diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 06536a47..4c19db9a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -42,7 +42,11 @@ Development environment
 -----------------------
 
 To install all robotpy packages in [editable mode](https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/guides/distributing-packages-using-setuptools/#working-in-development-mode)
-run this:
+first run this to install dependencies:
+
+    ./rdev.sh install-prereqs
+
+Then each time you want to build everything:
 
     ./rdev.sh develop
 
@@ -55,7 +59,7 @@ rebuild an individual package:
 
     ./rdev.sh develop NAME
 
-It can be a slow process,see the [robotpy-build documentation](https://robotpy-build.readthedocs.io/en/stable/tips.html)
+It can be a slow process, see the [semiwrap documentation](https://semiwrap.readthedocs.io/en/stable/tips.html)
 for tips to make it more efficient.
 
 Cross Compilation
diff --git a/devtools/__main__.py b/devtools/__main__.py
index bbf2fc1d..36af5d68 100644
--- a/devtools/__main__.py
+++ b/devtools/__main__.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 from .ctx import Context
 from . import ci
 from . import update_pyproject
+from . import util
+
 
 #
 # Environment variables for configuring the builds
@@ -61,6 +63,29 @@ def develop(ctx: Context, package: str):
             project.develop()
 
 
+@main.command()
+@click.pass_obj
+def install_prereqs(ctx: Context):
+    """Install developer build dependencies before running develop"""
+
+    reqs = set()
+    reqs.add("editables")
+    reqs.add("numpy")
+    reqs.add("pytest")
+
+    repo_deps = set()
+
+    for project in ctx.subprojects.values():
+        with ctx.handle_exception(project.name):
+            repo_deps.add(project.pyproject_name)
+
+            for req in project.build_requires + project.dependencies:
+                if req.name not in repo_deps:
+                    reqs.add(req)
+
+    util.run_pip("install", *map(str, reqs))
+
+
 @main.command()
 @click.pass_obj
 def scan_headers(ctx: Context):
diff --git a/rdev.toml b/rdev.toml
index 8100aef7..a20ce1ba 100644
--- a/rdev.toml
+++ b/rdev.toml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ semiwrap = "~=0.1.7"
 hatch-meson = "~=0.1.0b2"
 hatch-nativelib = "~=0.2.0"
 hatch-robotpy = "~=0.2"
-
+# robotpy-cli = "~=2026.0.0b1"
 
 [subprojects."robotpy-native-wpiutil"]
 py_version = "native"