Using rsync to clone http software repositories to a local folder

[hcvv]

@MirceaKitsune

Sorry, that’s because I tried it last night and rsync always said http:// is not recognized. So it gave me the impression it adds that on its own. But I already tried both with and without, and neither work.

To add again to the point where your misunderstanding is:
rsync does NOT use the HTTP protocol, thus adding* http://* will not help (and as you saw it only makes the syntax of the parameter ununderstandable by rsync) and omitting it will not add it as a default like in a HTTP browser.