VS Code .gitignore Setup
Complete guide to creating, managing, and optimizing .gitignore files in Visual Studio Code. From basic setup to advanced workspace configurations.
⚡ Quick Start
1. Open Command Palette
Ctrl+Shift+P (Cmd+Shift+P on Mac)
2. Type Command
"Git: Add gitignore"
3. Select Template
Choose your project type
4 Ways to Create .gitignore in VS Code
1Command Palette
Ctrl+Shift+P (Cmd+Shift+P on Mac)
- 1Open Command Palette
- 2Type "Git: Add gitignore"
- 3Select your project type
- 4VS Code creates .gitignore automatically
Fastest method with built-in templates
2Explorer Right-Click
Right-click in Explorer
- 1Right-click in the Explorer panel
- 2Select "New File"
- 3Name it ".gitignore"
- 4Start adding patterns
Most intuitive for beginners
3File Menu
Ctrl+N (Cmd+N on Mac)
- 1File → New File
- 2Save as ".gitignore"
- 3Make sure to include the dot prefix
- 4Place in project root directory
Traditional file creation approach
4Integrated Terminal
Ctrl+` (Cmd+` on Mac)
- 1Open integrated terminal
- 2Run: touch .gitignore
- 3File appears in Explorer
- 4Double-click to edit
Works on Mac/Linux and Git Bash on Windows
Recommended Extensions
gitignore
by codezombiech
Language support for .gitignore files with syntax highlighting
Features:
Syntax highlightingAuto-completionPattern validation
ext install codezombiech.gitignore
Git Graph
by mhutchie
Visual git repository management with ignore file insights
Features:
Visual git historyBranch managementFile status overview
ext install mhutchie.git-graph
GitLens
by eamodio
Supercharge Git capabilities with enhanced gitignore features
Features:
Git blameRepository insightsFile history
ext install eamodio.gitlens
VS Code Specific .gitignore Patterns
Personal VS Code Settings
Settings that should be ignored for personal preferences
# VS Code personal settings
.vscode/settings.json
.vscode/launch.json
.vscode/tasks.json
# User-specific files
.vscode/sftp.json
.vscode/ftp-sync.json
Team Shared Configuration
VS Code files that should be committed for team consistency
# Keep these VS Code files for team sharing
!.vscode/
!.vscode/extensions.json
!.vscode/settings.shared.json
!.vscode/launch.shared.json
# Ignore personal overrides
.vscode/settings.json
.vscode/launch.json
.vscode/tasks.json
Multi-root Workspace
Patterns for VS Code multi-root workspace projects
# VS Code workspace files
*.code-workspace
# Workspace specific settings
.vscode/workspace.json
.vscode/*.code-snippets
# Per-folder settings
*/.vscode/settings.json
*/.vscode/launch.json
Workspace Configuration
Settings.json
Configure VS Code to hide common generated files and optimize search performance.
{
"files.exclude": {
"**/.git": true,
"**/.DS_Store": true,
"**/node_modules": true,
"**/__pycache__": true
},
"search.exclude": {
"**/node_modules": true,
"**/bower_components": true,
"**/*.code-search": true
},
"git.ignoreLimitWarning": true
}Extensions.json
Recommend helpful extensions to team members for consistent .gitignore workflow.
{
"recommendations": [
"codezombiech.gitignore",
"eamodio.gitlens",
"ms-vscode.vscode-json"
]
}Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
Open Command Palette
Access Git commands quickly
Ctrl+Shift+P
Open Integrated Terminal
Run git commands
Ctrl+`
Quick Open File
Find .gitignore quickly
Ctrl+P
Go to Line
Navigate large .gitignore files
Ctrl+G
Toggle Explorer
Show/hide file explorer
Ctrl+Shift+E
Search in Files
Find patterns across project
Ctrl+Shift+F
VS Code Tips & Best Practices
✅ Do This
- • Use Command Palette for quick .gitignore creation
- • Install syntax highlighting extensions
- • Configure workspace settings for team consistency
- • Use integrated terminal for git commands
- • Leverage IntelliSense for pattern completion
💡 Pro Tips
- • Use Ctrl+P to quickly find .gitignore files
- • Set up Git Graph for visual repository management
- • Configure files.exclude to hide ignored files from Explorer
- • Use search.exclude to improve search performance
❌ Avoid This
- • Don't ignore .vscode/ completely (team settings are useful)
- • Don't create .gitignore without using templates
- • Don't forget to test patterns before committing
- • Don't place .gitignore in wrong directory
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- • Ignoring files that are already tracked
- • Using incorrect pattern syntax
- • Not considering team collaboration needs
- • Forgetting to commit .gitignore changes
Ready to Optimize Your VS Code Workflow?
Use our professional tools to create perfect .gitignore files for your VS Code projects.