diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3d3a7826
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# emacs workspace config
+.projectile
+# clangd working space (see emacs+lsp)
+.cache
+# typical cmake build directory (source-tree-nephew)
+.build*
+# symlink to builddir/compile_commands.json;  should be set manually in dev sandbox
+compile_commands.json