diff --git a/.envrc b/.envrc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad2abb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.envrc
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+export VIRTUAL_ENV=."venv"
+if [ ! -d "$VIRTUAL_ENV" ]; then
+  echo -n "Creating virtual environment..."
+  python -m venv "$VIRTUAL_ENV"
+  echo "done."
+  echo -n "Activating virtual environment..."
+  layout python3
+  echo "done."
+else
+  echo -n "Activating virtual environment..."
+  layout python3
+  echo "done."
+fi
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 22c708e..099c99d 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -5,13 +5,18 @@ This site is built wtih [MkDocs](https://www.mkdocs.org). Pull requests are welc
 ## Install requirements
 
 ```sh
-pip install -r requirements.txt
+script/bootstrap
+```
+
+### If you have direnv installed:
+```sh
+direnv allow
 ```
 
 ## Edit interactively
 
 ```sh
-mkdocs serve
+mkdocs serve -w docs/
 ```
 
 changes made in `docs/` will be reflected in the browser session.
diff --git a/docs/config.md b/docs/config.md
index a87944a..2f2f35a 100644
--- a/docs/config.md
+++ b/docs/config.md
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ These settings are intended to facilitate a stable and reliable mesh network. Th
 ### LoRa
 
 **LongFast Config**
+
 |         Option | Recommended Config | Notes                                                                                            |
 | -------------: | :----------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 |   Modem Preset | LONG_FAST          | This is the default.                                                                             |
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ These settings are intended to facilitate a stable and reliable mesh network. Th
 |     OK to MQTT | `True`             | Added in `2.5.0`. Enable to show up on online tools like [info.MtnMe.sh](https://info.mtnme.sh). |
 
 **MediumFast Config**
+
 |         Option | Recommended Config | Notes                                                                                            |
 | -------------: | :----------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 |   Modem Preset | MEDIUM_FAST        | This is the new fast network                                                                     |
diff --git a/script/bootstrap b/script/bootstrap
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..16a6189
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script/bootstrap
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# accept input string and print it in green
+function GRN() {
+  if [[ $1 == "-n" ]]; then
+    echo -n -e "\033[0;32m$2\033[0m"
+  else
+    echo -e "\033[0;32m$1\033[0m"
+  fi
+}
+
+# accept input string and print it in red
+function RED() {
+  if [[ $1 == "-n" ]]; then
+    echo -n -e "\033[0;31m$2\033[0m"
+  else
+    echo -e "\033[0;31m$1\033[0m"
+  fi
+}
+
+# accept input string and print it in yellow
+function YLW() {
+  if [[ $1 == "-n" ]]; then
+    echo -n -e "\033[0;33m$2\033[0m"
+  else
+    echo -e "\033[0;33m$1\033[0m"
+  fi
+}
+
+YLW -n "Creating virtual environment... "
+if [[ ! -d .venv ]]; then
+  python3 -m venv .venv || {
+    RED "failed"
+    exit 1
+  }
+fi
+GRN "done"
+
+YLW -n "Activating virtual environment..."
+source .venv/bin/activate || {
+  RED "failed"
+  exit 1
+}
+GRN "done"
+
+YLW -n "Installing dependencies..."
+pip install -r requirements.txt || {
+  RED "failed"
+  exit 1
+}
+GRN "done"