diff --git a/.devcontainer/Dockerfile b/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
index cd927eb6..63485dc3 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
+++ b/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-FROM python:3.12-alpine
+FROM library/python:3.12-bookworm
 
 LABEL maintainer="CFPB RegTech Team"
 
@@ -6,24 +6,20 @@ COPY pyproject.toml .
 COPY poetry.lock .
 
 # install git and alpine sdk for c compiler extensions
-RUN apk add --update git curl
+RUN apt update && apt install -y git curl
 
 # install pip dependencies
 RUN pip install --upgrade pip 
 RUN pip install poetry
 
-# run poetry install
-RUN poetry config virtualenvs.create false
-RUN poetry install --no-root
-
 # create a non root sbl user
 ARG USER=sbl
 ENV HOME /home/$USER
 
 # install sudo as root
-RUN apk add --update sudo
+RUN apt install sudo
 # add the new user
-RUN adduser -D $USER \
+RUN adduser $USER \
         && echo "$USER ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL" > /etc/sudoers.d/$USER \
         && chmod 0440 /etc/sudoers.d/$USER
 
diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
index 1dc2c1ad..d1ad3d65 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
     "dockerfile": "Dockerfile",
     "context": ".."
   },
+  "runArgs": [
+    "--mount",
+    "type=volume,target=/${containerWorkspaceFolder}/.venv"
+  ],
+  "postCreateCommand": "poetry install",
   "customizations": {
     "vscode": {
       "extensions": [