diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
index d43fcfde..274390ae 100644
--- a/.vscode/settings.json
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 {
   "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "${workspaceFolder}/backend/.venv/bin/python",
-  "python.terminal.activateEnvironment": true,
+  "terminal.integrated.profiles.osx": {
+    "bash + venv": {
+      "path": "/opt/homebrew/bin/bash",
+      "args": ["--rcfile", "${workspaceFolder}/.vscode/terminal-init.sh"]
+    }
+  },
+  "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.osx": "bash + venv",
   "terminal.integrated.enablePersistentSessions": false
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.vscode/terminal-init.sh b/.vscode/terminal-init.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..514eccc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/terminal-init.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# 1. Load your normal shell setup first (brew, nvm, bun, etc.)
+[ -f "$HOME/.bash_profile" ] && source "$HOME/.bash_profile"
+
+# 2. Restore the standard macOS prompt (normally set by /etc/bashrc for login shells)
+PS1='\h:\W \u\$ '
+
+# 3. Activate the project venv LAST, so it wins the PATH ordering
+VENV="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)/backend/.venv/bin/activate"
+[ -f "$VENV" ] && source "$VENV"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/run.sh b/run.sh
index 296452b7..cd9484c6 100755
--- a/run.sh
+++ b/run.sh
@@ -158,6 +158,18 @@ fi
 # directly), so the env stays unset in production and uvicorn boots in
 # its leaner non-reload mode.
 export OPENSWARM_DEV=1
+
+# --- Lint preflight: surface violations before the dev loop starts ---
+# print_errors.sh -> linter/lint.py needs watchfiles + vulture, which live in
+# the backend venv (installed by backend/run.sh when OPENSWARM_DEV=1). Prepend
+# the venv's bin to PATH so the script's bare `python3` resolves there. Skip
+# silently on a fresh checkout where the venv isn't built yet.
+VENV_BIN="$PROJECT_ROOT/backend/.venv/bin"
+if [ -x "$VENV_BIN/python3" ]; then
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}${BOLD}[lint]${RESET}     Checking for linter violations..."
+    PATH="$VENV_BIN:$PATH" bash "$PROJECT_ROOT/linter/print_errors.sh" "$PROJECT_ROOT"
+fi
+
 echo -e "${BLUE}${BOLD}[backend]${RESET}  Starting backend server..."
 bash "$PROJECT_ROOT/backend/run.sh" > >(
     while IFS= read -r line; do