base commit for travisCI auto testing
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3fb76ae..04e839b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 **/Makefile
 **/Makefile.am
 
+# exceptions for travisCI
+!.travisCI/Makefile
+
 # staged PDKs
 sky130/sky130A
 sky130/sky130A/*