diff --git a/docker-compose.channel.yml b/docker-compose.channel.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2f16b22e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.channel.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Channel overlay for side-by-side stable / bleeding-edge stacks.
+#
+# The base docker-compose.yml is channel-agnostic. This overlay adds only the
+# pieces that differ between a stable (main) and an edge (dev-be) stack so the
+# two can run at once on one dev workstation without colliding:
+#
+#   - SHOPDB_ENV_LABEL is passed into the api container. When non-empty the
+#     public settings endpoint surfaces it as env_label and the sidebar renders
+#     a red DEV badge. Stable leaves it unset, so nothing renders.
+#   - Ports fall back to the SAME defaults as the base file, so running this
+#     overlay alone changes nothing; the bootstrap script overrides API_PORT /
+#     MYSQL_PORT for the edge stack so both channels bind distinct host ports.
+#
+# The stacks are isolated by compose project name (-p shopdb-stable /
+# -p shopdb-edge), which namespaces containers, networks, and the named
+# volumes, so each channel keeps its own database and instance state.
+#
+# Usage (driven by scripts/dev-bootstrap.ps1, shown here for reference):
+#   docker compose -p shopdb-edge \
+#     -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.channel.yml up -d
+
+services:
+  api:
+    environment:
+      # Empty on stable. The edge stack sets SHOPDB_ENV_LABEL=DEV in its .env
+      # (written by the bootstrap script) to light up the badge.
+      SHOPDB_ENV_LABEL: ${SHOPDB_ENV_LABEL:-}
diff --git a/frontend/src/utils/siteSettings.js b/frontend/src/utils/siteSettings.js
index 7edf5914..87333a77 100644
--- a/frontend/src/utils/siteSettings.js
+++ b/frontend/src/utils/siteSettings.js
@@ -37,6 +37,14 @@ export async function getFacilityName() {
   return getSetting('facility_name', 'ShopDB')
 }
 
+// Environment channel label (e.g. 'DEV') injected by the backend from
+// SHOPDB_ENV_LABEL. Empty on stable/main deployments, which renders no badge.
+// Drives the red DEV tag in the sidebar so a bleeding-edge container is
+// obviously distinct from a stable one running side by side.
+export async function getEnvLabel() {
+  return getSetting('env_label', '')
+}
+
 // Main site logo (sidebar, login, dashboard header). Fallback = shipped GE mark.
 export async function getSiteLogo() {
   return withBase(await getSetting('site_logo', '/ge-aerospace-logo.svg'))
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/AppLayout.vue b/frontend/src/views/AppLayout.vue
index dfe40089..907a8ddc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/AppLayout.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/AppLayout.vue
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
       <div class="sidebar-header">
         <img :src="siteLogo" alt="Site logo" class="sidebar-logo" />
         <h1>{{ facilityName }}</h1>
+        <!-- Only present when the container sets SHOPDB_ENV_LABEL (edge/dev
+             channel). Stable leaves it empty, so nothing renders. --><span
+          v-if="envLabel" class="env-badge">{{ envLabel }}</span>
         <!-- Under the site name, where the classic site put it. -->
         <div class="fiscal-week">
           <span class="fiscal-week-label">Fiscal Week</span>
@@ -122,7 +125,7 @@ import { useAuthStore } from '../stores/auth'
 import { currentTheme, toggleTheme } from '../stores/theme'
 import { dashboardApi, notificationsApi } from '../api'
 import { fiscalWeek } from '@/utils/fiscalWeek'
-import { getFacilityName, getSiteLogo, getServicenowUrls } from '../utils/siteSettings'
+import { getFacilityName, getSiteLogo, getServicenowUrls, getEnvLabel } from '../utils/siteSettings'
 import { withBase } from '../utils/basePath'
 
 const router = useRouter()
@@ -155,6 +158,7 @@ const cansearch = ref(false)
 const navItems = ref([])
 const activeNotifications = ref([])
 const facilityName = ref('ShopDB')
+const envLabel = ref('')
 
 // A tab left open overnight would otherwise show last week's number until
 // somebody reloaded. Recomputed on a timer rather than only at mount.
