diff --git a/.config/mise.toml b/.config/mise.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fbabb12bb5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.config/mise.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+#:schema https://mise.jdx.dev/schema/mise.json
+
+# Mise support is experimental.
+# See https://jj-vcs.github.io/jj/latest/contributing/#alternative-development-setup-with-mise
+
+[vars]
+bacon_version = "3.16.0"
+cargo_insta_version = "1.43.1"
+cargo_nextest_version = "0.9.103"
+rust_version = "1.85"
+uv_version = "0.8.13"
+
+[tools]
+# We need cargo-binstall so that Mise would download "cargo:" tools instead of building them.
+"cargo-binstall" = "latest"
+
+[tasks."build:cli-reference"]
+description = "Build the command line reference (cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap)"
+tools.rust = "{{vars.rust_version}}"
+tools."cargo:cargo-insta" = "{{vars.cargo_insta_version}}"
+run = "cargo insta test --accept --workspace -- test_generate_md_cli_help"
+
+[tasks."build:debug"]
+alias = "build"
+description = "Build jj in debug mode"
+tools.rust = "{{vars.rust_version}}"
+run = "cargo build"
+
+[tasks."build:docs"]
+description = "Build documentation into rendered-docs/ for offline use"
+tools.uv = "{{vars.uv_version}}"
+run = "uv run mkdocs build"
+
+[tasks."build:release"]
+description = "Build jj in release mode"
+tools.rust = "{{vars.rust_version}}"
+run = "cargo build --release"
+
+
+[tasks."check:clippy"]
+description = "Lint the code with Clippy"
+tools.rust = "{{vars.rust_version}}"
+run = "cargo clippy --workspace --all-targets"
+
+[tasks."check:format"]
+description = "Check the code format"
+tools.rust = "nightly"
+run = "cargo fmt --check"
+
+[tasks."check:test"]
+alias = "test"
+description = "Run the tests"
+tools.rust = "{{vars.rust_version}}"
+tools."cargo:cargo-insta" = "{{vars.cargo_insta_version}}"
+tools."cargo:cargo-nextest" = "{{vars.cargo_nextest_version}}"
+run = "cargo insta test --workspace --test-runner nextest --"
+
+[tasks."check:zizmor"]
+description = "Check GitHub workflows with Zizmor"
+tools."cargo:zizmor" = "latest"
+run = "zizmor ."
+
+
+[tasks."fix:clippy"]
+description = "Fix the clippy alerts"
+tools.rust = "{{vars.rust_version}}"
+run = "cargo clippy --fix"
+
+[tasks."fix:format"]
+description = "Format the code"
+tools.rust = "nightly"
+run = "cargo fmt"
+
+
+[tasks."serve:docs"]
+description = "Preview documentation with live reloading"
+tools.uv = "{{vars.uv_version}}"
+run = "uv run mkdocs serve"
+
+
+# not sure how to name these
+[tasks."clippy:live"]
+description = "Lint the code with Clippy when the code changes"
+tools.rust = "{{vars.rust_version}}"
+tools."cargo:bacon" = "{{vars.bacon_version}}"
+run = "bacon clippy -- --workspace --all-targets"
+
+[tasks."test:live"]
+description = "Run tests when the code changes"
+tools.rust = "{{vars.rust_version}}"
+tools."cargo:bacon" = "{{vars.bacon_version}}"
+tools."cargo:cargo-nextest" = "{{vars.cargo_nextest_version}}"
+run = "bacon nextest -- --nff --workspace"
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f67d6d6148f..eb08a2a8db1 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ result
 # Per user insta settings.
 # See https://insta.rs/docs/settings/#tool-config-file for details.
 .config/insta.yaml
+# Per user mise config
+mise.local.toml
 
 # mkdocs
 /.venv
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 3e8306c646f..fc1edc80079 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ members = ["cli", "lib", "lib/gen-protos", "lib/proc-macros", "lib/testutils"]
 [workspace.package]
 version = "0.32.0"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
-rust-version = "1.85" # NOTE: remember to update CI, contributing.md, changelog.md, and install-and-setup.md
+rust-version = "1.85" # NOTE: remember to update CI, mise.toml, contributing.md, changelog.md, and install-and-setup.md
 edition = "2024"
 readme = "README.md"
 homepage = "https://github.com/jj-vcs/jj"
diff --git a/docs/contributing.md b/docs/contributing.md
index b47588ec948..c573c0c6eda 100644
--- a/docs/contributing.md
+++ b/docs/contributing.md
@@ -291,6 +291,36 @@ We recommend at least these settings:
 }
 ```
 
+### Alternative development setup with `mise`
+
+An experimental development setup is available using
+[`mise`](https://mise.jdx.dev/). If you try it, file bugs,
+PRs, or tell us on Discord/IRC/discussions if you experience problems
+or if this config is too inflexible. If we can make it work for most
+platforms and most people's needs, including people previously unfamiliar
+with `mise`, we may make `mise` the recommended way to set up a development
+environment.
+
+This tool manages the necessary dependencies for you, eliminating the need for
+a separate setup process. `mise` automatically installs the required tools when
+they are needed.
+
+Here are some of the commands you may find yourself using frequently during
+development:
+
+  * `mise test`: Runs all tests.
+  * `mise test <string>`: Runs tests that contain a specific string. For
+    example, `mise test squash` would run tests with "squash" in their name.
+  * `mise build`: Compiles `jj`.
+  * `mise build:release`: Compiles `jj` in release mode.
+  * `mise build:docs`: Builds the documentation for `jj`.
+
+For a complete list of all available tasks, you can run `mise tasks` or review
+the configuration file at `.config/mise.toml`.
+
+You can customize this configuration using
+[a `mise.local.toml` file](https://mise.jdx.dev/configuration.html#mise-toml).
+
 ## Previewing the HTML documentation
 
 The documentation for `jj` is automatically published online at