fix git credentials

README.md

@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ See `docs/SECURITY.md` and `docs/SECURITY_IMPLEMENTATION.md` for detailed inform
 
 ## Environment Variables
 
-- `NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY`: User's nsec (bech32 or hex) for client-side git operations via credential helper (optional)
+- `NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY`: User's Nostr private key (nsec bech32 or hex) for git command-line operations via credential helper. Required for `git clone`, `git push`, and `git pull` operations from the command line. See [Git Command Line Setup](#git-command-line-setup) above.
 - `GIT_REPO_ROOT`: Path to store git repositories (default: `/repos`)
 - `GIT_DOMAIN`: Domain for git repositories (default: `localhost:6543`)
 - `NOSTR_RELAYS`: Comma-separated list of Nostr relays (default: `wss://theforest.nostr1.com`)
@@ -446,22 +446,61 @@ The server will automatically locate `git-http-backend` in common locations.
 
 The server will automatically provision the repository.
 
+### Git Command Line Setup
+
+To use git from the command line with GitRepublic, you need to configure the credential helper. This enables automatic NIP-98 authentication for all git operations (clone, push, pull).
+
+**Quick Setup:**
+
+1. **Set your Nostr private key**:
+   ```bash
+   export NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY="nsec1..."
+   # Or add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc for persistence
+   echo 'export NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY="nsec1..."' >> ~/.bashrc
+   ```
+
+2. **Configure git credential helper**:
+   ```bash
+   # For a specific domain (recommended)
+   git config --global credential.https://your-domain.com.helper '!node /absolute/path/to/gitrepublic-web/scripts/git-credential-nostr.js'
+   
+   # For localhost development
+   git config --global credential.http://localhost:5173.helper '!node /absolute/path/to/gitrepublic-web/scripts/git-credential-nostr.js'
+   ```
+
+3. **Make the script executable**:
+   ```bash
+   chmod +x /absolute/path/to/gitrepublic-web/scripts/git-credential-nostr.js
+   ```
+
+**Important Notes:**
+- The `NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY` must match the repository owner or you must have maintainer permissions
+- The credential helper generates fresh NIP-98 tokens for each request (per-request authentication)
+- Never commit your private key to version control
+
+For complete setup instructions and troubleshooting, see [docs/GIT_CREDENTIAL_HELPER.md](./docs/GIT_CREDENTIAL_HELPER.md).
+
 ### Cloning a Repository
 
 ```bash
+# Public repository
 git clone https://{domain}/{npub}/{repo-name}.git
-```
 
-For private repositories, configure git with NIP-98 authentication.
+# Private repository (requires credential helper setup)
+git clone https://{domain}/{npub}/{repo-name}.git
+```
 
 ### Pushing to a Repository
 
 ```bash
+# Add remote
 git remote add origin https://{domain}/{npub}/{repo-name}.git
+
+# Push (requires credential helper setup)
 git push origin main
 ```
 
-Requires NIP-98 authentication. Your git client needs to support NIP-98 or you can use a custom credential helper.
+The credential helper will automatically generate NIP-98 authentication tokens for push operations.
 
 ### Viewing Repositories
 

docs/GIT_CREDENTIAL_HELPER.md

@@ -36,10 +36,18 @@ export NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY="<your-64-char-hex-private-key>"
 
 ### 3. Configure git to use the credential helper
 
+**Important:** The credential helper must be called for EACH request (not just the first one), because NIP-98 requires per-request authentication tokens. Make sure it's configured BEFORE any caching credential helpers.
+
 #### Global configuration (for all GitRepublic repositories):
 
 ```bash
+# Add our helper FIRST (before any cache/store helpers)
 git config --global credential.helper '!node /absolute/path/to/gitrepublic-web/scripts/git-credential-nostr.js'
+
+# Optional: Disable credential caching to ensure our helper is always called
+git config --global credential.helper cache
+# Or remove cache helper if you want to ensure fresh credentials each time:
+# git config --global --unset credential.helper cache
 ```
 
 #### Per-domain configuration (recommended):
@@ -160,11 +168,14 @@ git pull gitrepublic-web main
 ## How It Works
 
 1. When git needs credentials, it calls the credential helper with the repository URL
-2. The helper reads your `NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY` environment variable (with fallbacks for backward compatibility)
+2. The helper reads your `NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY` environment variable
-3. It creates a NIP-98 authentication event signed with your private key
+3. It creates a NIP-98 authentication event signed with your private key for the specific URL and HTTP method
-4. The signed event is base64-encoded and returned as the "password"
+4. The signed event is base64-encoded and returned as `username=nostr` and `password=<base64-event>`
-5. Git sends this in the `Authorization: Nostr <base64-event>` header
+5. Git converts this to `Authorization: Basic <base64(username:password)>` header
-6. The GitRepublic server verifies the NIP-98 auth event and grants access
+6. The GitRepublic server detects Basic auth with username "nostr" and converts it to `Authorization: Nostr <base64-event>` format
+7. The server verifies the NIP-98 auth event (signature, URL, method, timestamp) and grants access if valid
+
+**Important:** The credential helper generates fresh credentials for each request because NIP-98 requires per-request authentication tokens. The URL and HTTP method are part of the signed event, so credentials cannot be reused.
