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.gitignore Generator

Generate .gitignore files for any language, framework, or IDE

About .gitignore Generator

The .gitignore Generator is a free online tool that helps developers create comprehensive .gitignore files for their Git repositories. A .gitignore file tells Git which files and directories to exclude from version control, preventing unnecessary files like build artifacts, dependency folders, IDE configurations, and sensitive environment files from being committed to your repository.

Properly configured gitignore patterns keep your repository clean, reduce clone sizes, speed up Git operations, and most importantly prevent accidental exposure of secrets like API keys, database passwords, and private tokens stored in .env files. Without a well-crafted .gitignore, your repository can quickly become cluttered with files that should never be tracked.

Our generator supports over 30 technologies, frameworks, IDEs, and operating systems with curated ignore patterns for each. Simply select the technologies you use, and the tool automatically generates a deduplicated, well-organized .gitignore file with proper comments and sections. You can search, filter, and combine patterns from multiple technology stacks in seconds.

Key Features

Support for 30+ technologies including Node.js, Python, Java, Go, Rust, Ruby, PHP, C/C++, Swift, and Kotlin
Framework-specific patterns for React, Vue, Angular, Next.js, Django, Flask, Laravel, and Spring
IDE and editor patterns for VS Code, IntelliJ, Eclipse, Vim, Sublime Text, and Xcode
Operating system patterns for macOS, Windows, and Linux
DevOps patterns for Docker, Terraform, and environment files
Automatic deduplication of overlapping patterns across selected technologies
Real-time search and filter to quickly find any technology
One-click copy to clipboard or download as a .gitignore file
Pattern counter showing the total number of ignore rules generated
Select All and Clear All buttons for bulk operations

How to Use the .gitignore Generator

Search or browse: Use the search bar to find specific technologies, or browse through the categorized sections (Languages, Frameworks, IDEs, OS, Other).
Select technologies: Click the checkboxes next to each technology you use in your project. You can select as many as needed.
Review the output: The generated .gitignore content appears in the preview panel on the right, updating in real time as you make selections.
Copy or download: Click "Copy" to copy the content to your clipboard, or "Download" to save it directly as a .gitignore file.
Place in your project: Add the .gitignore file to the root of your Git repository. If you already have one, merge the new patterns into your existing file.

Use Cases

New project setup: Generate a complete .gitignore before your first commit to ensure no unwanted files enter your repository from the start.
Multi-language projects: Combine ignore patterns for multiple languages and frameworks in a single file for monorepos or polyglot projects.
Team standardization: Create a consistent .gitignore that covers all team members' IDEs, operating systems, and development tools.
Security hardening: Ensure environment files, credentials, private keys, and other sensitive data are always excluded from version control.
Open source projects: Start your open source project with a professional .gitignore that covers the full technology stack.
CI/CD optimization: Keep build artifacts, test coverage reports, and temporary files out of your repository to speed up pipeline cloning.
Framework migration: When adopting a new framework, quickly add the correct ignore patterns without researching each file individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this tool free?

Yes, the .gitignore Generator is completely free to use. There are no usage limits, no registration required, and no premium features.

Is my data secure?

Yes. The .gitignore file is generated entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server, and your selections are not stored or tracked in any way.

Where should I place the .gitignore file?

Place the .gitignore file in the root directory of your Git repository. Git will apply the patterns to all files and subdirectories within that repository. You can also create additional .gitignore files in subdirectories for more specific rules.

Can I use a global .gitignore for all my projects?

Yes. You can configure a global .gitignore file using git config --global core.excludesfile ~/.gitignore_global. This is ideal for OS-specific files (like .DS_Store) and IDE configurations that apply across all your repositories.

What happens if I add .gitignore after files are already tracked?

Adding a pattern to .gitignore only prevents future tracking. Files already tracked by Git will continue to be tracked. To stop tracking existing files, you need to remove them from the index using git rm --cached followed by a commit.

Why are some patterns duplicated across technologies?

Our generator automatically deduplicates patterns. If two technologies share the same ignore rules (like build/ appearing in both Java and Kotlin), the pattern will only appear once in the generated output.

Tips & Best Practices

Create .gitignore first: Always set up your .gitignore before making your initial commit to prevent unwanted files from entering version control history.
Separate project and global patterns: Keep project-specific patterns in the repository .gitignore and personal IDE/OS patterns in your global .gitignore file.
Always ignore secrets: Ensure .env files, API keys, private keys, and credential files are always listed in your .gitignore to prevent security breaches.
Use negation sparingly: While patterns starting with ! can re-include previously ignored files, they can make .gitignore files confusing. Use them only when necessary.
Comment your patterns: Add comments (lines starting with #) to explain non-obvious patterns, especially in shared repositories where multiple developers collaborate.
Review before committing: Periodically review your .gitignore to ensure it covers new tools and dependencies added to your project over time.