diff --git a/.devcontainer/Dockerfile b/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1e3b946ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+ARG PYTHON_VERSION=3.12-bullseye
+FROM mcr.microsoft.com/vscode/devcontainers/python:${PYTHON_VERSION}
+
+ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
+ENV DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE='config.docker-compose'
+
+RUN mkdir /code
+WORKDIR /code
+
+RUN apt-get update && \
+    apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+    libpq-dev \
+    build-essential \
+    rustc \
+    cargo && \
+    apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+
+RUN addgroup --gid 1001 --system pokeapi && \
+    adduser --uid 1001 --system --ingroup pokeapi --shell /bin/bash pokeapi
+
+RUN chown -R pokeapi:pokeapi /code
+
+USER pokeapi
+
+ADD requirements.txt /code/
+ADD test-requirements.txt /code/
+RUN python3 -m pip install -r test-requirements.txt --no-cache-dir
+
+ADD . /code/
+
+CMD ["sleep", "infinity"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f15599fbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+{
+  "name": "PokeAPI",
+
+  // Use multiple docker-compose files for development and overrides
+  "dockerComposeFile": [
+    "../docker-compose.yml",
+    "./docker-compose.override.yml"
+  ],
+
+  // Target container service to attach VS Code workspace
+  "service": "app",
+
+  // Folder inside container where workspace is mounted
+  "workspaceFolder": "/code",
+
+  "customizations": {
+    "vscode": {
+      "settings": {
+        "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "/usr/local/bin/python",
+
+        // Use bash as the default shell in the integrated terminal
+        "terminal.integrated.profiles.linux": {
+          "bash": {
+            "path": "/bin/bash"
+          }
+        },
+        "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.linux": "bash",
+
+        // Enable automatic formatting on save with Black for Python files
+        "[python]": {
+          "editor.defaultFormatter": "ms-python.black-formatter",
+          "editor.formatOnSave": true
+        }
+      },
+
+      // Extensions to install automatically in the container's VS Code instance
+      "extensions": [
+        "ms-python.python",
+        "ms-python.black-formatter"
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+
+  "features": {
+    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/common-utils:2": {
+        "installZsh": "false",
+        "installOhMyZsh": "false",
+        "configureZshAsDefaultShell": "false"
+    },
+    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/git:1": {},
+    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/docker-outside-of-docker": {}
+  },
+
+  // Post-create commands:
+  "postCreateCommand": "git config --global core.autocrlf input && git config --global --add safe.directory /code",
+
+  "remoteUser": "pokeapi",
+
+  // Ports to forward from container to host for easy access
+  "forwardPorts": [80, 443, 8000, 8080],
+
+  // Custom port labels and auto-forward notification settings
+  "portsAttributes": {
+    "8000": {
+      "label": "App",
+      "onAutoForward": "notify"
+    },
+    "80": {
+      "label": "Web HTTP",
+      "onAutoForward": "notify"
+    },
+    "443": {
+      "label": "Web HTTPS",
+      "onAutoForward": "notify"
+    },
+    "8080": {
+      "label": "GraphQL",
+      "onAutoForward": "notify"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/.devcontainer/docker-compose.override.yml b/.devcontainer/docker-compose.override.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..861bdb289
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.devcontainer/docker-compose.override.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+version: '2.4'
+
+services:
+  app:
+    build:
+      context: .
+      dockerfile: ./.devcontainer/Dockerfile
+    user: pokeapi
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 0d1efe63b..05bd41b52 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -26,6 +26,37 @@ git checkout -b my_new_branch
 
 Simple!
 
+## Development Environment
+Want to get started quickly? Use [Dev Containers](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/devcontainers/containers). They provide a consistent, pre-configured development environment, ensuring you're ready to go without lengthy setup.
+
+### Prerequisites:
+
+* [**Docker**](https://www.docker.com/) (ensure Docker Desktop or your Docker daemon is running)
+* [**Visual Studio Code**](https://code.visualstudio.com/)
+* [**VS Code Dev Containers Extension**]()
+
+### Getting Started:
+
+1.  **Open in Dev Container:** Open the project folder in VS Code. Click "Reopen in Container" when prompted (or use the Command Palette).
+
+2.  **Initial Setup:** Once the container is ready, open a terminal and run:
+    ```bash
+    make devcontainer-setup
+    ```
+    This command installs requirements, runs migrations, and populates the database.
+
+### Running Server (Inside the Dev Container):
+
+* Run Development Server (Django's built-in):
+    ```bash
+    make serve
+    ```
+
+* Run Development Server (Gunicorn):
+    ```bash
+    make serve-gunicorn
+    ```
+    
 ## Financial contributions
 
 We also welcome financial contributions in full transparency on our [open collective](https://opencollective.com/pokeapi).
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2beb3553a..7fe8b3b2a 100755
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ wipe-sqlite-db:  # Delete's the project database
 serve:  # Run the project locally
 	python manage.py runserver ${local_config}
 
+serve-gunicorn:  # Run the project using Gunicorn
+	gunicorn config.wsgi:application -c gunicorn.conf.py
+
 test:  # Run tests
 	python manage.py test ${local_config}
 
@@ -81,6 +84,23 @@ docker-prod:
 
 docker-setup: docker-up docker-migrate docker-build-db  # (Docker) Start services, prepare the latest DB schema, populate the DB
 
+devcontainer-migrate:  # (Dev Container) Run any pending migrations
+	python manage.py migrate ${docker_config}
+
+devcontainer-build-db:  # (Dev Container) Build the database
+	sh -c 'echo "from data.v2.build import build_all; build_all()" | python manage.py shell ${docker_config}'
+
+devcontainer-make-migrations:  # (Dev Container) Create migrations files if schema has changed
+	python manage.py makemigrations ${docker_config}
+
+devcontainer-flush-db:  # (Dev Container) Removes all the data present in the database but preserves tables and migrations
+	python manage.py flush --no-input ${docker_config}
+
+devcontainer-shell:  # (Dev Container) Launch an interative Django shell for the pokeapi app
+	python manage.py shell ${docker_config}
+
+devcontainer-setup: dev-install devcontainer-migrate devcontainer-build-db # (Dev Container) Install requirements, prepare the latest DB schema, populate the DB
+
 format:  # Format the source code
 	black .