 
 ## Troubleshooting
 
@@ -189,13 +200,39 @@ export NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY="nsec1..."
 - Check that the repository URL is correct
 - Ensure your key has maintainer permissions for push operations
 
-### Push operations fail
+### Push operations fail or show login dialog
+
+If you see a login dialog when pushing, git isn't calling the credential helper for the POST request. This usually happens because:
+
+1. **Credential helper not configured correctly**: 
+   ```bash
+   # Check your credential helper configuration
+   git config --global --get-regexp credential.helper
+   
+   # Make sure the GitRepublic helper is configured for your domain
+   git config --global credential.http://localhost:5173.helper '!node /path/to/gitrepublic-web/scripts/git-credential-nostr.js'
+   ```
+
+2. **Other credential helpers interfering**: Git might be using cached credentials from another helper. Make sure the GitRepublic helper is listed FIRST:
+   ```bash
+   # Remove all credential helpers
+   git config --global --unset-all credential.helper
+   
+   # Add only the GitRepublic helper
+   git config --global credential.http://localhost:5173.helper '!node /path/to/gitrepublic-web/scripts/git-credential-nostr.js'
+   ```
+
+3. **NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY not set**: Make sure the environment variable is set in the shell where git runs:
+   ```bash
+   export NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY="nsec1..."
+   ```
 
-Push operations require POST authentication. The credential helper automatically detects push operations (when the path contains `git-receive-pack`) and generates a POST auth event. If you still have issues:
+4. **Wrong private key**: Ensure your `NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY` matches the repository owner or you have maintainer permissions for the repository you're pushing to.
 
-1. Verify you have maintainer permissions for the repository
+5. **Authorization failure (403)**: If authentication succeeds but push fails with 403, check:
-2. Check that branch protection rules allow your push
+   - Your pubkey matches the repository owner, OR
-3. Ensure your NOSTRGIT_SECRET_KEY is correctly set
+   - You have maintainer permissions for the repository
+   - Branch protection rules allow your push
 
 ## Security Best Practices
 

scripts/git-credential-nostr.js

@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@
  */
 
 import { createHash } from 'crypto';
-import { getEventHash, signEvent, getPublicKey } from 'nostr-tools';
+import { finalizeEvent, getPublicKey } from 'nostr-tools';
 import { decode } from 'nostr-tools/nip19';
+import { readFileSync, existsSync } from 'fs';
+import { join, resolve } from 'path';
 
 // NIP-98 auth event kind
 const KIND_NIP98_AUTH = 27235;
@@ -58,13 +60,102 @@ function readInput() {
   });
 }
 
+/**
+ * Try to extract the git remote URL path from .git/config
+ * This is used as a fallback when git calls us with wwwauth[] but no path
+ */
+function tryGetPathFromGitRemote(host, protocol) {
+  try {
+    // Git sets GIT_DIR environment variable when calling credential helpers
+    // Use it if available, otherwise try to find .git directory
+    let gitDir = process.env.GIT_DIR;
+    let configPath = null;
+    
+    if (gitDir) {
+      // GIT_DIR might point directly to .git directory or to the config file
+      if (existsSync(gitDir) && existsSync(join(gitDir, 'config'))) {
+        configPath = join(gitDir, 'config');
+      } else if (existsSync(gitDir) && gitDir.endsWith('config')) {
+        configPath = gitDir;
+      }
+    }
+    
+    // If GIT_DIR didn't work, try to find .git directory starting from current working directory
+    if (!configPath) {
+      let currentDir = process.cwd();
+      const maxDepth = 10; // Limit search depth
+      let depth = 0;
+      
+      while (depth < maxDepth) {
+        const potentialGitDir = join(currentDir, '.git');
+        if (existsSync(potentialGitDir) && existsSync(join(potentialGitDir, 'config'))) {
+          configPath = join(potentialGitDir, 'config');
+          break;
+        }
+        
+        // Move up one directory
+        const parentDir = resolve(currentDir, '..');
+        if (parentDir === currentDir) {
+          // Reached filesystem root
+          break;
+        }
+        currentDir = parentDir;
+        depth++;
+      }
+    }
+    
+    if (!configPath || !existsSync(configPath)) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    
+    // Read git config
