# Git LFS autofetch for the integrated GitHub repositories?

**URL:** <https://renku.discourse.group/t/git-lfs-autofetch-for-the-integrated-github-repositories/1231>\
**Category:** RenkuLab\
**Created:** [21 September 2026 16:39 UTC](https://renku.discourse.group/t/git-lfs-autofetch-for-the-integrated-github-repositories/1231 "2026-09-21T16:39:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![time-trader](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/renku.discourse.group/time-trader/32/955_2.png) [@time-trader](https://renku.discourse.group/u/time-trader)\
**Post date:** [21 September 2026 16:39 UTC](https://renku.discourse.group/t/git-lfs-autofetch-for-the-integrated-github-repositories/1231/1 "2026-09-21T16:39:17Z")

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Hi Renku team!

I was wondering if there is a way to set up the project with connected GitHub repo to pull the LFS files upon session launch?  
Currently I do so from the terminal, after the session starts. But I would love for the notebooks to be all ready-to-go right away.

I have looked through the documentation, and have not found found anything specific. (I did stumble upon renku.ini configs that had `git_lfs_autofetch = true` but it seems like it was an option for the legacy Renku?)

Thank you!

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**Author:** ![leafty](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/renku.discourse.group/leafty/32/796_2.png) [@leafty](https://renku.discourse.group/u/leafty)\
**Post date:** [22 September 2026 07:17 UTC](https://renku.discourse.group/t/git-lfs-autofetch-for-the-integrated-github-repositories/1231/2 "2026-09-22T07:17:47Z")

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Hi @time-trader 👋  
Are you using the “Create from code” option to setup your session environment?  
In this case, you can add init scripts to the repository e.g. `init.d/git_lfs_fetch.sh` which will run when the session starts. All the files with the `.sh` extension in the `init.d/` folder are run at startup.

With this option you can attempt to run git LFS fetch on session start.

Also to be noted:

- You can use bash for the scripts (`#!/bin/bash`)
- `$RENKU_WORKING_DIR` will be the location of the session workspace, so you can `cd $RENKU_WORKING_DIR/my_repo` to get a repository