diff --git a/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/install.sh b/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/install.sh
index 1bc58d3..bb3d460 100755
--- a/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/install.sh
+++ b/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/install.sh
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ apt-get install -y protobuf-compiler="${protobuf_compiler_version}*"
 # Git and Git LFS, via APT
 apt-get install -y git
 apt-get install -y git-lfs
+apt-get install -y gh
 
 # Python, via APT
 apt-get install -y python${python_version} python3-pip python3-venv
@@ -105,6 +106,9 @@ apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends --fix-broken qemu-system-arm="${qemu_
 # sshpass
 apt-get install -y sshpass="${sshpass_version}*"
 
+# additional developer tools
+apt-get install -y gdb
+
 # Bash completion for rust tooling
 rustup completions bash rustup >> /etc/bash_completion.d/rustup.bash
 rustup completions bash cargo >> /etc/bash_completion.d/cargo.bash
diff --git a/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/tests/test_default.sh b/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/tests/test_default.sh
index f11ebcc..e135541 100755
--- a/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/tests/test_default.sh
+++ b/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/tests/test_default.sh
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ check "validate buildifier is working and has the correct version" bash -c "buil
 check "validate starpls is working and has the correct version" bash -c "starpls version | grep '${starpls_version}'"
 check "validate bazel-compile-commands is working and has the correct version" bash -c "bazel-compile-commands --version 2>&1 | grep '${bazel_compile_commands_version}'"
 
+# additional developer tools
+check "validate gdb is working and has the correct version" bash -c "gdb --version | grep '${gdb_version}'"
+check "validate gh is working and has the correct version" bash -c "gh --version | grep '${gh_version}'"
+
 # Qemu target-related tools
 check "validate qemu-system-aarch64 is working and has the correct version" bash -c "qemu-system-aarch64 --version | grep '${qemu_system_arm_version}'"
 check "validate sshpass is working and has the correct version" bash -c "sshpass -V | grep '${sshpass_version}'"
diff --git a/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/versions.yaml b/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/versions.yaml
index 09205d7..7c8cb85 100644
--- a/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/versions.yaml
+++ b/src/s-core-devcontainer/.devcontainer/s-core-local/versions.yaml
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ git_lfs:
 python:
   version: "3.12"
 
+gdb:
+  version: "15.0.50"
+
+gh:
+  version: "2.45.0"
+
 bazel:
   # https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazel/releases -- latest version as of 2025-09-24
   version: 8.4.1