@@ -286,6 +290,7 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   fiscalWeekTimer = setInterval(() => { currentFiscalWeek.value = fiscalWeek() }, 30 * 60 * 1000)
 
   getFacilityName().then(name => { facilityName.value = name })
+  getEnvLabel().then(label => { envLabel.value = label })
   getSiteLogo().then(logo => { siteLogo.value = logo })
   getServicenowUrls().then(config => { servicenowConfig.value = config })
 
@@ -352,6 +357,21 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
+/* Bleeding-edge channel badge. Loud red on purpose so a dev container is never
+   mistaken for stable when the two run side by side. Only rendered when the
+   backend reports a non-empty env_label (SHOPDB_ENV_LABEL). */
+.env-badge {
+  display: inline-block;
+  margin-top: 0.35rem;
+  padding: 0.1rem 0.5rem;
+  border-radius: 3px;
+  background: #c62828;
+  color: #fff;
+  font-size: 0.62rem;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  letter-spacing: 0.12em;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+}
 /* Fiscal week, under the site name, where the classic site put it. The number
    carries the weight; the label is small because it never changes. */
 .fiscal-week {
diff --git a/scripts/dev-bootstrap.ps1 b/scripts/dev-bootstrap.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e60962b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-bootstrap.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,274 @@
+<#
+.SYNOPSIS
+	Turnkey ShopDB developer-workstation bootstrap for Windows.
+
+.DESCRIPTION
+	Stands up a ShopDB stack from a git branch on a fresh dev box with as few
+	manual steps as possible:
+
+	  1. Checks the tools a dev needs (git, Docker) and offers to install any
+		 that are missing via winget (with a prompt - nothing is installed
+		 silently). Python is optional and only checked when -CheckPython is
+		 passed, because the app itself runs entirely in the container.
+	  2. Picks a channel:
+		   stable  -> builds from the 'main' branch, no DEV badge.
+		   edge    -> builds from the 'dev-be' branch, red DEV badge in the UI.
+		 The two channels use different compose project names, host ports, and
+		 named volumes, so they run side by side without colliding.
+	  3. Generates a .env for the channel (dev-grade secrets, NOT for production)
+		 if one does not already exist, then builds and brings up the stack.
+
+	Windows-only by design: pre-release audience is Windows. Not a production
+	installer - see deploy/windows/installer/shopdb-install.ps1 for that.
+
+.PARAMETER Channel
+	'stable' (main) or 'edge' (dev-be). Defaults to 'stable'.
+
+.PARAMETER Ref
+	Override the git ref to build. Defaults to 'main' for stable, 'dev-be' for
+	edge. Useful for testing a feature branch through the edge plumbing.
+
+.PARAMETER CheckPython
+	Also verify a local Python 3.11+ (only needed if you run tests/tooling on
+	the host rather than in the container).
+
+.PARAMETER SkipDependencyInstall
+	Report missing dependencies and stop instead of offering winget installs.
+	Handy for CI-style dry runs.
+
+.EXAMPLE
+	./scripts/dev-bootstrap.ps1 -Channel edge
+
+.NOTES
+	ASCII only, no emoji or smart punctuation, per repo style. PowerShell 5.1+.
+#>
+[CmdletBinding()]
+param(
+	[ValidateSet('stable', 'edge')]
+	[string]$Channel = 'stable',
+
+	[string]$Ref,
+
+	[switch]$CheckPython,
+
+	[switch]$SkipDependencyInstall
+)
+
+Set-StrictMode -Version Latest
+$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+
+# Channel -> (branch, compose project, host ports, badge label). Kept in one
+# table so adding a channel later is a single edit. Ports are offset for edge so
+# both stacks bind distinct host ports; the container-internal ports never move.
