diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0244980
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+ruby_sess.*
+.*.swp
+.hi
+.[oa]
+*.pyc
+.svn
+.class
+# except foo.o which is hand maintained
+!foo.o