diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 7b392ac70..197fd7302 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -62,4 +62,5 @@ node_modules
 
 /stash
 dist
-.DS_Store
\ No newline at end of file
+.DS_Store
+/.local
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index fe7628a56..85167f990 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -9,9 +9,14 @@ endif
 ifdef IS_WIN_SHELL
   SEPARATOR := &&
   SET := set
+  RM := del /s /q
+  RMDIR := rmdir /s /q
+  PWD := $(shell echo %cd%)
 else
   SEPARATOR := ;
   SET := export
+  RM := rm -f
+  RMDIR := rm -rf
 endif
 
 # set LDFLAGS environment variable to any extra ldflags required
@@ -99,7 +104,7 @@ cross-compile-macos-applesilicon: GO_BUILD_TAGS := $(GO_BUILD_TAGS_DEFAULT)
 # can't use static build for OSX
 cross-compile-macos-applesilicon: build-release
 
-cross-compile-macos: 
+cross-compile-macos:
 	rm -rf dist/Stash.app dist/Stash-macos.zip
 	make cross-compile-macos-applesilicon
 	make cross-compile-macos-intel
@@ -175,7 +180,7 @@ generate-frontend:
 	cd ui/v2.5 && yarn run gqlgen
 
 .PHONY: generate-backend
-generate-backend: touch-ui 
+generate-backend: touch-ui
 	go generate -mod=vendor ./cmd/stash
 
 .PHONY: generate-dataloaders
@@ -211,6 +216,23 @@ it:
 generate-test-mocks:
 	go run -mod=vendor github.com/vektra/mockery/v2 --dir ./pkg/models --name '.*ReaderWriter' --outpkg mocks --output ./pkg/models/mocks
 
+# runs server
+# sets the config file to use the local dev config
+.PHONY: server-start
+server-start: export STASH_CONFIG_FILE=config.yml
+server-start:
+ifndef IS_WIN_SHELL
+	@mkdir -p .local
+else
+	@if not exist ".local" mkdir .local
+endif
+	cd .local && go run ../cmd/stash
+
+# removes local dev config files
+.PHONY: server-clean
+server-clean:
+	$(RMDIR) .local
+
 # installs UI dependencies. Run when first cloning repository, or if UI
 # dependencies have changed
 .PHONY: pre-ui
diff --git a/docs/DEVELOPMENT.md b/docs/DEVELOPMENT.md
index 6a563217d..b92f06de3 100644
--- a/docs/DEVELOPMENT.md
+++ b/docs/DEVELOPMENT.md
@@ -39,8 +39,35 @@ NOTE: The `make` command in Windows will be `mingw32-make` with MingW. For examp
 * `make fmt` - Run `go fmt`
 * `make it` - Run the unit and integration tests
 * `make validate` - Run all of the tests and checks required to submit a PR
+* `make server-start` - Runs an instance of the server in the `.local` directory.
+* `make server-clean` - Removes the `.local` directory and all of its contents.
 * `make ui-start` - Runs the UI in development mode. Requires a running stash server to connect to. Stash server port can be changed from the default of `9999` using environment variable `VITE_APP_PLATFORM_PORT`. UI runs on port `3000` or the next available port.
 
+## Local development quickstart
+
+1. Run `make pre-ui` to install UI dependencies
+2. Run `make generate` to create generated files
+3. In one terminal, run `make server-start` to run the server code
+4. In a separate terminal, run `make ui-start` to run the UI in development mode
+5. Open the UI in a browser `http://localhost:3000/`
+
+Changes to the UI code can be seen by reloading the browser page.
+
+Changes to the server code requires a restart (`CTRL-C` in the server terminal).
+
+On first launch:
+1. On the "Stash Setup Wizard" screen, choose a directory with some files to test with
+2. Press "Next" to use the default locations for the database and generated content
+3. Press the "Confirm" and "Finish" buttons to get into the UI
+4. On the side menu, navigate to "Tasks -> Library -> Scan" and press the "Scan" button
+5. You're all set! Set any other configurations you'd like and test your code changes.
+
+To start fresh with new configuration:
+1. Stop the server (`CTRL-C` in the server terminal)
+2. Run `make server-clean` to clear all config, database, and generated files (under `.local/`)
+3. Run `make server-start` to restart the server
+4. Follow the "On first launch" steps above
+
 ## Building a release
 
 1. Run `make pre-ui` to install UI dependencies