What you really want is simple:

✔ Run git pull, git clone, or git fetch
✔ Without entering username, password, or tokens
✔ Without using sudo
✔ And without leaking PATs

This guide walks you through the correct, secure, permanent way to authenticate your Ubuntu server with GitHub using SSH keys—GitHub’s official recommended method.

Why You Should Stop Using HTTPS Tokens for Git

GitHub removed support for passing a PAT inside the URL (like https://TOKEN@github.com/...).
It’s insecure and now officially blocked.

Instead, the long-term, secure solution is SSH authentication.

Benefits:

• 🔐 No passwords or tokens

• 🚀 Faster than HTTPS

• 🛡 Safe even on public servers

• 🔄 Works for pull/push automatically

• 🧹 Avoids sudo git permission disasters

Step 1 — Generate an SSH Key on Your Ubuntu Server

Run the following command:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_github_email@example.com"

Press Enter to accept the default file location:

/home/youruser/.ssh/id_ed25519

You may also set a passphrase (optional, but more secure).

Step 2 — Start the SSH Agent & Add Your Key

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

This loads your key so Git can use it.

Step 3 — Copy Your Public Key

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Copy the full line that starts with:

ssh-ed25519 ...

Step 4 — Add the Key to Your GitHub Account

1. Open GitHub

2. Go to Settings → SSH and GPG keys

3. Click New SSH Key

4. Paste your key

5. Save

6. Done 🎉

Your server is now trusted by GitHub.

Step 5 — Configure Your Git Repository to Use SSH

If your repo is already cloned with HTTPS:

cd /path/to/your/repo
git remote set-url origin git@github.com:USERNAME/REPO.git

If not cloned yet, clone it directly with SSH:

git clone git@github.com:USERNAME/REPO.git

No passwords required.

Step 6 — Test Your Setup

Try:

git pull
git push

Git should authenticate silently—no prompts.

Fixing the “sudo git” Problem (Optional but Important)

Many developers accidentally run Git with sudo, which causes permission issues.

If that happened, fix ownership:

sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /path/to/your/repo

Never use sudo git unless working inside a restricted directory.

Bonus: Auto-Load SSH Keys After Reboot

Create or edit:

~/.ssh/config

Add:

Host *
    AddKeysToAgent yes
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Now your key loads automatically every login—no manual ssh-add.

You’re Done — Git Is Now Fully Automated

With SSH authentication:

✔ No more usernames
✔ No more passwords
✔ No more PAT leaks
✔ No more permission problems
✔ Secure, permanent Git access on your Ubuntu server

Whether you’re deploying Node, Python, .NET, PHP, Docker, or anything else—this setup keeps your workflow fast, safe, and professional.

Conversely, individuals with higher competence in each area may underestimate their abilities due to assuming others have similar knowledge and skills. The phenomenon where individuals with limited knowledge or skill tend to exhibit greater confidence is known as the Dunning-Kruger effect.

The Dunning-Kruger effect refers to the tendency for individuals with low competence in a domain to overestimate their abilities.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is named after the two social psychologists who first described and researched the phenomenon, David Dunning and Justin Kruger. In 1999, Dunning and Kruger published a study titled "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Led to Inflated Self-Assessments." Their research shed light on the cognitive bias of overestimating one's abilities in areas where they lack competence, while also highlighting the lack of metacognitive skills necessary to accurately assess one's own competence. Due to their significant contributions in identifying and explaining this cognitive bias, the phenomenon came to be known as the Dunning-Kruger effect.

Let’s delve into why Dunning-Kruger effect occurs:

1. Lack of Metacognition: People with lower expertise often lack the ability to accurately assess their own competence. This deficiency in metacognition (the awareness of one’s own cognitive processes) leads them to overestimate their abilities.

2. Illusion of Superiority: The Dunning-Kruger effect arises from an illusion of superiority. When individuals possess only a basic understanding of a topic, they may mistakenly believe they have mastered it. Their limited knowledge prevents them from recognizing the gaps in their understanding.

3. Cognitive Biases:

   • Confirmation Bias: People seek information that confirms their existing beliefs. In the case of low competence, this bias reinforces their overconfidence.

   • Anchoring Bias: Initial impressions heavily influence subsequent judgments. If someone starts with an inflated self-assessment, it becomes their mental anchor.

4. Incompetence Hinders Self-Reflection:

   • Mountains of Ignorance: As the saying goes, “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” When individuals lack knowledge, they may not even realize the vastness of what they don’t know.

   • Competence Requires Insight: True competence involves recognizing one’s limitations and seeking improvement. Incompetence often blinds people to their deficiencies.

5. Social Factors:

   • Social Reinforcement: Encouragement from others can reinforce overconfidence. If peers or family members praise someone’s limited abilities, they may become more self-assured.

   • Fear of Appearing Ignorant: Admitting ignorance can be uncomfortable. To avoid embarrassment, people may project unwarranted confidence.

6. Learning Curve: As individuals gain more knowledge, they often experience a reversal in their self-assessment. The more they learn, the more they recognize their limitations, leading to modesty.

Remember, the Dunning-Kruger effect highlights the importance of continuous learning, self-reflection, and open-mindedness.

Let’s explore some examples:

1. In a Professional Environment:

   • Imagine a novice employee who recently joined a company. Despite limited experience, they confidently believe they understand complex processes better than their seasoned colleagues. Their overestimation of competence may lead to poordecision-making and friction within the team.

2. Personal Characteristics:

   • Individuals with the Dunning-Kruger effect often exhibit unwarranted confidence in their abilities. For instance, someone who believes they are an excellent driver despite frequent traffic violations or accidents.

3. Rate Your Knowledge:

   • Have you encountered people who confidently assert their expertise on a topic without understanding it? This could be a manifestation of the Dunning-Kruger effect. They overestimate their knowledge and underestimate the complexity of the subject.

4. Singing Talent Shows:

   • Talent shows often feature contestants who believe they have exceptional singing abilities. However, their actual performance falls short due to their lack of self-awareness about their vocal limitations.

5. Politics:

   • In political discussions, individuals may confidently express strong opinions without fully grasping the nuances of policies or historical context. Their overconfidence can hinder constructive dialogue.

6. Jimmy Kimmel Interviews:

   • Jimmy Kimmel’s “Lie Witness News” segments highlight people confidently discussing fictional events or made-up facts. These participants unknowingly demonstrate the Dunning-Kruger effect by confidently asserting false information.

7. Finances:

   • Novice investors who believe they have mastered the stock market may take excessive risks. Their inflated confidence can lead to financial losses due to inadequate understanding of market dynamics.