Gitignore

Stack + current state

!ls package.json pyproject.toml requirements.txt Cargo.toml go.mod pom.xml build.gradle Gemfile composer.json 2>/dev/null

!cat .gitignore 2>/dev/null | head -60 || echo "No .gitignore yet"

!git ls-files 2>/dev/null | grep -iE '\.env$|\.log$|node_modules/|/dist/|/build/|\.DS_Store|__pycache__|\.pyc$|/target/|coverage/' | head -20 | sed 's/^/TRACKED-BUT-SHOULD-IGNORE: /'

Instructions

Generate or improve the .gitignore for this project (add anything from $ARGUMENTS too).

Method

1. Detect the stack(s) from the manifests above — language, package manager, framework, and build tooling. A repo can need several sections (e.g. Node + Python).
2. Cover the standard categories for each detected stack: dependency dirs (node_modules/, vendor/), build output (dist/, build/, target/), caches (__pycache__/, .pytest_cache/, .gradle/), logs, coverage reports, env/secret files (.env, .env.local), editor/OS cruft (.DS_Store, .idea/, .vscode/ — only if not project-shared), and lockfile/temp artifacts.
3. Merge, don't clobber. If a .gitignore exists, add only the missing entries and keep the user's existing ones and grouping. Group new entries under clear comment headers.
4. Flag already-tracked files. For any path in the TRACKED-BUT-SHOULD-IGNORE list above, adding it to .gitignore is not enough — git keeps tracking it. Tell the user and give the exact untrack command: git rm --cached (or -r for a directory), noting it stays on disk.

Rules

1. Don't ignore lockfiles (package-lock.json, poetry.lock, Cargo.lock) for applications — they should be committed. Do ignore them only for libraries if that's the project's convention; ask if unsure.
2. Keep entries specific — avoid overly broad globs (*.json) that would hide real source/config.
3. Don't add committed, project-shared editor config to the ignore list (e.g. a checked-in .vscode/settings.json).
4. After writing, summarize what you added and list any untrack commands the user still needs to run.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: Pradnyeshp
• Source: Pradnyeshp/Claude-Skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.