Claude Gitignore Generator Skill

🧠 Purpose

Automatically create or update a .gitignore file tailored to your project using gitignore.io.

This skill detects the type of project (Java, Node, Python, Docker, etc.) and uses either the gi CLI or a curl fallback to generate the correct .gitignore file.

⚙️ How It Works

1. Detect project type

   • Look for indicators like pom.xml, build.gradle.kts, package.json, Dockerfile, etc.
   • Infer appropriate gitignore keywords (e.g. java,maven,gradle,linux,intellij,docker).

2. Generate keyword list

   • Combine detected technologies with user input.
   • Example:

     java,maven,gradle,linux,intellij,docker
     

3. Generate the .gitignore file

   • If gi is installed:

     gi java,maven,gradle,linux,intellij,docker > .gitignore
     

   • Otherwise, use curl fallback:

     curl -L -s https://www.toptal.com/developers/gitignore/api/java,maven,gradle,linux,intellij,docker > .gitignore
     

4. Add metadata header

   • Append a creation timestamp and skill attribution:

     echo "# Generated by Claude Gitignore Skill on $(date)" | cat - .gitignore > temp && mv temp .gitignore
     

5. Confirm success

   • Output a summary and ensure .gitignore exists and is not empty.

🧪 Example Usage

Ask Claude

“Use the gitignore-generator skill to create a .gitignore for a Java + Maven + Docker project.”

Claude will:

• Detect your stack
• Run gi java,maven,docker
• Generate .gitignore in your project root

Manual CLI

./scripts/generate_gitignore.sh "java,maven,docker,intellij"