What causes "Git configuration entry with the name '{name}' was not found." in git-ecosystem/git-credential-manager?

Use TryGet instead of Get when absence is acceptable, and handle the false return.

git-ecosystem/git-credential-manager · error · KeyNotFoundException

Git configuration entry with the name

Error message

Git configuration entry with the name '{name}' was not found.

What it means

This extension method Get(IGitConfiguration, GitConfigurationLevel, string) performs a TryGet for a raw configuration entry and, if absent, throws KeyNotFoundException naming the entry. It is the throwing convenience wrapper over TryGet for callers who treat a missing entry as an error rather than an expected state.

Solutions

Use TryGet instead of Get when absence is acceptable, and handle the false return.
Verify the entry exists with `git config --show-origin --get-all <name>` and at the level you query.
Correct the entry name or set the value at the intended level: `git config --global <name> <value>`.
Check whether the value lives at another level and query GitConfigurationLevel.All.

Example fix

// before
string helper = config.Get(GitConfigurationLevel.Global, "credential.helper"); // throws if unset
// after
if (config.TryGet(GitConfigurationLevel.Global, GitConfigurationType.Raw, "credential.helper", out string helper))
{
    // use helper
}
else
{
    helper = null; // or fall back to another level
}

Defensive patterns

Strategy: try-catch

Validate before calling

bool exists = config.TryGet(level, GitConfigurationType.Raw, name, out _);
if (!exists) { /* set a default or prompt the user */ }

Try / catch

try
{
    value = config.Get(level, name);
}
catch (KeyNotFoundException ex) when (ex.Message.Contains($"'{name}'"))
{
    value = defaultValue; // or surface a friendly 'setting not configured' message
}

Prevention

Prefer TryGet over Get whenever a missing setting is acceptable.
Check `git config --show-origin --get-all <name>` to see which level actually holds the value.
Beware level-scoped lookups: a value at Local is invisible to a Global-level Get.
Ship sensible defaults for required configuration keys.

When it happens

Trigger: Calling the Get extension with a name that has no value at the given configuration level — e.g. `config.Get(GitConfigurationLevel.Global, "credential.helper")` when that key was never set at global scope.

Common situations: Assuming a setting exists because it is set at a different level (Local vs Global); typos in entry names; expecting multi-valued entries to resolve via Get when only TryGet/GetAll handle them; fresh machines without the expected git config.

Understand the failure class

Background: Record Not Found Errors: "not found", RecordNotFound, and "was not found" — what they mean and how to fix them — this error's family across 28 libraries.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of git-ecosystem/git-credential-manager@e8ce762cd0 (2026-09-11). Data as JSON: /api/errors/11dca46cde8eade6. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/Core/GitConfiguration.cs:980

        /// <param name="cb">Callback to invoke for each matching configuration entry.</param>
        public static void Enumerate(this IGitConfiguration config, string section, string property, GitConfigurationEnumerationCallback cb)
        {
            Enumerate(config, GitConfigurationLevel.All, section, property, cb);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Get the value of a configuration entry as a string.
        /// </summary>
        /// <exception cref="System.Collections.Generic.KeyNotFoundException">A configuration entry with the specified key was not found.</exception>
        /// <param name="config">Configuration object.</param>
        /// <param name="level">Filter to the specific configuration level.</param>
        /// <param name="name">Configuration entry name.</param>
        /// <returns>Configuration entry value.</returns>
        public static string Get(this IGitConfiguration config, GitConfigurationLevel level, string name)
        {
            if (!config.TryGet(level, GitConfigurationType.Raw, name, out string value))
            {
                throw new KeyNotFoundException($"Git configuration entry with the name '{name}' was not found.");
            }

            return value;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Get the value of a configuration entry as a string.
        /// </summary>
        /// <exception cref="System.Collections.Generic.KeyNotFoundException">A configuration entry with the specified key was not found.</exception>
        /// <param name="config">Configuration object.</param>
        /// <param name="name">Configuration entry name.</param>
        /// <returns>Configuration entry value.</returns>
        public static string Get(this IGitConfiguration config, string name)
        {
            return Get(config, GitConfigurationLevel.All, name);
        }

        /// <summary>

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