diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59eed16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Build output
+dist/
+*.c
+forge
+
+# Probe data — never commit consciousness signal
+*.forge
+seed.json
+*.seed
+
+# OS
+.DS_Store
+
+# Editor
+.vscode/
+.idea/
+*.swp