+    const config = readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8');
+    
+    // Find remotes that match our host
+    // Match: [remote "name"] ... url = http://host/path
+    const remoteRegex = /\[remote\s+"([^"]+)"\][\s\S]*?url\s*=\s*([^\n]+)/g;
+    let match;
+    while ((match = remoteRegex.exec(config)) !== null) {
+      const remoteUrl = match[2].trim();
+      
+      // Check if this remote URL matches our host
+      try {
+        const url = new URL(remoteUrl);
+        const remoteHost = url.hostname + (url.port ? ':' + url.port : '');
+        if (url.host === host || remoteHost === host) {
+          // Extract path from remote URL
+          let path = url.pathname;
+          if (path && path.includes('git-receive-pack')) {
+            // Already has git-receive-pack in path
+            return path;
+          } else if (path && path.endsWith('.git')) {
+            // Add git-receive-pack to path
+            return path + '/git-receive-pack';
+          } else if (path) {
+            // Path exists but doesn't end with .git, try adding /git-receive-pack
+            return path + '/git-receive-pack';
+          }
+        }
+      } catch (e) {
+        // Not a valid URL, skip
+        continue;
+      }
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    // If anything fails, return null silently
+  }
+  
+  return null;
+}
+
 /**
  * Normalize URL for NIP-98 (remove trailing slashes, ensure consistent format)
+ * This must match the normalization used by the server in nip98-auth.ts
  */
 function normalizeUrl(url) {
   try {
     const parsed = new URL(url);
-    // Remove trailing slash from pathname
+    // Remove trailing slash from pathname (must match server normalization)
     parsed.pathname = parsed.pathname.replace(/\/$/, '');
     return parsed.toString();
   } catch {
@@ -83,9 +174,13 @@ function calculateBodyHash(body) {
 
 /**
  * Create and sign a NIP-98 authentication event
+ * @param privateKeyBytes - Private key as Uint8Array (32 bytes)
+ * @param url - Request URL
+ * @param method - HTTP method (GET, POST, etc.)
+ * @param bodyHash - Optional SHA256 hash of request body (for POST requests)
  */
-function createNIP98AuthEvent(privateKey, url, method, bodyHash = null) {
+function createNIP98AuthEvent(privateKeyBytes, url, method, bodyHash = null) {
-  const pubkey = getPublicKey(privateKey);
+  const pubkey = getPublicKey(privateKeyBytes);
   const tags = [
     ['u', normalizeUrl(url)],
     ['method', method.toUpperCase()]
@@ -95,7 +190,7 @@ function createNIP98AuthEvent(privateKey, url, method, bodyHash = null) {
     tags.push(['payload', bodyHash]);
   }
   
-  const event = {
+  const eventTemplate = {
     kind: KIND_NIP98_AUTH,
     pubkey,
     created_at: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
@@ -103,11 +198,10 @@ function createNIP98AuthEvent(privateKey, url, method, bodyHash = null) {
     tags
   };
   
-  // Sign the event
+  // Sign the event using finalizeEvent (which computes id and sig)
-  event.id = getEventHash(event);
+  const signedEvent = finalizeEvent(eventTemplate, privateKeyBytes);
-  event.sig = signEvent(event, privateKey);
   
-  return event;
+  return signedEvent;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -133,12 +227,14 @@ async function main() {
       }
       
       // Parse private key (handle both nsec and hex formats)
-      let privateKey;
+      // Convert to Uint8Array for nostr-tools functions
+      let privateKeyBytes;
       if (nsec.startsWith('nsec')) {
         try {
           const decoded = decode(nsec);
           if (decoded.type === 'nsec') {
-            privateKey = decoded.data;
+            // decoded.data is already Uint8Array for nsec
+            privateKeyBytes = decoded.data;
           } else {
             throw new Error('Invalid nsec format - decoded type is not nsec');
           }
@@ -152,33 +248,121 @@ async function main() {
           console.error('Error: Hex private key must be 64 characters (32 bytes)');
           process.exit(1);
         }
-        privateKey = nsec;
+        // Convert hex string to Uint8Array
+        privateKeyBytes = new Uint8Array(32);
+        for (let i = 0; i < 32; i++) {
+          privateKeyBytes[i] = parseInt(nsec.slice(i * 2, i * 2 + 2), 16);
+        }
       }
       
       // Extract URL components from input
+      // Git credential helper protocol passes: protocol, host, path (and sometimes username, password)
