diff --git a/bootstrap/cxx/.gitignore b/bootstrap/cxx/.gitignore
index 2f8268b48..ee88074c4 100644
--- a/bootstrap/cxx/.gitignore
+++ b/bootstrap/cxx/.gitignore
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-# default build directory
+# default build directory for VSCode
 /build/
 
 # used by clangd and other programs
@@ -8,5 +8,8 @@
 # used for local development
 Makefile
 
+# Used by IDEs to get correct error messages
+compile_commands.json
+
 # quick test scripts in the main directory
 /*.bolt