---
title: Install git-watchdog on elementary OS using the Snap Store | Snapcraft
description: Get the latest version of git-watchdog for on elementary OS - Read-only
  Git remotes while selected processes (e.g. AI agents) run
url: https://snapcraft.io/install/git-watchdog/elementary
---

[Canonical Snapcraft](https://snapcraft.io/)

# Install git-watchdog on **elementary OS**

# git-watchdog

[Andris Dobicinaitis (dobicinaitis)](https://snapcraft.io/publisher/dobicinaitis "View all snaps from Andris Dobicinaitis (dobicinaitis)")

* [Andris Dobicinaitis (dobicinaitis)](https://snapcraft.io/publisher/dobicinaitis "View all snaps from Andris Dobicinaitis (dobicinaitis)")
* [Development](https://snapcraft.io/search?categories=development)

[Install](https://snapcraft.io/install/git-watchdog/elementary#install)

#### Read-only Git remotes while selected processes (e.g. AI agents) run

AI coding agents run commands with your permissions, including your SSH keys
and Git credentials. A single unattended `git push` can force-push over shared
history, delete a branch or publish unreviewed code, and that is hard to undo
once it reaches the server.

`git-watchdog` removes push access while an agent is running. As long as a
watched process is alive (by default the Claude CLI and Claude Desktop), it
puts the remotes of your local repositories in **read-only mode**:

* **Pushing is blocked**, so `git push` fails instead of reaching the server.
* **Fetching keeps working** through a read-only access token, so the agent doesn't need your SSH key to pull.

When the process exits, the original remotes are restored exactly as they
were. It guards against accidental pushes, not a determined attacker; see
<https://github.com/dobicinaitis/git-watchdog#security-notes>

### Package name

* git-watchdog

---

### License

* MIT

---

### Last updated

* 23 October 2026 - latest/stable

---

### Source code

* [github.com/dobicinaitis/git-watchdog](https://github.com/dobicinaitis/git-watchdog "https://github.com/dobicinaitis/git-watchdog")

---

### Report a bug

* [github.com/dobicinaitis/git-watchdog/issues](https://github.com/dobicinaitis/git-watchdog/issues "https://github.com/dobicinaitis/git-watchdog/issues")

---

##### Report a Snap Store violation

* [Report this Snap](https://snapcraft.io/install/git-watchdog/elementary#report-snap-modal)

---

## Enable snaps on elementary OS and install git-watchdog

Snaps are applications packaged with all their dependencies to run on all popular Linux distributions from a single build. They update automatically and roll back gracefully.

Snaps are discoverable and installable from the [Snap Store](https://snapcraft.io/store), an app store with an audience of millions.

### Enable snapd

Snap can be installed on elementary OS from the command line. Open *Terminal* from the Applications launcher and type the following:

```
sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd
```

Either log out and back in again, or restart your system, to ensure snap’s paths are updated correctly.

### Install git-watchdog

To install git-watchdog, simply use the following command:

```
sudo snap install git-watchdog
```

### Other popular snaps…

[See more...](https://snapcraft.io/search?categories=featured)

[See more in Featured](https://snapcraft.io/search?categories=featured)

### More things to do…

#### [Get the snap store](https://snapcraft.io/snap-store)

Browse and find snaps from the convenience of your desktop using the snap store snap.

#### [Learn more about snaps](https://snapcraft.io/docs)

Interested to find out more about snaps? Want to publish your own application? Visit [snapcraft.io](https://snapcraft.io/) now.

[Back to top](https://snapcraft.io/install/git-watchdog/elementary)

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