diff --git a/.tool-versions b/.tool-versions
index f73cf3b5..bc11085f 100644
--- a/.tool-versions
+++ b/.tool-versions
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # This file is for you! Please, updated to the versions agreed by your team.
 
-python 3.13.8
 terraform 1.7.0
 pre-commit 4.3.0
 vale 3.6.0
+python 3.13.7
 # gitleaks 8.18.4
 
 # ==============================================================================
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b96a505b..25c8e4d2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,20 +19,42 @@ The following software packages, or their equivalents, are expected to be instal
 
 - [Docker](https://www.docker.com/) container runtime or a compatible tool, e.g. [Podman](https://podman.io/),
 - [GNU make](https://www.gnu.org/software/make/) 3.82 or later
+- [asdf](https://asdf-vm.com/) version manager for managing tool versions (ensure asdf is configured in your shell)
 
 ## Setup
 
-To setup the pre commit hooks run
+1. Copy the environment file:
 
-```shell
-make config
-```
+   ```shell
+   cp .env.example .env
+   ```
+
+1. Setup the pre-commit hooks and install dependencies:
+
+   ```shell
+   make config
+   ```
+
+   Note: If you encounter Python installation issues on macOS, you may need to install Python with SSL flags:
+
+   ```shell
+   CFLAGS="-I$(brew --prefix openssl@3)/include" \
+   LDFLAGS="-L$(brew --prefix openssl@3)/lib" \
+   PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$(brew --prefix openssl@3)/lib/pkgconfig" \
+   asdf install python 3.13.7
+   ```
 
 ## Running the app locally
 
 The project runs locally inside docker. Please ensure you have docker installed.
 
-You can run the application by running:
+Apply the database migrations:
+
+```shell
+make dev-migrate
+```
+
+Run the application:
 
 ```shell
 make dev-run
diff --git a/scripts/init.mk b/scripts/init.mk
index 373f8a4f..32093930 100644
--- a/scripts/init.mk
+++ b/scripts/init.mk
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ githooks-run: # Run git hooks configured in this repository @Operations
 _install-dependency: # Install asdf dependency - mandatory: name=[listed in the '.tool-versions' file]; optional: version=[if not listed]
 	echo ${name}
 	asdf plugin add ${name} ||:
-	asdf install ${name} $(or ${version},)
+	asdf install ${name} ${version}
 
 _install-dependencies: # Install all the dependencies listed in .tool-versions
-	for plugin in $$(grep ^[a-z] .tool-versions | sed 's/[[:space:]].*//'); do
-		make _install-dependency name="$${plugin}"
+	for plugin in $$(grep ^[a-z] .tool-versions | sed 's/[[:space:]].*//'); do \
+		make _install-dependency name="$${plugin}"; \
 	done
 
 clean:: # Remove all generated and temporary files (common) @Operations
diff --git a/scripts/tests/test.mk b/scripts/tests/test.mk
index aab47c62..37d8f25f 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/test.mk
+++ b/scripts/tests/test.mk
@@ -65,12 +65,12 @@ test: # Run all the test tasks @Testing
 		test-load
 
 _test:
-	set -e
-	script="./scripts/tests/${name}.sh"
-	if [ -e "$${script}" ]; then
-		exec $${script}
-	else
-		echo "make test-${name} not implemented: $${script} not found" >&2
+	set -e; \
+	script="./scripts/tests/${name}.sh"; \
+	if [ -e "$${script}" ]; then \
+		exec $${script}; \
+	else \
+		echo "make test-${name} not implemented: $${script} not found" >&2; \
 	fi
 
 ${VERBOSE}.SILENT: \