Cloning a Single File from Github Repo

Question

Is it possible to clone a single file from a remote repository with Git? For instance, I am looking to copy someone else's .htaccess file into my own project. I do not need their entire repository, just this one file.

Solution

Rather than clone, perhaps you can simply download the file.

Assuming the repository is public, you can download a single file like this:

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jquery/jquery/master/src/ajax.js

To get the url, navigate to the file in GitHub, and choose the "raw" view.

Note that this will only work with public repos.

Comments

[MadPhysicist]

Yes, I have done just that. However, I am still wondering if Git allows for such operation to be done. It would be convenient. Can wget copy directories as well?

[Jonathan.Brink]

@MadPhysicist Yes, it's possible. See stackoverflow.com/questions/2466735/… . I was suggesting that perhaps a tool like wget or curl may be an easier option

[shellscape]

Should be updated to note that only works with public repos, and the OP does not specify public or private.