+      // Git may provide either individual attributes (protocol, host, path) or a url attribute
+      // If we have a url, use it; otherwise construct from individual attributes
+      let url;
+      if (input.url) {
+        // Git provided a url attribute - use it directly
+        url = input.url;
+      } else {
+        // Construct URL from individual attributes
         const protocol = input.protocol || 'https';
         const host = input.host;
-      const path = input.path || '';
+        let path = input.path || '';
+        const wwwauth = input['wwwauth[]'] || input.wwwauth;
         
         if (!host) {
           console.error('Error: No host specified in credential request');
           process.exit(1);
         }
         
-      // Build full URL
+        // If path is missing, try to extract it from git remote URL
-      const url = `${protocol}://${host}${path}`;
+        // This happens when git calls us reactively after a 401 with wwwauth[] but no path
+        if (!path) {
+          if (wwwauth) {
+            // Try to get path from git remote URL
+            const extractedPath = tryGetPathFromGitRemote(host, protocol);
+            if (extractedPath) {
+              path = extractedPath;
+            } else {
+              // Exit without output - git should call us again with the full path when it retries
+              process.exit(0);
+            }
+          } else {
+            // Exit without output - git will call us again with the full path
+            process.exit(0);
+          }
+        }
+        
+        // Build full URL (include query string if present)
+        const query = input.query || '';
+        const fullPath = query ? `${path}?${query}` : path;
+        url = `${protocol}://${host}${fullPath}`;
+      }
+      
+      // Parse URL to extract components for method detection
+      let urlPath = '';
+      try {
+        const urlObj = new URL(url);
+        urlPath = urlObj.pathname;
+      } catch (err) {
+        // If URL parsing fails, try to extract path from the URL string
+        const match = url.match(/https?:\/\/[^\/]+(\/.*)/);
+        urlPath = match ? match[1] : '';
+      }
       
       // Determine HTTP method based on git operation
       // Git credential helper doesn't know the HTTP method, but we can infer it:
       // - If path contains 'git-receive-pack', it's a push (POST)
-      // - Otherwise, it's likely a fetch/clone (GET)
+      // - If path contains 'git-upload-pack', it's a fetch (GET)
-      // Note: For initial info/refs requests, git uses GET, so we default to GET
+      // - For info/refs requests, check the service query parameter
-      // For actual push operations, git will make POST requests to git-receive-pack
+      let method = 'GET';
-      // The server will validate the method matches, so we need to handle this carefully
+      let authUrl = url; // The URL for which we generate credentials
-      const method = path.includes('git-receive-pack') ? 'POST' : 'GET';
+      
+      // Parse query string from URL if present
+      let query = '';
+      try {
+        const urlObj = new URL(url);
+        query = urlObj.search.slice(1); // Remove leading '?'
+      } catch (err) {
+        // If URL parsing fails, try to extract query from the URL string
+        const match = url.match(/\?(.+)$/);
+        query = match ? match[1] : '';
+      }
+      
+      if (urlPath.includes('git-receive-pack')) {
+        // Direct POST request to git-receive-pack
+        method = 'POST';
+        authUrl = url;
+      } else if (urlPath.includes('git-upload-pack')) {
+        // Direct GET request to git-upload-pack
+        method = 'GET';
+        authUrl = url;
+      } else if (query.includes('service=git-receive-pack')) {
+        // info/refs?service=git-receive-pack - this is a GET request
+        // However, git might not call us again for the POST request
+        // So we need to generate credentials for the POST request that will happen next
+        // Replace info/refs with git-receive-pack in the path
+        try {
+          const urlObj = new URL(url);
+          urlObj.pathname = urlObj.pathname.replace(/\/info\/refs$/, '/git-receive-pack');
+          urlObj.search = ''; // Remove query string for POST request
+          authUrl = urlObj.toString();
+        } catch (err) {
+          // Fallback: string replacement
+          authUrl = url.replace(/\/info\/refs(\?.*)?$/, '/git-receive-pack');
+        }
+        method = 'POST';
+      } else {
+        // Default: GET request (info/refs, etc.)
