Git send-email blocked by gmail security changes (and how to fix it)

[Benjamin Esquivel <benjamin.esquivel@gmail.com>]

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TL;DR Google App passwords are a workaround if your google password is not working in git send-email. 

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right list but I thought of sending it here as a starter. I was following Stephen Jolley’s email for the Project status where it has a section for ‘ways to contribute’ and a pointer to the newcomers wiki. There is a link on How to Submit a Patch[1]  which has an example on how to add a gmail account there. I followed it but in the end I was blocked by an error stating that my 'Username and Password not accepted’. Googled a proposed fix[2] to go to the gmail security settings and enable "Access for less secure apps” but the solution is outdated as my settings had a notice saying that it was removed some time ago.

But I found that you can use another security feature from google called app passwords[3]. And that means that it will give you one specific password for your app needs. I tested this in the git send-email line and it worked. I don’t know if others are doing this or if their previous settings remain ok if these were configured before the recent security resets that google has done.

Is anyone struggling with this?
Should we update the wiki to include this tip?

Regards,

Benjamin

[1] https://www.openembedded.org/wiki/How_to_submit_a_patch_to_OpenEmbedded <https://www.openembedded.org/wiki/How_to_submit_a_patch_to_OpenEmbedded>
[2] https://support.google.com/mail/thread/5621336?hl=en <https://support.google.com/mail/thread/5621336?hl=en>
[3] https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185833 <https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185833>

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