+$channels = @{
+	stable = @{
+		Ref       = 'main'
+		Project   = 'shopdb-stable'
+		ApiPort   = 5001
+		MysqlPort = 3306
+		EnvLabel  = ''
+	}
+	edge = @{
+		Ref       = 'dev-be'
+		Project   = 'shopdb-edge'
+		ApiPort   = 5011
+		MysqlPort = 3316
+		EnvLabel  = 'DEV'
+	}
+}
+
+function Write-Step {
+	param([string]$Message)
+	Write-Host ''
+	Write-Host "==> $Message" -ForegroundColor Cyan
+}
+
+function Write-Ok {
+	param([string]$Message)
+	Write-Host "    OK: $Message" -ForegroundColor Green
+}
+
+function Write-Warn {
+	param([string]$Message)
+	Write-Host "    WARN: $Message" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+}
+
+function Test-Command {
+	param([string]$Name)
+	return [bool](Get-Command $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
+}
+
+# Confirm a dependency, offering a winget install when it is missing. Returns
+# $true when the dependency is present (or was just installed), $false when the
+# dev declined or install failed.
+function Confirm-Dependency {
+	param(
+		[Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$Command,
+		[Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$DisplayName,
+		[Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$WingetId,
+		[string]$PostInstallNote
+	)
+
+	if (Test-Command $Command) {
+		Write-Ok "$DisplayName found."
+		return $true
+	}
+
+	Write-Warn "$DisplayName not found (command '$Command')."
+
+	if ($SkipDependencyInstall) {
+		Write-Warn "Skipping install (-SkipDependencyInstall). Install '$WingetId' manually."
+		return $false
+	}
+
+	if (-not (Test-Command 'winget')) {
+		Write-Warn "winget is unavailable, so $DisplayName cannot be auto-installed."
+		Write-Warn "Install it from the Microsoft Store / App Installer, then re-run."
+		return $false
+	}
+
+	$answer = Read-Host "    Install $DisplayName now via winget ($WingetId)? [y/N]"
+	if ($answer -notmatch '^(y|yes)$') {
+		Write-Warn "Skipped $DisplayName. It is required; re-run once it is installed."
+		return $false
+	}
+
+	Write-Host "    Running: winget install --id $WingetId" -ForegroundColor DarkGray
+	winget install --id $WingetId --exact --accept-source-agreements --accept-package-agreements
+	if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
+		Write-Warn "winget exited $LASTEXITCODE installing $DisplayName."
+		return $false
+	}
+
+	if ($PostInstallNote) { Write-Warn $PostInstallNote }
+	# winget updates the machine PATH, but this session will not see it until
+	# relaunch, so re-probe rather than claim success outright.
+	return (Test-Command $Command)
+}
+
+# Docker being installed is not the same as the engine running. A stopped
+# Docker Desktop passes the command check but fails every compose call.
+function Test-DockerEngine {
+	try {
+		docker info --format '{{.ServerVersion}}' 2>$null | Out-Null
+		return ($LASTEXITCODE -eq 0)
+	} catch {
+		return $false
+	}
+}
+
+# --- Resolve paths and channel -------------------------------------------------
+
+$repoRoot = Split-Path -Parent $PSScriptRoot
+$config = $channels[$Channel]
+$branch = if ($Ref) { $Ref } else { $config.Ref }
+
+Write-Host "ShopDB dev bootstrap" -ForegroundColor White
+Write-Host "  Channel : $Channel" -ForegroundColor White
+Write-Host "  Branch  : $branch" -ForegroundColor White
+Write-Host "  Project : $($config.Project)" -ForegroundColor White
+Write-Host "  Repo    : $repoRoot" -ForegroundColor White
+
+# --- 1. Dependencies -----------------------------------------------------------
+
+Write-Step 'Checking developer dependencies'
+
+$allPresent = $true
+$allPresent = (Confirm-Dependency -Command 'git' -DisplayName 'Git' -WingetId 'Git.Git') -and $allPresent
+$allPresent = (Confirm-Dependency -Command 'docker' -DisplayName 'Docker Desktop' -WingetId 'Docker.DockerDesktop' `
+	-PostInstallNote 'Docker Desktop needs a sign-out/restart and must be started once before use.') -and $allPresent
+
+if ($CheckPython) {
+	$allPresent = (Confirm-Dependency -Command 'python' -DisplayName 'Python 3.11+' -WingetId 'Python.Python.3.11') -and $allPresent
+}
+
+if (-not $allPresent) {
+	throw 'One or more required dependencies are missing. Resolve the warnings above and re-run.'
