REST API token to authenticate

[John Francis]

Hi, I use the Insight REST API to send and retrieve data to and from my Insight application in my Jira Service Desk. To do this automatically I use some python script. For now I use basic authentication with my username and password, but this method is not safe, so I need to authenticate my script with REST API token or something like that.

I tried to search but the information is quite confusing

Can you help me?

[Charlie Misonne]

Hi John,

Personal Access Tokens are available since Jira 8.14 so it will depend on your Jira version if you can use them.

More info can be found on  Using Personal Access Tokens 

[John Francis]

Hi Charlie,

I generate a personal access token and it seems working fine, I can only use a token for my Jira password but my username is always necessary.

Can I remove my username too?

Thank you

[Charlie Misonne]

Hi John,

I'm afraid you need to use your username. It's not ideal but it's how Atlassian implemented this.

[Artur Moura]

Hi @John Francis,

In addition to what @Charlie Misonne mentioned, I would say you may create a specific Jira account for API tasks.

It would be like a service account for a specific purpose.

[John Francis]

Thankyou @Artur Moura my company policy does not allow you to create accounts not tied to a person,
so it is impossible to have a Jira account for the API,
or did I misunderstand what you meant?

[Artur Moura]

Hi @John Francis,

Your understanding is correct, so, based on your company policy creating a service account seems not an option.

The service account idea is not tied to a person.

Thanks for sharing your feedback btw.