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.

What are the *~ files on Linux?

Many Linux editors (vim, emacs, gedit) create backup files by appending a tilde (~) to the filename. These are local backup copies and should not be committed.

.gitignore for Linux

Linux system files including backup files, NFS artifacts, and KDE/GNOME metadata.

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Linux

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5 patterns · 183 B

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

# ---- Linux ----
# Linux
*~
.fuse_hidden*
.directory
.Trash-*
.nfs*

What this template ignores

Ignores Linux editor backup files (files ending with ~), FUSE hidden mounts, KDE .directory files, Trash directories, and NFS temporary files.

Common additions

+.env — local environment files
+*.log — application log files

Commonly paired with

macos windows 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.
What are the *~ files on Linux?: Many Linux editors (vim, emacs, gedit) create backup files by appending a tilde (~) to the filename. These are local backup copies and should not be committed.

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