+}
+
+Write-Step 'Checking the Docker engine is running'
+if (-not (Test-DockerEngine)) {
+	throw 'Docker is installed but the engine is not responding. Start Docker Desktop and re-run.'
+}
+Write-Ok 'Docker engine is responding.'
+
+# --- 2. Check out the channel branch ------------------------------------------
+
+Write-Step "Preparing the '$branch' branch"
+Push-Location $repoRoot
+try {
+	$dirty = git status --porcelain
+	if ($dirty) {
+		Write-Warn 'Working tree has uncommitted changes; leaving the current branch as-is.'
+		Write-Warn "Building from the checked-out tree instead of switching to '$branch'."
+	} else {
+		git fetch origin $branch
+		git checkout $branch
+		git pull --ff-only origin $branch
+		Write-Ok "On '$branch', up to date with origin."
+	}
+
+	# --- 3. Channel .env ------------------------------------------------------
+
+	Write-Step 'Ensuring a channel .env exists'
+	$envPath = Join-Path $repoRoot ".env.$($config.Project)"
+	if (Test-Path $envPath) {
+		Write-Ok "Reusing existing $([System.IO.Path]::GetFileName($envPath))."
+	} else {
+		# Dev-grade secrets: generated locally, never for production. A real
+		# deploy fills .env from the wiki runbook, not from this script.
+		$secret = [Convert]::ToBase64String((1..48 | ForEach-Object { Get-Random -Maximum 256 }))
+		$jwt = [Convert]::ToBase64String((1..48 | ForEach-Object { Get-Random -Maximum 256 }))
+		$dbPass = [Convert]::ToBase64String((1..18 | ForEach-Object { Get-Random -Maximum 256 })) -replace '[^A-Za-z0-9]', 'x'
+		$rootPass = [Convert]::ToBase64String((1..18 | ForEach-Object { Get-Random -Maximum 256 })) -replace '[^A-Za-z0-9]', 'x'
+		$apiPort = $config.ApiPort
+		$mysqlPort = $config.MysqlPort
+
+		$lines = @(
+			"# Auto-generated by scripts/dev-bootstrap.ps1 for the $Channel channel.",
+			"# DEV-GRADE ONLY. Do not reuse these secrets for a production site.",
+			"FLASK_APP=wsgi.py",
+			"FLASK_ENV=production",
+			"SECRET_KEY=$secret",
+			"JWT_SECRET_KEY=$jwt",
+			"DATABASE_URL=mysql+pymysql://shopdb:$dbPass@db:3306/shopdb_flask?charset=utf8mb4",
+			"CORS_ORIGINS=https://localhost:$apiPort",
+			"LOG_LEVEL=INFO",
+			"MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=$rootPass",
+			"MYSQL_PASSWORD=$dbPass",
+			"MYSQL_PORT=$mysqlPort",
+			"API_PORT=$apiPort",
+			"SHOPDB_ENV_LABEL=$($config.EnvLabel)"
+		)
+		Set-Content -Path $envPath -Value $lines -Encoding ASCII
+		Write-Ok "Wrote $([System.IO.Path]::GetFileName($envPath)) (API on $apiPort, MySQL on $mysqlPort)."
