How to Download Files From GitHub
When trying to download a program, file, or source code from GitHub, it can be confusing to find the correct download link. We’ll give you a few tips to help you find the right download link on every GitHub project page.
Check “Releases” first.
First, open a web browser and load the GitHub site of the project that contains a program (binaries) or source code that you want to download. When it opens, look for a “Releases” section in the column on the right side of the screen.
Click the first item in the Releases list, which usually has a “Recent” label next to it.
On the Releases page, scroll down to the Assets section and click the link for the file you want to download. Usually it is a file corresponding to your platform. For example, on a Linux computer, you can download a .DEV, .RPM, or .TAR.GZ file. On Windows, you can click a .ZIP, .MSI, or .EXE file. On a Mac, you’re probably downloading a .DMG or .ZIP file. If you’re only looking for source code, click Source Code.
The file will be downloaded to your device and you can usually find it in your “Downloads” folder.
Check the “README” file
Many Github projects have a “README” section just below the list of code files at the top of the site. This is a section that developers can format like a traditional web page, which can contain images (such as screenshots) and links that describe the project.
After loading the GitHub page of the project you want to download, scroll down to the README section and look for a section called “Downloads” or maybe a “Download” link. click it
You’ll either download the file you need, or you’ll be taken to the correct Releases page or other archive that contains the files you want to download.
Check the project website
If no releases or README files are listed, look for a link to the project’s website, which you can usually find on the right-hand side of the GitHub page in the About section.
Once you click on it, you will be redirected to the project’s official website, where you may be able to find a download link.
If all else fails, get the code
If there are no “releases” posted on the GitHub page and there is no project website, then it probably only exists as source code on GitHub. To download, navigate to the “Code” tab on the GitHub project page. Click the “Code” button and select “Download ZIP” from the menu that opens.
This will automatically compress all the contents of the repository into a ZIP file and download it to your computer. Good luck and happy programming!
TIED TOGETHER: What is GitHub and what is it used for?