How to retrive a single file from github using git

Question

I would like to learn more about this code, but I am not able to import it into my computer. How could I clone this file with git? The file is simply:

https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/r1.1/tensorflow/examples/tutorials/mnist/mnist_softmax.py.

Thanks!

Is there a reason you don't download it from the website? – omerfarukdogan May 06 '17 at 20:10 — omerfarukdogan, May 06 '17 at 20:10

score 12 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 26 '20 at 20:10

12

You can get that file using wget:

Create a directory:
```
 mkdir mypycode
```
Change into that directory:
```
 cd mypycode
```
Identify the raw URL

Navigate to your file on github (or your git host)
Click on the Raw tab.

Use wget to download it:

 wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/r1.1/tensorflow/examples/tutorials/mnist/mnist_softmax.py

edited Sep 26 '20 at 20:10

Sohail Si

113
7

answered May 06 '17 at 17:49

George Udosen

35,970
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6

You are downloading the html file, you should change it to raw version ;) – Ravexina May 06 '17 at 17:52
Thanks for the answer. I did not know that. – J.Doe May 06 '17 at 18:00
5

this is github centric, OP asked about using`git` – nhed Jun 14 '18 at 15:18

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 09 '18 at 08:26

5

I suggest the following command :

git archive [email protected]:foo/bar.git HEAD |  tar xvf - path/to

answered Feb 09 '18 at 08:26

ejammes

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1
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You might want to make use of `tar`'s switches `--strip-components` or `--transform`. – x-yuri Dec 27 '18 at 18:20

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

2

You can't clone a single file using git.

Git is a distributed version control system, the Idea behind its clone functionality is to have a complete copy of project and all versions of files related to that project.

Either download your file directly from here or clone the whole project using:

clone https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow.git

Also from here:

If there is web interface deployed (like gitweb, cgit, Gitorious, ginatra), you can use it to download single file ('raw' or 'plain' view).

If other side enabled it, you can use git archive's '--remote=' option (and possibly limit it to a directory given file resides in), for example:

$ git archive [email protected]:foo/bar.git --prefix=path/to/ HEAD:path/to/ | tar xvf -

edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

Community

1

answered May 06 '17 at 17:43

Ravexina

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;) Just for note: `wget` is a download manager, just like `curl`, `aria2`, `axel`, `firefox` download manager, or anything else :) – Ravexina May 06 '17 at 18:06
What are the difference between those download manager? – J.Doe May 06 '17 at 18:08
Options and capabilities; With the accepted instruction, you are downloading the same file as I said with a different tool ... – Ravexina May 06 '17 at 18:09

How to retrive a single file from github using git

3 Answers3