diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9eb9fc096
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Ignore everything new by default
+/*
+
+# Ignore everything in man?/ that doesn't follow conventions (e.g., tmp files)
+!/man?/
+/man?/**
+!/man?/**.?
+
+# These files change name in each release
+!/man-pages*.Announce
+!/man-pages*.lsm
+
+!/scripts/