diff --git a/docs/.pages b/docs/.pages
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--- a/docs/.pages
+++ b/docs/.pages
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 nav:
   - Home: README.md
+  - development
diff --git a/docs/development/README.md b/docs/development/README.md
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+# Getting started with development
+
+!!! info
+
+    This guide will take you through the process of getting the [`pems`](https://github.com/compilerla/pems) project running in
+    your local development environment.
+
+    `pems` uses [VS Code devcontainers](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/devcontainers/containers) to provide a
+    platform-agnostic, standardized development environment.
+
+    For more about why we use Dev Containers, check our Compiler's blog post:
+    [_How to support a platform-agnostic engineering team with VS Code Dev Containers_](https://compiler.la/blog/2024/devcontainer-platform-agnostic-team).
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+This section describes the tooling you need to have installed and configured on your development machine before continuing.
+
+### Git
+
+Git is an open source version control system that we use in `pems` to track changes to the codebase over time. Many operating
+systems come with Git already installed. Check if you have Git installed in a terminal with the following command:
+
+```shell
+git --version
+```
+
+If git is installed, the output should look similar to:
+
+```console
+$ git --version
+git version 2.39.5
+```
+
+If Git is not installed, head to the [Git downloads page](https://git-scm.com/downloads) to get an installer for your operating
+system.
+
+### Docker and Docker Compose
+
+Docker and Docker Compose (or just Compose) are key tools that allow for running the various services required for `pems`.
+
+Confirm if you already have Docker installed, in a terminal:
+
+```shell
+docker --version
+```
+
+If Docker is installed, the output should look similar to:
+
+```console
+$ docker --version
+Docker version 27.4.0, build bde2b89
+```
+
+And similarly to check if Compose is installed:
+
+```shell
+docker compose version
+```
+
+When Compose is installed, output will look similar to:
+
+```console
+$ docker compose version
+Docker Compose version v2.31.0
+```
+
+There are different ways to acquire this software depending on your operating system. The simplest approach for Windows and
+MacOS users is to install [Docker Desktop](https://docs.docker.com/desktop/).
+
+??? warning "License requirements for Docker Desktop"
+
+    Use of Docker Desktop is subject to [Docker's licensing terms](https://www.docker.com/legal/docker-subscription-service-agreement/).
+    In particular, note that **Section 4.2** calls out government users specifically:
+
+    > Government Entities shall not use Docker Desktop or access other Entitlements of the Service without purchasing a Subscription.
+
+#### Windows
+
+It is possible to run Docker and Compose on Windows without installing Docker Desktop. This involves using the [Windows Subsystem
+for Linux v2 (WSL2)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install#step-2-update-to-wsl-2), where Docker is configured
+to run.
+
+This article walks through this procedure in more detail:
+[_How to run docker on Windows without Docker Desktop_](https://dev.to/_nicolas_louis_/how-to-run-docker-on-windows-without-docker-desktop-hik).
+
+#### MacOS
+
+With MacOS and [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/), installing Docker and Compose are as simple as:
+
+```shell
+brew install docker docker-compose colima
+```
+
+Once the install completes, start `colima` (an [open source container runtime](https://github.com/abiosoft/colima)):
+
+```shell
+brew services start colima
+```
+
+#### Linux
+
+Docker CE (also known as Docker Engine) is how to run Docker and Compose on Linux. Docker provides an
+[installation guide for Docker CE](https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/).
+
+### VS Code and Dev Containers extension
+
+VS Code is an open source Integrated Development Environment (IDE) from Microsoft. Check if you already have it installed:
+
+```shell
+code -v
+```
+
+If installed, output should look similar to:
+
+```console
+$ code -v
+1.95.3
+f1a4fb101478ce6ec82fe9627c43efbf9e98c813
+x64
+```
+
+Otherwise, [download VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/download) for your operating system.
+
+Once installed, open VS Code and enter `Ctrl`/`Cmd` + `P` to open the VS Code Quick Open pane. Then enter:
+
+```console
+ext install ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers
+```
+
+`ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers` is the Extension ID of the
+[Dev Containers extension from Microsoft](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers).
+
+## Get the project code
+
+Use Git to clone the repository to your local machine:
+
+```shell
+git clone https://github.com/compilerla/pems.git
+```
+
+Then change into the `pems` directory and create an environment file from the sample:
+
+```shell
+cd pems
+cp .env.sample .env
+```
+
+Feel free to inspect the environment file, but leave the defaults for now.
+
+## Run the application
+
+Start the application service with Compose:
+
+```shell
+docker compose up -d app
+```
+
+The `-d` flag starts the service in "detatched" mode, so your terminal is still available for additional commands. Without this flag, your terminal attaches to the service container's standard output.
+
+The application is now running on `http://localhost:8000`.
+
+Stop the running service with Compose:
+
+```shell
+docker compose down
+```
+
+## Open the project in a VS Code devcontainer
+
+Still in your terminal, enter the following command to open the project in VS Code:
+
+```shell
+code .
+```
+
+Once the project is loaded in VS Code, you should see a notification pop-up that will ask if you want to reopen the project in
+a devcontainer.
+
+If you don't see this notification, or if you dismissed it, use the VS Code Quick Open pane with `Ctrl`/`Cmd` + `P` and enter:
+
+```md
+> Dev Containers: Rebuild and Reopen in Container
+```
+
+The VS Code window will reload into the devcontainer.
+
+Once loaded, hit `F5` to start the application in debug mode. The application is now running on `http://localhost:8000`.
+
+## Explore the devcontainer
+
+This section describes other areas to explore within the VS Code devcontainer.
+
+### Debugger
+
+Open a Python file in the `pems/` directory and add a breakpoint by clicking the space next to a line number,
+leaving a small red circle where you clicked.
+
+Step through the running application on `http://localhost:8000` to trigger the code path you selected. Execution is paused
+and VS Code allows you to inspect the runtime environment, context, etc.
+
+### Integrated terminal
+
+Press `Ctrl` + `~` to bring up the integrated `TERMINAL` window. You are now in a `bash` terminal running inside the
+context of the devcontainer.
+
+### Docs site
+
+Open the `PORTS` tab to see port bindings for additional services. Look for the `Forwarded Address` of the `docs` service and
+click to open the docs site in your browser, running on `localhost`.
+
+Edit the documentation files in VS Code, and once saved, the local docs site will rebuild with the changes.
+
+### Test runner
+
+Use the VS Code Quick Open pane with `Ctrl`/`Cmd` + `P` and enter:
+
+```md
+> Testing: Focus
+```
+
+To focus on the `Testing` pane on the left side. Click the play button to run the unit tests.
diff --git a/mkdocs.yml b/mkdocs.yml
index 94c39f2..7bc1a5f 100644
--- a/mkdocs.yml
+++ b/mkdocs.yml
@@ -45,21 +45,22 @@ markdown_extensions:
   - codehilite:
       linenums: true
   - mdx_truly_sane_lists
+  - meta
+  - pymdownx.details
   - pymdownx.emoji:
       emoji_index: !!python/name:materialx.emoji.twemoji
       emoji_generator: !!python/name:materialx.emoji.to_svg
   - pymdownx.inlinehilite
-  - pymdownx.tasklist:
-      custom_checkbox: true
-  - pymdownx.tabbed
+  - pymdownx.smartsymbols
   - pymdownx.superfences:
       custom_fences:
         - name: mermaid
           class: mermaid
           format: !!python/name:pymdownx.superfences.fence_code_format
-  - pymdownx.smartsymbols
-  - meta
+  - pymdownx.tasklist:
+      custom_checkbox: true
+  - pymdownx.tabbed
+  - smarty
   - toc:
       # insert a blank space before the character
       permalink: " ¶"
-  - smarty