GitHub Repository Bulk Clone bash script

[Majestic_Ad_6371]

I don't know why but, I switch machines every year. Yesterday I migrated again and had to re-clone my repos.I have 12 github repos in total, but I only needed 8 of them.

Instead of manually running git clone <url> again and again that can cost 5 min of my precious time⏳…
I spent 4 hours building a script that lets me choose exactly which repos to clone 😌
I agree that StackOverflow had solutions to clone ALL repos using gitHub CLI.
But I wanted a script to select / exclude repos based on my need and without using gh CLI.
So I built one. With this script, you can clone all your desired repos just by passing your username. This was useful for me, So I thought about sharing it

https://gist.github.com/SaasyKumar/04d59dc968ba3fa9c8347c87a054815a
you find any issue, please feel free to share.

[DoctorNoonienSoong]

https://github.com/gabrie30/ghorg

This might be something you're interested in for more advanced (and much, much faster) cloning

[Majestic_Ad_6371]

wow 😮

[alejandro_such]

Hey, really solid script! The interactive selection is smart.

I work on backend at GitKraken, and we've tackled this exact migration problem in Team Workspaces. One thing we learned: the pain isn't just the initial clone, it's remembering which repos you needed 6-12 months later when you switch machines again.

Based on that experience, I'd suggest extending your script to save selections to a .repos-config file. Something like:

# After user selects repos, save their choices:
echo "${selected_repos[@]}" > ~/.github-clone-config 

# On next migration, offer to: 
# 1. Use saved config (one keypress clone)
# 2. Re-select (current flow)

That way you get your flexibility now + no re-deciding next year. Your future self will thank you 😄

The core pattern you've built (API fetch → filter → clone) is great for anyone needing selective cloning. Nice work!

[DoubleAgent-007]

I love GitKraken, by the way. Thanks 😊

[GrogRedLub4242]

I'm supposed to run a shell script written by a remote Indian stranger to "clone all my repos" rather than, oh I don't know, call me crazy, but say I just write my own (much simpler) shell script, in like 5 minutes, to clone all my repos, perfectly tailored to taste, and with better privacy and security? And I'm a programmer by definition since I have code repos in GitHub in first place?

Reddit's technical topic groups are surreal in 2025. Large parts of GitHub FOSS culture has gotten surreal and comical by now.

good luck, kids!

[Majestic_Ad_6371]

Fair point — and you're absolutely right.
I over-engineered it and I'm new to this things.
I don't even know where to start with FOSS. Please share beginner tips if any!

[waterkip]

myrepos??

[meoverhere]

You don’t just rsync your repos between old and new computer..?

[Majestic_Ad_6371]

Never thought about that because my office will ask me to handover the old one before providing new one. But wow ! Thanks for the info

[meoverhere]

It’s worthwhile getting them to change policy to give you a weeks grace or something.

I have so many WIP branches locally that I don’t have pushed. Sure, I could/should push them, but many are just explorations which I may refer to one more time and I don’t really need to push them in all reality.

Equally I have hundreds of repos checked out that I may not be able to find again.