+	}
+
+	# --- 4. Build and start ---------------------------------------------------
+
+	Write-Step "Building and starting the '$($config.Project)' stack"
+	$composeArgs = @(
+		'compose',
+		'-p', $config.Project,
+		'--env-file', $envPath,
+		'-f', 'docker-compose.yml',
+		'-f', 'docker-compose.channel.yml'
+	)
+
+	& docker @composeArgs build api
+	if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "docker compose build failed ($LASTEXITCODE)." }
+
+	& docker @composeArgs up -d
+	if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "docker compose up failed ($LASTEXITCODE)." }
+
+	Write-Step 'Done'
+	Write-Ok "The $Channel stack is up."
+	Write-Host "    UI/API : https://localhost:$($config.ApiPort)" -ForegroundColor White
+	if ($config.EnvLabel) {
+		Write-Host "    Badge  : sidebar shows '$($config.EnvLabel)' (edge channel)." -ForegroundColor White
+	}
+	Write-Host "    Logs   : docker compose -p $($config.Project) logs -f api" -ForegroundColor White
+	Write-Host "    Stop   : docker compose -p $($config.Project) down" -ForegroundColor White
+} finally {
+	Pop-Location
+}
diff --git a/shopdb/core/api/settings.py b/shopdb/core/api/settings.py
index 3c470fac..939bf1bd 100644
--- a/shopdb/core/api/settings.py
+++ b/shopdb/core/api/settings.py
@@ -64,6 +64,40 @@ PUBLIC_SETTING_KEYS = {
     'site_timezone',
 }
 
+# Environment channel label. Sourced from the SHOPDB_ENV_LABEL environment
+# variable (set by the edge docker-compose override and the bleeding-edge
+# installer, unset on stable/main), NOT from a settings row. It is injected as a
+# synthetic public item into the settings list so the frontend picks it up
+# through the same read-through it already uses for branding, with no extra
+# request. Empty when unset, which is how a stable deployment renders no DEV
+# badge. Public and read-only: it carries no secret and cannot be edited via the
+# settings API, only by redeploying with a different environment value.
+ENV_LABEL_KEY = 'env_label'
+
+
+def _env_label() -> str:
+    """The configured environment channel label (e.g. 'DEV'), or '' when unset."""
+    return (os.environ.get('SHOPDB_ENV_LABEL') or '').strip()
+
+
+def _env_label_item() -> dict:
+    """Synthetic, serialized settings item carrying the environment label.
+
+    Shaped like a real serialized Setting so the frontend read-through treats it
+    as just another public key. settingid is None because it is not a DB row.
+    """
+    return {
+        'settingid': None,
+        'key': ENV_LABEL_KEY,
+        'value': _env_label(),
+        'valuetype': 'string',
+        'category': 'branding',
+        'description': 'Environment channel label (from SHOPDB_ENV_LABEL); '
+                       'drives the DEV badge in the sidebar. Read-only.',
+        'createddate': None,
+        'modifieddate': None,
+    }
+
 
 def _plugin_declared_settings() -> dict:
     """Declared settings ({key: entry}) of every loaded plugin, or {}."""
@@ -576,7 +610,19 @@ def list_settings():
     # bootstrap keys); an authed principal sees everything (secrets masked).
     if get_jwt_identity() is None:
         settings = [s for s in settings if _is_public_setting(s)]
-    return success_response([_serialize_setting(s) for s in settings])
+    items = [_serialize_setting(s) for s in settings]
+
+    # Inject the environment channel label as a synthetic public item so the
+    # frontend read-through surfaces it alongside branding. It is env-sourced,
+    # not a DB row, and is always present (empty string when unset) so the
+    # public-settings contract can rely on the key existing. Drop any DB row that
+    # somehow shares the key so the env value is authoritative and appears once.
+    # Skip it when a category filter is active and does not select branding, so a
+    # scoped query is not polluted.
+    if not category or category == 'branding':
+        items = [i for i in items if i.get('key') != ENV_LABEL_KEY]
+        items.append(_env_label_item())
+    return success_response(items)
 
 
 @settings_bp.route('/<key>', methods=['GET'])