diff --git a/packages/cargo-pgml-components/Cargo.lock b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/Cargo.lock
index da2aebdca..724d159c8 100644
--- a/packages/cargo-pgml-components/Cargo.lock
+++ b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/Cargo.lock
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "cargo-pgml-components"
-version = "0.1.17"
+version = "0.1.18-alpha.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "assert_cmd",
diff --git a/packages/cargo-pgml-components/Cargo.toml b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/Cargo.toml
index 94788967f..d24201cc2 100644
--- a/packages/cargo-pgml-components/Cargo.toml
+++ b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "cargo-pgml-components"
-version = "0.1.17"
+version = "0.1.18-alpha.1"
 edition = "2021"
 authors = ["PostgresML <team@postgresml.org>"]
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/frontend/tools.rs b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/frontend/tools.rs
index 14acde3de..9b91a172f 100644
--- a/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/frontend/tools.rs
+++ b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/frontend/tools.rs
@@ -34,14 +34,7 @@ pub fn install() {
     }
 
     for plugin in ROLLUP_PLUGINS {
-        if execute_with_nvm(
-            Command::new("npm")
-                .arg("list")
-                .arg("-g")
-                .arg(plugin)
-        )
-        .is_err()
-        {
+        if execute_with_nvm(Command::new("npm").arg("list").arg("-g").arg(plugin)).is_err() {
             warn(&format!("installing rollup plugin {}", plugin));
             unwrap_or_exit!(execute_with_nvm(
                 Command::new("npm").arg("install").arg("-g").arg(plugin)
diff --git a/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/local_dev.rs b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/local_dev.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8a8fd965b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/local_dev.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,256 @@
+//! So special, it deserves its own file.
+//!
+//! Code to handle the setup of our pretty complex local development
+//! environment.
+
+use crate::util::{execute_command, info, ok_or_error, print, psql_output, unwrap_or_exit, warn};
+use std::process::Command;
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+static PG_INSTALL: &str = "
+Install PostgreSQL with brew:\n
+\tbrew install postgresql@15
+";
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+static PG_INSTALL: &str = "
+Install PostgreSQL with Aptitude:\n
+\tsudo apt install postgresql
+";
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+static BUILD_ESSENTIAL: &str = "
+Install build tools with Aptitude:\n
+\txcode-select --install
+";
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+static BUILD_ESSENTIAL: &str = "
+Install build tools with Aptitude:\n
+\tsudo apt install build-essential
+";
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+static PG_PG_STAT_STATEMENTS: &str = "
+To install pg_stat_statements into your database:
+
+1. Create the extension in PostgreSQL:\n
+\tpsql -d postgres -c 'CREATE EXTENSION pg_stat_statements'
+2. Add pg_stat_statements into your shared_preload_libraries:\n
+\tpsql -c 'ALTER SYSTEM SET shared_preload_libraries TO pgml,pg_stat_statements'
+3. Restart PostgreSQL:\n
+\tbrew service restart postgresql@15
+";
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+static PG_PG_STAT_STATEMENTS: &str = "
+To install pg_stat_statements into your database:
+
+1. Create the extension in PostgreSQL:\n
+\tpsql -d postgres -c 'CREATE EXTENSION pg_stat_statements'
+2. Add pg_stat_statements into your shared_preload_libraries:\n
+\tpsql -c 'ALTER SYSTEM SET shared_preload_libraries TO pgml,pg_stat_statements'
+3. Restart PostgreSQL:\n
+\tsudo service postgresql restart
+";
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+static PG_PGVECTOR: &str = "Install pgvector into your PostgreSQL database:\n
+\tgit clone --branch v0.5.0 https://github.com/pgvector/pgvector && \\
+\tcd pgvector && \\
+\techo \"trusted = true\" >> vector.control && \\
+\tmake && \\
+\tmake install
+";
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+static PG_PGVECTOR: &str = "Install pgvector into your PostgreSQL database:\n
+\tgit clone --branch v0.5.0 https://github.com/pgvector/pgvector && \\
+\tcd pgvector && \\
+\techo \"trusted = true\" >> vector.control && \\
+\tmake && \\
+\tsudo make install
+";
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+static PG_PGML: &str = "To install PostgresML into your PostgreSQL database,
+follow the instructions on:
+
+\thttps://postgresml.org/docs/guides/setup/v2/installation
+";
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+static PG_PGML: &str = "To install PostgresML
+into your PostgreSQL database:
+
+1. Add your Aptitude repository into your sources:
+
+\techo \"deb [trusted=yes] https://apt.postgresml.org $(lsb_release -cs) main\" | \\
+\tsudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
