Git — .gitignore

.gitignore Patterns

# Comment
*.log          # All .log files
!important.log # Except this one
/build/        # Build directory
dist/          # Dist directory
.env           # Environment file

Language-Specific

JavaScript

node_modules/
package-lock.json
yarn.lock

Python

__pycache__/
*.pyc
.env
venv/

Java

*.class
*.jar
target/

Global .gitignore

git config --global core.excludesfile ~/.gitignore_global

# ~/.gitignore_global
.DS_Store
*.swp
.vscode/
.idea/

Commands

# Check if file is ignored
git check-ignore file.txt

# Remove from tracking
git rm --cached file.txt

# Stop tracking but keep local
git rm -r --cached folder/

Mini Practice

1. Create .gitignore
2. Add patterns
3. Use global ignore
4. Stop tracking files

Up Next

Continue with Conflicts — resolving merge conflicts.