Company
Date Published
Author
Scott Chacon
Word count
278
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Git has enhanced its HTTP protocol, starting from version 1.6.6, to a more efficient transport mechanism, and GitHub now supports this upgrade. This improvement allows users to clone repositories via the HTTP URL using a Git client version 1.6.6 or greater, automatically utilizing the new transport method. Additionally, users can push over this protocol and clone private repositories, with the option to include their username in the URL for authentication, prompting Git to request a password. When accessing private repositories or needing push access, it is essential to use HTTPS to ensure password security, as the password is hashed but not encrypted during transmission. Future versions may include a feature where Git prompts for a username if not provided, enhancing usability without compromising security. This update ensures backward compatibility, allowing older clients to revert to previous methods while newer clients benefit from improved efficiency.