+
+2. Update Aptitude:
+
+\tsudo apt update
+
+3. Install PostgresML:
+
+\tsudo apt install postgresml-14
+";
+
+fn postgres_running() -> String {
+    let whoami = unwrap_or_exit!(execute_command(&mut Command::new("whoami")));
+
+    let running = format!(
+        "
+Could not connect to PostgreSQL database 'postgres' with psql.\n
+Is PostgreSQL running and accepting connections?
+    "
+    );
+
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    let start = format!(
+        "
+To start PostgreSQL, run:\n
+\tbrew service start postgresql@15
+    "
+    );
+
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    let start = format!(
+        "
+To start PostgreSQL, run:\n
+\tsudo service postgresql start
+    "
+    );
+
+    let user = format!(
+        "
+If PostgreSQL is already running, your current UNIX user is
+not allowed to connect to the 'postgres' database with psql
+using a UNIX socket.
+
+To make sure your user is allowed to connect:
+
+1. Create the role:\n
+\tcreaterole --superuser --login {whoami}
+
+2. Create the user's database:\n
+\t createdb {whoami}
+    "
+    );
+
+    running + &start + &user
+}
+
+fn dependencies() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    ok_or_error!(
+        "checking for psql",
+        { execute_command(Command::new("which").arg("psql")).is_ok() },
+        PG_INSTALL
+    );
+
+    ok_or_error!(
+        "checking for build tools",
+        { execute_command(Command::new("which").arg("gcc")).is_ok() },
+        BUILD_ESSENTIAL
+    );
+
+    ok_or_error!(
+        "checking for PostgreSQL connectivity",
+        {
+            if let Err(err) = psql_output("SELECT version()") {
+                error!("{}", err);
+                false
+            } else {
+                true
+            }
+        },
+        postgres_running()
+    );
+
+    ok_or_error!(
+        "checking for pgvector PostgreSQL extension",
+        {
+            let output = psql_output(
+                "
+                SELECT
+                    name
+                FROM
+                    pg_available_extensions
+                WHERE name = 'vector'
+            ",
+            )?;
+            output.contains("vector")
+        },
+        PG_PGVECTOR
+    );
+
+    ok_or_error!(
+        "checking for pgml PostgreSQL extension",
+        {
+            let output_installed = psql_output(
+                "
+                SELECT
+                    name
+                FROM
+                    pg_available_extensions
+                WHERE name = 'pgml'
+            ",
+            )?;
+
+            let output_shared = psql_output("SHOW shared_preload_libraries")?;
+
+            output_installed.contains("pgml") && output_shared.contains("pgml")
+        },
+        PG_PGML
+    );
+
+    ok_or_error!(
+        "checking for pg_stat_statements PostgreSQL extension",
+        {
+            let output_installed = psql_output("SHOW shared_preload_libraries")?;
+            let output_running = psql_output("SELECT * FROM pg_stat_statements LIMIT 1");
+            output_installed.contains("pg_stat_statements") && output_running.is_ok()
+        },
+        PG_PG_STAT_STATEMENTS
+    );
+
+    print("checking for dashboard database...");
+    let output = psql_output(
+        "SELECT datname FROM pg_database WHERE datname = 'pgml_dashboard_development'",
+    )?;
+    if !output.contains("pgml_dashboard_development") {
+        warn("missing");
+        print("creating pgml_dashboard_development database...");
+        unwrap_or_exit!(execute_command(
+            Command::new("createdb").arg("pgml_dashboard_development")
+        ));
+        info("ok");
+        print("creating vector extension in pgml_dashboard_development...");
+        unwrap_or_exit!(execute_command(
+            Command::new("psql")
+                .arg("-c")
+                .arg("CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS vector")
+                .arg("pgml_dashboard_development")
+        ));
+        info("ok");
+        print("creating pgml extension in pgml_dashboard_development...");
+        unwrap_or_exit!(execute_command(
+            Command::new("psql")
+                .arg("-c")
+                .arg("CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pgml")
+                .arg("pgml_dashboard_development")
+        ));
+        info("ok");
+    } else {
+        info("ok");
+    }
+
+    info("all dependencies are installed and working");
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+pub fn setup() {
+    unwrap_or_exit!(dependencies())
+}
diff --git a/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/main.rs b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/main.rs
index 139720815..30711d700 100644
--- a/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/main.rs
+++ b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/main.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ extern crate log;
 mod backend;
 mod config;
 mod frontend;
+mod local_dev;
 mod util;
 
