diff --git a/.gitpod.yml b/.gitpod.yml
index ad65f6abc..93072b2f3 100644
--- a/.gitpod.yml
+++ b/.gitpod.yml
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ vscode:
     - hbenl.vscode-test-explorer
     - matepek.vscode-catch2-test-adapter
     - redhat.vscode-yaml
-    - ritwickdey.liveserver
     - ms-python.python
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------
@@ -85,8 +84,10 @@ tasks:
       exit
   - name: install python packages
     before: |
+      python -m venv ${PYTHON_VENV}
       source ${PYTHON_VENV}/bin/activate
       pip install -Ur requirements.txt
+      conan profile detect
       conan config install $PWD/.gitpod/conan
       gp sync-done python-init
       exit
@@ -122,5 +123,5 @@ tasks:
     init: |
       gp sync-await python-init
       source ${PYTHON_VENV}/bin/activate
-      mkdocs serve
-      echo "📚 Documentation generation done! You can open it by clicking on 'Go Live' in the VSCode status bar. 📚"
+      mkdocs serve &
+      echo "📚 Documentation generation done! You can open it by clicking on 'Open Preview' or 'Open Browser' in the VSCode dialog window. 📚"
diff --git a/.gitpod/Dockerfile b/.gitpod/Dockerfile
index 57bd9cba0..e482922cb 100644
--- a/.gitpod/Dockerfile
+++ b/.gitpod/Dockerfile
@@ -8,3 +8,12 @@ RUN lsb_rel=`lsb_release -cs` && \
 RUN sudo install-packages \
   g++-12 \
   clang-16
+
+# Install mkdocs dependencies
+RUN sudo install-packages \
+  libcairo2-dev \
+  libfreetype6-dev \
+  libffi-dev \
+  libjpeg-dev \
+  libpng-dev \
+  libz-dev