Connect to visualstudio.com hosted GIT repository with sourcetree for Mac

[oddjones]

Hi there, My team uses a GIT Repo hosted at visualstudio.com- is there any way I can connect to it using sourcetree for Mac OS X?

[oddjones · Accepted solution]

As it happens I've managed to solve this problem (entirely by luck I hasten to add, no skill involved) I personally had a couple of issues...

Firstly was my GIT config - as I access through a network proxy I had to change Sourcetree to use the command line GIT which I could then configure using the

git config --global http.proxy http://proxyuser:proxypwd@proxy.server.com:8080
git config --global https.proxy http://proxyuser:proxypwd@proxy.server.com:8080

commands.

I just happened to notice the syntax of the config statements and was able to connect to visualstudio.com's GIT server by stuffing my (secondary) visualstudio.comcredentials in front of the "clone this repo" URL like so:

https://myUserName:myPassword@myCompany.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection/_git/RepositoryName

This works (like a dream!)

Unfortunately, I now have to get around the issue of cloning a repo onto a parallels 9 VM - anybody? :-|

[Seth]

Thanks for the details, mark yourself as the answer.

I would take the VM question to a Stack Exchange forum, since your barriers are probably going to be with networking, not SourceTree.

[Matt Strange]

You need to use the personal access token authentication system since you can't do two factor authentication with a normal git login:

1. From the VS Online website, click your name in the upper right corner
2. My Profile
3. Security
4. Personal access tokens
5. Add a new token with the name "git"
6. Copy this password temporarily
7. Connect Sourcetree using your normal visual studio login and the password you just created

As stated above, you can get the clone URL from VS Online:

1. Code
2. Explorer
3. Click your repo
4. Click the clone button the right hand side of the screen
5. Copy the url to clone

[Radosław Rudnicki]

It is important to use this obtained token as a password when prompted (even several times). No need to include this token in url, but possibly may be used as written in Dominic's answer (as a password)

[uoc1691]

Ran in to the same problem myself. To overcome this:

1. Use CMD to clone (git clone [url])

2. Open Sourcetree and Add existing repository

[phillipsim]

After trying all other solutions this one worked for me. Thank you!

[Seth]

According to the details, you need to trust the host. Open the terminal, and SSH to the webservices.visualstudio.com. Before it asks you for credentials, it will ask if you want to trust the host key (say yes). After that you can cancel, you don't actually have to log in, or even be able to log in.

[oddjones]

Unfortunately visualstudio.comdoesn't seem to accept ssh connections (my terminal ssh sessions just time out unless I'm doing something really stupid, which is very possible!) - is there a simpler way to trust the connection (via a browser perhaps?)

[oddjones]

...Anybody?

[Seth]

Well, I'm glad I don't host anything at visualstudio.com.

See if you can adapt these instructions to your situation (warning, they are for HG, not Git, good luck).

[Seth]

You may also try cloning via command line. The command line may give you the option to trust the fingerprint.

[Seth]

Yes, the same as you connect to most other repositories (unless Microsoft has munged things up and only supports some proprietary protocol to access it).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS-o25nS0uk#t=377

[oddjones]

Well, of course I tried this basic stuff before I posted the question - here's what happens when you try to clone the repo...

That spinner just sits there...

until (after about 5 mins) you get this...

[oddjones]

... (obviously this is a valid URL)

I can access the internet, I can clone repos from github & bitbucket. I can access this git url using the (awful) GitEye application. Any ideas?

[Seth]

You'd be surprised how many people don't realize you can type into that Source Path / URL box, but think Hosted Repositories are the only options.

I'll post an answer with some ideas about the invalid source path.

[Seth]

What does it say if you click Details?

[oddjones]

:-)

he he - well, you did ask!

[Seth]

Perfect, see answer below.