Update sync_with_git.sh

sync_with_git.sh

@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 # 4. Stages local files to check differences.
 # 5. Identifies real changes bypassing the Git --name-only whitespace bug.
 # 6. Prompts to override local files if diffs are found.
+#
+# Updated: Includes intelligent .gitignore handling (local vs remote comparison).
 # ==============================================================================
 
 if [ -z "$1" ]; then
@@ -31,7 +33,45 @@ git remote add origin "$REPO_URL"
 echo "Fetching from origin..."
 git fetch origin
 
+# --- .GITIGNORE LOGIC ---
+REMOTE_IGNORE_TEMP=$(mktemp)
+if git show "origin/$BRANCH:.gitignore" > "$REMOTE_IGNORE_TEMP" 2>/dev/null; then
+    if [ -f .gitignore ]; then
+        # Check if local and remote versions are actually different
+        if ! diff -q .gitignore "$REMOTE_IGNORE_TEMP" > /dev/null; then
+            echo "---"
+            echo "NOTICE: .gitignore conflict detected."
+            echo "Differences ( - Local / + Remote ):"
+            diff -u .gitignore "$REMOTE_IGNORE_TEMP" | tail -n +3
+            echo "---"
+            read -p "Overwrite local .gitignore with the remote version? (y/N): " ignore_choice
+            case "$ignore_choice" in
+                [yY]* ) 
+                    mv "$REMOTE_IGNORE_TEMP" .gitignore
+                    echo "Replaced with remote .gitignore."
+                    ;;
+                * ) 
+                    echo "Keeping local .gitignore. Note: This may cause extra files to show in the diff below."
+                    rm "$REMOTE_IGNORE_TEMP"
+                    ;;
+            esac
+        else
+            echo "Local and remote .gitignore are identical."
+            rm "$REMOTE_IGNORE_TEMP"
+        fi
+    else
+        echo "No local .gitignore found. Applying remote version..."
+        mv "$REMOTE_IGNORE_TEMP" .gitignore
+    fi
+else
+    echo "No .gitignore found on remote. Proceeding with existing local state..."
+    rm -f "$REMOTE_IGNORE_TEMP"
+fi
+# ---------------------------------
+
 echo "Staging local files so Git can compare them..."
+# Clear cache first to ensure we aren't tracking things the new .gitignore should skip
+git rm -r --cached . > /dev/null 2>&1
 git add .
 
 echo "Checking for differences (ignoring line-endings and whitespace)..."