---
title: Excluded paths and allow lists
description: Leave files out before parsing with excludes, or functions out after scoring with allow lists.
---

## Excluded paths

The scanner respects `.gitignore`, skips hidden directories, and by default
skips the directories `node_modules`, `target`, `vendor`, `.terraform`,
`dist`, `build`, `tests`, `test`, `__tests__`, `src/test`, `benches`, and
`examples` at any depth, plus the test files `*_test.go`, `*.test.*`,
`*.spec.*`, `test_*.py`, and `*_test.py`.

`--exclude <GLOB>` adds a pattern; the configuration key `default-excludes`
replaces the built-in list; `--no-default-excludes` drops it. Globs match
paths relative to `--path`, and `*` does not cross a directory separator, so
write `src/generated/**` rather than `src/generated/*`. An excluded file is
never parsed and never counted.

## Allow lists

`--allow <GLOB>` suppresses functions after scoring, so they leave the table,
the gates, and the summary counts. A pattern with a `/` or `**` matches file
paths, relative to `--path` or as reported. Any other pattern matches the
qualified symbol, and `*` crosses `.` and `::`:

```sh
poly-crap --allow 'legacy::*' --allow 'vendor/**'
```

Java symbols carry their parameter types, so match them with a glob:
`'Parser.parse(*'`. Matching is case sensitive.