diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a489ecd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{
+  // 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": "Run MissionGenerator.py",
+      "type": "python",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "program": "${workspaceFolder}/Generator/MissionGenerator.py",
+      "console": "integratedTerminal",
+      "justMyCode": true
+    }
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.vscode/tasks.json b/.vscode/tasks.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..301622b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/tasks.json
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{
+  // See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=733558
+  // for the documentation about the tasks.json format
+  "version": "2.0.0",
+  "tasks": [
+    {
+      "label": "Build the Mission Generator (run build.bat)",
+      "type": "shell",
+      "command": "cd .\\Generator ; .\\build.bat -nopause",
+      "problemMatcher": [],
+      "group": {
+        "kind": "build",
+        "isDefault": true
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "Install the Python requirements (run install-requirements.bat)",
+      "type": "shell",
+      "command": "cd .\\Generator ; .\\install-requirements.bat -nopause",
+    }
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Generator/README.md b/Generator/README.md
index b03a060..cb700ee 100644
--- a/Generator/README.md
+++ b/Generator/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,40 @@
+# Install a development environment
+
+## Install VSCode
+
+Download and install VSCode: https://code.visualstudio.com/
+
+VS Code is a free, open source, cross-platform code editor.  It is a great tool for editing and debugging python code.  It also has a built-in terminal that can be used to run commands.
+## Install python 
+
+If using VSCode, you can install the Python extension to get started: [VS Marketplace Link](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python)
+
+If not, you may need to install python 3.8.5.  If you are using Windows, you can download it here: https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-385/
+
+## Create a python virtual environment
+
+If using VSCode, you can use the ">Python: create environment" command.
+
+If not, run the following command in the root of the project: `python -m venv .\Generator\venv`
+
+## Install python dependencies
+
+If using VSCode, you can use the ">Run task: " command and choose the "Install the Python requirements" task.
+
+If not, type `install-requirements.bat` in a terminal.
+
+## Build the mission generator
+
+If using VSCode, you can use the ">Run task: " command and choose the "Build the Mission Generator" task.
+
+If not, type `build.bat` in a terminal.
+
+## Run the mission generator
+
+Using VS Code, you can use the provided launch configuration to run the mission generator.  
+
+Otherwise, you can run the following command in a terminal: `python .\Generator\MissionGenerator.py`	
+
 # Building the exe with build.bat
 
 **Use build.bat to compile the UI files and build the exe.**
diff --git a/Generator/build.bat b/Generator/build.bat
index 3e07e56..59ddaa1 100644
--- a/Generator/build.bat
+++ b/Generator/build.bat
@@ -1,4 +1,15 @@
-call .\venv\Scripts\activate.bat
+IF EXIST ".\venv" (
+  call .\venv\Scripts\activate.bat
+) ELSE (
+  IF EXIST "..\.venv" ( 
+    rem try to activate venv from root directory (VS Code default)
+    call ..\.venv\Scripts\activate.bat
+  ) ELSE (
+    echo "venv not found. Please create a virtual environment and activate it."
+    pause >nul
+    exit
+  )
+)
 echo activated python venv.
 
 pyuic5 -x MissionGeneratorUI.ui -o MissionGeneratorUI.py
@@ -10,4 +21,6 @@ echo compiled ui resource files.
 echo building exe with pyinstaller...
 pyinstaller MissionGenerator.spec --distpath ..\ --clean
 
-pause >nul
\ No newline at end of file
+if not %1=="-nopause" (
+  pause >nul
+) 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Generator/install-requirements.bat b/Generator/install-requirements.bat
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..45f6b88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Generator/install-requirements.bat
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+IF EXIST ".\venv" (
+  call .\venv\Scripts\activate.bat
+) ELSE (
+  IF EXIST "..\.venv" ( 
+    rem try to activate venv from root directory (VS Code default)
+    call ..\.venv\Scripts\activate.bat
+  ) ELSE (
+    echo "venv not found. Please create a virtual environment and activate it."
+    pause >nul
+    exit
+  )
+)
+echo activated python venv.
+
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+echo installed python requirements.
+
+if not %1=="-nopause" (
+  pause >nul
+) 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Generator/requirements.txt b/Generator/requirements.txt
index 973a365..3c7812d 100644
Binary files a/Generator/requirements.txt and b/Generator/requirements.txt differ