+        method = 'GET';
+        authUrl = url;
+      }
+      
+      // Normalize the URL before creating the event (must match server normalization)
+      const normalizedAuthUrl = normalizeUrl(authUrl);
       
       // Create and sign NIP-98 auth event
-      const authEvent = createNIP98AuthEvent(privateKey, url, method);
+      const authEvent = createNIP98AuthEvent(privateKeyBytes, normalizedAuthUrl, method);
       
       // Encode event as base64
       const eventJson = JSON.stringify(authEvent);
@@ -191,8 +375,11 @@ async function main() {
       console.log(`password=${base64Event}`);
       
     } else if (command === 'store') {
-      // For 'store', we don't need to do anything (credentials are generated on-demand)
+      // For 'store', we don't store credentials because NIP-98 requires per-request credentials
-      // Just exit successfully
+      // The URL and method are part of the signed event, so we can't reuse credentials
+      // However, we should NOT prevent git from storing - let other credential helpers handle it
+      // We just exit successfully without storing anything ourselves
+      // This allows git to call us again for each request
       process.exit(0);
     } else if (command === 'erase') {
       // For 'erase', we don't need to do anything

src/lib/services/nostr/nip98-auth.ts

@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ export function verifyNIP98Auth(
 
   try {
     // Decode base64 event
-    const base64Event = authHeader.slice(7); // Remove "Nostr " prefix
+    // "Nostr " is 6 characters (N-o-s-t-r-space), so we slice from index 6
+    const base64Event = authHeader.slice(6).trim(); // Remove "Nostr " prefix and trim whitespace
     const eventJson = Buffer.from(base64Event, 'base64').toString('utf-8');
     const nostrEvent: NostrEvent = JSON.parse(eventJson);
 

src/routes/api/git/[...path]/+server.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * Handles git clone, push, pull operations via git-http-backend
  */
 
-import { error } from '@sveltejs/kit';
+import { error, json } from '@sveltejs/kit';
 import type { RequestHandler } from './$types';
 import { RepoManager } from '$lib/services/git/repo-manager.js';
 import { requireNpubHex } from '$lib/utils/npub-utils.js';
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ import logger from '$lib/services/logger.js';
 import { auditLogger } from '$lib/services/security/audit-logger.js';
 import { isValidBranchName, sanitizeError } from '$lib/utils/security.js';
 
-const repoRoot = process.env.GIT_REPO_ROOT || '/repos';
+// Resolve GIT_REPO_ROOT to absolute path (handles both relative and absolute paths)
+const repoRootEnv = process.env.GIT_REPO_ROOT || '/repos';
+const repoRoot = resolve(repoRootEnv);
 const repoManager = new RepoManager(repoRoot);
 const nostrClient = new NostrClient(DEFAULT_NOSTR_RELAYS);
 const ownershipTransferService = new OwnershipTransferService(DEFAULT_NOSTR_RELAYS);
@@ -145,6 +147,56 @@ function extractCloneUrls(event: NostrEvent): string[] {
   return urls;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Normalize Authorization header from git credential helper format
+ * Git credential helper outputs username=nostr and password=<base64-event>
+ * Git HTTP backend converts this to Authorization: Basic <base64(username:password)>
+ * This function converts it back to Authorization: Nostr <base64-event> format
+ */
+function normalizeAuthHeader(authHeader: string | null): string | null {
+  if (!authHeader) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  // If already in Nostr format, return as-is
+  if (authHeader.startsWith('Nostr ')) {
+    return authHeader;
+  }
+
+  // If it's Basic auth, try to extract the NIP-98 event
+  if (authHeader.startsWith('Basic ')) {
+    try {
+      const base64Credentials = authHeader.slice(6); // Remove "Basic " prefix
+      const credentials = Buffer.from(base64Credentials, 'base64').toString('utf-8');
+      const [username, ...passwordParts] = credentials.split(':');
+      const password = passwordParts.join(':'); // Rejoin in case password contains colons
+      
+      // If username is "nostr", the password is the base64-encoded NIP-98 event
+      if (username === 'nostr' && password) {
+        // Trim whitespace and control characters that might be added during encoding
+        const trimmedPassword = password.trim().replace(/[\r\n\t\0]/g, '');
+        
+        // Validate the password is valid base64-encoded JSON before using it
+        try {
+          const testDecode = Buffer.from(trimmedPassword, 'base64').toString('utf-8');
+          JSON.parse(testDecode); // Verify it's valid JSON
+          return `Nostr ${trimmedPassword}`;
+        } catch (err) {
+          logger.warn({ error: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err) }, 
+            'Invalid base64-encoded NIP-98 event in Basic auth password');
+          return authHeader; // Return original header if invalid
+        }
+      }
+    } catch (err) {
+      // If decoding fails, return original header
+      logger.debug({ error: err }, 'Failed to decode Basic auth header');
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Return original header if we can't convert it
