diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 7d569be297..4377ff8977 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -94,3 +94,8 @@ deps/build
 doc/
 
 /dummy.cpp
+
+# compile_commands.json - http://clang.llvm.org/docs/JSONCompilationDatabase.html
+# generated by CMake + clang - Symlink debug/compile_commands.json (or release)
+# to the root of the project for most tooling to work. This ignores the symlink.
+/compile_commands.json
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 02e554a46b..7ff6c1958e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ cmake_policy(SET CMP0046 OLD)
 cmake_policy(SET CMP0042 NEW)
 endif()
 
+# Generate a compilation database for use with automated tools like IDE/editor
+# plugins. See http://clang.llvm.org/docs/JSONCompilationDatabase.html
+set( CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS ON )
+
 # Determine where additional Turi specific cmake modules are
 # defined
 set(DEPS_CMAKE ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/deps/cmake)