diff --git a/.kitty/annotation-dev b/.kitty/annotation-dev
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..a0e43d630
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.kitty/annotation-dev
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+if [ "$1" = "-h" -o "$1" = "--help" ]; then
+    echo 'Annotation dev setup for kitty terminal'
+    echo '  Starts the Annotation Interface, Server and their databases in split windows.'
+    echo "  Run from the repository's root."
+    echo ''
+    echo 'optional arguments:'
+    echo '  -h, --help     show this message and exit'
+    echo '  -s, --server   run the Annotation Server instead of the Interface (default)'
+    echo '                 in the tallest window'
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+if [ "$TERM" != "xterm-kitty" ]; then
+    echo 'Unsupported terminal.'
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+if  [ ! -d annotation-interface -o ! -d annotation-server ]; then
+    echo "Run from the repository's root."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+
+CWD=`pwd`
+
+AS=('cd annotation-server && yarn start:dev' 'cd annotation-server && docker compose up')
+AI=('cd annotation-interface && yarn dev' 'cd annotation-interface && docker compose up')
+
+if [ "$1" = "-s" -o "$1" = "--server" ]; then
+    MAIN=("${AS[@]}")
+    SEC=("${AI[@]}")
+else
+    MAIN=("${AI[@]}")
+    SEC=("${AS[@]}")
+fi
+
+kitty @ launch --cwd=$CWD --location=vsplit &>/dev/null && kitty @ send-text "${SEC[0]}\n"
+kitty @ launch --cwd=$CWD --location=hsplit &>/dev/null && kitty @ send-text "${SEC[1]}\n"
+kitty @ launch --cwd=$CWD --location=hsplit &>/dev/null && kitty @ send-text "${MAIN[1]}\n"
+eval "${MAIN[0]}"
diff --git a/annotation-interface/CONTRIBUTING.md b/annotation-interface/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 823eaf56a..9a1ba2c01 100644
--- a/annotation-interface/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/annotation-interface/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -22,3 +22,9 @@ Please also see the [contribution guide in the root folder](../CONTRIBUTING.md).
 - Start the database by running `docker compose up` in this directory
 - Start the development server with `yarn dev`
 - You can now access the annotation interface app on `localhost:3001`
+
+If you have all prerequisites (Annotation Server & Interface) met and use
+[kitty](https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/), you can conveniently run the
+[annotation-dev](../.kitty/annotation-dev) script from this repository's root to
+start both the Annotation Server and Interface along with both databases in
+split windows.