diff --git a/.docker/dev/dev-entrypoint.sh b/.docker/dev/dev-entrypoint.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..c2700b426
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.docker/dev/dev-entrypoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -eu
+
+APP_DIR="/var/www/html"
+DEV_HOME="/var/www/partdb-dev-home"
+
+prepare_runtime()
+{
+    # Development-only: newly created files are writable by all users,
+    # and newly created directories are writable/traversable by all users.
+    umask 000
+
+    mkdir -p \
+        "$DEV_HOME" \
+        "$DEV_HOME/.composer" \
+        "$DEV_HOME/.cache/composer" \
+        "$DEV_HOME/.cache/yarn" \
+        "$APP_DIR/vendor" \
+        "$APP_DIR/node_modules" \
+        "$APP_DIR/var/cache" \
+        "$APP_DIR/var/log" \
+        "$APP_DIR/var/db" \
+        "$APP_DIR/var/share" \
+        "$APP_DIR/uploads" \
+        "$APP_DIR/public/media" \
+        "$APP_DIR/public/build" \
+        "$APP_DIR/public/bundles"
+
+    chown -R www-data:www-data "$DEV_HOME"
+
+    # Development-only permission workaround for Linux bind mounts.
+    chmod 777 \
+        "$APP_DIR/vendor" \
+        "$APP_DIR/node_modules" \
+        "$APP_DIR/var/cache" \
+        "$APP_DIR/var/log" \
+        "$APP_DIR/var/db" \
+        "$APP_DIR/var/share" \
+        "$APP_DIR/uploads" \
+        "$APP_DIR/public/media" \
+        "$APP_DIR/public/build" \
+        "$APP_DIR/public/bundles"
+
+    export HOME="$DEV_HOME"
+    export COMPOSER_HOME="$DEV_HOME/.composer"
+    export COMPOSER_CACHE_DIR="$DEV_HOME/.cache/composer"
+    export YARN_CACHE_FOLDER="$DEV_HOME/.cache/yarn"
+
+    mkdir -p \
+        "$DEV_HOME" \
+        "$DEV_HOME/.composer" \
+        "$DEV_HOME/.cache/composer" \
+        "$DEV_HOME/.cache/yarn"
+
+    chown -R www-data:www-data "$DEV_HOME"
+
+    git config --system --get-all safe.directory 2>/dev/null \
+        | grep -Fxq "$APP_DIR" \
+        || git config --system --add safe.directory "$APP_DIR"
+}
+
+start_server()
+{
+    "php-fpm${PHP_VERSION}" -F &
+    exec /usr/local/bin/apache2-foreground
+}
+
+prepare_runtime
+
+case "${1:-}" in
+    apache2-foreground|/usr/local/bin/apache2-foreground)
+        start_server
+        ;;
+
+    *)
+        exec gosu www-data "$@"
+        ;;
+esac
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 5994a115d..30740702f 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@ Interesting folders are:
 * `tests/`: Tests that can be run by PHPUnit.
 
 ## Development environment
-For setting up a development environment, you will need to install PHP, Composer, a database server (MySQL or MariaDB) and yarn (which needs a Node.js environment).
+For contributors who prefer a Docker-based development environment, see
+[DEVELOPMENT.md](DEVELOPMENT.md).
+
+For setting up a native PHP development environment, you will need to install PHP, Composer, a database server (MySQL or MariaDB) and yarn (which needs a Node.js environment).
 * Copy `.env` to `.env.local` and change `APP_ENV` to `APP_ENV=dev`. That way you will get development tools (Symfony profiler) and other features that
 will simplify development.
 * Run `composer install` (without -o) to install PHP dependencies and `yarn install` to install frontend dependencies.
diff --git a/DEVELOPMENT.md b/DEVELOPMENT.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..caf230f1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DEVELOPMENT.md
@@ -0,0 +1,409 @@
+# Development
+
+This document describes how to set up a complete Docker-based development environment for Part-DB.
+
+> **Note**
+>
+> The standard native PHP development workflow is documented in `CONTRIBUTING.md`. This document provides an alternative Docker-based workflow that requires only Docker and Docker Compose.
+
+---
+
+# Requirements
+
+The following software is required:
+
+* Docker
+* Docker Compose
+* Git
+
+No local installation of PHP, Composer, Node.js, Yarn or a database server is required.
+
+---
+
+# Development Environment
+
+The development environment consists of two Docker images:
+
+* **Dockerfile** – the upstream production image used as the development base.
