Fork vs clone

Learn the difference between fork and clone.

Fork vs Clone

A fork creates a new copy under your account on the remote hosting service. Clone downloads a repository from a remote server to your computer. They are different operations and are often used together in open-source contribution workflows.

Fork: Account copy on the server
Clone: Working copy on your computer

Use Both Operations Together

In an open-source contribution workflow, you can first fork a project into your account and then clone your fork to your computer. This keeps the remote account copy separate from your local working directory.

1. Fork: copy to your account
2. Clone: download to your computer
3. Edit and create commits

Exercise Clone a Fork Repository

Write the correct Git command to download the sample-app repository from the dev-user account to your computer.

Test yourself

What is the main difference between fork and clone?
- Clone automatically deletes the original repository.
- Fork copies to a computer, clone copies to an account.
- Both only change the commit message.
- Fork creates an account copy on the server, while clone downloads to a computer.
Show answer

Fork creates an account copy on the server, while clone downloads to a computer. — Fork creates a copy in your hosting account; clone downloads the repository to your local computer.

Download the Fork to Your Computer

git clone ____

Show answer

git clone https://github.com/dev-user/sample-app.git

Fork and Clone Comparison

Fork

Creates a new repo in remote account
Clone

Downloads repo to a local computer
Fork adresi

Repository in user's own account
Yerel kopya

The working directory on the computer

Next lesson: Upstream sync

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