cpass: another console UI for pass

!DISCLAIMER!: Before the version 1.0.0, I do not guarantee that this program will run mostly as intended (doesn't mean 1.0.0 will be perfect, either). Version 1.0.0 might break some of the backward compatibility, but I will do my best not to break the data.

It is recommended to back up your passwords or use git (by pass git init) to manage the password store. On my side, I only use pass commands to interact with the password store to minimize any possible damages.

cpass is an urwid based terminal user interface (TUI) for the standard unix password manager, pass.

cpass tries to achieve a minimal, clean interface and utilizes vim-like keybinding. Also, thanks to the urwid module, mouse is supported quite well.

Features:

• Browse the local password store
• Preview folders and passwords
• Customizable: colors, key bindings and more
• Pass operations:
  • add
  • edit
  • generate
  • remove
• Copy passwords in various ways (also customizable)
• Search passwords in the current directory

Todo list:

• More pass operations, e.g., find, copy, move, rename, git, otp
• CLI arguments for more use cases, e.g. open in find mode, and close on copy.

Requirement

• pass
• urwid python module
• xclip for copying passwords

Make sure you are using a local password store created/compatible with pass, which cpass will look for in $PASSWORD_STORE_DIR, otherwise in ~/.password_store/.

pass is required, although theoretically a pass compatible client does not need pass (e.g., qtpass can work with git and gpg). However, pass does a lot of things to assure the robustness and security of password management, there is no need to reinvent the wheels.

Install

• As python package:

  pip install --user cpass
  

• Install with GNU Guix

  The GuixRUs channel also provides cpass.

  After adding GuixRUs to your channels.scm, run the following two commands:

  guix pull
  guix install cpass
  

• Clone the repo or download the single script file.

Usage:

Start cpass

For now, just run cpass.

Some CLI arguments are in mind, but those are for future versions.

Keybindings

Basic navigation keybindings just work as in a lot of command line programs (like less):

h, j, k, l, g, G, ctrl+d, ctrl+u, ctrl+f, ctrl+b, ctrl+n, ctrl+p

For pass related operations:

• i add a new password in current directory
• a generate a new password in current directory
• d delete current password file or directory after user confirms
• e edit current password in $EDITOR
• z toggle preview
• y + y/a/[0-9] copy contents in password ('0' to copy the 10th line)
• / or ? will start a search (forward/backward)
• n or N go to next or previous search result

To-do ones (might change)

• I to add multi-line password
• A to generate with more options
• r rename the file
• D, Y, P remove, copy and paste files

Mouse

This is very intuitive.

• Scroll to navigate up and down in the current list.
• Left-click on the highlighted item will open it, otherwise will highlight it.
• Right-click will go to the parent folder.

Configuration

Configuration file: $XDG_CONFIG_DIR/cpass/cpass.cfg, which falls back to $HOME/.config/cpass/cpass.cfg if not found.

Example configuration file cpass.cfg has all available options set to the default value, with detailed comments.

This is an overview of what can be customized through the configuration file, for the complete list of options, see cpass.cfg:

[ui]
preview_layout = side/bottom/horizontal/vertical

[pass]
no_symbols = true/false

[keys]
down = j, down, ctrl n
up = k, up, ctrl p

[copy_fields]
login = l

[color]
normal   = default, default
dir      = light blue, default

[icon]
dir     = "󰉋 "
file    = "󰈤 "

Two sections, the keys and color, need some references:

• Key bindings in keys section:
  • For all actions available to bind, see the example configuration file.
  • For the format to specify keys, see the urwid documentation.
• Colors in color section. The configuration is similar to (can be seen as) an urwid pallete consisting of multiple display attributes. In the example cpass.cfg I provided enough information to get started. If you want to know more:
  • See urwid documentation for definition of a pallete and a palette example.
  • Also refer to documentation of the available color names and general information on display attributes.

Screenshot