pypa/hatch

Generate .gitignore with "hatch new"

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#2229 opened on Mar 31, 2026

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 (1 comment) (0 reactions) (0 assignees)Python (4,451 stars) (240 forks)batch import
enhancementgood first issue

Description

Description

When creating a new project with hatch new, create a default .gitignore file.

A very minimal .gitignore can be:

__pycache__/
dist/

Use case/motivation

A well-prepared standard .gitignore that helps a hatch user getting start quicker with Python development with Git.

More can be added manually by the user to fits their needs, but at least the .gitignore is there to edit.

Related issues

This isssue is a reopen of https://github.com/pypa/hatch/issues/667

Are you willing to submit a PR?

  • Yes I am willing to submit a PR!

Code of Conduct

Contributor guide

Tech stack
python
Domain
tooling
Issue type
feature
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
2
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-3 hours
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
fresh
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
clear
Prerequisites
Pythonbasic understanding of hatch commands
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
85
Research direction
Look at the `hatch new` command implementation, likely in `src/hatch/cli/new.py` or similar. The project template generation logic should be modified to include a `.gitignore` file. Reference the previous issue #667 for context. The default `.gitignore` content should be minimal as suggested: ` pycache /` and `dist/`. After making the change, run existing tests to ensure nothing breaks.