GitHub gitignore - your personal assistant for clean repositories
Why do you need it?
When was the last time you accidentally committed files .env with passwords or a folder node_modules weighing several gigabytes? If this sounds familiar, GitHub's collection .gitignore of templates is what will save you in the future.
This repository is not just a collection of files, but the quintessence of thousands of developers' experience. It contains ready-made solutions for 99% of situations you may encounter.
What's inside?
1. Ready-made templates for everything
In the repository root, you'll find templates for:
- Popular languages (Python, Java, Go)
- Frameworks (Django, Rails, Laravel)
- Development environments (Android, iOS)
For example, the Python template includes:
# Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
__pycache__/
*.py[cod]
*$py.class
# C extensions
*.so
# Distribution / packaging
.Python
build/
2. Global settings
The Global folder contains configurations for:
- Code editors (VS Code, IntelliJ)
- Operating systems (macOS, Windows, Linux)
- Tools (Docker, Vagrant)
These templates can be added to a global .gitignore so they work across all your projects.
3. Community to the rescue
The community directory is a treasure trove of niche solutions for:
- Specific frameworks
- Legacy software versions
- Rare tools
How to use it?
- When creating a repository on GitHub, you can select the appropriate template right in the interface
- Manually — download the file you need and rename it to
.gitignore - Globally — configure a template for all your projects with the command:
git config --global core.excludesfile ~/.gitignore_global
Why is it awesome?
- Time-saving: No need to remember which files to exclude for a new project
- Security: Protects against accidentally committing sensitive data
- Cleanliness: Keeps your repository organized, reducing its size
When is it especially useful?
- When starting a new project
- When switching to a new language/framework
- When working in a team to standardize practices
- For learning Git (fewer chances to "break" your repository)
Verdict
This repository should be bookmarked by every developer. 168 thousand stars on GitHub — and for good reason. Even if you consider yourself a Git expert, there are templates here you didn't know about.
Tip: add the repository to your watchlist to receive updates when new templates appear.
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