pa is a small command-line password manager written in portable POSIX shell. It uses age to encrypt credentials and follows a deliberately simple design that makes its operation relatively easy to understand.
The application is intended for people who prefer shell commands and filesystem-based storage over a graphical password vault. Credentials are managed through short commands, with the encrypted store remaining under the user’s control.
Its optional Git integration provides a convenient means of keeping a history of changes to password entries. The program also exposes configuration through environment variables rather than requiring an elaborate settings interface.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Protects stored passwords using age encryption.
- Generates encryption keys automatically when creating a password store.
- Supports multiple encryption identities and recipients.
- Adds new password entries through a simple command-line interface.
- Generates random passwords when creating entries.
- Allows generated password length and permitted characters to be configured.
- Displays individual entries and lists stored credentials by category.
- Edits existing entries through a configurable text editor.
- Renames or moves existing password entries.
- Deletes credentials that are no longer required.
- Automatically records changes using Git when tracking is enabled.
- Provides direct access to Git commands for inspecting the password store’s history.
- Allows Git tracking to be disabled through an environment setting.
- Supports custom locations for the password directory and encryption identities.
- Uses a compact POSIX shell implementation that can be inspected and extended without a complex application framework.
Website: github.com/biox/pa
Support:
Developer: j3s
License: GNU Affero General Public License v3.0
Related Software
| Terminal-Based Password Managers | |
|---|---|
| gopass | Simple but powerful password manager for your terminal |
| pass | Simple password manager using gpg and ordinary unix directories |
| prs | Secure, fast and convenient password manager for the terminal |
| Teller | Multi provider secret management tool |
| Bitwarden CLI | Password management for individuals, teams, and business organizations |
| ripasso | Simple command-line password manager using pass |
| Rooster | Simple password manager for geeks |
| passage | age-backed password manager |
| seniorpw | Password manager using age |
| pa | Simple password manager. Encryption support is provided via age |
| SpicyPass | Lightweight password manager |
| rbw | Unofficial Bitwarden CLI |
| MUTN | Self-hosted, SSH-synchronized password and note manager |
| pago | Go-based command-line password manager |
| kyp | Stores credentials in an encrypted SQLite database |
| Steelsafe | TUI password manager written in Rust |
| keydex | Password manager for KeePass databases |
| kpxhs | Keepass database interactive TUI viewer |
| kpcli | Command line interface to KeePass database files |
| cruxpass | Minimal command-line password manager written in C |
| vd | Terminal password manager with built-in OTP authentication |
| Puny Manager | Minimal, local, CLI password manager |
| privage | Password manager and general file encryption tool that uses age |
| passfzf | Simple fzf wrapper for pass |
| oxipass-tui | Terminal-based manager for securely storing encrypted passwords |
| cpass | Console UI for pass |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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