+  return authHeader;
+}
+
 export const GET: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
   const path = params.path || '';
   
@@ -181,7 +233,34 @@ export const GET: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
     return error(403, 'Invalid repository path');
   }
   if (!repoManager.repoExists(repoPath)) {
-    return error(404, 'Repository not found');
+    logger.warn({ repoPath, resolvedPath, repoRoot, resolvedRoot }, 'Repository not found at expected path');
+    return error(404, `Repository not found at ${resolvedPath}. Please check GIT_REPO_ROOT environment variable (currently: ${repoRoot})`);
+  }
+  
+  // Verify it's a valid git repository
+  const gitDir = join(resolvedPath, 'objects');
+  if (!existsSync(gitDir)) {
+    logger.warn({ repoPath: resolvedPath }, 'Repository path exists but is not a valid git repository');
+    return error(500, `Repository at ${resolvedPath} is not a valid git repository`);
+  }
+  
+  // Ensure http.receivepack is enabled for push operations
+  // This is required for git-http-backend to allow receive-pack service
+  // Even with GIT_HTTP_EXPORT_ALL=1, the repository config must allow it
+  if (service === 'git-receive-pack') {
+    try {
+      const { execSync } = await import('child_process');
+      // Set http.receivepack to true if not already set
+      execSync('git config http.receivepack true', { 
+        cwd: resolvedPath,
+        stdio: 'ignore',
+        timeout: 5000
+      });
+      logger.debug({ repoPath: resolvedPath }, 'Enabled http.receivepack for repository');
+    } catch (err) {
+      // Log but don't fail - git-http-backend might still work
+      logger.debug({ error: err, repoPath: resolvedPath }, 'Failed to set http.receivepack (may already be set)');
+    }
   }
 
   // Check repository privacy for clone/fetch operations
@@ -197,7 +276,9 @@ export const GET: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
   const privacyInfo = await maintainerService.getPrivacyInfo(originalOwnerPubkey, repoName);
   if (privacyInfo.isPrivate) {
     // Private repos require authentication for clone/fetch
-    const authHeader = request.headers.get('Authorization');
+    const rawAuthHeader = request.headers.get('Authorization');
+    // Normalize auth header (convert Basic auth from git credential helper to Nostr format)
+    const authHeader = normalizeAuthHeader(rawAuthHeader);
     if (!authHeader || !authHeader.startsWith('Nostr ')) {
       return error(401, 'This repository is private. Authentication required.');
     }
@@ -241,12 +322,26 @@ export const GET: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
     return error(500, 'git-http-backend not found. Please install git.');
   }
 
-  // Build PATH_INFO
+  // Build PATH_INFO using repository-per-directory mode
-  // Security: Since we're setting GIT_PROJECT_ROOT to the specific repo path,
+  // GIT_PROJECT_ROOT points to the parent directory containing repositories
-  // PATH_INFO should be relative to that repo (just the git operation path)
+  // PATH_INFO includes the repository name: /repo.git/info/refs
-  // For info/refs: /info/refs
+  const repoParentDir = resolve(join(repoRoot, npub));
-  // For other operations: /{git-path}
+  const repoRelativePath = `${repoName}.git`;
-  const pathInfo = gitPath ? `/${gitPath}` : `/info/refs`;
+  const gitOperationPath = gitPath ? `/${gitPath}` : `/info/refs`;
+  const pathInfo = `/${repoRelativePath}${gitOperationPath}`;
+  
+  // Debug logging for git operations
+  logger.debug({ 
+    npub, 
+    repoName, 
+    resolvedPath,
+    repoParentDir,
+    repoRelativePath,
+    pathInfo, 
+    service, 
+    gitHttpBackend,
+    method: request.method 
+  }, 'Processing git HTTP request');
 
   // Set up environment variables for git-http-backend
   // Security: Whitelist only necessary environment variables
@@ -257,7 +352,7 @@ export const GET: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
     USER: process.env.USER || 'git',
     LANG: process.env.LANG || 'C.UTF-8',
     LC_ALL: process.env.LC_ALL || 'C.UTF-8',
-    GIT_PROJECT_ROOT: resolve(repoPath), // Use specific repo path, not repoRoot
+    GIT_PROJECT_ROOT: repoParentDir, // Parent directory containing repositories
     GIT_HTTP_EXPORT_ALL: '1',
     REQUEST_METHOD: request.method,
     PATH_INFO: pathInfo,
@@ -267,6 +362,14 @@ export const GET: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
     HTTP_USER_AGENT: request.headers.get('User-Agent') || '',
   };
   
+  // Debug: Log environment variables (sanitized)
+  logger.debug({ 
+    GIT_PROJECT_ROOT: repoParentDir,
+    PATH_INFO: pathInfo,
+    QUERY_STRING: url.searchParams.toString(),
+    REQUEST_METHOD: request.method
+  }, 'git-http-backend environment');
+  
   // Add TZ if set (for consistent timestamps)
   if (process.env.TZ) {
     envVars.TZ = process.env.TZ;
@@ -349,30 +452,98 @@ export const GET: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
         );
       }
       
+      // Debug: Log git-http-backend output
+      let body = Buffer.concat(chunks);
+      logger.debug({ 
+        code, 
+        bodyLength: body.length, 
