GitHub is one of the largest developer resources, and an absolute must-know for aspiring web developers to explore and share projects online.
If you’re just starting out with git and GitHub, taking open-source code from GitHub to experiment with or add to your own projects is one great way to learn or develop your own apps. You can even connect your GitHub repository to your preferred hosting to deploy and test your apps. To do that, you’ll need to learn the basics: getting a file from GitHub onto your computer.
In this post, we’ll show you how to download different resources from GitHub. We’ll cover:
Let’s get started.
How to Download a File From GitHub
To download a single file from GitHub, follow these steps:
1. Navigate to the GitHub repository page that contains the file. If it’s a public repository, you can visit the page without logging in. If it’s a private repository, you’ll need to log in and have the proper permissions to access it.
2. From the main repository page, locate the file you want to download. You can do this by navigating the folders, or by clicking Go to File near the top of the page. This opens a list of all files in the repository that you can search.
3. Click the file you want to download. This will open the file in GitHub.
4. On the file page, click the Raw button. This opens the raw code in your browser.
5. Right-click the page and select Save as…, then name the file and choose where to save it on your device.
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How to Download a GitHub Repository
GitHub is made up of repositories. A repository is a place where all files in a project can be stored, accessed, tracked, and modified. To download a repository, follow these steps:
1. Navigate to the GitHub repository page. If it’s a public repository, you can visit the page without logging in. If it’s a private repository, you’ll need to log in and have the proper permissions to access it.
2. On the main repository page, click the green Code button.
3. In the menu that appears, click Download ZIP. The entire repository will be downloaded to your device as a zipped file.
With that, you should be able to open the file locally.
How to Download a Release From GitHub
Repositories may also put out releases, which are packaged versions of the project. To download a release:
1. Navigate to the GitHub repository page. If it’s a public repository, you can visit the page without logging in. If it’s a private repository, you’ll need to log in and have the proper permissions to access it.
2. Click Releases, located on the right-side panel.
3. You’ll be brought to a page listing releases from newest to oldest. Under the release that you want to download, locate the Assets section. Click a file under this section to download it.
You’ll be able to open this zipped file on your local device.
How to Download Multiple Files From GitHub
Unless you want to download an entire repository or release, there’s currently no way to bulk-download multiple files from GitHub. Depending on how many files you need from a repository, it may be best to download each individual file you need, or download the entire repository/release and delete the files you don’t need.
Get files from GitHub.
There’s a lot to learn when it comes to using GitHub — the platform packs a ton of features, and it can seem intimidating to newcomers. However, GitHub does an excellent job of making its tools simple and accessible. Case in point: downloading a single file or an entire repository is possible with just a few clicks.
We're committed to your privacy. HubSpot uses the information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content, products, and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, check out our Privacy Policy
50 Free Coding Templates
Free code snippet templates for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript -- Plus access to GitHub.
-
Navigation Menus & Breadcrumbs Templates
-
Button Transition Templates
-
CSS Effects Templates
-
And more!
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Whether you're new to Git or a seasoned user, GitHub Desktop simplifies your development workflow.
Are GitHub and GitHub Desktop the same?
Git is a popular version control system (VCS) originally authored by Linus Torvalds for development of the Linux kernel back in 2005.
GitHub is a platform where Git repositories can be hosted on the cloud/online (a Microsoft subsidiary since 2018), and GitHub Desktop is the official desktop client to interact with GitHub using an app and GUI instead of the command line or a web browser.
Is there a desktop app for GitHub?
This is it. Download the GitHub Desktop app and install it on your PC/Mac.
What are the best GitHub Desktop alternatives?
SourceTree offers Windows and macOS applications just like GitHub Desktop but GitKraken and SmartGit are also compatible with Linux, which GitHub Desktop is not.
Is GitHub Desktop compatible with Windows 7?
Yes, you can install GitHub Desktop on supported operating systems, which currently include macOS Sierra 10.12 or later, and Windows 7 64-bit or later.
Features
Start a project
You'll find all the projects you're working on listed in the sidebar. If you're starting a new project, use the repository drop down menu to create a new repository or clone an existing one directly from GitHub.com.
Branch off
Branches are essential to proposing changes and reviewing code on GitHub---and they're always available in the top left corner of the repository view. Just select the current branch to switch branches or create a new one.
Craft the perfect commit
View a diff of your uncommitted changes, and form the perfect commit by selecting the files---or even the specific lines---that make up a change. Enter the summary and description, then commit.
See your history
Visualize your changes and commits in the comparison graph. You can select commits on the graph to navigate through the history of your local branches.
Create a pull request
Once you're happy with your commits, you can open a pull request for review and discussion without leaving GitHub Desktop or touching the command line.
Merge and deploy
Browse commits on local and remote branches to quickly and clearly see what changes still need to be merged. You can also merge your code to the master branch for deployment right from the app.
What's New
- Android version updated to 1.140.1
Fixed
- Previewing a pull request with a deleted image file no longer errors with "The path does not exist on disk". - #17659
- Empty lines are included when copying text from diffs - #17652
- A copied full line from a diff now includes a trailing newline - #17652
- Creating pull requests from a renamed branch uses the branch name in the remote - #17628
- On macOS Sonoma, the VoiceOver regression preventing our dialog headers announcements has been fixed. - #17631
- Squash dialog is not shown again after finishing another squashing operation where uncommitted changes were present and had to be stashed - #17627
Improved
- Added the ability to open your global .gitconfig file in your selected external editor - #17544. Thanks @DylanDevelops!
- Fixed 'Github' -> 'GitHub' typo in repository settings - #17697. Thanks @WilliamDavidHarrison!
- Screen readers announce group name when navigating through grouped lists - #17567
- The history commit summary header is now expandable making the tool-tipped meta data keyboard accessible - #17557.
- Reordering commits is now keyboard accessible - #17671
- The conflicts resolution dialog now has a success banner that is screen reader announced that summarize actions taken - #17687
- The pull request branch selection popover header is announced by screen readers. - #17631
- Prevent possible duplicate announcement of button labeling to screen reader users - #17706
- Improve keyboard and screen reader support for banners - #17542