diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e9cb034c107
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# backup and temporary files
+*~
+.*.sw[op]
+
+# the build directories
+/*/unxlng??
+/*/unxlng??.pro
+/*/wntmsc???
+/*/wntmsc???.pro
+/*/unxmac??.pro
+/*/unxmac??