How to Share Source Code Without GitHub

GitHub is great for long-term collaboration on codebases. But not every code-sharing situation calls for a repository. Sometimes you need to send a script to a colleague who does not use Git. Sometimes you want to share a quick snippet without creating a repo. Sometimes the code is private and you do not want it on anyone else's servers permanently. Here is how to share source code without GitHub.

When GitHub Is Overkill

There are plenty of situations where spinning up a repository is the wrong tool:

• Quick code snippets - a 50-line script that solves a specific problem
• Sharing with non-developers - a client who needs to run a script but has never seen a terminal
• Private or sensitive code - proprietary algorithms, API keys embedded in configs, internal tools
• One-time transfers - migrating code between machines without Git installed
• Code review outside your org - getting a freelancer's eyes on something without adding them to your repo
• Teaching and mentoring - sending exercises or solutions to students

In all these cases, you need a way to move code from point A to point B. Fast, simple, possibly encrypted.

The Paste-to-Upload Approach

Traditional file sharing requires you to save code to a file, then upload that file. EasySend's code sharing offers a paste-to-upload option. Open the page, paste your code directly into the text area and hit share. The code is wrapped in a file automatically. The recipient gets a link where they can view the code with syntax highlighting right in the browser.

This is faster than creating a Gist, more private than Pastebin and does not require either party to have an account.

Sharing Entire Projects

For anything larger than a single file, ZIP your project directory and upload the archive. EasySend handles ZIP files up to 10 GB. The recipient downloads and extracts. Simple.

This works well for:

• WordPress themes or plugins
• Node.js projects (exclude node_modules first)
• Python packages with their requirements.txt
• Mobile app source code
• Static site builds

Tip: always include a README in your ZIP so the recipient knows how to set things up. A few lines explaining dependencies and how to run the code saves a lot of back-and-forth.

The CLI Tool for Developers

If you live in the terminal, you do not want to open a browser every time you share a file. The EasySend API and CLI tool lets you share files directly from the command line.

curl -X POST https://easysend.co/api/upload \
  -F "[email protected]" \
  -F "expiry=24h"

The response includes a share link. Pipe it to your clipboard and send it however you like - Slack, email, carrier pigeon. The whole upload takes one command.

For repeated use, the CLI tool wraps this into an even simpler interface:

easysend my-script.py

That is it. One command, one link.

When Encryption Matters for Code

Most code sharing is not sensitive. But some is. If you are sharing:

• Code that contains API keys or database credentials
• Proprietary business logic
• Security-related code (vulnerability patches, auth implementations)
• Code under NDA

Then you should enable E2E encryption before uploading. The code is encrypted in your browser before it reaches the server. Share the link through one channel and the password through another. Nobody without the password can read the code - not EasySend, not anyone intercepting the link.

Comparing the Options

GitHub Gists

Good for public snippets. Requires a GitHub account. "Secret" Gists are not actually private - anyone with the URL can see them. No encryption. Files live on GitHub's servers indefinitely.

Pastebin

Quick but public by default. Pastes get indexed by search engines. Limited file size. No encryption. Covered in ads.

Slack / Discord Messages

Fine for a few lines of code. Terrible for anything longer. Formatting breaks. No syntax highlighting in most cases. Files get buried in chat history.

Email Attachments

Works for small files. Most email providers strip or block executable file types (.py, .sh, .exe). ZIP files sometimes trigger spam filters. No encryption unless both parties use PGP, which almost nobody does.

EasySend

No account needed. Paste code or upload files. Syntax highlighting for preview. Optional E2E encryption. Auto-expiration. Try it at easysend.co/share/code.

Use Cases from the Developer Community

Freelancers delivering code to clients. The client does not use Git. They need a ZIP of the final build. Upload, share the link, done.

Teams sharing config files. The new developer needs the local environment config. It contains database passwords. Encrypt it, share the link, set it to expire in one hour.

Open source maintainers sharing patches. A contributor sends a patch file for review before submitting a PR. Quick upload, quick review, no repository access needed.

Instructors sharing assignments. Upload the starter code as a ZIP. Share one link with the entire class. Students download and get to work.

Check out the full developer use case page for more workflows.

Getting Started

Head to easysend.co/share/code and paste or upload your first file. No signup required. If you prefer the terminal, check out the API documentation and start sharing code in one command.