.gitignore Generator
Build a clean .gitignore for any project without leaving your browser. Search 300+ templates from the official github/gitignore collection — languages and frameworks like Node, Python, Go, and Rust, plus editors, IDEs, and operating systems like VS Code, JetBrains, macOS, and Windows — then combine as many as you need. Each template becomes a clearly labelled section, an optional pass removes duplicate rules, and you copy the result or download the file directly. Nothing you pick is sent to a server.
- Combine 300+ official templates for languages, frameworks, editors, and operating systems
- One-click presets for common stacks like Node, Python, Go, and Unity
- Optional de-duplication merges repeated rules across sections
- Copy the file or download .gitignore, entirely in your browser
Overview
Pick the languages, tools, and platforms your repository uses and the generator assembles a single, well-ordered .gitignore from the same templates GitHub itself maintains.
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300+ official templates
Every template comes from the github/gitignore project — the same source that powers the suggestions GitHub shows when you create a repository — so the rules match real, community-maintained conventions.
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Languages and frameworks
Cover the build artifacts, dependency folders, and cache files for stacks like Node, Python, Go, Rust, Java, PHP, Ruby, and dozens more, each in its own labelled block.
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Editors, IDEs, and operating systems
Add global rules for VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Vim, and Emacs, plus OS clutter like .DS_Store on macOS and Thumbs.db on Windows, so machine-specific files never get committed.
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Combine as many as you need
Select any mix of templates and the output stacks them into clearly labelled sections, one ### header per template, so the file stays readable no matter how many you combine.
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One-click presets
Start from a curated combination for a common stack — for example Node with VS Code and macOS — then fine-tune by adding or removing individual templates.
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Optional de-duplication
Turn on de-duplication to drop pattern lines that repeat across sections while keeping every comment and header, for a shorter file that is still easy to read.
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Copy or download, local only
Copy the finished file to the clipboard or download it as .gitignore. The templates are bundled into the page, so your selections are not sent anywhere.
How to use
Search for the languages and tools your project uses, select them, and the file on the right updates instantly. Refine until it covers everything your repository should ignore.
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Search for a language, framework, editor, or operating system, or start from a preset.
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Click a template to add it; each selection becomes a labelled section in the output.
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Add editor and OS templates such as VS Code and macOS to catch machine-specific files.
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Optionally turn on de-duplication to merge rules that repeat across sections.
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Review the generated .gitignore and remove any template you do not need.
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Copy the file or download it, then drop it into the root of your repository.
Details
A good ignore file keeps generated, machine-specific, and secret files out of version control while leaving your source code untouched. These habits keep it accurate.
- Ignore dependency folders like node_modules and vendor that can always be reinstalled from a manifest.
- Ignore build output such as dist, build, and compiled binaries so only source is tracked.
- Ignore editor and OS files like .idea, .vscode, .DS_Store, and Thumbs.db that differ per machine.
- Ignore local environment and secret files such as .env so credentials never reach the remote.
- Keep language and tool sections separate so it is obvious why each rule exists.
- Commit the .gitignore at the repository root before the first push, so nothing unwanted is tracked from the start.
Use cases
A .gitignore is one of the first files in almost every repository, so a quick, accurate generator saves time whenever a new project or service starts.
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Starting a new repository
Generate a complete ignore file for your stack in seconds instead of copying fragments from old projects or memory.
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Polyglot and monorepo projects
Combine templates for several languages and tools at once when a single repository holds a frontend, backend, and scripts.
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Team and editor consistency
Add editor and OS templates so files from VS Code, JetBrains, macOS, and Windows are ignored for everyone on the team.
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Cleaning up an existing repo
Generate the rules you were missing, paste them in, and stop accidental commits of build output, caches, or local settings.
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CI and container builds
Keep local artifacts and dependency folders out of the context so builds stay small and reproducible.
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Teaching and templates
Produce a sensible starter ignore file for course repositories, boilerplates, and project templates that others will clone.
See also
Setting up a new repository usually means more than a .gitignore. To create the icons the site and bookmarks show, use the Favicon Generator to export an ICO and manifest. To assemble the head tags for search and social sharing, open the Meta Tags Generator , and to turn a project or page name into a clean URL, run it through the Slug Generator before you publish.
Best practices
An ignore file works best when it is specific and committed early. A few habits prevent the most common version-control mistakes.
- Add the .gitignore before your first commit so untracked build files and secrets never enter history.
- Prefer official language and tool templates over ad-hoc rules; they are maintained and cover edge cases you might miss.
- Never rely on .gitignore to hide committed secrets — files already tracked keep being tracked; rotate and remove them instead.
- Keep a global gitignore on your machine for personal editor files, and repository ignores for project-specific rules.
- Re-generate and compare when adding a new language or tool, so the ignore file grows with the project.
Limitations
The generator writes the ignore rules; it does not change what Git is already tracking or judge which files your project truly needs.
- Adding a rule does not untrack a file that is already committed; use git rm --cached to stop tracking it, then commit.
- .gitignore controls version control, not security; a secret that was pushed once remains in history until it is rewritten.
- Templates are broad starting points; a specific project may still need a few custom rules the collection cannot know about.
- The bundled templates reflect a snapshot of github/gitignore; upstream may add rules after this page was last updated.
- Ignoring a folder does not delete it locally; it only keeps Git from tracking new, untracked files inside it.
FAQ
Common questions about how these templates are sourced, how sections combine, and what a .gitignore can and cannot do.
Where do the templates come from?
Every template is taken from the official github/gitignore repository, which is released under CC0-1.0 (public domain). It is the same collection GitHub uses to suggest an ignore file when you create a new repository, so the rules follow widely accepted conventions.
Can I combine several languages and tools?
Yes. Select as many templates as you like — for example a language, an editor, and an operating system — and the generator stacks them into one file, with a labelled ### section for each so it stays readable.
What does the de-duplication option do?
When two templates include the same pattern, turning on de-duplication keeps the first occurrence and drops the later repeats, while preserving every comment and section header. It produces a shorter file with the same effect.
Will this untrack files that are already committed?
No. A .gitignore only affects untracked files. If a file is already tracked, run git rm --cached <file> to stop tracking it and then commit; after that the ignore rule applies to it.
Is the .gitignore built on a server?
No. The full template collection is bundled into this page, so the file is assembled entirely in your browser. Your selections, the generated output, and any download are not sent to a server by this tool.
How do I keep the templates up to date?
The templates are a vendored snapshot of github/gitignore. When the site is rebuilt from a newer snapshot, the generator reflects the latest rules; for a specific project you can always add custom rules on top of the generated file.
Related tools
Use the generator category when you need a .gitignore alongside favicons, meta tags, slugs, IDs, or other project setup tasks.