Cloning creates a local copy of a repository on your computer. This is usually the first step when joining a project or starting to work on existing code.
1
Find a Repository on GitHub
- Go to the repository page on GitHub
- Look for the green "Code" button
- Click it to see cloning options
2
Copy the Repository URL
- Make sure "HTTPS" is selected
- Click the copy button next to the URL
- The URL looks like: https://github.com/username/repository.git
3
Clone in Terminal
Open Terminal, navigate to where you want the project, and run:
Terminal
cd ~/Projects
git clone https://github.com/username/repository.gitThis creates a new folder with the repository name containing all the project files.
Using GitHub Desktop (Visual Alternative)
If you prefer a visual interface, GitHub Desktop makes cloning even easier:
- Download GitHub Desktop from desktop.github.com
- Sign in with your GitHub account
- Click "Clone a Repository from the Internet"
- Select the repository and choose where to save it
- Click "Clone"
Organize Your Projects
Create a dedicated folder like ~/Projects or ~/Code for all your repositories. This keeps everything organized and easy to find.
Lesson Complete!
- Cloned a repository to your computer
- Understand HTTPS cloning
- Know about GitHub Desktop as an alternative
You can now get any repository onto your local machine!
The patterns behind this lesson
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