diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
index 10c2c2b6f..fa4113683 100644
--- a/.vscode/settings.json
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -18,5 +18,10 @@
             "source.organizeImports.ruff": true,
             "source.black": true,
         }
+    },
+    "workbench.colorCustomizations": {
+        "activityBar.background": "#01333D",
+        "titleBar.activeBackground": "#014756",
+        "titleBar.activeForeground": "#F1FDFF"
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/config/st.cmd b/config/st.cmd
deleted file mode 100644
index 825100d4c..000000000
--- a/config/st.cmd
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-# EPICS IOC Startup Script generated by https://github.com/epics-containers/ibek
-
-cd "/epics/ioc"
-dbLoadDatabase dbd/ioc.dbd
-ioc_registerRecordDeviceDriver pdbbase
-
-
-dbLoadRecords /tmp/ioc.db
-iocInit
-
diff --git a/src/ibek/globals.py b/src/ibek/globals.py
index fc7ce3efa..a9c4b279f 100644
--- a/src/ibek/globals.py
+++ b/src/ibek/globals.py
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@
 # global MODULES file used to determine order of build
 MODULES = SUPPORT / "configure/MODULES"
 
-# Folder containing Makefile.jinja
-MAKE_FOLDER = IOC_FOLDER / "iocApp/src"
 # Folder containing templates for IOC src etc.
 TEMPLATES = Path(__file__).parent / "templates"
 # Folder containing symlinks to useful files
diff --git a/src/ibek/ioc_cmds/assets.py b/src/ibek/ioc_cmds/assets.py
index 4fd75189b..2bda8d228 100644
--- a/src/ibek/ioc_cmds/assets.py
+++ b/src/ibek/ioc_cmds/assets.py
@@ -8,6 +8,27 @@
 from ibek.globals import EPICS_ROOT, IOC_FOLDER, SYMLINKS
 
 
+def get_ioc_src():
+    """
+    The generic ioc source folder is mounted into the container at
+    /epics/ioc-XXXXX and should always contain the ibek-support
+    submodule. Therefore we can find the ibek-support folder by looking
+    for the ibek-support folder.
+
+    Functions that use this should provide an override variable that allows
+    the ibek caller to specify the location.
+    """
+    try:
+        ibek_support = list(EPICS_ROOT.glob("*/ibek-support"))[0]
+    except IndexError:
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            f"Could not find ibek-support in {EPICS_ROOT}."
+            "ibek should be run from inside a container with"
+            "a generic ioc source folder mounted at /epics/ioc-XXXXX"
+        )
+    return (ibek_support / "..").resolve()
+
+
 def move_file(src: Path, dest: Path, binary: List[str]):
     """
     Move a file / tree / symlink from src to dest, stripping symbols from
@@ -37,10 +58,7 @@ def extract_assets(destination: Path, source: Path, extras: List[Path], defaults
     """
     asset_matches = "bin|configure|db|dbd|include|lib|template|config|*.sh"
 
-    try:
-        ibek_support = list(EPICS_ROOT.glob("*/ibek-support"))[0]
-    except IndexError:
-        raise RuntimeError(f"Could not find ibek-support in {EPICS_ROOT}")
+    ibek_support = get_ioc_src()
 
     just_copy = (
         [
diff --git a/src/ibek/ioc_cmds/commands.py b/src/ibek/ioc_cmds/commands.py
index 7ccfa4ce4..272b3930c 100644
--- a/src/ibek/ioc_cmds/commands.py
+++ b/src/ibek/ioc_cmds/commands.py
@@ -12,23 +12,33 @@
     IOC_DBDS,
     IOC_FOLDER,
     IOC_LIBS,
-    MAKE_FOLDER,
     TEMPLATES,
     NaturalOrderGroup,
 )
 from ibek.ioc_cmds.docker import build_dockerfile
 
-from .assets import extract_assets
+from .assets import extract_assets, get_ioc_src
 
 ioc_cli = typer.Typer(cls=NaturalOrderGroup)
 
 
 @ioc_cli.command()
-def generate_makefile() -> None:
+def generate_makefile(
+    folder_override: Annotated[
+        Optional[Path],
+        typer.Option(
+            help="Where to find the Makefile.jinja template.",
+        ),
+    ] = None
+):
     """
     get the dbd and lib files from all support modules and generate
     iocApp/src/Makefile from iocApp/src/Makefile.jinja
     """
+
+    # Folder containing Makefile.jinja
+    make_folder = folder_override or get_ioc_src() / "ioc/iocApp/src"
+
     # get all the dbd and lib files gathered from each support module
     dbds: List[str] = []
     libs: List[str] = []
@@ -38,12 +48,12 @@ def generate_makefile() -> None:
         libs = [lib.strip() for lib in IOC_LIBS.read_text().split()]
 
