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I came across git clone /path/to/repository in my Git tutorial. What does this command do and when will you use it?

Ni9elF
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    https://git-scm.com/docs/git-clone – Biffen Oct 29 '18 at 13:15
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    It clone an already local repository in another directory. Except for tutorial/learning purpose, you will never do that but clone a remote repository. But to learn git pull/push workflow, that make a lot of sense! – Philippe Oct 29 '18 at 19:30
  • @Philippe thank you for your explanation. It helped me understand the command and use case much better than the official guide. – Ni9elF Oct 31 '18 at 06:54

2 Answers2

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When there exists a repository at /path/to/repository, or in Windows-speak, C:\path\to\repository, then the commands

git clone /path/to/repository     # Linux, Unix, Cygwin
git clone C:\path\to\repository   # Windows CMD
git clone C:/path/to/repository   # Git-for-Windows's shell

create a copy of the repository in the new directory repository (in the current directory where you issued the git command). This copy treats the original at /path/to/repository as the "origin" repository, from which you can pull changes and to which you can push changes.

It is the same as if you had cloned a repository from some remote hosting site; it just so happens that the origin is located on your local disk.

Philippe
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j6t
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It clones a git repository into your desired local path.

Use it whenever you need to work with a git repository in your computer.

yonvela20
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  • Please add more details to better explain this answer. A new user may not understand "it clones a git repository to your desired local path" much more than "git clone /path/to/repository" – Patronics Nov 03 '18 at 01:38