.gitignore Generator
Select your tech stacks, IDEs and operating systems to generate a comprehensive .gitignore file instantly. Download or copy to clipboard.
# Generated by Altairys .gitignore Generator
# Stacks: node, vscode, macos
# https://altairys.com/tools/gitignore-generator
# Node.js
node_modules/
npm-debug.log*
yarn-debug.log*
yarn-error.log*
.npm
.env
.env.local
.env.*.local
dist/
build/
.cache/
*.tgz
package-lock.json
yarn.lock
# VS Code
.vscode/
!.vscode/settings.json
!.vscode/tasks.json
!.vscode/launch.json
!.vscode/extensions.json
*.code-workspace
# macOS
.DS_Store
.AppleDouble
.LSOverride
Icon
._*
.DocumentRevisions-V100
.fseventsd
.Spotlight-V100
.TemporaryItems
.Trashes
.VolumeIcon.icns
.com.apple.timemachine.donotpresent
What is .gitignore Generator?
The .gitignore Generator creates comprehensive .gitignore files for your software projects by letting you select the languages, frameworks, build tools, IDEs, and operating systems you use. A .gitignore file tells Git which files and directories to exclude from version control — things like compiled binaries, dependency folders, editor configuration files, environment variable files, and operating system metadata that should not be committed to a repository.
Writing a thorough .gitignore from scratch is tedious and easy to get wrong. Missing an entry can accidentally commit sensitive credentials, bulky dependency folders like node_modules, or build artifacts that slow down cloning. This generator uses well-maintained, community-vetted ignore patterns covering hundreds of technologies so you get a complete file without having to research each pattern manually.
Common selections include Node.js (ignoring node_modules and dist), Python (ignoring __pycache__ and .env), Java (ignoring .class and build directories), and IDEs such as VS Code, JetBrains, and Xcode. OS entries for macOS (.DS_Store), Windows (Thumbs.db), and Linux (~-style backup files) are also available. The generated file is formatted with clear comments grouping each technology section for easy review and future editing.
How to Use .gitignore Generator
- Select your tech stack
Choose the programming languages, frameworks, and build tools used in your project from the searchable list.
- Add IDEs and OS
Select the code editors and operating systems your team uses to include their specific ignore patterns.
- Preview the file
Review the generated .gitignore content with sections grouped and commented by technology.
- Download or copy
Download the file directly as '.gitignore' or copy the content to paste into your project root.
Key Benefits
Uses community-maintained ignore rules covering hundreds of languages, frameworks, IDEs, and operating systems.
Ensures environment files, credentials, and secrets are excluded from version control from day one.
Keeps build artifacts, dependency folders, and editor metadata out of your repo for faster cloning.
Select your stack and get a complete, downloadable .gitignore file in seconds without any setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Place it in the root directory of your repository. Git reads it automatically. You can also place additional .gitignore files inside subdirectories to apply rules locally.
You can merge the generated content with your existing file. Each technology section is clearly commented, making it easy to identify and add only the sections you are missing.
No. .gitignore only prevents untracked files from being staged. To stop tracking a previously committed file, run 'git rm --cached <filename>' first.
Yes. Always commit .gitignore to the repository so every team member and CI/CD environment automatically respects the same exclusion rules.