     # generate the Makefile from the template
-    template = Template((MAKE_FOLDER / "Makefile.jinja").read_text())
+    template = Template((make_folder / "Makefile.jinja").read_text())
     # libraries are listed in reverse order of dependency
     libs.reverse()
     text = template.render(dbds=dbds, libs=libs)
 
-    with (MAKE_FOLDER / "Makefile").open("w") as stream:
+    with (make_folder / "Makefile").open("w") as stream:
         stream.write(text)
 
 
@@ -58,6 +68,11 @@ def compile(
     """
     path = IOC_FOLDER
 
+    # for developer convenience in a devcontainer we also call the idempotent
+    # functions that compile requires
+    make_source_template()
+    generate_makefile()
+
     command = f"make -C {path} -j $(nproc) " + " ".join(ctx.args)
     exit(subprocess.call(["bash", "-c", command]))
 
@@ -100,7 +115,7 @@ def generate_schema(
     ioc_model = ioc_create_model(definitions)
     schema = json.dumps(ioc_model.model_json_schema(), indent=2)
     if output is None:
-        print(schema)
+        typer.echo(schema)
     else:
         output.write_text(schema)
 
@@ -130,22 +145,25 @@ def extract_runtime_assets(
 
 @ioc_cli.command()
 def make_source_template(
-    destination: Path = typer.Argument(
-        Path.cwd().parent / "ioc",
-        help="The root folder in which to place the IOC boilerplate",
-    )
+    destination: Annotated[
+        Optional[Path],
+        typer.Option(
+            help="Where to make the ioc folder. Defaults to under the "
+            "generic IOC source folder",
+        ),
+    ] = None
 ):
     """
     Create a new IOC boilerplate source tree in the given folder.
-    Default is ../ioc. Typically call this when CWD is
-    <generic_ioc_root>/ibek-support as this is the standard
-    Dockerfile WORKDIR.
+    Default is ioc source repo / ioc .
     """
-    if destination.exists():
-        typer.echo(f"{destination} IOC source exists, skipping ...")
-    else:
+    if destination is None:
+        destination = get_ioc_src() / "ioc"
+
+    if not destination.exists():
+        if destination.is_symlink():
+            destination.unlink()
         shutil.copytree(TEMPLATES / "ioc", destination)
-        typer.echo(f"Created IOC source tree in {destination}")
 
     try:
         IOC_FOLDER.unlink(missing_ok=True)
diff --git a/src/ibek/support_cmds/commands.py b/src/ibek/support_cmds/commands.py
index e75146634..945d4b607 100644
--- a/src/ibek/support_cmds/commands.py
+++ b/src/ibek/support_cmds/commands.py
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@
 
 import typer
 
+from ibek.ioc_cmds.assets import get_ioc_src
+
 try:
     from git import Repo
 except ImportError:
-    print("Git Python is not needed for runtime ibek usage")
+    pass  # Git Python is not needed for runtime (container build time only)
 
 from typing_extensions import Annotated
 
@@ -229,24 +231,29 @@ def compile(
 
 @support_cli.command()
 def generate_links(
-    module: str = typer.Argument(..., help="support module name"),
     ibek_support: Annotated[
-        Path, typer.Option(help="Filepath to ibek-support root")
-    ] = Path.cwd(),
+        Optional[Path],
+        typer.Option(
+            help="Filepath to ibek-support root"
+            "defaults to <generic IOC source folder>/ibek-support"
+        ),
+    ] = None,
 ):
     """
     generate symlinks to the bob, pvi and support YAML for a compiled IOC
     """
     # symlink the support YAML
-    from_path = ibek_support / module
-    support_yaml = from_path.glob("*.ibek.support.yaml")
-    print(f"looking for some support YAML in {ibek_support}, found {support_yaml}")
+    from_path = ibek_support or get_ioc_src() / "ibek-support"
+
+    support_yaml = from_path.glob("*/*.ibek.support.yaml")
 
     to_path = SYMLINKS / "ibek"
     to_path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     for yaml in support_yaml:
+        link_from = to_path / yaml.name
+        link_from.unlink(missing_ok=True)
         typer.echo(f"symlinking {yaml} to {to_path}")
-        (to_path / yaml.name).symlink_to(yaml)
+        link_from.symlink_to(yaml)
 
     # symlink the bob YAML
     # TODO TODO
@@ -261,6 +268,6 @@ def generate_schema(
 ):
     """Produce JSON global schema for all <support_module>.ibek.support.yaml files"""
     if output is None:
-        print(Support.get_schema())
+        typer.echo(Support.get_schema())
     else:
         output.write_text(Support.get_schema())
diff --git a/src/ibek/templates/ioc/config/start.sh b/src/ibek/templates/ioc/config/start.sh
index 3b0632d53..8961f3b4d 100644
--- a/src/ibek/templates/ioc/config/start.sh
+++ b/src/ibek/templates/ioc/config/start.sh
@@ -8,22 +8,22 @@ Launch this Generic IOC with configuration folder mounted over
 
 Choices of contents of the config folder are:
 
- 1. start.sh ******************************************************************
-    If the config folder contains a start.sh script it will be executed.
-    This allows the instance implementer to provide a conmpletely custom
-    startup script.
-
- 2. ioc.yaml *************************************************************
+ 1. ioc.yaml *************************************************************
     If the config folder contains an ioc.yaml file we invoke the ibek tool to
     generate the startup script and database. Then launch with the generated
     startup script.
 
