How to Set Up GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT) on macOS

When working with GitHub from the command line or within R, you may need to authenticate using a Personal Access Token (PAT) instead of a password. This guide walks you through setting up GitHub PAT on macOS, including resolving common issues related to missing developer tools.

Step 1: Install Command Line Developer Tools

Before setting up your GitHub PAT, ensure that macOS has the required command-line tools installed. Run the following command in the terminal:

xcode-select --install

If you receive an error stating that the tools are missing, you may need to reset their path:

sudo xcode-select --reset

Once installed, verify the setup by checking the Git version:

git --version

If this command returns a version number (e.g., git version 2.x.x), the installation is successful.

Step 2: Configure GitHub PAT in R

To use the PAT in R, install and load the credentials package:

install.packages("credentials")

library(credentials)

Then, set the GitHub PAT:

credentials::set_github_pat("gho_*****************")

This stores the token securely, allowing you to use GitHub without needing to enter credentials each time.

Step 3: Manually Configure Git for macOS (if needed)

If you continue to have issues, manually configure Git to use the macOS keychain:

git config --global credential.helper osxkeychain

Then, try authenticating again:

git credential reject https://github.com

git credential approve

When prompted, enter your GitHub PAT instead of a password.

Expected Outcome

After completing these steps, you should be able to:

✅ Use Git commands in R and terminal without re-entering credentials.

✅ Push and pull from GitHub repositories seamlessly.

✅ Avoid errors related to missing command-line tools or Git authentication failures.

If issues persist, restart your system and retry the steps. Happy coding! 🚀