diff --git a/.devcontainer/Dockerfile.dev b/.devcontainer/Dockerfile.dev
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6eec367f88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.devcontainer/Dockerfile.dev
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+FROM otel/cpp_format_tools
+
+ARG GRPC_VERSION=v1.55.0
+ARG PROTOBUF_VERSION=23.4
+ARG ABSEIL_CPP_VERSION=20240116.1
+
+ENV PROTOBUF_VERSION=${PROTOBUF_VERSION}
+ENV ABSEIL_CPP_VERSION=${ABSEIL_CPP_VERSION}
+
+COPY ci /opt/ci
+
+RUN apt update && apt install -y wget \
+	ninja-build \
+	libcurl4-openssl-dev \
+	markdownlint
+
+RUN cd /opt/ci && bash setup_cmake.sh
+RUN cd /opt/ci && bash setup_ci_environment.sh
+RUN cd /opt && bash ci/setup_googletest.sh \
+	&& bash ci/setup_grpc.sh -r ${GRPC_VERSION}
+
+ADD https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazelisk/releases/download/v1.22.1/bazelisk-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin
+	
+RUN git config --global core.autocrlf input \
+	&& chmod +x /usr/local/bin/bazelisk-linux-amd64
diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8615497085
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// For format details, see https://aka.ms/devcontainer.json. For config options, see the README at:
+// https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-dev-containers/tree/v0.162.0/containers/javascript-node
+{
+	"name": "opentelemetry-cpp",
+	"build": {
+		"context": "..",
+		"dockerfile": "Dockerfile.dev",
+		"args": {
+			"GRPC_VERSION": "v1.55.0",
+			"PROTOBUF_VERSION": "23.4",
+			"ABSEIL_CPP_VERSION":"20240116.1"
+		}
+	},
+	"settings": {
+		"terminal.integrated.shell.linux": "/bin/sh"
+	},
+	"extensions": [
+		"ms-vscode.cpptools",
+		"ms-azuretools.vscode-docker",
+		"ms-vscode.cpptools-extension-pack"
+	],
+
+	"remoteUser": "root"
+}
diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index d907392962..5cfb4cb898 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -6,3 +6,8 @@ updates:
       interval: "daily"
     labels:
       - "GHA"
+
+  - package-ecosystem: "devcontainers"
+    directory: "/"
+    schedule:
+     interval: daily
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 95b4e226f8..bf837f6bd1 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -60,6 +60,91 @@ bazel build //examples/simple:example_simple
 bazel-bin/examples/simple/example_simple
 ```
 
+### DevContainer Setup for Project
+
+This guide provides instructions on how to set up and use the development
+container (`devcontainer`) environment to streamline testing and development
+for this project. With the DevContainer, you can work in a consistent environment
+configured with all the necessary dependencies and tools.
+
+#### Prerequisites
+
+Before getting started, ensure you have the following installed:
+
+* **Docker**: DevContainers require Docker for containerization.
+* **Visual Studio Code (VSCode)** with the **Remote - Containers** extension.
+
+#### Getting Started
+
+* **Open the Project in DevContainer**:
+
+   Open the project in VSCode. When prompted to "Reopen in Container," select
+   this option. If you’re not prompted, you can manually open the container by
+   selecting **Remote-Containers: Reopen in Container** from the command palette
+   (`F1` or `Ctrl+Shift+P`).
+
+* **Container Setup**:
+
+   The DevContainer environment will automatically build based on the configuration
+   files provided (e.g., `.devcontainer/devcontainer.json`). This setup will install
+   required dependencies, tools, and environment variables needed for the project.
+
+#### Available Commands
+
+Once inside the DevContainer, you can use the following commands to run tests
+and CI workflows.
+
+##### 1. Run Tests with Bazelisk
+
+To run tests with Bazelisk using specific compilation options, use:
+
+```bash
+bazelisk-linux-amd64 test --copt=-DENABLE_LOGS_PREVIEW
+--test_output=errors --cache_test_results=no --copt=-DENABLE_TEST //exporters/otlp/...
+```
+
+###### Command Breakdown
+
+* `--copt=-DENABLE_LOGS_PREVIEW`: Enables preview logs.
+* `--test_output=errors`: Shows only the errors in the test output.
+* `--cache_test_results=no`: Forces Bazel to re-run tests without caching.
+* `--copt=-DENABLE_TEST`: Enables testing capabilities for the target code.
+* `//exporters/otlp/...`: Specifies the test target path.
+
+##### 2. Run CI Script
+
+You can also run the CI script provided to perform testing with the
+following command as an
+example:
+
+```bash
+bash ci/do_ci.sh cmake.exporter.otprotocol.test
+```
+
+This command initiates the CI pipeline, executing tests specifically for the
+**cmake.exporter.otprotocol** module.
+
+#### Troubleshooting
+
+If you encounter issues:
+
+* **Rebuild the DevContainer**: From the command palette, run
+  **Remote-Containers: Rebuild Container** to reinitialize the environment.
+* **Check Bazelisk and CI Script Logs**: Inspect logs for any configuration or
+  dependency issues.
+
+#### Additional Notes
+
+* You can adjust compiler options (`--copt`) as needed to test additional flags
+  or enable/disable specific features.
+* The test results will be displayed in the terminal within the DevContainer for
+  easy debugging.
+
+#### Resources
+
+* **Bazelisk Documentation**: [https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazelisk](https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazelisk)
+* **VSCode DevContainer Documentation**: [https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/remote/containers](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/remote/containers)
+
 ## Pull Requests
 
 ### How to Send Pull Requests
diff --git a/ci/README.md b/ci/README.md
index 65bea032d7..39d9a19acc 100644
--- a/ci/README.md
+++ b/ci/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 # Building and running tests as a developer
 
 CI tests can be run on docker by invoking the script `./ci/run_docker.sh
-./ci/do_ci.sh {TARGET}` where the targets are:
+./ci/do_ci.sh {TARGET}`or inside
+[devcontainer](../CONTRIBUTING.md#devcontainer-setup-for-project)
+by invoking the script
+`./ci/do_ci.sh {TARGET}` where the targets are:
 
 * `cmake.test`: build cmake targets and run tests.
 * `cmake.maintainer.test`: build with cmake and test, in maintainer mode.
diff --git a/ci/run_docker.sh b/ci/run_docker.sh
index d3b78c3af9..1f499e935e 100755
--- a/ci/run_docker.sh
+++ b/ci/run_docker.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ set -e
 
 BUILD_IMAGE=opentelemetry-cpp-build
 docker image inspect "$BUILD_IMAGE" &> /dev/null || {
-  docker build -t "$BUILD_IMAGE" ci
+  docker build -t "$BUILD_IMAGE" -f .devcontainer/Dockerfile.dev .
 }
 
 if [[ $# -ge 1 ]]; then