How to use the Gitignore Generator
1. Click to toggle templates for your project's languages, frameworks, and IDEs.
2. Add any custom patterns in the text area at the bottom.
3. Copy the generated .gitignore and save it as .gitignore in your project root.
What is it?
A .gitignore file tells Git which files and directories to ignore when tracking changes. Properly configuring .gitignore prevents accidentally committing build artifacts, dependency directories (node_modules), secrets (.env), and IDE configuration files to your repository.
Best practices: commit a .gitignore at the start of every project. Use ** for deep matches. Negate rules with ! (e.g., !.vscode/settings.json). Files already tracked by Git won't be ignored until you run git rm --cached.
Example
Language: Node.js · OS: macOS · IDE: VS Code
# Dependencies node_modules/ # Build output dist/ build/ # Environment .env .env.local # macOS .DS_Store # VS Code .vscode/
Select your stack from the dropdowns. The generated .gitignore covers all standard files for that combination.
Benefits
Generate a complete .gitignore for your stack in one click
Covers OS files, editor settings, dependency directories, build output, and test caches for every major language and framework.
Prevent API keys and .env files from ever reaching your repository
A correctly configured .gitignore blocks secrets before git add can stage them — the most important line of defence against leaked credentials.
Combine .gitignore rules for multi-language projects
Generate and merge rules for Node.js + Python, React + Docker, or any other combination into a single, unified file.
Stop committing node_modules, dist, and cache directories accidentally
Pre-built rules for every major framework's build output prevent repository bloat and irreversible large-file commits.
Frequently asked questions
How do I ignore a file that's already committed?
Adding it to .gitignore won't help if it's already tracked. Run: git rm --cached <file> to remove it from tracking, then commit. The file stays on disk but Git ignores future changes.
What is the difference between .gitignore and .gitignore_global?
.gitignore is per-project. .gitignore_global (configured with git config --global core.excludesfile) applies to all repos on your machine — ideal for OS and IDE ignores.