Generating a GPG key for git tagging

Question

I'm trying to create signed tags in GitHub using the git command line. I generated a GPG key with a (sample) username Full Name (skytreader) <[email protected]>. Having done that, I try to create a signed tag. However I get the following error:

gpg: skipped "full <[email protected]>": secret key not available gpg: signing failed: secret key not available error: gpg failed to sign the data error: unable to sign the tag 

I figure that I just need to create another key with the indicated username. But then, entering the name "full", gpg complains that my name should be at least 5 characters long.

How do I use this key with git?

Do I change the username git uses for signing my tags with GPG so that I get a real name at least 5 chars long?

Answer 1

First you need check if there is a gpg key for your ID.

$ gpg --list-key 

If you have should appear something like this:

1. pub 2048R/6AB3587A 2013-05-23
2. uid xxx (gpg for xxx)
3. sub 2048R/64CB327A 2013-05-23

If there is no gpg key. You should create

$ gpg --gen-key 

Next you have this output:

gpg (GnuPG) 2.0.14; Copyright (C) 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc. This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

Please select what kind of key you want:

1. (1) RSA and RSA (default)
2. (2) DSA and Elgamal
3. (3) DSA (sign only)
4. (4) RSA (sign only)

Your selection? RSA keys may be between 1024 and 4096 bits long. What keysize do you want? (2048)
Requested keysize is 2048 bits
Please specify how long the key should be valid.

         0 = key does not expire       <n>  = key expires in n days       <n>w = key expires in n weeks       <n>m = key expires in n months       <n>y = key expires in n years 

Key is valid for? (0)
Key does not expire at all
Is this correct? (y/N) y

GnuPG needs to construct a user ID to identify your key.  Real name: xxx Email address: [email protected] Comment: gpg for xxx  You selected this USER-ID:     "xxx(gpg for xxx) <[email protected]>"  Change (N)ame, (C)omment, (E)mail or (O)kay/(Q)uit? O You need a Passphrase to protect your secret key.  can't connect to `/xxx/.gnupg/S.gpg-agent': No such file or directory We need to generate a lot of random bytes. It is a good idea to perform some other action (type on the keyboard, move the mouse, utilize the disks) during the prime generation; this gives the random number generator a better chance to gain enough entropy.