Learn How to Pull From GitHub — A Step-by-Step Guide
Pulling from Github is a convenient way to securely version control any code that you or your team are working on and share it with other members of the team. The aim of this guide is to explain in a clear and concise way the steps required to pull from GitHub. At the end of this guide, you should have a full understanding of the process to pull from GitHub.
What is Pulling from GitHub?
Pulling from GitHub is the process of downloading a repository stored on the open-source platform from the internet to your own computer. When you pull from a repository, you get a copy of the repository and any changes made on the online version of the repository are updated on your local machine. This is a great way of keeping your code up to date with the latest changes.
Prerequisites
Before you begin pulling from GitHub, there are a few things you should have and get done first:
- You will need a GitHub account.
- You will need to be logged in to that account.
- You will need the URL to the repository you want to pull.
- You will need to be familiar with the command line (if using command line).
How To Pull From GitHub
Once you have the prerequisites, you can begin the process of pulling from GitHub. This can be done either through terminal commands or the Github Desktop App, depending on your preference.
Command Line
To pull from GitHub using the command line:
- Open the terminal (or command prompt on Windows).
- Change your directory to the folder you want to download the repository into.
- Type
git clone <url-to-the-repository>and hit enter. - You should now be able to type
git pullto pull the latest changes from the remote repository.
Github Desktop App
- Download and install the GitHub Desktop App.
- Create a new local repository on your machine.
- Click the “Clone a repository from the internet” option.
- Paste the URL of the repository you want to clone.
- Select the local folder where you want the repository to be stored.
- Click “Clone”.
- Updates to the remote repository can now be pulled by clicking on the “Fetch origin” button on the top right of the window.
FAQ
What is the advantage of pulling from GitHub?
Pulling from GitHub is a great way of keeping any code you or your team are working on up to date. By pulling from a repository, any changes made to it on the online version will be automatically updated on your local machine.
How do I know if I have the latest version of the repository?
If you are using the command line, you can type git pull to ensure you have the latest version of the repository. If you are using the GitHub Desktop App, you can click the “Fetch origin” button at the top right of the screen to check if there are any updates to the remote repository.
Is there a limit to the size of a repository I can pull from GitHub?
There is currently no size limit to the repositories that can be pulled from GitHub. However, if you are working with larger repositories or files, it is recommended that you use a Git Large File Storage (LFS) to store them.
Do I need to be online to pull from GitHub?
Yes, you will need to be online to pull from GitHub. You can use either a command line or the GitHub Desktop App to connect to the repository online and pull any changes to your local machine.
How do I pull a repository using the command line?
To pull a repository using the command line, first open up your terminal (or command prompt on Windows). Change your directory to the folder you want to download the repository into. Then, type git clone <url-to-the-repository> and hit enter. You will now have a copy of the repository on your local machine. To pull any changes made to the remote repository, type in git pull and hit enter.
