diff --git a/public/.gitignore b/public/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7904a6b9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+# ----- macos rules -----
+# taken from https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/Global/macOS.gitignore
+
+
+# General
+.DS_Store
+.AppleDouble
+.LSOverride
+
+# Icon must end with two \r
+Icon
+
+# Thumbnails
+._*
+
+# Files that might appear in the root of a volume
+.DocumentRevisions-V100
+.fseventsd
+.Spotlight-V100
+.TemporaryItems
+.Trashes
+.VolumeIcon.icns
+.com.apple.timemachine.donotpresent
+
+# Directories potentially created on remote AFP share
+.AppleDB
+.AppleDesktop
+Network Trash Folder
+Temporary Items
+.apdisk
+
+
+
+
+
+# ----- windows rules -----
+# taken from https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/Global/Windows.gitignore
+
+# Windows thumbnail cache files
+Thumbs.db
+Thumbs.db:encryptable
+ehthumbs.db
+ehthumbs_vista.db
+
+# Dump file
+*.stackdump
+
+# Folder config file
+[Dd]esktop.ini
+
+# Recycle Bin used on file shares
+$RECYCLE.BIN/
+
+# Windows Installer files
+*.cab
+*.msi
+*.msix
+*.msm
+*.msp
+
+# Windows shortcuts
+*.lnk
+
+
+
+
+
+# ----- linux rules -----
+# taken from https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/Global/Linux.gitignore
+
+*~
+
+# temporary files which can be created if a process still has a handle open of a deleted file
+.fuse_hidden*
+
+# KDE directory preferences
+.directory
+
+# Linux trash folder which might appear on any partition or disk
+.Trash-*
+
+# .nfs files are created when an open file is removed but is still being accessed
+.nfs*
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/content/docs/git/git-gitignore.mdx b/src/content/docs/git/git-gitignore.mdx
index 3e96e48d7..c4971c696 100644
--- a/src/content/docs/git/git-gitignore.mdx
+++ b/src/content/docs/git/git-gitignore.mdx
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ In this guide we show you how to keep files from syncing to the DataHUB. This ca
 
 ## The .gitignore file
 
-Every ARC comes with a special file called `.gitignore`, that resides in the root of your ARC. Files and folders listed in your ARC's `.gitignore` will be *ignored* by the ARC's version control system. That means changes to those files will not be tracked by ARC tools (e.g. ARC Commander or ARCitect) nor will the files be synced to the DataHUB.
+Every ARC can contain a special file called `.gitignore`, that typically resides in the root of the ARC. Files and folders listed in your ARC's `.gitignore` will be *ignored* by the ARC's version control system. That means changes to those files will not be tracked by ARC tools (e.g. ARC Commander or ARCitect) nor will the files be synced to the DataHUB.
 
 :::tip
 1. If `.gitignore` does not exist in your ARC, you can simply create it in your ARC's root using a text editor or the ARCitect.
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ Every ARC comes with a special file called `.gitignore`, that resides in the roo
 2. If a file in your ARC was already synced to the DataHUB, adding it to `.gitignore` will only keep it from future syncs, it will however not remove the existing file.
 :::
 
+## Adding .gitignore
+
+You can create and add a new `.gitignore` file via any simple text editor or via ARCitect.
+A default `.gitignore` that includes typical hidden system and temporary files can be <a href="/nfdi4plants.knowledgebase/.gitignore">**downloaded here**</a>. 
+
 ## Adding files to .gitignore
 
 <Steps>