diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
index 47497794fb..5ac56c8428 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   "forwardPorts": [3000, 4000],
 
   // Use 'postCreateCommand' to run commands after the container is created.
-  "postCreateCommand": "bundle install --path vendor/bundle && yarn install && git checkout -- Gemfile.lock && ./bin/rails db:setup",
+  "postCreateCommand": ".devcontainer/post-create.sh",
 
   // Comment out to connect as root instead. More info: https://aka.ms/vscode-remote/containers/non-root.
   "remoteUser": "vscode"
diff --git a/.devcontainer/post-create.sh b/.devcontainer/post-create.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..02f488f120
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.devcontainer/post-create.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -e # Fail the whole script on first error
+
+# Fetch Ruby gem dependencies
+bundle install --path vendor/bundle --with='development test'
+
+# Fetch Javascript dependencies
+yarn install
+
+# Make Gemfile.lock pristine again
+git checkout -- Gemfile.lock
+
+# [re]create, migrate, and seed the test database
+RAILS_ENV=test ./bin/rails db:setup
+
+# Precompile assets for development
+RAILS_ENV=development ./bin/rails assets:precompile
+
+# Precompile assets for test
+RAILS_ENV=test NODE_ENV=tests ./bin/rails assets:precompile