 use config::Config;
@@ -62,6 +63,9 @@ enum Commands {
     /// Add new elements to the project.
     #[command(subcommand)]
     Add(AddCommands),
+
+    /// Setup local dev.
+    LocalDev {},
 }
 
 #[derive(Subcommand, Debug)]
@@ -85,6 +89,7 @@ fn main() {
                         crate::frontend::components::add(&Path::new(&name), pgml_commands.overwrite)
                     }
                 },
+                Commands::LocalDev {} => local_dev::setup(),
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/util.rs b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/util.rs
index 2290cb378..b2f8c4e82 100644
--- a/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/util.rs
+++ b/packages/cargo-pgml-components/src/util.rs
@@ -48,18 +48,17 @@ pub fn execute_command(command: &mut Command) -> std::io::Result<String> {
         }
     };
 
-    let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr).to_string();
-    let stdout = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr).to_string();
+    let stderr = unwrap_or_exit!(String::from_utf8(output.stderr)).to_string();
+    let stdout = unwrap_or_exit!(String::from_utf8(output.stdout)).to_string();
 
     if !output.status.success() {
-        let error = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr).to_string();
         debug!(
             "{} failed: {}",
             command.get_program().to_str().unwrap(),
-            error,
+            stderr,
         );
 
-        return Err(std::io::Error::new(ErrorKind::Other, error));
+        return Err(std::io::Error::new(ErrorKind::Other, stderr));
     }
 
     if !stderr.is_empty() {
@@ -95,3 +94,34 @@ pub fn compare_strings(string1: &str, string2: &str) -> bool {
     // TODO: faster string comparison method needed.
     string1.trim() == string2.trim()
 }
+
+pub fn psql_output(query: &str) -> std::io::Result<String> {
+    let mut cmd = Command::new("psql");
+    cmd.arg("-c").arg(query).arg("-t").arg("-d").arg("postgres");
+
+    let output = execute_command(&mut cmd)?;
+    Ok(output.trim().to_string())
+}
+
+pub fn print(s: &str) {
+    print!("{}", s);
+    let _ = std::io::stdout().flush();
+}
+
+macro_rules! ok_or_error {
+    ($what:expr, $expr:block, $howto:expr) => {{
+        use std::io::Write;
+        print!("{}...", $what);
+        let _ = std::io::stdout().flush();
+
+        if $expr {
+            crate::util::info("ok");
+        } else {
+            crate::util::error("error");
+            println!("{}", $howto);
+            std::process::exit(1);
+        }
+    }};
+}
+
+pub(crate) use ok_or_error;