---
title: Work with Git
description: Clone repositories, manage branches, and automate Git operations.
image: https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/dev-products-preview.png
---

> Documentation Index  
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/sandbox/llms.txt  
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. 

[Skip to content](#%5Ftop) 

# Work with Git

This guide shows you how to clone repositories, manage branches, and automate Git operations in the sandbox.

## Clone repositories

* [  JavaScript ](#tab-panel-11273)
* [  TypeScript ](#tab-panel-11274)

**JavaScript**

```js
import { getSandbox } from "@cloudflare/sandbox";


const sandbox = getSandbox(env.Sandbox, "my-sandbox");


// Basic clone
await sandbox.gitCheckout("https://github.com/user/repo");


// Clone specific branch
await sandbox.gitCheckout("https://github.com/user/repo", {
  branch: "develop",
});


// Shallow clone (faster for large repos)
await sandbox.gitCheckout("https://github.com/user/large-repo", {
  depth: 1,
});


// Clone to specific directory
await sandbox.gitCheckout("https://github.com/user/my-app", {
  targetDir: "/workspace/project",
});
```

**TypeScript**

```ts
import { getSandbox } from '@cloudflare/sandbox';


const sandbox = getSandbox(env.Sandbox, 'my-sandbox');


// Basic clone
await sandbox.gitCheckout('https://github.com/user/repo');


// Clone specific branch
await sandbox.gitCheckout('https://github.com/user/repo', {
  branch: 'develop'
});


// Shallow clone (faster for large repos)
await sandbox.gitCheckout('https://github.com/user/large-repo', {
  depth: 1
});


// Clone to specific directory
await sandbox.gitCheckout('https://github.com/user/my-app', {
  targetDir: '/workspace/project'
});
```

## Clone private repositories

Use a personal access token in the URL:

* [  JavaScript ](#tab-panel-11263)
* [  TypeScript ](#tab-panel-11264)

**JavaScript**

```js
const token = env.GITHUB_TOKEN;
const repoUrl = `https://${token}@github.com/user/private-repo.git`;


await sandbox.gitCheckout(repoUrl);
```

**TypeScript**

```ts
const token = env.GITHUB_TOKEN;
const repoUrl = `https://${token}@github.com/user/private-repo.git`;


await sandbox.gitCheckout(repoUrl);
```

More secure alternative

Embedding a token in the URL passes the credential directly into the sandbox. For better access control, use a Worker proxy that validates a short-lived JWT and injects the real token at request time — the sandbox never holds the credential. Refer to [Proxy requests to external APIs](https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/sandbox/guides/proxy-requests/).

## Clone and build

Clone a repository and run build steps:

* [  JavaScript ](#tab-panel-11265)
* [  TypeScript ](#tab-panel-11266)

**JavaScript**

```js
await sandbox.gitCheckout("https://github.com/user/my-app");


const repoName = "my-app";


// Install and build
await sandbox.exec(`cd ${repoName} && npm install`);
await sandbox.exec(`cd ${repoName} && npm run build`);


console.log("Build complete");
```

**TypeScript**

```ts
await sandbox.gitCheckout('https://github.com/user/my-app');


const repoName = 'my-app';


// Install and build
await sandbox.exec(`cd ${repoName} && npm install`);
await sandbox.exec(`cd ${repoName} && npm run build`);


console.log('Build complete');
```

## Work with branches

* [  JavaScript ](#tab-panel-11267)
* [  TypeScript ](#tab-panel-11268)

**JavaScript**

```js
await sandbox.gitCheckout("https://github.com/user/repo");


// Switch branches
await sandbox.exec("cd repo && git checkout feature-branch");


// Create new branch
await sandbox.exec("cd repo && git checkout -b new-feature");
```

**TypeScript**

```ts
await sandbox.gitCheckout('https://github.com/user/repo');


// Switch branches
await sandbox.exec('cd repo && git checkout feature-branch');


// Create new branch
await sandbox.exec('cd repo && git checkout -b new-feature');
```

## Make changes and commit

* [  JavaScript ](#tab-panel-11275)
* [  TypeScript ](#tab-panel-11276)

**JavaScript**

```js
await sandbox.gitCheckout("https://github.com/user/repo");


// Modify a file
const readme = await sandbox.readFile("/workspace/repo/README.md");
await sandbox.writeFile(
  "/workspace/repo/README.md",
  readme.content + "\n\n## New Section",
);


// Commit changes
await sandbox.exec('cd repo && git config user.name "Sandbox Bot"');
await sandbox.exec('cd repo && git config user.email "bot@example.com"');
await sandbox.exec("cd repo && git add README.md");
await sandbox.exec('cd repo && git commit -m "Update README"');
```

**TypeScript**

```ts
await sandbox.gitCheckout('https://github.com/user/repo');


// Modify a file
const readme = await sandbox.readFile('/workspace/repo/README.md');
await sandbox.writeFile('/workspace/repo/README.md', readme.content + '\n\n## New Section');


// Commit changes
await sandbox.exec('cd repo && git config user.name "Sandbox Bot"');
await sandbox.exec('cd repo && git config user.email "bot@example.com"');
await sandbox.exec('cd repo && git add README.md');
await sandbox.exec('cd repo && git commit -m "Update README"');
```

## Best practices

* **Use shallow clones** \- Faster for large repos with `depth: 1`
* **Store credentials securely** \- Use environment variables for tokens
* **Clean up** \- Delete unused repositories to save space

## Troubleshooting

### Authentication fails

Verify your token is set:

* [  JavaScript ](#tab-panel-11271)
* [  TypeScript ](#tab-panel-11272)

**JavaScript**

```js
if (!env.GITHUB_TOKEN) {
  throw new Error("GITHUB_TOKEN not configured");
}


const repoUrl = `https://${env.GITHUB_TOKEN}@github.com/user/private-repo.git`;
await sandbox.gitCheckout(repoUrl);
```

**TypeScript**

```ts
if (!env.GITHUB_TOKEN) {
  throw new Error('GITHUB_TOKEN not configured');
}


const repoUrl = `https://${env.GITHUB_TOKEN}@github.com/user/private-repo.git`;
await sandbox.gitCheckout(repoUrl);
```

### Large repository timeout

Use shallow clone:

* [  JavaScript ](#tab-panel-11269)
* [  TypeScript ](#tab-panel-11270)

**JavaScript**

```js
await sandbox.gitCheckout("https://github.com/user/large-repo", {
  depth: 1,
});
```

**TypeScript**

```ts
await sandbox.gitCheckout('https://github.com/user/large-repo', {
  depth: 1
});
```

## Related resources

* [Files API reference](https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/sandbox/api/files/) \- File operations after cloning
* [Execute commands guide](https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/sandbox/guides/execute-commands/) \- Run git commands
* [Manage files guide](https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/sandbox/guides/manage-files/) \- Work with cloned files

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