git sparse-checkout — materialize only the paths you need

git-sparse-checkout.sh

# git sparse-checkout — check out only what you need
# Monorepo with 40 packages? Only materialize the two you work in.

git sparse-checkout init --cone
git sparse-checkout set packages/auth packages/api

# Everything else vanishes from disk — still in history, just not on disk.
# Add more paths any time:
git sparse-checkout add tests

# See what's currently included:
git sparse-checkout list

# Restore everything:
git sparse-checkout disable

# ── Lean clone from the start ─────────────────────────────────
# Skip fetching file blobs you don't need yet:
git clone --filter=blob:none --sparse https://github.com/org/monorepo lean-clone
cd lean-clone
git sparse-checkout set packages/api src