diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
index 6fd72f8b..0793d192 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -1,21 +1,16 @@
 {
   "name": "Redux .NET Dev Container",
-  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/sdk:10.0",
-  "features": {
-    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/common-utils:2": {
-      "username": "vscode",
-      "installZsh": false,
-      "upgradePackages": false
-    }
+  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/dotnet:10.0",
+  "//appPort": "Publishes 27000 to the host via `docker -p`, so it works from a plain terminal (devcontainer CLI), not just VS Code forwarding. The API binds 0.0.0.0 (see the mise `run` task).",
+  "appPort": [27000],
+  "portsAttributes": {
+    "27000": { "label": "Redux API", "onAutoForward": "notify" }
   },
+  "postCreateCommand": "bash .devcontainer/post-create.sh",
   "remoteUser": "vscode",
   "customizations": {
     "vscode": {
-      "extensions": [
-        "ms-dotnettools.csharp"
-      ]
+      "extensions": ["ms-dotnettools.csharp"]
     }
-  },
-  "postStartCommand": "if [ \"$(stat -c %U /workspaces/Redux)\" != \"vscode\" ]; then sudo chown -R vscode:vscode /workspaces/Redux; fi",
-  "postCreateCommand": "dotnet --list-sdks"
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+  }
+}
diff --git a/.devcontainer/post-create.sh b/.devcontainer/post-create.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..6b7cbcd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.devcontainer/post-create.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Post-create for the Redux devcontainer.
+#
+# The .NET 10 runtime comes from the base image. This script only layers in mise
+# (the unified task runner) and restores NuGet packages so the container is ready
+# to `mise run build|test|run`. See CLAUDE.md "Toolchain layering (DECIDED)".
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# 1. Install mise if the base image doesn't already provide it.
+if ! command -v mise >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  curl -fsSL https://mise.run | sh
+fi
+MISE="${HOME}/.local/bin/mise"
+
+# 2. Activate mise for future interactive shells.
+ACTIVATE="eval \"\$(${MISE} activate bash)\""
+grep -qF "${ACTIVATE}" "${HOME}/.bashrc" 2>/dev/null || echo "${ACTIVATE}" >> "${HOME}/.bashrc"
+
+# 3. Trust this repo's mise.toml, then warm the NuGet cache via the shared task.
+"${MISE}" trust
+"${MISE}" run restore
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index effb35ce..25ed83a4 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -27,6 +27,17 @@ By submitting a contribution (pull request, patch, or code submission), you conf
 
 ## How to Contribute
 
+### Development environment
+
+The easiest way to develop is the **dev container**: it provides the correct .NET 10 toolchain
+and a shared `mise run <task>` command set, so you install nothing on your host and your
+environment matches CI. Open the repo in VS Code (**Reopen in Container**) or run
+`devcontainer up` from a terminal. See **Quick Start → Recommended: Dev Container** in the
+[README](./Readme.md) for full setup.
+
+Inside the container: `mise run run` starts the API on `http://localhost:27000`, and
+`mise run test` runs the full test suite.
+
 ### 1. Fork the repository
 Create your own fork of the project.
 
@@ -40,7 +51,7 @@ Use a descriptive branch name:
 
 ### 4. Test your changes
 - Ensure the project builds successfully
-- Run any existing tests
+- Run any existing tests (`mise run test` in the dev container)
 - Add tests if applicable
 
 ### 5. Submit a Pull Request (PR)
diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index c1b533fd..31d64c20 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -34,6 +34,57 @@ The backend is designed to be adaptable and can work with different frontends. T
 
