docker-service-discovery/openspec/changes/archive/2026-03-27-create-gitignore-file/design.md

Context

The project currently lacks a .gitignore file, which results in various development-related files, build artifacts, and dependency directories being untracked or potentially committed to version control. This leads to a cluttered repository and can cause issues with consistency across different development environments.

Goals / Non-Goals

Goals:

• Create a comprehensive .gitignore file at the project root.
• Ensure that common development artifacts, temporary files, dependency directories, and OS/IDE-specific files are ignored by Git.
• Maintain a clean and focused Git repository.

Non-Goals:

• This design does not aim to modify existing Git history or remove already committed files.
• It does not cover advanced Git configurations beyond the .gitignore file itself.
• It will not address ignoring files that are intentionally part of the repository (e.g., configuration files that need to be tracked).

Decisions

1. Location: The .gitignore file will be placed in the root directory of the project (/home/filip/docker-backend-display/.gitignore).
2. Content - General: It will include standard ignore patterns for:
   • Node.js specific files and directories (node_modules, npm-debug.log, build, dist, etc.).
   • Operating System specific files (.DS_Store, Thumbs.db).
   • Common IDE/Editor specific files (.vscode/, .idea/, *.swp).
3. Content - Project Specific: It will include patterns for:
   • Backend build artifacts (if any are generated outside node_modules).
   • Frontend build artifacts (frontend/build).
   • Log files (*.log).
   • Environment variables (.env).

Risks / Trade-offs

• [Risk] Over-ignoring essential files: There is a risk that some files necessary for the project's build or execution might be inadvertently ignored.
  • Mitigation: The .gitignore file will be carefully reviewed after creation, and tested by checking git status to ensure only intended files are ignored.
• [Risk] Under-ignoring sensitive or large files: Some sensitive information or large binary files might be missed, leading to them being committed.
  • Mitigation: The .gitignore will be based on widely accepted templates for Node.js/React projects, and specific project directories will be explicitly added.