diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 99e727c21..1b0372e55 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -45,3 +45,10 @@ file-tree-sprite.svg
 
 # output
 .vercel
+
+# Local development certificates (if using manual mkcert)
+*.pem
+*.key
+*.crt
+!public/**/*.{pem,key,crt}
+.localias-certs/
diff --git a/.localias.yml b/.localias.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3652ce65a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.localias.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# Localias configuration
+# See: https://github.com/peterldowns/localias
+# Usage: localias set npmx.test 3000
+# Visit: https://npmx.test
+
+- from: npmx.test
+  to: http://127.0.0.1:3000
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 6fc688264..424ad9057 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -95,6 +95,34 @@ This focus helps guide our project decisions as a community and what we choose t
    pnpm npmx-connector
    ```
 
+### Optional: Custom Local Domain
+
+Configure dev server to run at `http://npmx.test:3000` instead of `http://127.0.0.1:3000`.
+
+**Setup:**
+
+```bash
+# 1. Install Localias
+brew install peterldowns/tap/localias
+
+# Linux/WSL2
+go install github.com/peterldowns/localias/cmd/localias@latest
+
+# 2. Run setup (requires sudo)
+pnpm setup:local
+
+# 3. Start dev server
+pnpm dev
+```
+
+Visit `https://npmx.test` (localias proxies to `127.0.0.1:3000`).
+
+**Uninstall:**
+
+```bash
+pnpm setup:local:uninstall
+```
+
 ## Development workflow
 
 ### Available commands
diff --git a/knip.ts b/knip.ts
index 257a58608..759d71d1b 100644
--- a/knip.ts
+++ b/knip.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import type { KnipConfig } from 'knip'
 
 const config: KnipConfig = {
+  ignoreBinaries: [
+    /** Global CLI tool installed via brew/go, not npm */
+    'localias',
+  ],
   workspaces: {
     '.': {
       entry: [
diff --git a/nuxt.config.ts b/nuxt.config.ts
index 00d89f429..3260034cb 100644
--- a/nuxt.config.ts
+++ b/nuxt.config.ts
@@ -303,6 +303,10 @@ export default defineNuxtConfig({
   },
 
