Cloning Your Repository

January 10, 2026 ยท View on GitHub

Now we need to clone your repository. "Cloning" is the process of downloading your forked copy from GitHub to your computer - think of it as copying a folder from the cloud to your local machine.

After cloning, we'll create a "branch" for your changes. Branches allow you to work on changes without affecting the main codebase. If you're curious about how branches work, here's a helpful guide.

Cloning on Windows

To clone your files, you need to open a command line window:

  1. Hold the Windows key and press R
  2. A small window will appear in the bottom left with a text input
  3. Type cmd and press Enter

A black terminal window will appear. Now type or paste the following command, replacing YOUR_USERNAME with your GitHub username:

git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/open-filament-database.git

Press Enter and let it run. When it finishes and you can type again, enter the following two commands:

Remember to replace YOUR_BRANCHNAME with a descriptive name for your changes. Use lowercase with hyphens, for example:

  • Adding a new red variant to Elegoo's PLA: add-elegoo-red-pla
  • Updating Bambu Lab PETG prices: update-bambulab-petg-prices
  • Adding a new brand: add-sunlu-brand
cd open-filament-database
git checkout -b YOUR_BRANCHNAME

Leave the window open and continue with Step 5 in the README to make your changes.

Cloning on Linux and macOS

Open your terminal and run the following commands to clone your repository and create a branch for your changes:

git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/open-filament-database.git
cd open-filament-database
git checkout -b YOUR_BRANCHNAME

Leave the terminal open and continue with Step 5 in the README to make your changes.