Git archive vs sparse checkout

To download a single file, git archive is generally faster and more efficient than git sparse-checkout. Here’s why:

• git archive: This command creates an archive of the specified file or directory without downloading the entire repository. It’s lightweight and avoids unnecessary data transfer, making it ideal for retrieving a single file.

• Sparse checkout: While sparse checkout allows you to limit the files in your working directory, it still requires cloning the repository first. This means you’ll download the .git directory and some metadata, which can be overkill if you only need one file.

If you’re working with a remote repository and only need a single file, git archive is the better choice for speed and simplicity. Let me know if you’d like help with the commands!