diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..050b8213
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Eclipse stuff
+/.classpath
+/.project
+/.settings
+
+# NetBeans
+/nbproject
+/build.xml
+
+# vim
+.*.sw[a-p]
+
+# various other potential build files
+/build
+/bin
+/dist
+/*.jardesc
+
+# Mac filesystem dust
+.DS_Store
\ No newline at end of file