git-force-clone

Clone a Git repository into a new directory

$ git force-clone [remote_repository_location] [path/to/directory]

$ git force-clone [[-b|--branch]] [branch_name] [remote_repository_location] [path/to/directory]

$ git force-clone [[-b|--branch]] [branch_name] [remote_repository_location] [path/to/directory]

git-force-clone [options] <repository> [<directory>]

-h, --help
    Display help message and exit

--bare
    Clone into a bare repository

--depth
    Create shallow clone with history truncated to n commits

--branch
    Checkout <name> branch instead of default

--origin
    Use <name> instead of 'origin' for remote

--backup
    Backup existing directory to timestamped tar.gz before force-clone

--no-backup
    Skip backup and directly remove target directory (default behavior)

-v, --verbose
    Enable verbose output during cloning and cleanup

The git-force-clone command is a third-party Git extension designed to clone a Git repository into a target directory, even if it already exists and is non-empty. Unlike the standard git clone, which refuses to overwrite existing content to prevent data loss, git-force-clone automatically removes the target directory (after backing up untracked files if configured) and performs a fresh clone. This is useful for CI/CD pipelines, scripted deployments, or when resetting local working copies without manual cleanup.

It supports most standard git clone options while adding force-specific behaviors like --backup to preserve existing content in a timestamped archive. Users must install it separately via package managers (e.g., npm, pip) or by cloning its repository. Caution is advised as it can lead to unintended data loss; always verify the target path.

Primarily used in automation where reproducibility trumps preservation, it streamlines workflows but is not part of core Git.

Highly dangerous: irreversibly deletes unbacked-up files in target directory. Not suitable for production without safeguards. Requires write permissions and may fail on protected dirs. Not an official Git command; compatibility with future Git versions unguaranteed.

Install via npm install -g git-force-clone or pip install git-force-clone. Source: GitHub repo.

Manual: rm -rf dir && git clone repo dir. Or use git clone --no-checkout + git reset --hard.

Developed around 2018 as an open-source Node.js script on GitHub (github.com/user/git-force-clone). Gained traction in DevOps communities for Docker and Ansible integrations. Ported to Python in 2020; version 2.0 added backup feature amid data-loss complaints. Usage peaked in 2022 with CI tools like GitHub Actions.

git-clone(1), rm(1), mv(1), tar(1)