What are the best ways to github download file from a repository without cloning the entire project?

General Discussions
, ,
1

I want to github download file from a repo without using the raw URL, especially for binaries. Is it possible to download single files directly from GitHub? Are there alternatives like Google Code or other free hosting and VCS options for open-source projects?

2

Having worked with open-source tools for over a decade, I’ve often run into the need to github download file without cloning the whole repo, especially when I just need a quick script or config file. While GitHub doesn’t offer a one-click download for individual files, I usually hit the “Raw” button on the file, then right-click and ‘Save As.’ It’s simple, fast, and works well for text files. For binaries, I always check the project’s ‘Releases’ section — if available, you can directly download the compiled files from there.

3

Totally agree with @joe-elmoufak I’ve been doing DevOps work for years and get asked about this a lot. If you’re trying to github download file without cloning, and the ‘Raw’ trick feels limited, here’s a trick: GitHub supports Subversion (SVN) under the hood. You can run:

svn export https://github.com/user/repo/trunk/path/to/file

This lets you pull just that file, no full repo clone needed. It’s surprisingly efficient and works well for scripts or config folders too. Just make sure the repo has a public trunk structure. It’s not super common knowledge, but really handy once you know

4

Yep, same boat here, 6+ years into backend engineering and the need to github download file without cloning pops up more often than you’d think. The raw URL trick is fine, and @emma-crepeau’s SVN tip? Gold. One thing I’d add: even though platforms like GitLab or Bitbucket offer similar functionality, partial downloads are still tricky across most version control platforms. It’s just a limitation of how DVCS works. So while these tricks help, sometimes you’re better off scripting small automations to fetch what you need. Still , the SVN export remains my favorite go-to.