GitZip Pro: Download Only the GitHub Files You Actually Need

fthux — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 14:59:56 +0000

Have you ever opened a large GitHub repository because you needed just one component, utility function, or documentation folder?

Cloning the entire repository feels excessive. Downloading files one by one is tedious. GitZip for GitHub has long solved this problem by letting developers download only the files and folders they select. I have used it for a long time, and it is a genuinely useful idea.

As I used it in more day-to-day workflows, I started wanting a few more conveniences:

ZIP filenames that clearly show the repository, branch, path, and download date
A way to download a single file or folder from the context menu
Better visibility into GitHub API rate limits and token access
Download history and statistics for keeping track of what I fetched
More control over notifications, appearance, and the floating download button

These are not complaints about the original extension. They are simply features I happened to need. That led me to build GitZip Pro, an open-source browser extension inspired by GitZip for GitHub.

GitZip Pro keeps the familiar workflow and adds a more complete set of tools around it.

Select Files Directly on GitHub

GitZip Pro adds selection checkboxes to GitHub repository pages. Select one or more files and folders, click the floating download button, and the extension creates a ZIP archive while preserving the original directory structure.

For a quick one-off download, you can also right-click a file or folder and send it directly to GitZip Pro through the browser context menu.

The extension follows GitHub's modern page navigation, so moving between repository pages does not require a manual refresh. Folder traversal, concurrent requests, and temporary network or API failures are handled in the background while you focus on choosing what you need.

ZIP Names That Stay Organized

Downloaded archives are much easier to find when their filenames carry useful context. GitZip Pro supports naming templates such as:

{owner}-{repo}-{branch}-{date}

Available variables include {owner}, {repo}, {branch}, {path}, {date}, {datetime}, and {ts}. You can use a preset naming strategy or create your own template.

Public and Private Repository Access

Public repositories can be accessed anonymously. If you need higher GitHub API limits or access to private repositories you are allowed to view, you can connect GitHub through OAuth or provide a compatible personal access token.

The access settings make the choice explicit:

Anonymous access for public repositories
A custom token when you want to manage credentials yourself
GitHub OAuth with access limited to public repositories, or public and private repositories
A rate-limit panel showing your remaining API request quota

The rate-limit view is useful before starting a large download: it gives you a better idea of whether the request budget is sufficient and helps explain an interrupted download.

Useful Details for Frequent Downloads

The main workflow stays simple, but a few small options make repeated use more comfortable:

Show File Sizes displays file sizes beside repository rows.
Show Notification sends a browser notification when the ZIP is ready.
Play Sound provides an optional completion sound.
Auto-open download location can open the browser's download folder after completion.
A configurable floating button can be placed in any of eight positions.

Themes, History, and Statistics

GitZip Pro includes System, Light, and Dark themes, plus preset accent colors and a custom color picker.

The download history page records useful details for each archive, including the repository, branch, selected path, file list, and the number of files selected and downloaded. Records can be grouped by date, filtered, expanded for more detail, deleted individually, or cleared in bulk.

This is especially helpful when you download examples from several repositories and later need to remember exactly which version or path you used.

Privacy by Design

Repository files are fetched from GitHub and packaged into a ZIP locally in your browser. GitZip Pro does not upload downloaded repository content to its own servers. Extension settings, credentials, download history, and statistics are stored locally through browser extension storage.

GitHub authorization is contacted only when you explicitly choose to connect your account. Public repositories do not require an account.

Install GitZip Pro

GitZip Pro is free and open source, released under the GNU AGPL v3 license with the attribution requirements described in the repository license.

If you try GitZip Pro, I would love to hear how it fits into your workflow. Have you ever needed only one small part of a large GitHub repository? Leave a comment with your use case, questions, or suggestions. Your feedback will help shape the next improvements.

Thanks to GitZip for GitHub and to everyone who contributes to the open-source community. Good tools improve through shared ideas.

DEV Community: fthux