diff --git a/nix/shell.nix b/nix/shell.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee99b68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nix/shell.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+{ pkgs ? import <nixos-unstable> {} }:
+
+  pkgs.mkShell {
+    # nativeBuildInputs is usually what you want -- tools you need to run
+    nativeBuildInputs = with pkgs.buildPackages; [ 
+
+      monolith
+      nodejs_22
+      nixos-generators
+      qemu
+
+    ];
+
+    shellHooks = ''
+      export NIX_SHELL_XRFORGE=1
+
+      echo "available commands:"
+      echo ""
+      echo ""
+      echo "nix-build nix/xrforge.nix"
+      echo "nixos-generate -f <type> -c nix/server.nix  # generate server-image for ~32 hyperscalers"
+      echo "                                            # see https://mynixos.com/nixos-generators"
+      echo "example:"
+      echo "  $ nixos-generate -f iso -c nix/server.nix 
+      echo "  $ qemu-system-x86_64 -cdrom <isofile>"    # test/run image
+      echo ""
+      echo "  $ docker load < $(nix-build nix/docker.nix)"
+      echo "  $ docker run -t hello-docker:y74sb4nrhxr975xs7h83izgm8z75x5fc"
+      
+    '';
+}
+
+