diff --git a/setup_venv.sh b/setup_venv.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..4044d7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/setup_venv.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+
+echo "🔍 Checking Python version..."
+python3 --version
+
+PY_VER=$(python3 -c "import sys; print(sys.version_info[:2] >= (3,12))")
+if [ "$PY_VER" != "True" ]; then
+  echo "❌ Required: Python 3.12 or higher. Installing..."
+  brew install python@3.12
+  echo 'export PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/python@3.12/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
+  source ~/.zshrc
+fi
+
+echo "✅ Using Python: $(python3 --version)"
+
+# --- Create and activate virtual environment automatically ---
+if [ ! -d "venv" ]; then
+  echo "🐍 Creating virtual environment..."
+  python3 -m venv venv
+fi
+
+echo "🔗 Activating virtual environment..."
+source venv/bin/activate
+
+echo "📦 Upgrading pip inside virtualenv..."
+pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
+
+echo "📦 Upgrading pip..."
+python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade
+python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
+
+echo "🧱 Creating virtual environment..."
+python3 -m venv venv
+source venv/bin/activate
+
+echo "📦 Installing build system (hatchling)..."
+pip install hatchling
+
+echo "📦 Installing dependencies from pyproject.toml..."
+
+pip install docker>=6 rich>=13
+
+# pip install black>=23 isort>=5 pytest>=7
+
+echo "📦 Installing kaprese package..."
+pip install .
+
+echo "🎉 kaprese installation complete!"
+echo "✅ To activate the virtual environment, run: source venv/bin/activate"
+echo "Run with: kaprese --help"
\ No newline at end of file