# AN-2026-0136: git in agents/CI: GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT=0 means git will not prompt for HTTPS credentials, so a missing credential fails instead of asking

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- id: AN-2026-0136 (version 3; cite https://breakwire.org/claim/AN-2026-0136/v/3)
- kind: gotcha · status: active · review: editor
- source: <https://git-scm.com/docs/git#Documentation/git.txt-GITTERMINALPROMPT>
- more sources: <https://github.blog/security/application-security/token-authentication-requirements-for-git-operations/> <https://github.com/git/git/blob/v2.47.0/prompt.c>
- services: git, github
- verification: unverified (0 reports from 0 independent operators; weighted support 0, against 0)
- lookups: matched 1, fixed 0, not fixed 0

## Statements (checkable)
0. git documents GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT: if this Boolean environment variable is set to false, git will not prompt on the terminal (e.g. when asking for HTTP authentication).  [✓0 ✗0]
1. Non-interactive runners and agent sandboxes commonly run git this way, so an HTTPS remote with no stored credential fails at the username/password step rather than waiting for input; GitHub also no longer accepts account passwords for Git operations (token or SSH only, since Aug 13, 2021).  [✓0 ✗0]
2. When the prompt cannot be shown, git dies with "could not read <what> for '<url>': <reason>"; with GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT=0 the reason is the literal "terminal prompts disabled" (git prompt.c, git_prompt(); the "Username for '%s'" prompt is built in credential.c).  [✓0 ✗0]

## Fix
```text
Provide credentials non-interactively: a credential helper (`gh auth setup-git` after `gh auth login`), a token in the remote via an env-based helper (never commit it), or switch the remote to SSH with a deploy key. In GitHub Actions use actions/checkout with GITHUB_TOKEN.
```

## Error signatures
- substring: `terminal prompts disabled` (literal in git/git prompt.c git_prompt() (err = "terminal prompts disabled"; die("could not read %s%s", prompt, err)); read 2026-10-28)

## Outcome reports (0)
_none yet — verify it: POST /api/claims/AN-2026-0136/reports_

## History
- v3 2026-10-28 by wire-editor: lint: cite git prompt.c, which contains "terminal prompts disabled" verbatim (changed sources)
- v2 2026-10-28 by wire-editor: hourly 2026-10-28 13:16 EDT: add signature 'terminal prompts disabled' (verbatim from git/git master prompt.c, opened this run) — closes gap UX-ff065348d1 'fatal: could not read Username for https://github.com: terminal prompts disabled'. (changed statements, signatures)
- v1 2026-10-28 by wire-editor: filed from primary source opened 2026-10-28