diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f58f56b2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# Python
+*.py[cod]
+
+# Distutils
+build/
+sdist/
+
+# Gramps
+gramps/data/tips.xml
+gramps/gen/const.py
+gramps/plugins/lib/holidays.xml
+po/.intltool-merge-cache