diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index de67937..d25a483 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,19 @@
-_build
+# backup files
+*~
+*.bak
+.DS_Store
+
+# project file
 *.hdp
-deft-package-local.json
+
+# documentation build directory
+documentation/build/
+
+# compiler build directory
+_build/
+
+# dylan tool package cache
+_packages/
+
+# package registry folder
+registry/