git-credential-cache--daemon

git-credential-cache--daemon

The git-credential-cache--daemon command is a helper program used by git-credential-cache. It is not intended to be called directly by users. This daemon process provides a persistent in-memory cache for Git credentials. Instead of repeatedly prompting the user for their username and password for remote repositories, Git stores these credentials in the cache. When Git needs credentials, it communicates with the daemon via a Unix domain socket, retrieving the stored credentials quickly.

The daemon improves performance, especially when interacting with remote repositories frequently. It's started automatically when the cache helper is used for the first time and gracefully shuts down after a period of inactivity. The daemon is responsible for managing the credential storage and ensuring the credentials are only accessible by the user who started it.

Directly interacting with the daemon is generally discouraged. The git-credential-cache helper command is the intended user interface.

Credentials are stored in memory, so a system reboot will clear the cache, requiring you to re-enter your credentials. Ensure proper system security measures are in place, as compromising the system's memory could expose the stored credentials.

The daemon listens for requests on a Unix domain socket and communicates with the client process (git-credential-cache) using a simple protocol. It uses environment variables to determine cache timeout values. The daemon's lifecycle is managed by the git-credential-cache helper.

While storing credentials in memory provides a performance benefit, it's important to be aware of the security implications. The daemon does not persist the credentials to disk. The security relies on the overall security of the user's session. Measures such as strong passwords and a secure operating system environment are essential.

The git-credential-cache--daemon was introduced as part of Git's credential handling mechanism to improve the user experience by reducing the number of times users are prompted for their credentials. It provides a centralized, secure, and fast way to store and retrieve credentials for Git operations.

git-credential-cache(1), git-credential(1)