 ## Quick Start
 
+The recommended path is the **dev container** (below): it needs only a container runtime and
+gives everyone the same .NET 10 toolchain. Prefer to install toolchains on your host instead?
+Skip to [Prerequisites](#prerequisites).
+
+### Recommended: Dev Container
+
+The dev container pins the .NET 10 SDK and a shared task runner ([mise](https://mise.jdx.dev/))
+so VS Code, a plain terminal, and CI all build and test the same way. **No local .NET SDK or
+Node.js is required for backend work** — the container provides them.
+
+**Dependencies**
+
+- [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) (or a compatible container runtime), and
+- one of:
+  - **VS Code** + the [Dev Containers extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers) (or a [GitHub Codespace](https://github.com/features/codespaces)), or
+  - the [`@devcontainers/cli`](https://github.com/devcontainers/cli) for terminal-based editors (neovim, etc.): `npm install -g @devcontainers/cli` (needs Node.js on your host).
+
+**VS Code / Codespaces**
+
+Open the repo and choose **Reopen in Container**. The first build restores packages
+automatically; then use the tasks below from the integrated terminal.
+
+**Terminal (devcontainer CLI)**
+
+```bash
+# create/start the container (first run pulls the image + restores packages)
+devcontainer up --workspace-folder .
+
+# run tasks inside it
+devcontainer exec --workspace-folder . mise run test   # restore -> build -> test
+devcontainer exec --workspace-folder . mise run run    # API on http://localhost:27000
+```
+
+**Tasks** — the same `mise run <task>` names work in VS Code, the terminal, and CI:
+
+| Task | What it does |
+|------|--------------|
+| `mise run restore` | Restore NuGet packages |
+| `mise run build`   | Build the solution (Release) |
+| `mise run test`    | Restore → build → test (mirrors CI) |
+| `mise run run`     | Run the API on http://localhost:27000 (Swagger at `/swagger/index.html`) |
+| `mise run watch`   | Run the API with hot reload |
+
+Port **27000** is published to your host, so a browser or the
+[Redux_GUI](https://github.com/ReduxISU/Redux_GUI) frontend can reach the API at
+`http://localhost:27000` while you develop.
+
+> **Working on the GUI too (e.g. a reduction)?** Run this backend container, then start the
+> frontend separately and point its `REDUX_BASE_URL` at `http://localhost:27000/`. The two are
+> independent containers wired over HTTP — you do not need both in one container.
+
 ### Prerequisites
 
 - [.NET 10 SDK](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download)
diff --git a/mise.toml b/mise.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fe6c29fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mise.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# mise — one task vocabulary across the Redux repos (`mise run build|test|run|watch`),
+# so C#, Python, and JS repos share the same commands.
+#
+# There is intentionally NO [tools] section: the .NET 10 runtime is provided by the
+# devcontainer base image, not mise. mise is the task layer only. See CLAUDE.md
+# "Toolchain layering (DECIDED)".
+#
+# Every task names Redux.slnx explicitly — a bare `dotnet` at the repo root errors
+# MSB1011 because API.csproj and Redux.slnx sit side by side (same reason CI does).
+
+[tasks.restore]
+description = "Restore NuGet packages"
+run = "dotnet restore Redux.slnx"
+
+[tasks.build]
+description = "Build the solution (Release)"
+depends = ["restore"]
+run = "dotnet build Redux.slnx --no-restore --configuration Release"
+
+[tasks.test]
+description = "Run unit tests (restore -> build -> test, matching CI)"
+depends = ["build"]
+run = "dotnet test Redux.slnx --no-restore --no-build --configuration Release"
+
+[tasks.run]
+description = "Run the API on http://localhost:27000 (Development + Swagger)"
+# Bind via ASPNETCORE_URLS, NOT `--urls`: `dotnet run` treats `--urls` as an unknown
+# run option and exits before the app starts. 0.0.0.0 so the published port is reachable.
+env = { ASPNETCORE_URLS = "http://0.0.0.0:27000" }
+run = "dotnet run --project API.csproj"
+
+[tasks.watch]
+description = "Run the API with hot reload on :27000"
+env = { ASPNETCORE_URLS = "http://0.0.0.0:27000" }
+run = "dotnet watch --project API.csproj run"