diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f660836
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Environment files (contains secrets!)
+.env
+# .env.*
+
+# Generated files
+.dockerignore
+*.log
+*.tmp
+
+# IDE/editor files
+.idea/
+.vscode/
+*.swp
+*.swo
+
+# OS files
+.DS_Store
+Thumbs.db
+
+# Backup files
+*~
+
+# Optionally: omit .env.example if already safe (see below)
+# .env.example