an "Authentication failed" error during a git push or git pull:

• Verify you're not using your account password: Ensure you're using a valid Personal Access Token as your password when prompted, or that your SSH key is correctly set up for SSH remotes.
• Check Token Permissions: If using a PAT, confirm it has the necessary permissions (e.g., write access for pushing).
• Token Expiry: Some tokens can be set to expire. Ensure your token is still valid.
• Correct Username: Double-check you are using the correct username associated with the service.

How to Resolve

1. Generate a Personal Access Token:
   • Go to your Hugging Face account settings (or the equivalent for other services).
   • Find the "Access Tokens" or "Developer settings" section.
   • Generate a new token, giving it appropriate permissions (e.g., write for pushing to Spaces).
   • Copy the token.
2. Use the Token:
   • When you next run a Git command that requires authentication (like git push https://huggingface.co/...), and it prompts for credentials:
     • Username: Your Hugging Face username.
     • Password: The Personal Access Token you generated.
   • Alternatively, you can use a Git credential manager to securely store the token so you don't have to enter it every time.

By using Personal Access Tokens or SSH keys, you can securely interact with your remote Git repositories.