+        bodyPreview: body.slice(0, 200).toString('utf-8'),
+        errorOutput: errorOutput.slice(0, 500),
+        pathInfo,
+        service
+      }, 'git-http-backend response');
+      
       if (code !== 0 && chunks.length === 0) {
         const sanitizedError = sanitizeError(errorOutput || 'Unknown error');
         resolve(error(500, `git-http-backend error: ${sanitizedError}`));
         return;
       }
       
-      const body = Buffer.concat(chunks);
+      // For info/refs requests, git-http-backend includes HTTP headers in the body
-      
+      // We need to strip them and only send the git protocol data
-      // Determine content type based on service
+      // The format is: HTTP headers + blank line (\r\n\r\n) + git protocol data
-      let contentType = 'application/x-git-upload-pack-result';
+      if (pathInfo.includes('info/refs')) {
-      if (service === 'git-receive-pack' || gitPath === 'git-receive-pack') {
+        const bodyStr = body.toString('binary');
+        const headerEnd = bodyStr.indexOf('\r\n\r\n');
+        if (headerEnd !== -1) {
+          // Extract only the git protocol data (after the blank line)
+          body = Buffer.from(bodyStr.slice(headerEnd + 4), 'binary');
+          logger.debug({ 
+            originalLength: Buffer.concat(chunks).length,
+            protocolDataLength: body.length,
+            headerEnd
+          }, 'Stripped HTTP headers from info/refs response');
+        }
+      }
+      
+      // Determine content type based on request type
+      // For info/refs requests with service parameter, use the appropriate advertisement content type
+      let contentType = 'text/plain; charset=utf-8';
+      if (pathInfo.includes('info/refs')) {
+        if (service === 'git-receive-pack') {
+          // info/refs?service=git-receive-pack returns application/x-git-receive-pack-advertisement
+          contentType = 'application/x-git-receive-pack-advertisement';
+        } else if (service === 'git-upload-pack') {
+          // info/refs?service=git-upload-pack returns application/x-git-upload-pack-advertisement
+          contentType = 'application/x-git-upload-pack-advertisement';
+        } else {
+          // info/refs without service parameter is text/plain
+          contentType = 'text/plain; charset=utf-8';
+        }
+      } else if (service === 'git-receive-pack' || gitPath === 'git-receive-pack') {
+        // POST requests to git-receive-pack (push)
         contentType = 'application/x-git-receive-pack-result';
       } else if (service === 'git-upload-pack' || gitPath === 'git-upload-pack') {
+        // POST requests to git-upload-pack (fetch)
         contentType = 'application/x-git-upload-pack-result';
-      } else if (pathInfo.includes('info/refs')) {
-        contentType = 'text/plain; charset=utf-8';
       }
 
-      resolve(new Response(body, {
+      // Debug: Log response details
+      logger.debug({ 
         status: code === 0 ? 200 : 500,
+        contentType,
+        bodyLength: body.length,
+        bodyHex: body.slice(0, 100).toString('hex'),
         headers: {
           'Content-Type': contentType,
           'Content-Length': body.length.toString(),
         }
+      }, 'Sending git HTTP response');
+      
+      // Build response headers
+      // Git expects specific headers for info/refs responses
+      const headers: HeadersInit = {
+        'Content-Type': contentType,
+        'Content-Length': body.length.toString(),
+      };
+      
+      // For info/refs with service parameter, add Cache-Control header
+      if (pathInfo.includes('info/refs') && service) {
+        headers['Cache-Control'] = 'no-cache';
+      }
+      
+      // Debug: Log response details
+      logger.debug({ 
+        status: code === 0 ? 200 : 500,
+        contentType,
+        bodyLength: body.length,
+        bodyPreview: body.slice(0, 200).toString('utf-8'),
+        headers
+      }, 'Sending git HTTP response');
+      
+      resolve(new Response(body, {
+        status: code === 0 ? 200 : 500,
+        headers
       }));
     });
 
@@ -423,7 +594,34 @@ export const POST: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
     return error(403, 'Invalid repository path');
   }
   if (!repoManager.repoExists(repoPath)) {
-    return error(404, 'Repository not found');
+    logger.warn({ repoPath, resolvedPath, repoRoot, resolvedRoot }, 'Repository not found at expected path');
+    return error(404, `Repository not found at ${resolvedPath}. Please check GIT_REPO_ROOT environment variable (currently: ${repoRoot})`);
+  }
+  
+  // Verify it's a valid git repository
+  const gitDir = join(resolvedPath, 'objects');
+  if (!existsSync(gitDir)) {
+    logger.warn({ repoPath: resolvedPath }, 'Repository path exists but is not a valid git repository');
+    return error(500, `Repository at ${resolvedPath} is not a valid git repository`);
+  }
+  
+  // Ensure http.receivepack is enabled for push operations
+  // This is required for git-http-backend to allow receive-pack service
+  // Even with GIT_HTTP_EXPORT_ALL=1, the repository config must allow it
+  if (gitPath === 'git-receive-pack' || path.includes('git-receive-pack')) {
+    try {
