upload ssh key on github from command line

Question

I have found a way to upload an SSH key to my GitHub account with command line, but there is small problem.

I am able to do this with following command:

curl -u "user:pass" --data '{"title":"test-key","key":"ssh-rsa Aaa"}'

But I am using this in Chef to add my nodes' keys to my GitHub account:

curl -u "user:pass" --data '{"title":"test-key","key":"`cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub`"}' https://api.github.com/user/keys

but it is giving error.

What could be the reason?

You'll probably want to put the cat command in $() so that it gets ran rather than literally putting that string of text in as your SSH key. — Bratchley, Jul 21 '16 at 8:06
On mobile so I can't type it all out but you'll probably have to change your quotes as well. — Bratchley, Jul 21 '16 at 8:07
You could also used stdin instead of an option value. unix.stackexchange.com/questions/77588/… — Bratchley, Jul 21 '16 at 8:10

techraf · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-21 08:26:29Z

up vote 1 down vote accepted

The cat command results must be expanded using command substitution.

The syntax for bash is:

curl -u "user:pass" --data '{"title":"test-key","key":"'"$(cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub)"'"}' https://api.github.com/user/keys

You can also use a classic backtick notation:

curl -u "user:pass" --data '{"title":"test-key","key":"'`cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub`'"}' https://api.github.com/user/keys

answered Jul 21 '16 at 8:14

techraf

3,65391732

i am using this in chef to update my node's ssh -key in github. i am editing this in my question – amit singh Jul 21 '16 at 8:21

you first option did the trick, thnks very much – amit singh Jul 21 '16 at 8:24

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