What to gitignore from the .idea folder?

What specific files and directories should be included in the .gitignore file from the .idea folder when using version control systems like Git to manage a project?

When using version control systems like Git to manage a project, certain files and directories from the .idea folder (which is generated by JetBrains IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, etc.) should be excluded to avoid committing unnecessary or system-specific configurations. Here are the specific files and directories that should be included in your .gitignore file from the .idea folder:

Files and Directories to .gitignore: Workspace Configuration:

workspace.xml: Contains user-specific IDE settings like currently open files and run configurations. This file is personal and should not be shared across the team.

tasks.xml: Contains user-specific task management settings.

Version Control Information:

vcs.xml: Contains information about the version control system integration, which can vary between users and environments.

UI Settings:

dictionaries/: Contains user-specific spelling dictionaries.

Miscellaneous:

*.iml: IntelliJ IDEA module files. These files are generated by the IDE and do not need to be included in version control.

modules.xml: Defines modules in the project but is usually not necessary to share.

*.log: Log files generated by the IDE.

*.iws: Workspace files for older versions of IntelliJ IDEA.

JetBrains-specific Configurations:

shelf/: Contains changes shelved by the user, which are personal.

contentModel.xml: Stores the content model and should not be included in version control.

Typical .gitignore Entries for .idea Folder: Here is a summary of what to include in your .gitignore for the .idea folder:

.idea/workspace.xml

.idea/tasks.xml

.idea/vcs.xml

.idea/dictionaries/

.idea/*.iml

.idea/modules.xml

.idea/*.log

.idea/*.iws

.idea/shelf/

.idea/contentModel.xml

By excluding these files and directories, you ensure that only the necessary and relevant project configurations are shared within your team, while personal and environment-specific settings are kept out of the version control system.