+* **Dockerfile.dev** – a lightweight development image layered on top of the production image that provides:
+
+    * Composer development support
+    * Node.js and Yarn
+    * Live frontend rebuilding
+    * Development PHP configuration
+    * Automatic permission handling for bind-mounted source code
+
+The development environment uses:
+
+* SQLite database
+* Symfony development mode
+* Webpack Encore live asset rebuilding (`yarn watch`)
+
+All application source code remains on the host machine.
+
+---
+
+# Initial Setup
+
+Clone the repository:
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/Part-DB/Part-DB-server.git
+cd Part-DB-server
+```
+
+Build the upstream production base image:
+
+```bash
+docker build --file Dockerfile --tag partdb-local-dev-base .
+```
+
+Build the development image:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml build
+```
+
+Install Composer dependencies:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb composer install
+```
+
+Verify that Symfony is correctly configured:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb php bin/console about
+```
+
+The output should report:
+
+```text
+Environment    dev
+Debug          true
+```
+
+Build the frontend assets:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm assets \
+    sh -lc 'yarn install --network-timeout 600000 && yarn build'
+```
+
+Create the development database:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb \
+    php bin/console doctrine:migrations:migrate
+```
+
+During the initial migration an administrator account is created.
+
+The output contains the generated password:
+
+```text
+[warning] The initial password for the "admin" user is: ********
+```
+
+Record this password for the initial login.
+
+Start the development environment:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml up -d partdb assets
+```
+
+Confirm both services are running:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml ps
+```
+
+Inspect the application logs:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml logs --tail=100 partdb
+```
+
+Inspect the frontend build logs:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml logs --tail=100 assets
+```
+
+Open Part-DB in your workstation browser:
+
+```
+http://localhost:8080/
+```
+
+---
+
+# Daily Development Workflow
+
+Start the development environment:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml up -d
+```
+
+Restart the services:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml restart
+```
+
+Check service status:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml ps
+```
+
+Watch the application log:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml logs -f partdb
+```
+
+Watch the frontend asset compiler:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml logs -f assets
+```
+
+Stop the development environment:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml down
+```
+
+---
+
+# Composer
+
+Install or update PHP dependencies:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb composer install
+```
+
+Run any Composer command:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb \
+    composer <command>
+```
+
+Examples:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb \
+    composer update
+
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb \
+    composer require vendor/package
+```
+
+---
+
+# Symfony Console
+
+Run any Symfony command:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb \ 
+    php bin/console <command>
+```
+
+Examples:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb \
+    php bin/console cache:clear
+
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb \
+    php bin/console about
+```
+
+---
+
+# Frontend Development
+
+The `assets` service runs `yarn watch` and automatically rebuilds frontend assets 
+whenever CSS or TypeScript files change.
+
+To monitor the asset compiler:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml logs -f assets
+```
+
+To perform a one-off production build:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm assets yarn build
+```
+
+---
+
+# Testing
+
+To run phpunit testing:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb php bin/phpunit <test file>
+```
+
+
+To run code coverage test:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm \
+    -e XDEBUG_MODE=coverage partdb php bin/phpunit --coverage-text \
+    <test file>
+```
+
+Examples:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb php bin/phpunit \
+  tests/Services/ImportExportSystem/BOMImporterTest.php
+
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm -e XDEBUG_MODE=coverage \
+    partdb php bin/phpunit --coverage-text \
+    tests/Services/ImportExportSystem/BOMImporterTest.php
+```
+
+---
+
+# Database
+
+The development environment uses SQLite.
+
+The database is stored on the host at:
+
+```
+var/db/app.db
+```
+
+The database is **not** removed when containers are recreated.
+
+Run migrations only when:
+
+* creating a new development environment
+* new Doctrine migrations have been added
+* the SQLite database has been deleted
+
+Run migrations:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml run --rm partdb \
+    php bin/console doctrine:migrations:migrate
+```
+
+---
+
+# Logs
+
+Application logs:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml logs -f partdb
+```
+
+Frontend logs:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml logs -f assets
+```
+
+---
+
+# Docker Images
+
+The development environment uses two images.
+
+## Base image
+
+Built from the upstream Dockerfile:
+
+```bash
+docker build --file Dockerfile --tag partdb-local-dev-base .
+```
+
+This image only needs rebuilding when:
+
+* the upstream Dockerfile changes
+* PHP packages change
+* system packages change
+
+## Development image
+
+Built from `Dockerfile.dev`:
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml build
+```
+
+Rebuild this image after changing:
+
+* `Dockerfile.dev`
+* `compose.dev.yaml`
+* `.docker/dev/`
+
+---
+
+# Troubleshooting
+
+## Rebuild the development image
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml build
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml up -d --force-recreate
+```
+
+## View container logs
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml logs -f partdb
+
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml logs -f assets
+```
+
+## Remove containers
+
+```bash
+docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml down
+```
+
+## Clean generated files
+
+```bash
+rm -rf \
+    vendor \
+    node_modules \
+    var/cache \
+    var/log \
+    var/db \
+    var/share \
+    public/build \
+    public/bundles
+```
+
+The tracked files under `uploads/` and `public/media/` should not be removed.
