`go mod tidy` fails to download private GitHub repository

Question

Here is the response

not found: github.com/me/private-repo@v0.0.0-20220413034319-81fe8421f99f: invalid version: git ls-remote -q origin in /tmp/gopath/pkg/mod/cache/vcs/ea2baff0eaed39430ee011ad9a011101f13b668d5fcbd9dffdfa1e0a45422b40: exit status 128:
    fatal: could not read Username for 'https://github.com': terminal prompts disabled
Confirm the import path was entered correctly.
If this is a private repository, see https://golang.org/doc/faq#git_https for additional information.

I have tried to add a record in ~/.netrc with password of a freshly created GitHub Personal access token and add config in ~/.gitconfig

[url "ssh://git@github.com/"]
    insteadOf = https://github.com/

All these are not working.

If I disable the sum checking by GOSUMDB=off go mod tidy then it works yet I don't think this is correct to me.

Answer 1

As your error says

could not read Username

So, you should change the ~/.gitconfig :

change this:

[url "ssh://git@github.com/"]
    insteadOf = https://github.com/

to this:

[url "https://{{username}}:{{access_toke}}@github.com"]
    insteadOf = https://github.com

also, you need the ~/.netrc file, with the content like this:

machine github.com login {{username}} password {{access_token}}

PS: You should be aware that your private repository should be in your GOPRIVATE=__YOUR_DOMAIN__

Answer 2

I would recommend:

[url "https://YourUsername@github.com/"]
    insteadOf = https://github.com/

That way, any HTTPS URL will use your username.

And with a Git Credential Manager (cross-platform), you can cache your PAT (Personal Access Token) in a secure encrypted local vault.