.gitignore Template Maker

How to use: step by step

1. 1
   Search for your stack
   Type a language, framework, or tool name (e.g. 'python', 'react', 'jetbrains') in the search box to filter available templates.
2. 2
   Select one or more templates
   Click each template you need. You can combine multiple stacks: for example Node + React + macOS + JetBrains.
3. 3
   Preview the merged output
   The generated .gitignore appears in real time, automatically deduplicating overlapping rules across all selected templates.
4. 4
   Copy or download
   Click Copy to copy to clipboard, or download the file directly. Save it as .gitignore in the root of your repository.
5. 5
   Commit to your repo
   Run git add .gitignore && git commit -m 'chore: add .gitignore' to start ignoring unwanted files immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a .gitignore file?

A .gitignore file tells Git which files and directories to exclude from version control. Common examples include node_modules, build output directories, .env files containing secrets, and operating-system artifacts like .DS_Store.

How do I combine multiple templates?

Simply select all the templates you need: the generator merges them into a single file, removing duplicate entries. This is useful for monorepos or full-stack projects that span multiple languages.

Will the generated .gitignore affect files already tracked by Git?

No. .gitignore only prevents untracked files from being added. If a file is already committed, you must run git rm --cached <file> to stop tracking it.

What is the difference between a global and a project .gitignore?

A project .gitignore (placed in the repo root) is shared with all contributors. A global gitignore (~/.config/git/ignore) applies to all your repos on your machine and is ideal for editor files and OS artifacts.

Why does my node_modules folder still appear in git status?

If node_modules was committed before the .gitignore was added, it is still tracked. Run git rm -r --cached node_modules to untrack it, then commit.

Can I add custom rules on top of the generated output?

Yes. The generated file is plain text: paste it into your editor and add any project-specific patterns at the bottom. For example, *.local or /secrets/ for local config files.

Should .gitignore itself be committed?

Yes. The .gitignore file should always be committed so that all team members and CI/CD systems share the same ignore rules.

How do negation patterns work in .gitignore?

A pattern starting with ! re-includes a file that was previously ignored. For example, if you ignore *.log but want to keep error.log, add !error.log after the *.log line.

Does .gitignore work for nested directories?

A pattern without a slash matches anywhere in the tree. A pattern with a leading slash (e.g. /build) only matches the repo root. Place .gitignore files in subdirectories to scope rules to that subtree.

Are generated gitignore patterns based on official GitHub templates?

The templates are derived from widely adopted community patterns, similar in content to the official github/gitignore repository, covering all major languages and editors.