diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 7df89a2fc..38f662d90 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -19,3 +19,7 @@ Cargo.lock
 
 # rattler
 .prefix
+
+# pixi
+.pixi/
+pixi.lock
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..85ba0b8ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# Contributing 😍
+
+We would love to have you contribute!
+For a good list of things you could help us with, take a look at our [*good first issues*](https://github.com/mamba-org/rattler/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22).
+If you want to go deeper though, any [open issue](https://github.com/mamba-org/rattler/issues) is up for grabs.
+Just let us know what you start on something.
+
+For questions, requests or a casual chat, we are very active on our discord server. 
+You can [join our discord server via this link][chat-url].
+
+## Development
+If you'd like to contribute code, then you may want to manage the build depends with a tool, we suggest pixi, but conda/mamba will also work.
+
+### Virtual env with pixi
+You can use [pixi](https://github.com/prefix-dev/pixi) for setting up the environment needed for building and testing rattler, (as a fun fact, pixi uses rattler as a dependency!). The spec in `pixi.toml` in the project root will set up the environment. After installing, run the install command from the project root directory, shown below.
+```sh
+❱ pixi install # installs dependencies into the virtual env
+❱ pixi run build # calls "build" task specified in pixi.toml, "cargo build", using cargo in pixi venv
+```
+
+### Virtual env with conda/mamba
+The environment can also be managed with conda using the spec in `environments.yml` in the project root. 
+As below,
+```sh
+❱ mamba create -n name_of_your_rattler_env --file='environments.yml' && mamba activate name_of_your_rattler_env
+❱ cargo build # uses cargo from your mamba venv
+❱ mamba deactivate # don't forget you're in the venv
+```
+
+
+
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 02b93f79c..eaeecea87 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -72,11 +72,9 @@ Try it!
 ## Contributing 😍
 
 We would love to have you contribute! 
-For a good list of things you could help us with, take a look at our [*good first issues*](https://github.com/mamba-org/rattler/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22). 
-If you want to go deeper though, any [open issue](https://github.com/mamba-org/rattler/issues) is up for grabs. 
-Just let us know what you start on something.
+See the CONTRIBUTION.md for more info. For questions, requests or a casual chat, we are very active on our discord server. 
+You can [join our discord server via this link][chat-url].
 
-For questions, requests or a casual chat, we are very active on our discord server. You can [join our discord server via this link][chat-url].
 
 ## Components
 
diff --git a/pixi.toml b/pixi.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6b7c4034f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pixi.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+[project]
+name = "rattler"
+version = "0.7.0"
+description = "Rust library to install conda environments"
+authors = ["Wolf Vollprecht <wolf@prefix.dev>", "Bas Zalmstra <bas@prefix.dev>", "Tim de Jager <tim@prefix.dev>", "Ruben Arts <ruben@prefix.dev>"]
+channels = ["conda-forge"]
+platforms = ["linux-64", "win-64", "osx-64", "osx-arm64"]
+
+[tasks]
+build = "cargo build"
+fmt = "cargo fmt"
+lint = "cargo clippy"
+
+[dependencies]
+cxx-compiler = "~=1.6.0"
+openssl = "~=3.1.2"
+make = "~=4.3"
+pkg-config = "~=0.29.2"
+rust = "~=1.71.1"
+cmake = "~=3.26.4"