- 3. st.cmd + ioc.subst *********************************************************
+ 2. st.cmd + ioc.subst *********************************************************
     If the config folder contains a st.cmd script and a ioc.subst file then
     optionally generate ioc.db from the ioc.subst file and use the st.cmd script
     as the IOC startup script. Note that the expanded database file will
     be generated in /tmp/ioc.db
 
+ 3. start.sh ******************************************************************
+    If the config folder contains a start.sh script it will be executed.
+    This allows the instance implementer to provide a conmpletely custom
+    startup script.
+
  4. empty config folder *******************************************************
     If the config folder is empty the default startup script prints the message
     you are reading now.
diff --git a/src/ibek/templates/ioc/start.sh b/src/ibek/templates/ioc/start.sh
index 7db7bfbc4..c20c1bb33 100755
--- a/src/ibek/templates/ioc/start.sh
+++ b/src/ibek/templates/ioc/start.sh
@@ -15,25 +15,25 @@
 # Here we support the following set of options for the contents of
 # the config folder:
 #
-# 1. start.sh ******************************************************************
-#    If the config folder contains a start.sh script it will be executed.
-#    This allows the instance implementer to provide a conmpletely custom
-#    startup script.
-#
-# 2. ioc.yaml *************************************************************
+# 1. ioc.yaml *************************************************************
 #    If the config folder contains an ioc.yaml file we invoke the ibek tool to
 #    generate the startup script and database. Then launch with the generated
 #    startup script.
 #
-# 3. st.cmd + ioc.subst *********************************************************
+# 2. st.cmd + ioc.subst *********************************************************
 #    If the config folder contains a st.cmd script and a ioc.subst file then
 #    optionally generate ioc.db from the ioc.subst file and use the st.cmd script
 #    as the IOC startup script. Note that the expanded database file will
 #    be generated in /tmp/ioc.db
 #
+# 3. start.sh ******************************************************************
+#    If the config folder contains a start.sh script it will be executed.
+#    This allows the instance implementer to provide a conmpletely custom
+#    startup script.
+#
 # 4. empty config folder *******************************************************
-#    If the config folder is empty then this IOC will launch the example in
-#    ./example folder
+#    If the config folder is empty the default script that prints a message
+#    will run
 #
 # RTEMS IOCS - RTEMS IOC startup files can be generated using 2,3,4 above. For
 # RTEMS we do not execute the ioc inside of the pod. Instead we:
@@ -65,42 +65,36 @@ ioc_startup=${CONFIG_DIR}/st.cmd
 epics_db=/tmp/ioc.db
 
 
-# 1. start.sh ******************************************************************
 
-if [ -f ${override} ]; then
-    exec bash ${override}
-    
-    elif [ -f ${ibek_src} ]; then
-    # 2. ioc.yaml ******************************************************************
-    
+# 1. ioc.yaml ******************************************************************
+if [ -f ${ibek_src} ]; then
+
     # Database generation script generated by ibek
     db_src=/tmp/ioc.subst
     final_ioc_startup=/tmp/st.cmd
-    
+
     # get ibek the support yaml files this ioc's support modules
-    defs=/workspaces/*/ibek-support/*/*.ibek.support.yaml
+    defs=/epics/links/ibek/*.ibek.support.yaml
     ibek startup generate ${ibek_src} ${defs} --out ${final_ioc_startup} --db-out ${db_src}
-    
+
     # build expanded database using msi
     if [ -f ${db_src} ]; then
         includes=$(for i in ${SUPPORT}/*/db; do echo -n "-I $i "; done)
         bash -c "msi -o${epics_db} ${includes} -S${db_src}"
     fi
-    
-    # 3. st.cmd + ioc.substitutions ************************************************
-    
-    elif [ -f ${ioc_startup} ] ; then
+
+# 2. st.cmd + ioc.substitutions ************************************************
+elif [ -f ${ioc_startup} ] ; then
+
     if [ -f ${CONFIG_DIR}/ioc.substitutions ]; then
         # generate ioc.db from ioc.substitutions, including all templates from SUPPORT
         includes=$(for i in ${SUPPORT}/*/db; do echo -n "-I $i "; done)
         msi ${includes} -S ${CONFIG_DIR}/ioc.substitutions -o ${epics_db}
     fi
     final_ioc_startup=${ioc_startup}
-    
-    # 4. empty config folder *******************************************************
-    
-else
-    final_ioc_startup=${TOP}/example/st.cmd
+
+elif [ -f ${override} ]; then
+    exec bash ${override}
 fi
 
 # Launch the IOC ***************************************************************