---
name: "git-fork"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "git-extras"
version: "7.3.0-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/git-fork"
---

# git-fork(1)

Fork a repo on github

## NAME

**git-fork** - Fork a repo on github

## SYNOPSIS

**git-fork** \[\<github-repo-url\>\]

## DESCRIPTION

If a github repo url is given, fork the repo. Like clone but forks first.

- 1\.

  forks the repo on github

- 2\.

  clones the repo into the current dir

- 3\.

  adds the original repo as a remote called **upstream**

-

  If a url is not given and the current dir is a github repo, fork the repo.

- 1\.

  forks the current repo

- 2\.

  rename the **origin** remote repo to **upstream**

- 3\.

  adds the forked repo as a remote called **origin**

-

  Remotes will use ssh if you have it configured with GitHub, if not, https will be used.

Create a fork of a project on GitHub via command line.

A personal access token is required for making the API call to create a fork in GitHub. API Documentation here *https://docs.github.com/en/rest/reference/repos#forks*

Make sure the personal access token has the right **OAuth** scopes for the repo(s)

Use **git config --global --add git-extras.github-personal-access-token \<your-personal-access-token\>**

If using multiple accounts, override the global value in the specific repo using **git config git-extras.github-personal-access-token \<other-acc-personal-access-token\>**

## EXAMPLE

Fork expect.js:

-

  ```
  $ git fork https://github.com/LearnBoost/expect.js
  ```

-

  or just:

-

  ```
  $ git fork LearnBoost/expect.js
  ```

-

  Then:

-

  ```
  $ ..<forks into your github profile and clones repo locally to expect.js dir>...
  $ cd expect.js && git remote -v
    origin          git@github.com:<user>/expect.js (fetch)
    origin          git@github.com:<user>/expect.js (push)
    upstream        git@github.com:LearnBoost/expect.js (fetch)
    upstream        git@github.com:LearnBoost/expect.js (push)
  ```

-

  If the current dir is a clone of expect.js, this has the same effect:

-

  ```
  $ git fork
  ```

-

  ## AUTHOR

Written by Andrew Griffiths \<*mail@andrewgriffithsonline.com*\>

## REPORTING BUGS

\<*https://github.com/tj/git-extras/issues*\>

## SEE ALSO

\<*https://github.com/tj/git-extras*\>