+
+---
+
+# Notes
+
+The Docker development environment intentionally differs from the native development workflow described in `CONTRIBUTING.md`.
+
+Specifically:
+
+* No `.env.local` file is required.
+* Symfony configuration is supplied through Docker environment variables.
+* No local PHP installation is required.
+* No local Composer installation is required.
+* No local Node.js or Yarn installation is required.
+* No local database server is required.
+* Live frontend rebuilding is provided automatically by the `assets` service.
diff --git a/Dockerfile.dev b/Dockerfile.dev
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..780b093de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile.dev
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
+
+FROM partdb-local-dev-base
+
+ARG PHP_VERSION=8.4
+ARG NODE_VERSION=22
+
+USER root
+
+RUN apt-get update \
+    && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+        ca-certificates \
+        curl \
+        git \
+        gosu \
+        passwd \
+        php8.4-xdebug \
+    && curl -fsSL "https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_${NODE_VERSION}.x" \
+        | bash - \
+    && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends nodejs \
+    && npm install --global yarn@1.22.22 \
+    && apt-get clean \
+    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+
+RUN mkdir -p /var/www/partdb-dev-home \
+    && chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/partdb-dev-home \
+    && usermod --home /var/www/partdb-dev-home www-data
+
+RUN printf '%s\n' \
+        'display_errors=On' \
+        'display_startup_errors=On' \
+        'error_reporting=E_ALL & ~E_DEPRECATED & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED' \
+        'opcache.enable=0' \
+        'opcache.enable_cli=0' \
+        'opcache.validate_timestamps=1' \
+        'realpath_cache_ttl=0' \
+        'memory_limit=512M' \
+        'max_execution_time=120' \
+        > "/etc/php/${PHP_VERSION}/fpm/conf.d/99-partdb-development.ini" \
+    && cp \
+        "/etc/php/${PHP_VERSION}/fpm/conf.d/99-partdb-development.ini" \
+        "/etc/php/${PHP_VERSION}/cli/conf.d/99-partdb-development.ini"
+
+COPY .docker/dev/dev-entrypoint.sh /usr/local/bin/partdb-dev-entrypoint
+
+RUN chmod 0755 /usr/local/bin/partdb-dev-entrypoint
+
+ENV PHP_VERSION="${PHP_VERSION}"
+ENV APP_ENV=dev
+ENV APP_DEBUG=1
+ENV NODE_ENV=development
+
+WORKDIR /var/www/html
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["partdb-dev-entrypoint"]
+CMD ["/usr/local/bin/apache2-foreground"]
+
+EXPOSE 80
diff --git a/compose.dev.yaml b/compose.dev.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b3b074313
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compose.dev.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+name: partdb-dev
+
+services:
+  partdb:
+    build:
+      context: .
+      dockerfile: Dockerfile.dev
+      args:
+        PHP_VERSION: "8.4"
+        NODE_VERSION: "22"
+
+    image: partdb-dev:local
+    container_name: partdb-dev
+
+    ports:
+      - "8080:80"
+
+    environment:
+      APP_ENV: dev
+      APP_DEBUG: "1"
+
+      DATABASE_URL: "sqlite:///%kernel.project_dir%/var/db/app.db"
+
+      APP_SECRET: "partdb-development-secret"
+
+      DEFAULT_LANG: en
+      DEFAULT_TIMEZONE: UTC
+      BASE_CURRENCY: USD
+      INSTANCE_NAME: "Part-DB Development"
+
+      CHECK_FOR_UPDATES: "0"
+      USE_GRAVATAR: "0"
+      ALLOW_ATTACHMENT_DOWNLOADS: "0"
+
+    volumes:
+      # The complete checked-out working tree, including vendor,
+      # node_modules, generated assets and development data.
+      - .:/var/www/html
+
+    restart: unless-stopped
+
+  assets:
+    image: partdb-dev:local
+    container_name: partdb-assets
+
+    working_dir: /var/www/html
+
+    environment:
+      NODE_ENV: development
+
+    volumes:
+      - .:/var/www/html
+
+    command:
+      - yarn
+      - watch
+
+    init: true
+    restart: unless-stopped