diff --git a/dlt_init_openapi/renderer/default/__init__.py b/dlt_init_openapi/renderer/default/__init__.py
index 763d6ec..9b073fe 100644
--- a/dlt_init_openapi/renderer/default/__init__.py
+++ b/dlt_init_openapi/renderer/default/__init__.py
@@ -87,6 +87,13 @@ def _build_meta_files(self) -> None:
             encoding=FILE_ENCODING,
         )
 
+        gitignore_template = self.env.get_template("gitignore.j2")
+        gitignore_path = self.config.project_dir / ".gitignore"
+        gitignore_path.write_text(
+            gitignore_template.render(),
+            encoding=FILE_ENCODING,
+        )
+
     def _create_package(self) -> None:
         self.config.project_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
         self.package_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
diff --git a/dlt_init_openapi/renderer/default/templates/dlt_secrets.toml.j2 b/dlt_init_openapi/renderer/default/templates/dlt_secrets.toml.j2
index 3bf7fed..74ef34a 100644
--- a/dlt_init_openapi/renderer/default/templates/dlt_secrets.toml.j2
+++ b/dlt_init_openapi/renderer/default/templates/dlt_secrets.toml.j2
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
-{% if credentials %}
 [sources.{{project_name}}]
+# secrets for your {{project_name}} source
+{% if credentials %}
 {% for secret in credentials.detected_secret_names %}
 {{ secret }} = "FILL ME OUT"  # TODO: fill in your credentials
 {% endfor %}
+{% else %}
+# example_api_key = "example value"
 {% endif %}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dlt_init_openapi/renderer/default/templates/gitignore.j2 b/dlt_init_openapi/renderer/default/templates/gitignore.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc99ea3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dlt_init_openapi/renderer/default/templates/gitignore.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# local duckdb files
+*.duckdb
+# pipeline secrets
+secrets.toml