diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index f812831..6a9a918 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 APP_ID=your_app_id_here
 WEBHOOK_SECRET=your_webhook_secret_here
-OLLAMA_MODEL=your_chosen_llm_model_here
\ No newline at end of file
+OLLAMA_MODEL=your_chosen_llm_model_here
+NGROK_DOMAIN=your_ngrok_domain_here
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 279e2ea..84ccf42 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ volumes/
 venv/
 .env
 *.pem
+tmp/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 38d3dea..f75564a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ Open the newly created `.env` file and update the following variables with your
 \* `APP_ID`: Replace `your_app_id_here` with your actual app ID.  
 \* `WEBHOOK_SECRET`: Replace `your_webhook_secret_here` with your actual webhook secret.  
 \* `OLLAMA_MODEL`: Replace `your_chosen_llm_model_here` with your chosen LLM model (e.g. "llama3.2"). Note: it must be an Ollama supported model (see: https://ollama.com/library for supported models)  
-
+\* `NGROK_DOMAIN`: Replace `your_ngrok_domain_here` with your ngrok domain if you have one
 4. Place the downloaded private key in the project root and name it `rsa.pem`.
 
 5. Run the application locally
@@ -77,10 +77,11 @@ Start the Flask application:
 
 The application will start running on http://localhost:4000
 
-### 3. Deploy the Application (ngrok instructions)
+### 3. Prepare Dependencies and Deploy (ngrok and Ollama instructions)
 
-1. We will use ngrok for its simplicity
+We will use ngrok for its simplicity
 
+**Option 1: generated public URL**
 In a new terminal window, start ngrok to create a secure tunnel to your local server:
 
   ```bash
@@ -91,6 +92,18 @@ ngrok will generate a public URL (e.g., https://abc123.ngrok.io)
 
 Append `/webhook` to the url, e.g.  https://abc123.ngrok.io -> https://abc123.ngrok.io/webhook
 
+In another terminal window, start Ollama
+
+```bash
+ollama run <an OLLAMA model here>
+```
+**Option 2: Using Shell Script with your own ngrok domain**
+
+Ensure environment variables are all set.
+```bash
+./run-dev.sh
+``` 
+
 ### 4. Update GitHub App Settings
 
 1. Go back to your GitHub App settings.
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 3b02376..e174ef2 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -10,3 +10,4 @@ requests~=2.32.3
 ruff~=0.6.7
 black~=24.4.2
 ollama~=0.3.3
+pyngrok~=7.2.0
diff --git a/run-dev.sh b/run-dev.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..37132e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run-dev.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -E
+set -m
+
+# Array to store subshell PIDs
+declare -a subshell_pids=()
+
+# Log file for debugging
+LOG_FILE="tmp/run-dev.log"
+
+# Function to log messages
+log_message() {
+    local message="$1"
+    echo "[$(date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')] $message" | tee -a "$LOG_FILE"
+}
+
+# Function to check if a process is running
+is_process_running() {
+    local pid=$1
+    if kill -0 "$pid"; then
+        return 0
+    else
+        return 1
+    fi
+}
+
+# Define a function to handle cleanup
+cleanup() {
+    log_message "Current Processes:"
+    eval ps >> $LOG_FILE
+
+    log_message "Initiating cleanup..."
+
+    # Kill all registered subshell processes by group process ID
+    for pid in "${subshell_pids[@]}"; do
+        if is_process_running "$pid"; then
+            log_message "Terminating process $pid"
+            kill -- -"$pid" >>$LOG_FILE 2>&1
+            wait -- -"$pid" >/dev/null 2>&1
+        fi
+    done
+
+    log_message "Cleanup complete"
+    exit 0
+}
+
+trap cleanup SIGINT SIGTERM EXIT
+
+# Function to start a process and register its PID
+start_process() {
+    local process_name="$1"
+    local command="$2"
+
+    # Start the process in a subshell
+    (
+        eval "$command"
+    ) > /dev/null 2>&1 &
+
+    local pid=$!
+
+    # Wait briefly to check if the process started successfully
+    sleep 1
+    if is_process_running "$pid"; then
+        subshell_pids+=("$pid")
+        log_message "Started $process_name (PID: $pid)"
+        return 0
+    else
+        log_message "Failed to start $process_name"
+        return 1
+    fi
+}
+
+# Main process
+main() {
+    # clear log file
+    : > "$LOG_FILE"
+
+    log_message "Starting run-dev.sh..."
+
+    # Source environment variables
+    if [[ -f .env ]]; then
+        source .env
+    else
+        log_message "Warning: .env file not found"
+    fi
+
+    # Start Ollama if configured
+    if [[ -n "${OLLAMA_MODEL:-}" ]]; then
+        start_process "Ollama" "ollama run '${OLLAMA_MODEL}'" || \
+            log_message "Failed to start Ollama"
+    fi
+
+    # Start Ngrok if configured. Using Port 4000 to match app.py
+    if [[ -n "${NGROK_DOMAIN:-}" ]]; then
+        start_process "Ngrok" "ngrok http 4000 --url '${NGROK_DOMAIN}'" || \
+            log_message "Failed to start Ngrok"
+    fi
+
+    # Wait for exit command. NOTE: If stuck in console, close the terminal
+    log_message "All processes started. Type 'exit' or CTRL+C to quit"
+    while read -r -p "> " input; do
+        if [[ "${input,,}" == "exit" ]]; then
+            log_message "Exit command received"
+            break
+        fi
+    done
+}
+
+# Run main function
+main