diff --git a/.backend_env.example b/.backend_env.example
index a4ceaa2ec..b50e83a71 100644
--- a/.backend_env.example
+++ b/.backend_env.example
@@ -18,4 +18,4 @@ MODEL_PATH=./local_models/ggml-gpt4all-j-v1.3-groovy.bin
 RESEND_API_KEY=<change-me>
 RESEND_EMAIL_ADDRESS=onboarding@resend.dev
 
-CRAWL_DEPTH=1
\ No newline at end of file
+CRAWL_DEPTH=1
diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c950225e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+{
+    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
+    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
+    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
+    "version": "0.2.0",
+    "configurations": [
+        {
+            "name": "Python: Remote Attach",
+            "type": "python",
+            "request": "attach",
+            "connect": {
+                "host": "localhost",
+                "port": 5678
+            },
+            "pathMappings": [
+                {
+                    "localRoot": "${workspaceFolder}/backend",
+                    "remoteRoot": "."
+                }
+            ],
+            "justMyCode": true
+        }
+    ]
+}
diff --git a/backend/.vscode/launch.json b/backend/.vscode/launch.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..daab14f5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+{
+    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
+    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
+    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
+    "version": "0.2.0",
+    "configurations": [
+        {
+            "name": "Python: Remote Attach",
+            "type": "python",
+            "request": "attach",
+            "connect": {
+                "host": "localhost",
+                "port": 5678
+            },
+            "pathMappings": [
+                {
+                    "localRoot": "${workspaceFolder}",
+                    "remoteRoot": "."
+                }
+            ],
+            "justMyCode": true
+        }
+    ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index a20912d5d..1f2c7e18c 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # Using a slim version for a smaller base image
 FROM python:3.11-slim-bullseye
 
+ARG DEV_MODE
+ENV DEV_MODE=$DEV_MODE
+
 # Install GEOS library, Rust, and other dependencies, then clean up
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
     libgeos-dev \
@@ -28,6 +31,8 @@ RUN pip install --upgrade pip
 # Increase timeout to wait for the new installation
 RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt --timeout 200
 
+RUN if [ "$DEV_MODE" = "true" ]; then pip install --no-cache debugpy --timeout 200; fi
+
 # Copy the rest of the application
 COPY . .
 
diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 410a0f55b..2727fb1ae 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ from routes.user_routes import user_router
 
 logger = get_logger(__name__)
 
+if (os.getenv("DEV_MODE") == "true"):
+    import debugpy
+    logger.debug("👨‍💻 Running in dev mode")
+    debugpy.listen(("0.0.0.0", 5678))
+
+
 sentry_dsn = os.getenv("SENTRY_DSN")
 if sentry_dsn:
     sentry_sdk.init(
diff --git a/docker-compose.dev.yml b/docker-compose.dev.yml
index 544e013c2..7e5e5a170 100644
--- a/docker-compose.dev.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.dev.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-version: '3'
+version: "3"
 
 services:
   frontend:
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ services:
     build:
       context: backend
       dockerfile: Dockerfile
+      args:
+        - DEV_MODE=true
     container_name: backend-core
     restart: always
     volumes:
@@ -31,14 +33,15 @@ services:
       - worker
     ports:
       - 5050:5050
-    
+      - 5678:5678 # debug port
+
   redis:
     image: redis:latest
     container_name: redis
     restart: always
     ports:
       - 6379:6379
-  
+
   worker:
     env_file:
       - ./backend/.env
@@ -52,8 +55,7 @@ services:
       - redis
     volumes:
       - ./backend/:/code/
-    
-    
+
   flower:
     env_file:
       - ./backend/.env
diff --git a/docs/docs/Reference/Tests.md b/docs/docs/Reference/Tests.md
index 27632c9dd..1734d1a0f 100644
--- a/docs/docs/Reference/Tests.md
+++ b/docs/docs/Reference/Tests.md
@@ -15,9 +15,18 @@ title: Testing Strategies
     - Chat related functions
 
 How:
+
 - Pytest
 
-# Frontend
+### 🐛 Debugging the backend
+
+The backend is running in a docker container. To debug the backend, you can attach a debugger to the container. The debugger server runs on port `5678`. The backend is started in dev mode with `make dev`.
+
+#### Debug with VSCode
+
+The configuration for this is already set up in the `launch.json` file in the `.vscode` folder. After you started the project in dev mode with `make dev` you can run a debugging session using the `Python: Remote attach` configuration.
+
+## Frontend
 
 - Functional tests
   - Good rendering of components
@@ -26,5 +35,6 @@ How:
   - User can interact with the component
 
 How:
+
 - Vitest
 - RTL (React Testing Library)