diff --git a/scripts/dev-down.sh b/scripts/dev-down.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d5f449f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-down.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+cd "$ROOT_DIR"
+
+docker compose down
diff --git a/scripts/dev-up.sh b/scripts/dev-up.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..eda0d39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-up.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+cd "$ROOT_DIR"
+
+echo "[whispergate] building/starting no-reply API container"
+docker compose up -d --build whispergate-no-reply-api
+
+echo "[whispergate] health check"
+curl -sS http://127.0.0.1:8787/health
+
+echo "[whispergate] done"