.gitignore Generator
Generate .gitignore files by selecting languages, frameworks, and IDEs. Combine multiple templates and download instantly.
About This Tool
The .gitignore Generator is a free, browser-based tool that helps
developers create comprehensive .gitignore files in
seconds. Instead of searching for patterns online or copying from
old projects, you can select from over 30 pre-built templates
covering popular programming languages, frameworks, IDEs, and
operating systems. The tool combines your selections into a single,
well-organized file with section headers and de-duplicated entries.
A .gitignore file tells Git which files and
directories to exclude from version control. This is essential for
keeping your repository clean and avoiding accidental commits of
build artifacts, dependency folders, environment variables, editor
configurations, and OS-specific metadata. Without a proper
.gitignore, repositories can quickly become bloated
with unnecessary files that slow down cloning, increase storage
costs, and potentially expose sensitive information like API keys
or database credentials.
The generator includes templates for all major ecosystems: Node.js and its frameworks (React, Next.js, Vue, Angular), Python (including Django), Java (including Spring), Go, Rust, Ruby (and Rails), C/C++, C#, Swift, Kotlin, PHP (and Laravel), Dart (and Flutter), and more. IDE templates cover VS Code, JetBrains products, Vim, Emacs, Sublime Text, and Xcode. OS templates handle macOS, Windows, and Linux system files. Additional templates are available for Docker, Terraform, Unity, and Unreal Engine.
All processing happens entirely in your browser. No data is
transmitted to any server. You can add custom patterns alongside
the templates, then copy or download the result as a
.gitignore file ready to drop into your project root.
How to Use
- Use the search bar to quickly find templates by name, or browse by category using the tabs (Languages, Frameworks, IDEs, OS, Other).
- Click on template badges to toggle them on or off. Selected templates appear highlighted with a checkmark.
- Select multiple templates to combine them. For example, select Node.js + Next.js + VS Code + macOS for a typical Next.js project.
- Review the generated output on the right panel. Patterns are organized by section headers and automatically de-duplicated.
- Add any custom patterns in the text area below the templates. Enter one pattern per line.
- Click Copy to copy the output to your clipboard, or Download to save it directly as a
.gitignorefile. - Place the downloaded file in your project root directory. Git will immediately start ignoring the matched patterns. If files were already tracked, run
git rm --cached -r .to clear the cache first.
About This Tool
FAQ
What is a .gitignore file?
A .gitignore file is a plain text file placed in your Git repository that specifies patterns for files and directories Git should ignore. When you run git add or git status, any file matching a pattern in .gitignore is excluded from tracking. This prevents build artifacts, dependencies, secrets, and editor files from being committed to version control.
Where should I place the .gitignore file?
The main .gitignore file should be placed in the root directory of your repository. You can also place additional .gitignore files in subdirectories to apply rules only within that subtree. Git also supports a global .gitignore at ~/.config/git/ignore for patterns you want ignored across all your repositories (like OS and IDE files).
Why are already-tracked files not being ignored?
The .gitignore file only affects untracked files. If a file was already committed before the ignore rule was added, Git continues to track it. To fix this, remove the file from the index with git rm --cached <file>, then commit. The file will remain on disk but Git will stop tracking it going forward.
Can I combine multiple templates?
Yes. The generator is designed for multi-selection. Click as many templates as you need and they will be merged into a single output. Duplicate patterns across templates are automatically removed, and each section is labeled with a comment header for readability.
What does the negation pattern (!) mean?
A pattern starting with ! negates (un-ignores) a previously ignored file. For example, in the VS Code template, .vscode/* ignores all files in the .vscode directory, but !.vscode/settings.json explicitly includes settings.json so it can be shared with team members. Negation patterns only work if a parent pattern has already matched.
Should I commit the .gitignore file?
Yes. The .gitignore file should be committed and tracked by Git. This ensures that all contributors to the project share the same ignore rules. It is one of the first files you should add when initializing a new repository.
Is my data safe with this tool?
Yes. The entire tool runs client-side in your browser. No data is transmitted to any server. All template data is embedded directly in the page, and the generated output is built locally using JavaScript. You can verify this by checking your browser's network tab.
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