diff --git a/.devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer.json
index c8b423bb..82b6eac9 100644
--- a/.devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer.json
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@
         "[python]": {
           "editor": {
             "defaultFormatter": "ms-python.black-formatter"
-          }
+          },
+          "pipenvPath": "pipenv"
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index bc01357d..845bdfcb 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -45,3 +45,4 @@ devenv.local.nix
 # pre-commit
 .pre-commit-config.yaml
 
+.vscode
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.vscode/launch.template.json b/.vscode/launch.template.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ddc23bdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/launch.template.json
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{
+    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
+    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
+    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
+    "version": "0.2.0",
+    "configurations": [
+        {
+            "name": "Python: Django",
+            "type": "python",
+            "request": "launch",
+            "program": "${workspaceFolder}/manage.py",
+            "env": {
+                "DEBUG": "False"
+            },
+            "args": [
+                "runserver"
+            ],
+            "django": true,
+            "justMyCode": true
+        }
+    ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/devenv.nix b/devenv.nix
index dc52b12d..884a28b9 100644
--- a/devenv.nix
+++ b/devenv.nix
@@ -18,9 +18,12 @@
     pipenv install --dev
     npm i
     gulp migrate
-    gulp
   '';
 
+  processes = {
+    gulp.exec = "gulp";
+  };
+
   # https://devenv.sh/languages/
   languages.python.enable = true;
   languages.javascript = {
@@ -31,6 +34,7 @@
   devcontainer = {
     enable = true;
     settings.customizations.vscode.settings."[python]".editor.defaultFormatter = "ms-python.black-formatter";
+    settings.customizations.vscode.settings."[python]".pipenvPath = "pipenv";
     settings.customizations.vscode.extensions = [
       "bbenoist.Nix"
       "ms-python.python"
diff --git a/docs/contributing/development-environment.md b/docs/contributing/development-environment.md
index 06ac6657..64449952 100644
--- a/docs/contributing/development-environment.md
+++ b/docs/contributing/development-environment.md
@@ -81,8 +81,41 @@ username and password (`admin`/`admin`).
 
 1. Install devenv (linux/mac/windows subsystem for linux/docker) via https://devenv.sh/getting-started/
 1. git clone the repo
-1. run `devenv shell`
+1. here you have two options
+    1. run `devenv shell` and then run `gulp`
+    1. _OR_ run `devenv up` which automatically runs gulp/nodejs/python as well
 1. Open [http://127.0.0.1:8000](http://127.0.0.1:8000) and log in with the default
 username and password (`admin`/`admin`).
 
-Devenv also generates the devcontainer for vscode, and sets up github codespaces support. To run babybuddy, open a terminal after opening this repo in the devcontainer
\ No newline at end of file
+Devenv also generates the **.devcontainer for vscode**, and sets up **github codespaces support**. To run babybuddy in the devcontainer or codespaces, open a terminal after opening this repo in the devcontainer, which causes the dependencies to be installed via `devenv shell`. Then, run `gulp` to start the baby buddy server.
+
+### Debugging in devenv + vscode
+To debug in devenv + vscode/codespaces:
+
+1. add a `.vscode/launch.json` file like this: 
+```json
+{
+    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
+    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
+    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
+    "version": "0.2.0",
+    "configurations": [
+        {
+            "name": "Python: Django",
+            "type": "python",
+            "request": "launch",
+            "program": "${workspaceFolder}/manage.py",
+            "env": {
+                "DEBUG": "False"
+            },
+            "args": [
+                "runserver"
+            ],
+            "django": true,
+            "justMyCode": true
+        }
+    ]
+}
+```
+2. Consider running `gulp fake --children 5 --days 7` as explained in the [gulp command reference](./gulp-command-reference.md) to add some fake data to the database
+3. Click Run -> Start Debugging (F5) and set your breakpoints in the python as desired