git-http-fetch

git http-fetch [--stdin | --stdout] [--prefix=<prefix>/] [-c] [-v] [-h] [-L] [-t] [-w <ref>] [--recover] <url> [<sha1> ...]

--stdin
    Read object SHA-1s from stdin (one per line or 'sha1 type size'; default unless --stdout)

--stdout
    Write fetched objects/packs to stdout instead of files

--prefix=<prefix>/
    Store objects in <prefix>/<sha1> instead of .git/objects

-c
    Use curl's --netrc option for authentication

-v
    Enable verbose output

-h
    Print usage help

-L
    Follow HTTP redirects (curl --location)

-t
    Enable HTTP TRACE requests

-w <ref>
    Write <ref> (e.g., FETCH_HEAD) after fetching pack

--recover
    Continue despite existing lockfiles (for interrupted fetches)

<url>
    Base URL to remote repo objects (required positional)

<sha1> ...
    SHA-1 hash(es) of objects to fetch (required positional)

git-http-fetch is a plumbing command in Git that downloads specific objects or packfiles from a remote Git repository using the HTTP/HTTPS protocol. It is invoked internally by higher-level commands like git fetch and git fetch-pack when the remote uses HTTP transport. The command requires a base URL to the repository's object directory (typically ending in /objects/) and one or more SHA-1 hashes of objects to fetch.

It supports reading object identifiers from stdin (default), writing to stdout, or storing fetched data prefixed by a directory path. Additional features include verbose output, curl netrc support for authentication, redirect following, HTTP tracing, and recovery from interrupted fetches. After fetching a pack, it can update a local ref.

This command handles the nitty-gritty of HTTP requests for loose objects or packs but is not intended for direct end-user use. Modern Git prefers protocol v2 over HTTP for efficiency, making git-http-fetch more legacy in smart HTTP setups.

Plumbing command; avoid direct use. Legacy for dumb HTTP; prefer smart HTTP or protocol v2. Requires curl. Fails on authenticated repos without proper setup.

Lines as '<sha1>' or '<sha1> <type> <size>' for precise object requests.
Outputs pack to prefix/pack/ if multiple objects.

Uses HTTP Basic via curl/netrc or GIT_ASKPASS. No built-in credential helper support.

Introduced in Git 1.3.0 (2006) to enable HTTP fetch support alongside git-http-push. Evolved with curl integration; deprecated for new HTTP features favoring git-http-backend since Git 1.6.6.

git-fetch-pack(1), git-http-backend(1), git-fetch(1), git-upload-pack(1)