# Get File Contents

Source: https://recoupable.dev/docs/api-reference/sandboxes/get-file

Retrieve the contents of a file from the authenticated account's sandbox GitHub repository. Resolves the github_repo from the [account's snapshot](/api-reference/sandboxes/list), then fetches the file at the specified path from the repository's main branch. **Text files are returned verbatim. Binary files (`.mp3`, `.png`, `.jpg`, `.mp4`, `.pdf`, etc.) are returned base64-encoded — decode before writing to disk.** Authentication is handled via the x-api-key header or Authorization Bearer token.

## GET /api/sandboxes/file

Full OpenAPI specification: https://recoupable.dev/docs/spec/content.json

## Authentication

The supplied specification does not declare an OpenAPI security object for this operation. Its declared headers and parameters still apply. Consult the authentication guide and the full specification before calling it.

[Authentication guide](https://recoupable.dev/docs/authentication)

## Operation and referenced schemas

```json
{
  "openapi": "3.1.0",
  "info": {
    "title": "Recoup API - Content",
    "description": "API documentation for the Recoup platform - an AI agent platform for the music industry",
    "license": {
      "name": "MIT"
    },
    "version": "1.0.0"
  },
  "servers": [
    {
      "url": "https://api.recoupable.dev"
    }
  ],
  "paths": {
    "/api/sandboxes/file": {
      "get": {
        "description": "Retrieve the contents of a file from the authenticated account's sandbox GitHub repository. Resolves the github_repo from the [account's snapshot](/api-reference/sandboxes/list), then fetches the file at the specified path from the repository's main branch. **Text files are returned verbatim. Binary files (`.mp3`, `.png`, `.jpg`, `.mp4`, `.pdf`, etc.) are returned base64-encoded — decode before writing to disk.** Authentication is handled via the x-api-key header or Authorization Bearer token.",
        "parameters": [
          {
            "name": "path",
            "in": "query",
            "required": true,
            "description": "The file path within the repository (e.g. \"src/index.ts\" or \"README.md\").",
            "schema": {
              "type": "string",
              "example": "src/index.ts"
            }
          }
        ],
        "responses": {
          "200": {
            "description": "File contents retrieved successfully",
            "content": {
              "application/json": {
                "schema": {
                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/SandboxFileResponse"
                }
              }
            }
          },
          "400": {
            "description": "Bad request - missing or invalid path parameter",
            "content": {
              "application/json": {
                "schema": {
                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/SandboxErrorResponse"
                }
              }
            }
          },
          "401": {
            "description": "Unauthorized - invalid or missing API key",
            "content": {
              "application/json": {
                "schema": {
                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/SandboxErrorResponse"
                }
              }
            }
          },
          "403": {
            "description": "Forbidden - account does not have access",
            "content": {
              "application/json": {
                "schema": {
                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/SandboxErrorResponse"
                }
              }
            }
          },
          "404": {
            "description": "Not found - no snapshot, no github_repo, or file not found in repository",
            "content": {
              "application/json": {
                "schema": {
                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/SandboxErrorResponse"
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "components": {
    "schemas": {
      "SandboxFileResponse": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "status",
          "content"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "status": {
            "type": "string",
            "enum": [
              "success"
            ],
            "description": "Status of the operation"
          },
          "content": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "The file content. Text files (`.md`, `.json`, `.txt`, source code, etc.) are returned verbatim. Binary files (`.mp3`, `.png`, `.jpg`, `.mp4`, `.pdf`, etc.) are returned base64-encoded — decode before writing to disk. The encoding is inferred from the file extension server-side; `encoding` field is not yet returned but planned."
          }
        }
      },
      "SandboxErrorResponse": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "error"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "error": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Error message describing what went wrong",
            "example": "Failed to create sandbox"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```