diff --git a/scripts/dev_setup.sh b/scripts/dev_setup.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..34cfeaa85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev_setup.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+VENV_DIR=".venv"
+
+# Pick a Python command that exists
+if command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  PY=python3
+elif command -v python >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  PY=python
+elif command -v py >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  PY="py -3"
+else
+  echo "❌ Python not found. Install Python 3 and try again."
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# Create venv only if missing
+if [ ! -d "$VENV_DIR" ]; then
+  eval $PY -m venv "$VENV_DIR"
+fi
+
+# Activate (Linux/Mac = bin; Windows = Scripts)
+if [ -f "$VENV_DIR/bin/activate" ]; then
+  # shellcheck source=/dev/null
+  source "$VENV_DIR/bin/activate"
+elif [ -f "$VENV_DIR/Scripts/activate" ]; then
+  # shellcheck source=/dev/null
+  source "$VENV_DIR/Scripts/activate"
+else
+  echo "❌ Could not find activate script in $VENV_DIR"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# Upgrade pip
+python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+
+# Install deps if present
+if [ -f "requirements.txt" ]; then
+  pip install -r requirements.txt
+else
+  echo "ℹ️ No requirements.txt — skipping"
+fi
+
+echo "✅ Environment Ready"