diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
index aecaa942..1aa53f2e 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -2,8 +2,11 @@
   "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/dotnet",
   "features": {
     "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/dotnet:2": {
-      "version": "latest"
+      "version": "9.0"
     }
   },
-  "postCreateCommand": "dotnet --list-sdks"
+  "containerEnv": {
+    "NUGET_AUTH_TOKEN": "${localEnv:AZURE_DEVOPS_PAT}"
+  },
+  "postCreateCommand": "bash .devcontainer/setup.sh"
 }
diff --git a/.devcontainer/setup.sh b/.devcontainer/setup.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..295d487e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.devcontainer/setup.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+echo "🔧 Setting up EssentialCSharp.Web development environment..."
+
+# Verify .NET SDK version
+echo "📋 Checking .NET SDK version..."
+dotnet --version
+
+# List available SDKs
+echo "📋 Available .NET SDKs:"
+dotnet --list-sdks
+
+# Check if we have the Azure DevOps PAT token
+if [ -z "$NUGET_AUTH_TOKEN" ]; then
+    echo "⚠️  WARNING: AZURE_DEVOPS_PAT environment variable is not set!"
+    echo "   Private NuGet packages from Azure DevOps will not be accessible."
+    echo "   Please set the AZURE_DEVOPS_PAT environment variable with your Azure DevOps Personal Access Token."
+    echo "   See README.md for setup instructions."
+    echo ""
+    echo "🔧 Restoring packages without private feed access..."
+    dotnet restore -p:AccessToNugetFeed=false
+else
+    echo "✅ Azure DevOps PAT token found - configuring private NuGet feed..."
+    
+    # Remove existing source if it exists, then add with authentication
+    dotnet nuget remove source "EssentialCSharp" --configfile nuget.config 2>/dev/null || true
+    
+    # Configure Azure DevOps NuGet source with authentication
+    dotnet nuget add source "https://pkgs.dev.azure.com/intelliTect/_packaging/EssentialCSharp/nuget/v3/index.json" \
+        --name "EssentialCSharp" \
+        --username "devcontainer" \
+        --password "$NUGET_AUTH_TOKEN" \
+        --store-password-in-clear-text \
+        --configfile nuget.config
+    
+    echo "🔧 Restoring packages with private feed access..."
+    if dotnet restore -p:AccessToNugetFeed=true; then
+        echo "✅ Package restore successful with private feed access!"
+    else
+        echo "⚠️  Package restore failed with private feed access."
+        echo "   This might indicate an authentication issue with the Azure DevOps PAT token."
+        echo "   Falling back to public packages only..."
+        dotnet restore -p:AccessToNugetFeed=false
+    fi
+fi
+
+echo "✅ Setup complete!"
+echo ""
+echo "🚀 Ready to develop! You can now:"
+echo "   - Build: dotnet build"
+echo "   - Test: dotnet test"
+echo "   - Run web app: dotnet run --project EssentialCSharp.Web"
+echo "   - Run chat app: dotnet run --project EssentialCSharp.Chat"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 13a5319b..19c1b1fb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,10 +17,41 @@ For any bugs, questions, or anything else with specifically the code found insid
 To get the site that is seen at [essentialcsharp.com](https://essentialcsharp.com/):
 
 1. Clone Repository locally.
-2. Set any needed secrets
-3. If you have do not have access to the private nuget feed, change the line `<AccessToNugetFeed>true</AccessToNugetFeed>` to `<AccessToNugetFeed>false</AccessToNugetFeed>` in [Directory.Packages.props](https://github.com/IntelliTect/EssentialCSharp.Web/blob/main/Directory.Packages.props).
+2. Set any needed secrets (see Environment Prerequisites below)
+3. If you do not have access to the private nuget feed, change the line `<AccessToNugetFeed>true</AccessToNugetFeed>` to `<AccessToNugetFeed>false</AccessToNugetFeed>` in [Directory.Packages.props](https://github.com/IntelliTect/EssentialCSharp.Web/blob/main/Directory.Packages.props).
 
-## Environment Prequisites
+## Development Container Setup
+
+This project includes a VS Code devcontainer for consistent development environments. To use it:
+
+### With Private NuGet Feed Access
+
+If you have access to the IntelliTect private Azure DevOps NuGet feed:
+
+1. Create an Azure DevOps Personal Access Token (PAT) with **Packaging (Read)** permissions
+2. Set the environment variable before opening the devcontainer:
+   ```bash
+   export AZURE_DEVOPS_PAT="your-azure-devops-pat-token"
+   ```
+   Or add it to your shell profile (`.bashrc`, `.zshrc`, etc.)
+3. Open the project in VS Code and select "Reopen in Container" when prompted
+
+### Without Private NuGet Feed Access
+
+If you don't have access to the private feed:
+
+1. Update `Directory.Packages.props` and set `<AccessToNugetFeed>false</AccessToNugetFeed>`
+2. Open the project in VS Code and select "Reopen in Container" when prompted
+
+The devcontainer will automatically:
+- Install the correct .NET 9.0 SDK
+- Configure NuGet authentication (if PAT token is provided)
+- Restore all packages
+- Set up the development environment
+
+## Environment Prerequisites
+
+### Application Secrets
 
 Make sure the following secrets are set:
 In local development this ideally should be done using the dotnet secret manager. Additional information can be found at the [documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/security/app-secrets#set-a-secret)
@@ -37,6 +68,24 @@ HCaptcha:SiteKey = captchaSiteKey
 HCaptcha:SecretKey = captchaSecretKey
 APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING = "InstrumentationKey=your-instrumentation-key-here;IngestionEndpoint=https://region.in.applicationinsights.azure.com/;LiveEndpoint=https://region.livediagnostics.monitor.azure.com/"
 
+### Private NuGet Feed Access
+
+For developers with access to IntelliTect's private Azure DevOps NuGet feed, you'll need to set up authentication:
+
+**For DevContainer/Local Development:**
+Set the `AZURE_DEVOPS_PAT` environment variable with your Azure DevOps Personal Access Token:
+```bash
+export AZURE_DEVOPS_PAT="your-azure-devops-pat-token"
+```
+
+**Creating an Azure DevOps PAT:**
+1. Go to Azure DevOps → User Settings → Personal Access Tokens
+2. Create a new token with **Packaging (Read)** permissions
+3. Copy the token and set it as the environment variable above
+
+**Without Private Feed Access:**
+If you don't have access to the private feed, set `<AccessToNugetFeed>false</AccessToNugetFeed>` in `Directory.Packages.props`
+
 Testing Secret Values:
 Some Value Secrets for Testing/Development Purposes:
 HCaptcha: https://docs.hcaptcha.com/#integration-testing-test-keys
diff --git a/nuget.config b/nuget.config
index 65bcde44..5de97691 100644
--- a/nuget.config
+++ b/nuget.config
@@ -14,4 +14,10 @@
             <package pattern="ContentFeedNuget" />
         </packageSource>
     </packageSourceMapping>
+  <packageSourceCredentials>
+    <EssentialCSharp>
+        <add key="Username" value="devcontainer" />
+        <add key="ClearTextPassword" value="test-token" />
+      </EssentialCSharp>
+  </packageSourceCredentials>
 </configuration>