dotIgnore

A unified format for ignore files across all version control systems

Overview

dotIgnore is a standardized format to define which files should be ignored in version control systems, compatible with Git, SVN, and others. It offers a more organized and semantic approach than traditional formats, with grouping, hierarchical organization, and advanced features.

Key Features

• Isolated group rules - Patterns within groups only apply within their context and don’t affect other groups, providing better organization and preventing conflicts
• Syntax validation - Built-in validation tools ensure your ignore patterns are correct before they’re applied
• Cross-platform compatibility - Simple conversion between different VCS ignore formats
• Empty directory preservation - Track empty directories without placeholder files
• Size-based filtering - Ignore files based on their size, not just names or patterns
• Clear semantic structure - Better readability and maintainability with explicit grouping

Format Description

The .ignore file format uses a clear, semantic structure:

# This is an example .ignore file
# Patterns outside groups are global

*.tmp
*.cache

[system] {
    # System files
    .DS_Store
    Thumbs.db
    desktop.ini
}

[build] {
    # Build artifacts
    build/
    dist/
    *.o
    *.obj
}

[logs:app] {
    # Application logs
    logs/*.log
    !logs/important.log
}

[size:large] {
    # Large files
    size:>50MB *.bin
    size:>100MB *.data
}

# Empty directory preservation
&empty-folder/

For more information, check the Converter or visit the GitHub repository.