diff --git a/DEVELOPER_GUIDE.rst b/DEVELOPER_GUIDE.rst
index f7798c9e92..d0d869e1d0 100644
--- a/DEVELOPER_GUIDE.rst
+++ b/DEVELOPER_GUIDE.rst
@@ -87,6 +87,16 @@ Firstly you need to add the following configuration to the JVM used by your IDE.
 
    -agentlib:jdwp=transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=n,address=5005
 
+This is automatically applied if you pass the ``debugJVM`` flag when
+running.
+
+::
+
+   ./gradlew opensearch-sql:run -DdebugJVM
+
+To connect to the cluster with the debugger in an IDE, you’ll need to
+connect to that port. For IntelliJ, see `attaching to a remote process <https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/attach-to-process.html#attach-to-remote>`_.
+
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