diff --git a/dockerfile b/dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..633a212ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Use an official Python runtime as a parent image
+FROM python:3.11-slim
+
+# Set the working directory in the container
+WORKDIR /pdl
+
+# Copy the current directory contents into the container at /app
+COPY . /pdl
+
+# Install any needed dependencies specified in requirements.txt
+RUN pip install .
+RUN pip install '.[all]'
+
+
+# Run app.py when the container launches
+ENTRYPOINT ["pdl-local"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pdl/pdl_runner.py b/pdl/pdl_runner.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b0baf7a42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pdl/pdl_runner.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import os
+import subprocess
+import sys
+
+WATSONX_APIKEY = "WATSONX_APIKEY=" + os.environ["WATSONX_APIKEY"]
+WATSONX_URL = "WATSONX_URL=" + os.environ["WATSONX_URL"]
+WATSONX_PROJECT_ID = "WATSONX_PROJECT_ID=" + os.environ["WATSONX_PROJECT_ID"]
+LOCAL_DIR = os.getcwd() + ":/local"
+
+
+def main():
+    subprocess.run(
+        [
+            "docker",
+            "run",
+            "-v",
+            LOCAL_DIR,
+            "-w",
+            "/local",
+            "-e",
+            WATSONX_APIKEY,
+            "-e",
+            WATSONX_URL,
+            "-e",
+            WATSONX_PROJECT_ID,
+            "--rm",
+            "-it",
+            "pdl-runner",
+            *sys.argv[1:],
+        ],
+        check=True,
+    )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 398fe54b8..9c185c268 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -60,4 +60,5 @@ Repository = "https://github.com/IBM/prompt-declaration-language"
 Issues = "https://github.com/IBM/prompt-declaration-language/issues"
 
 [project.scripts]
-pdl = "pdl.pdl:main"
\ No newline at end of file
+pdl-local = "pdl.pdl:main"
+pdl = "pdl.pdl_runner:main" 
\ No newline at end of file