Do I need to commit .gitignore?

Yes — .gitignore should be committed to the repository so all collaborators benefit from the same ignore rules.

How do I add custom patterns?

Open your .gitignore file and add the pattern on a new line. Use # for comments, * for wildcards, / to match directories, and ! to un-ignore a previously ignored path.

How do I ignore a file that is already tracked?

Adding a file to .gitignore does not remove it from tracking if it was previously committed. Run: git rm --cached to stop tracking it without deleting the file locally.

Should I commit CMakeLists.txt?

Yes — CMakeLists.txt is your project definition and must always be committed.

.gitignore for CMake

CMake build directory, generated Makefiles, and CMake cache files.

Quick presets

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CMake

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7 patterns · 227 B

# Generated by DevZone Tools — https://devzone.tools/tools/gitignore-generator
# Templates: CMake
# 2026-04-20

# ---- CMake ----
# CMake
CMakeFiles/
CMakeCache.txt
cmake_install.cmake
Makefile
build/
*.cmake
!CMakeLists.txt

What this template ignores

Ignores CMake build cache (CMakeCache.txt), generated Makefiles, and build/ output — while keeping CMakeLists.txt committed.

Common additions

+compile_commands.json — optional, useful for IDEs but build-specific

Commonly paired with

c cpp Combine →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to commit .gitignore?: Yes — .gitignore should be committed to the repository so all collaborators benefit from the same ignore rules.
How do I add custom patterns?: Open your .gitignore file and add the pattern on a new line. Use # for comments, * for wildcards, / to match directories, and ! to un-ignore a previously ignored path.
How do I ignore a file that is already tracked?: Adding a file to .gitignore does not remove it from tracking if it was previously committed. Run: git rm --cached <file> to stop tracking it without deleting the file locally.
Should I commit CMakeLists.txt?: Yes — CMakeLists.txt is your project definition and must always be committed.

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