diff --git a/config/settings/__init__.py b/config/settings/__init__.py
index 31fafad..7700601 100644
--- a/config/settings/__init__.py
+++ b/config/settings/__init__.py
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@
 STATIC_ROOT = BASE_DIR / 'static_root'
 STATICFILES_DIRS = [BASE_DIR / 'vendor']
 
-# the list of included files can be extended to accommodate a more complex setup
-include(
-    optional('local.py')
-)
+DEBUG = True  # defaults to True for development setup
+if DEBUG is True:  # can be removed when not required
+    include('development.py')
+else:
+    # the list of included files can be extended to accommodate a more complex setup
+    include(optional('local.py'))
 
 # prepend the BASE_URL to the different URL settings
 if BASE_URL:
diff --git a/config/settings/development.py b/config/settings/development.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0723a41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/settings/development.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+'''
+These are development settings for debug mode, don't use this in production
+https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.2/ref/settings/
+https://github.com/rdmorganiser/rdmo/blob/main/rdmo/core/settings.py
+https://rdmo.readthedocs.io/en/latest/development/setup.html
+'''
+
+if DEBUG is not True:
+    from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
+
+    raise ImproperlyConfigured('DEBUG must be True for the development settings')
+
+SECRET_KEY = 'this is not a very secret key'
+PASSWORD_HASHERS = ("django.contrib.auth.hashers.MD5PasswordHasher",)
+SITE_ID = 1
+
+# http://rdmo.readthedocs.io/en/latest/configuration/databases.html
+DATABASES = {
+    'default': {
+        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.sqlite3',
+        'NAME': 'db.sqlite3',
+    }
+}
+
+# Optional, theme: http://rdmo.readthedocs.io/en/latest/configuration/themes.html
+# INSTALLED_APPS += ['rdmo_theme']
+
+# Optional, RDMO plugins: https://github.com/rdmorganiser?q=rdmo-plugins&type=all&language=&sort=
+# INSTALLED_APPS += ['rdmo_pugin']
+# PROJECT_EXPORTS += []
+# PROJECT_IMPORTS += []
+
+# Optional, browsable API, that comes with the Django Rest Framework
+# REST_FRAMEWORK['DEFAULT_RENDERER_CLASSES'] = (
+#     'rest_framework.renderers.JSONRenderer',
+#     'rest_framework.renderers.BrowsableAPIRenderer',
+# )
+
+# Optional, email port
+# EMAIL_PORT = 8025
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index fd496a5..bcf1d58 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ target_version = ["py38", "py39", "py310", "py311"]
 [tool.ruff]
 target-version = "py38"
 line-length = 120
+
+[tool.ruff.lint]
 select = [
   "B",    # flake8-bugbear
   "C4",   # flake8-comprehensions
@@ -25,7 +27,7 @@ ignore = [
   "RUF012", # mutable-class-default
 ]
 
-[tool.ruff.isort]
+[tool.ruff.lint.isort]
 section-order = [
   "future",
   "standard-library",
@@ -38,13 +40,13 @@ section-order = [
   "local-folder"
 ]
 
-[tool.ruff.isort.sections]
+[tool.ruff.lint.isort.sections]
 pytest = ["pytest"]
 django = ["django"]
 rest_framework = ["rest_framework"]
 rdmo = ["rdmo"]
 
-[tool.ruff.per-file-ignores]
+[tool.ruff.lint.per-file-ignores]
 "config/settings/*.py" = [
   "F401",
   "F403",