diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..32f957b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# History files
+.Rhistory
+
+# Example code in package build process
+*-Ex.R
+
+## ignore backup files
+*~
+