diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ee89af192
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# ignore build output directory
+navalplanner-webapp/target
+navalplanner-business/target
+navalplanner-gantt-zk/target
+
+# ignore eclipse configuration files
+.classpath
+.project
+.settings/
+
+#ignore patches files
+*.patch
+
+#ignore backup files
+*~
+\#*\#