diff --git a/.editorconfig b/.editorconfig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07bfc11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.editorconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+root = true
+
+[*]
+charset = utf-8
+end_of_line = lf
+insert_final_newline = true
+trim_trailing_whitespace = true
+indent_style = space
+indent_size = 2
+
+[*.md]
+trim_trailing_whitespace = false
+
+[Makefile]
+indent_style = tab
+
+[*.{go,mod}]
+indent_style = tab
+
+[*.{py,cs,java,kt,kts,swift,rs,c,cpp,h}]
+indent_size = 4
+
+[*.{yml,yaml,json}]
+indent_size = 2
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73a6827
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+# W4C project template — default ignores.
+# The stack is chosen in the creation dialog, so this file covers the ecosystems the
+# dialog offers (Node/TypeScript, Python, .NET, JVM, Go, Rust, Dart/Flutter, Ruby,
+# Elixir, Swift) plus OS/editor cruft and secret-bearing files.
+
+# --- OS cruft ---
+.DS_Store
+.AppleDouble
+.LSOverride
+Thumbs.db
+ehthumbs.db
+Desktop.ini
+$RECYCLE.BIN/
+
+# --- Editors / IDEs ---
+.idea/
+.vscode/
+!.vscode/extensions.json
+!.vscode/settings.json
+!.vscode/launch.json
+!.vscode/tasks.json
+*.swp
+*.swo
+*.sublime-workspace
+*.sublime-project
+*~
+
+# --- Secrets and local environment (keep .env.example tracked) ---
+.env
+.env.*
+!.env.example
+*.pem
+*.key
+*.p12
+*.pfx
+secrets/
+certs/
+
+# --- Logs and temporary files ---
+*.log
+logs/
+log/
+tmp/
+temp/
+.cache/
+*.tmp
+
+# --- Build output (shared across stacks) ---
+build/
+dist/
+out/
+coverage/
+artifacts/
+*.tsbuildinfo
+
+# --- Node / JavaScript / TypeScript ---
+node_modules/
+.pnpm-store/
+.yarn/
+.npm/
+.pnp
+.pnp.*
+.next/
+.nuxt/
+.output/
+.svelte-kit/
+.astro/
+.turbo/
+.vercel/
+.parcel-cache/
+.eslintcache
+.angular/
+
+# --- Python ---
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]
+*.egg-info/
+.eggs/
+.venv/
+venv/
+.pytest_cache/
+.mypy_cache/
+.ruff_cache/
+.tox/
+htmlcov/
+
+# --- .NET / C# ---
+bin/
+obj/
+.vs/
+TestResults/
+*.user
+*.suo
+*.nupkg
+
+# --- Java / Kotlin / Gradle / Maven ---
+target/
+.gradle/
+*.class
+*.jar
+!gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar
+!.mvn/wrapper/maven-wrapper.jar
+local.properties
+*.apk
+*.aab
+
+# --- Go ---
+*.exe
+*.exe~
+*.dll
+*.so
+*.dylib
+*.test
+*.out
+
+# --- Rust ---
+/target/
+
+# --- Dart / Flutter ---
+.dart_tool/
+.pub-cache/
+.flutter-plugins
+.flutter-plugins-dependencies
+
+# --- Ruby / Rails ---
+.bundle/
+vendor/bundle/
+.byebug_history
+
+# --- Elixir / Phoenix ---
+_build/
+deps/
+*.ez
+.elixir_ls/
+erl_crash.dump
+
+# --- Swift / Xcode ---
+.build/
+DerivedData/
+.swiftpm/
+*.xcuserstate
+
+# --- Local databases ---
+*.sqlite
+*.sqlite3
+*.db
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d53e116..5fc51cb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ the work is checked against.
 |------|---------|
 | `README.md` | This file: how the template is wired and how to work in the project. |
 | `SPEC.md` | The research specification and acceptance criteria — the contract to work against. |
+| `.gitignore` | Default ignores for dependencies, build output, local secrets and editor/OS cruft. |
+| `.editorconfig` | Shared editor defaults (UTF-8, LF, indentation) for the generated project. |
 | `.w4c/template.json` | Template manifest: dialog fields, starter prompt, element list (templates only). |
 | `.w4c/project.json` | Project metadata committed with the repository. |
 | `.w4c/README.md` | The `.w4c/` folder contract. |