+      const { execSync } = await import('child_process');
+      // Set http.receivepack to true if not already set
+      execSync('git config http.receivepack true', { 
+        cwd: resolvedPath,
+        stdio: 'ignore',
+        timeout: 5000
+      });
+      logger.debug({ repoPath: resolvedPath }, 'Enabled http.receivepack for repository');
+    } catch (err) {
+      // Log but don't fail - git-http-backend might still work
+      logger.debug({ error: err, repoPath: resolvedPath }, 'Failed to set http.receivepack (may already be set)');
+    }
   }
 
   // Get current owner (may be different if ownership was transferred)
@@ -440,18 +638,59 @@ export const POST: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
 
   // For push operations (git-receive-pack), require NIP-98 authentication
   if (gitPath === 'git-receive-pack' || path.includes('git-receive-pack')) {
+    const rawAuthHeader = request.headers.get('Authorization');
+    
+    // Always return 401 with WWW-Authenticate if no Authorization header
+    // This ensures git calls the credential helper proactively
+    // Git requires WWW-Authenticate header on ALL 401 responses, otherwise it won't retry
+    if (!rawAuthHeader) {
+      return new Response('Authentication required. Please configure the git credential helper. See docs/GIT_CREDENTIAL_HELPER.md for setup instructions.', {
+        status: 401,
+        headers: {
+          'WWW-Authenticate': 'Basic realm="GitRepublic"',
+          'Content-Type': 'text/plain'
+        }
+      });
+    }
+    
+    // Normalize auth header (convert Basic auth from git credential helper to Nostr format)
+    const authHeader = normalizeAuthHeader(rawAuthHeader);
+    
     // Verify NIP-98 authentication
     const authResult = verifyNIP98Auth(
-      request.headers.get('Authorization'),
+      authHeader,
       requestUrl,
       request.method,
       bodyBuffer.length > 0 ? bodyBuffer : undefined
     );
 
     if (!authResult.valid) {
-      return error(401, authResult.error || 'Authentication required');
+      logger.warn({ 
+        error: authResult.error,
+        requestUrl,
+        requestMethod: request.method
+      }, 'NIP-98 authentication failed for push');
+      
+      // Always return 401 with WWW-Authenticate header, even if Authorization was present
+      // This ensures git retries with the credential helper
+      // Git requires WWW-Authenticate on ALL 401 responses, otherwise it won't retry
+      const errorMessage = authResult.error || 'Authentication required';
+      
+      return new Response(errorMessage, {
+        status: 401,
+        headers: {
+          'WWW-Authenticate': 'Basic realm="GitRepublic"',
+          'Content-Type': 'text/plain'
+        }
+      });
     }
     
+    logger.debug({ 
+      pubkey: authResult.pubkey,
+      requestUrl,
+      requestMethod: request.method
+    }, 'NIP-98 authentication successful for push');
+
     // Verify pubkey is current repo owner or maintainer
     const isMaintainer = await maintainerService.isMaintainer(
       authResult.pubkey || '',
@@ -504,10 +743,11 @@ export const POST: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
     return error(500, 'git-http-backend not found. Please install git.');
   }
 
-  // Build PATH_INFO
+  // Build PATH_INFO using repository-per-directory mode (same as GET handler)
-  // Security: Since we're setting GIT_PROJECT_ROOT to the specific repo path,
+  const repoParentDir = resolve(join(repoRoot, npub));
-  // PATH_INFO should be relative to that repo (just the git operation path)
+  const repoRelativePath = `${repoName}.git`;
-  const pathInfo = gitPath ? `/${gitPath}` : `/`;
+  const gitOperationPath = gitPath ? `/${gitPath}` : `/`;
+  const pathInfo = `/${repoRelativePath}${gitOperationPath}`;
 
   // Set up environment variables for git-http-backend
   // Security: Whitelist only necessary environment variables
@@ -518,7 +758,7 @@ export const POST: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
     USER: process.env.USER || 'git',
     LANG: process.env.LANG || 'C.UTF-8',
     LC_ALL: process.env.LC_ALL || 'C.UTF-8',
-    GIT_PROJECT_ROOT: resolve(repoPath), // Use specific repo path, not repoRoot
+    GIT_PROJECT_ROOT: repoParentDir, // Parent directory containing repositories
     GIT_HTTP_EXPORT_ALL: '1',
     REQUEST_METHOD: request.method,
     PATH_INFO: pathInfo,
@@ -528,6 +768,21 @@ export const POST: RequestHandler = async ({ params, url, request }) => {
     HTTP_USER_AGENT: request.headers.get('User-Agent') || '',
   };
   
+  // Pass Authorization header to git-http-backend (if present)
+  // Git-http-backend uses HTTP_AUTHORIZATION environment variable
+  const authHeader = request.headers.get('Authorization');
+  if (authHeader) {
+    envVars.HTTP_AUTHORIZATION = authHeader;
+  }
+  
+  // Debug: Log environment variables (sanitized)
+  logger.debug({ 
+    GIT_PROJECT_ROOT: repoParentDir,
+    PATH_INFO: pathInfo,
+    QUERY_STRING: url.searchParams.toString(),
+    REQUEST_METHOD: request.method
+  }, 'git-http-backend environment (POST)');
+  
   // Add TZ if set (for consistent timestamps)
   if (process.env.TZ) {
     envVars.TZ = process.env.TZ;