diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..921c204
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Python
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]
+*.pyo
+*.pyd
+.Python
+
+# Virtual environments
+.venv/
+venv/
+env/
+
+# Data directory (runtime files, not source)
+data/
+
+# Distribution / packaging
+*.egg-info/
+dist/
+build/