Git Sparse Checkout: Clone a Single File or Directory

Ever needed to clone a Git repository, but only partially?

Maybe you just want a single file or a specific directory, not the entire codebase.

Cloning the whole repo can be overkill, especially if it’s large or you’re running something in automation. That’s where Git’s sparse checkout comes in handy. It lets you pull only the parts you actually need, saving time, bandwidth, and disk space.

Here’s how to do it:

✅ Perfect for:

• Automations that only need a single script or config
• Pulling just one project or service from a monorepo
• Saving time when you don’t need the full repo

No need to clone the whole haystack when you only want the needle 🧵

Give it a shot the next time you need just a piece of a repo.