diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0749a49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# CMake build directories
+/build/
+/build_windows/
+/cmake-build-*/
+
+# Windows output staging
+/SerumAlt_Windows/
+
+# CMake generated files
+CMakeUserPresets.json
+compile_commands.json
+
+# IDE and OS files
+.vscode/
+.idea/
+*.user
+.DS_Store
+.cache/