.gitignore Generator — Free Online Tool

A .gitignore generator helps you create a safe, project-specific ignore file in seconds — without forgetting common build outputs, dependency folders, or IDE noise. SWEDevTools: Prism includes templates for Node, Python, Java, Go, Rust, .NET, React, Angular, Vue, iOS, Android, and Unity, plus optional IDE and OS patterns. Generate the file locally in your browser, then commit it to keep your repo clean.

Features

• Multi-template composition: Combine templates across languages and frameworks (for example, Node + Python for a polyglot monorepo).
• IDE + OS hygiene: Optionally include patterns for VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, macOS, and Windows clutter.
• Framework presets: Quick toggles for common stacks like React, Angular, and Vue so you don’t miss build artifacts.
• Runs locally: No uploading repo data — the generator runs in your browser and returns plain text output.
• Template library: Choose from hundreds of pre-built templates for popular frameworks and tools.
• Custom rules support: Add your own ignore patterns alongside template-generated rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I include multiple languages in one .gitignore?

Yes. Many repos need mixed patterns (for example, a Node frontend plus Python scripts). Select multiple templates and the output will be merged.

Should I ignore .env files?

In most cases, yes — .env often contains secrets. A common pattern is to ignore .env and commit an .env.example with safe placeholders.

What about build outputs like dist/ or build/?

Those are included for most relevant templates (Node/React/etc.). Review your CI/CD setup if you intentionally commit build artifacts.

Does .gitignore remove files already committed?

No. .gitignore prevents new untracked files from being added. If something is already tracked, remove it from git tracking (for example, git rm --cached).

Is this the same as gitignore.io?

It’s the same idea: assemble ignore patterns from templates. SWEDevTools: Prism runs locally and includes common stacks plus IDE/OS patterns.

What should I do for a monorepo?

Start with a root .gitignore for shared patterns (IDE/OS, common build dirs), then add package-level .gitignore files for tool-specific outputs.

Should I ignore lock files like package-lock.json?

Usually, no — lock files improve reproducibility. Ignore them only if your team standardizes on a different lock strategy.

Can I customize patterns after generating?

Absolutely. Treat the generated file as a baseline, then adjust for your repo (for example, ignore .env.local but keep .env.test).

Can I combine multiple templates?

Yes. You can select multiple language and framework templates at the same time, and the generator merges them into a single .gitignore file with deduplicated patterns. This is ideal for polyglot repos or monorepos that span several technology stacks.

Does it include common IDE files?

Yes. The generator offers optional toggles for popular IDE and editor patterns including VS Code, JetBrains (IntelliJ, WebStorm, PyCharm), Visual Studio, Sublime Text, and Vim. Enabling these prevents editor-specific configuration files from cluttering your repository.

How often are templates updated?

Templates are maintained alongside the application and updated regularly to reflect new framework conventions, build tool outputs, and community best practices. Each template covers the most common ignore patterns recommended by the official documentation for that technology.

What happened to smalldev.tools?

smalldev.tools is no longer available. Prism by SWEDevTools offers the same developer tools and more, with offline support, pipeline chaining, and completely free usage — no signup required.

Is Prism a good alternative to gitignore.io?

Yes. Prism generates .gitignore files with the same template library as gitignore.io, plus offline support, custom rule editing, and pipeline integration — all without ads or tracking.