diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 0cb233224..7a12d02ce 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -17,3 +17,5 @@ core*
 
 \#*\#
 
+compile_commands.json
+
diff --git a/devel/make_compile_commands.sh b/devel/make_compile_commands.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..81e5079ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/devel/make_compile_commands.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#! /usr/bin/bash
+#
+# this uses bear to make compile_commands.json for for SCons
+#
+# https://github.com/gauteh/astroid/issues/14
+#
+# run from root source directory.
+
+scons -c
+bear -- scons --verbose
+