   vite: {
+    server: {
+      // Allow .test domains for local development (e.g., npmx.test via localias)
+      allowedHosts: ['.test'],
+    },
     optimizeDeps: {
       include: [
         '@vueuse/core',
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 3b18c3a9e..ca2900d8a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@
     "generate:sprite": "node scripts/generate-file-tree-sprite.ts",
     "generate:fixtures": "node scripts/generate-fixtures.ts",
     "generate:lexicons": "lex build --lexicons lexicons --out shared/types/lexicons --clear",
+    "setup:local": "bash scripts/setup-local-domain.sh",
+    "setup:local:uninstall": "bash -c 'if localias rm npmx.test; then sudo localias stop || echo \"Failed to stop Localias daemon\"; else echo \"No local domain configured\"; fi'",
     "test": "vite test",
     "test:a11y": "pnpm build:test && LIGHTHOUSE_COLOR_MODE=dark pnpm test:a11y:prebuilt && LIGHTHOUSE_COLOR_MODE=light pnpm test:a11y:prebuilt",
     "test:a11y:prebuilt": "./scripts/lighthouse.sh",
diff --git a/scripts/setup-local-domain.sh b/scripts/setup-local-domain.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..eab9bef7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/setup-local-domain.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+
+R='\033[0;31m' G='\033[0;32m' Y='\033[1;33m' B='\033[0;34m' NC='\033[0m'
+
+error_exit() {
+    echo -e "\n${R}✗ $1${NC}" >&2
+    [ -n "$2" ] && echo -e "${Y}→ $2${NC}" >&2
+    exit 1
+}
+
+# Detect operating system
+detect_os() {
+    case "$(uname -s)" in
+        Darwin*)
+            echo "macos"
+            ;;
+        Linux*)
+            if grep -qi microsoft /proc/version 2>/dev/null; then
+                echo "wsl"
+            else
+                echo "linux"
+            fi
+            ;;
+        MINGW*|MSYS*|CYGWIN*)
+            echo "windows"
+            ;;
+        *)
+            echo "unknown"
+            ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+OS_TYPE=$(detect_os)
+
+echo -e "\n🌐 Configure npmx.test domain for local development"
+
+# Check for unsupported platforms
+if [ "$OS_TYPE" = "windows" ]; then
+    error_exit "Windows is not supported by Localias" \
+        "Please use WSL2 instead: https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install"
+fi
+
+if [ "$OS_TYPE" = "unknown" ]; then
+    error_exit "Unsupported operating system" "Localias supports macOS, Linux, and WSL2"
+fi
+
+# Check prerequisites with platform-specific instructions
+if ! command -v localias &>/dev/null; then
+    case "$OS_TYPE" in
+        macos)
+            error_exit "Localias not installed" "brew install peterldowns/tap/localias"
+            ;;
+        linux|wsl)
+            error_exit "Localias not installed" "go install github.com/peterldowns/localias/cmd/localias@latest"
+            ;;
+    esac
+fi
+
+[ -f ".localias.yml" ] || error_exit ".localias.yml not found" "Run from project root"
+
+# Linux/WSL: Check and configure privileged port capability
+if [ "$OS_TYPE" = "linux" ] || [ "$OS_TYPE" = "wsl" ]; then
+    LOCALIAS_PATH=$(which localias)
+    if ! getcap "$LOCALIAS_PATH" 2>/dev/null | grep -q "cap_net_bind_service"; then
+        echo -e "${Y}⚙ Configuring privileged port access for Localias${NC}"
+        echo "This allows Localias to bind to ports 80 and 443 without sudo"
+        sudo setcap CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE=+eip "$LOCALIAS_PATH" || \
+            error_exit "Failed to set capabilities" "Run: sudo setcap CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE=+eip \$(which localias)"
+        echo -e "${G}✓ Capabilities configured${NC}"
+    fi
+fi
+
+# Check if already configured
+if localias list 2>/dev/null | grep -q "npmx.test"; then
+    echo -e "${Y}⚠ npmx.test already configured${NC}"
+    if localias status &>/dev/null; then
+        echo -e "${G}✓ Daemon running${NC} - visit ${B}https://npmx.test${NC}"
+        exit 0
+    fi
+    echo "Restarting daemon..."
+else
+    echo "Configuring npmx.test → localhost:3000 (requires sudo)"
+    read -p "Press Enter to continue or Ctrl+C to cancel... "
+    localias set npmx.test 3000 || error_exit "Failed to configure alias" "Check sudo access"
+fi
+
+# Start daemon
+echo "Starting localias daemon (requires sudo)..."
+sudo localias stop 2>/dev/null || true
+if ! sudo localias start; then
+    error_exit "Failed to start daemon" "Check ports 80/443 or run: sudo localias start"
+fi
+
+# Verify
+sleep 1
+if ! localias status &>/dev/null; then
+    error_exit "Daemon not running" "Run manually: sudo localias start"
+fi
+
+echo -e "\n${G}✓ Setup complete${NC}"
+echo -e "  Start dev server: ${B}pnpm dev${NC}"
+echo -e "  Visit: ${B}https://npmx.test${NC}"
+echo -e "  Remove: ${B}pnpm setup:local:uninstall${NC}"
+
+# Platform-specific notes
+if [ "$OS_TYPE" = "wsl" ]; then
+    echo -e "\n${Y}ℹ WSL2 Note:${NC}"
+    echo -e "  - SSL certificates work in WSL browsers"
+    echo -e "  - For Windows browsers, manually install cert from:"
+    echo -e "    ~/.localias/certs/npmx.test.crt"
+fi
+
+# AtProto OAuth caveat
+echo -e "\n${Y}⚠ AtProto OAuth Note:${NC}"
+echo -e "  When using Bluesky login, the OAuth callback will redirect to"
+echo -e "  ${B}http://127.0.0.1:3000${NC} instead of ${B}npmx.test${NC}"
+echo -e "  This is required per AtProto spec for localhost development."
+echo -e "  Your session will work correctly after the redirect."
+echo -e "  See: ${B}https://atproto.com/specs/oauth#localhost-client-development${NC}"
+
+echo ""