diff --git a/.envrc b/.envrc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c61b2a82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.envrc
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+watch_file pixi.lock 
+eval "$(pixi shell-hook)"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a273b129..520c8e3b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -176,3 +176,4 @@ log/**
 .pixi
 *.egg-info
 
+metadata.json
diff --git a/bencher.deps.yaml b/bencher.deps.yaml
index 67b5cc65..a97aaa30 100644
--- a/bencher.deps.yaml
+++ b/bencher.deps.yaml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ apt_tools:
   - python3-pip
   - apt-utils
   - jq
+  - direnv
 
 pip_language-toolchain:
   - flit
@@ -15,3 +16,7 @@ pip_language-toolchain:
 
 script_pixi-user:
   - scripts/install_pixi.sh
+
+run_direnv-user:
+  - echo "eval \"$(direnv hook bash)\" >> $HOME/.bashrc"
+  - echo -e "source /opt/ros/humble/setup.bash" >> $HOME/.bashrc