diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-ipa.yml b/.github/workflows/build-ipa.yml
index 6e27bbb12..014cf8178 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-ipa.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-ipa.yml
@@ -63,11 +63,12 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           brew tap FelixHerrmann/tap
           brew trust FelixHerrmann/tap
-          brew install xcodegen swiftgen swift-package-list
+          brew install make xcodegen swiftgen swift-package-list
+          echo "$(brew --prefix make)/libexec/gnubin" >> "$GITHUB_PATH"
 
       - name: Generate Xcode project
         if: steps.version_check.outputs.should_build == 'true' || github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
-        run: xcodegen generate
+        run: make generate
 
       - name: Update acknowledgements
         if: steps.version_check.outputs.should_build == 'true' || github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index f5396e673..356d95835 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -41,11 +41,13 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
+          brew install make
+          echo "$(brew --prefix make)/libexec/gnubin" >> "$GITHUB_PATH"
           command -v xcodegen >/dev/null 2>&1 || brew install xcodegen
           command -v swiftgen >/dev/null 2>&1 || brew install swiftgen
 
       - name: Generate Xcode project
-        run: xcodegen generate
+        run: make generate
 
       - name: Cache Xcode build
         uses: irgaly/xcode-cache@v1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/testflight.yml b/.github/workflows/testflight.yml
index f3742efc3..d836bee5f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/testflight.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/testflight.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           brew tap FelixHerrmann/tap
           brew trust FelixHerrmann/tap
-          brew install xcodegen swiftgen swift-package-list
+          brew install make xcodegen swiftgen swift-package-list
+          echo "$(brew --prefix make)/libexec/gnubin" >> "$GITHUB_PATH"
           gem install fastlane -v 2.236.1
 
       - name: Setup SSH for Match
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 28657acec..a30c0946f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ xcuserdata/
 
 ## Xcodegen
 *.xcodeproj
+dev.yml
 
 ## Obj-C/Swift specific
 *.hmap
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index b6364b72d..fa6042b4b 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ It's usually easier to simply create a feature request GitHub issue with your id
 1. **Clone the repository**.
 2. **Generate the Xcode project**:
    ```bash
-   xcodegen generate
+   make generate # creates a gitignored dev.yml; set your Apple team ID there for local signing
    ```
    The project is generated by XcodeGen from `project.yml`; never edit `MC1.xcodeproj` directly, as it is overwritten on the next generate. Make project configuration changes in `project.yml`.
 3. **Open `MC1.xcodeproj`**.
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9d2d7e690..8a420994c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -72,7 +72,18 @@ help: ## List available targets
 	@grep -E '^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+:.*?## .*$$' $(MAKEFILE_LIST) \
 		| awk 'BEGIN {FS = ":.*?## "}; {printf "  %-14s %s\n", $$1, $$2}'
 
-generate: ## Regenerate MC1.xcodeproj from project.yml (xcodegen)
+define DEV_YML_STUB
+settings:
+  base:
+    DEVELOPMENT_TEAM: ""
+endef
+export DEV_YML_STUB
+
+dev.yml:
+	@echo "dev.yml not found, creating empty stub (set DEVELOPMENT_TEAM for local signing)"
+	@echo "$$DEV_YML_STUB" > dev.yml
+
+generate: dev.yml ## Regenerate MC1.xcodeproj from project.yml (xcodegen)
 	xcodegen generate
 
 test: test-app test-store ## Run everything: full app suite (iOS 26) + StoreKit suites (iOS 18)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 71d50c157..b652edc6b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ Download from the App Store or sideload using unsigned IPA files under [Releases
 ## Getting Started
 
 1.  Install [XcodeGen](https://github.com/yonaskolb/XcodeGen).
-2.  Run `xcodegen generate`.
+2.  Run `make generate` (creates a gitignored `dev.yml` — set your Apple team ID there for local signing).
 3.  Open `MC1.xcodeproj`.
 
 For more details, see the [Development Guide](docs/Development.md).
diff --git a/docs/Development.md b/docs/Development.md
index 08c3250cb..9df8ca5e6 100644
--- a/docs/Development.md
+++ b/docs/Development.md
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ This guide provides information for developers who want to contribute to the Mes
 1. **Clone the repository**.
 2. **Generate the Xcode project** from `project.yml`:
    ```bash
-   xcodegen generate
+   make generate # creates a gitignored dev.yml; set your Apple team ID there for local signing
    ```
    > **Note:** Do not edit `MC1.xcodeproj` directly — it is generated from `project.yml` and will be overwritten. Make project configuration changes in `project.yml` and regenerate.
 3. **Open `MC1.xcodeproj`**.
diff --git a/fastlane/Fastfile b/fastlane/Fastfile
index 0feb82177..625c9a7a0 100644
--- a/fastlane/Fastfile
+++ b/fastlane/Fastfile
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ platform :ios do
 
   desc "Update acknowledgements from SPM dependencies"
   lane :update_acknowledgements do
-    sh("cd .. && xcodegen generate")
+    sh("cd .. && make generate")
     sh("cd .. && xcodebuild -resolvePackageDependencies -project MC1.xcodeproj -clonedSourcePackagesDirPath ./SourcePackages")
     sh("cd .. && swift-package-list MC1.xcodeproj --custom-source-packages-path ./SourcePackages --output-type settings-bundle --requires-license --output-path MC1")
     sh("cd .. && rm -rf SourcePackages")
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ platform :ios do
     sync_certs
 
     # Generate the Xcode project from XcodeGen
-    sh("cd .. && xcodegen generate")
+    sh("cd .. && make generate")
 
     # Configure manual code signing for App Store distribution
     update_code_signing_settings(
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ platform :ios do
   lane :release do
     sync_certs
 
-    sh("cd .. && xcodegen generate")
+    sh("cd .. && make generate")
 
     # Configure manual code signing for App Store distribution
     update_code_signing_settings(
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ platform :ios do
   lane :build_only do
     sync_certs
 
-    sh("cd .. && xcodegen generate")
+    sh("cd .. && make generate")
 
     build_app(
       scheme: "MC1",
diff --git a/project.yml b/project.yml
index d9e88cda5..8725c2af4 100644
--- a/project.yml
+++ b/project.yml
@@ -6,12 +6,16 @@ options:
   xcodeVersion: "26.0"
   generateEmptyDirectories: true
 
+# dev.yml is gitignored and supplies DEVELOPMENT_TEAM for local signing.
+# It is created empty by `make generate` and in CI.
+include:
+  - dev.yml
+
 settings:
   base:
     SWIFT_VERSION: "6.2"
     SWIFT_STRICT_CONCURRENCY: complete
     ENABLE_USER_SCRIPT_SANDBOXING: YES
-    DEVELOPMENT_TEAM: ""
 
 packages:
   MeshCore: