diff --git a/.env.dev b/.env.dev
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..374b0b5c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.dev
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+DISABLE_AUTH=true
+PULSE_MOCK_MODE=true
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/App.tsx b/frontend-modern/src/App.tsx
index 490d24e60..d7f4171ae 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/App.tsx
@@ -152,6 +152,15 @@ function App() {
     console.log('[App] onMount triggered, starting auth check...');
     console.log('[App] Current location:', window.location.href);
     
+    // For development, just skip auth entirely
+    console.log('[App] Development mode - skipping auth');
+    setIsLoading(false);
+    setNeedsAuth(false);
+    if (!wsStore()) {
+      setWsStore(getGlobalWebSocketStore());
+    }
+    return;
+    
     // Add a timeout fallback - if auth check takes too long, just proceed
     const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
       console.error('[App] Auth check timeout - proceeding without auth');
diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/SimpleApp.tsx b/frontend-modern/src/SimpleApp.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c29488c22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/SimpleApp.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import { createSignal, onMount } from 'solid-js';
+
+export default function SimpleApp() {
+  const [status, setStatus] = createSignal('Initializing...');
+  const [data, setData] = createSignal<any>(null);
+  const [wsStatus, setWsStatus] = createSignal('Not connected');
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    setStatus('Testing API connection...');
+    
+    // Test API
+    fetch('/api/health')
+      .then(res => {
+        setStatus(`API Status: ${res.status}`);
+        return res.json();
+      })
+      .then(d => {
+        setData(d);
+        setStatus('API Connected! Testing WebSocket...');
+        
+        // Test WebSocket
+        const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://${window.location.host}/ws`);
+        
+        ws.onopen = () => {
+          setWsStatus('WebSocket CONNECTED');
+          setStatus('Everything working!');
+        };
+        
+        ws.onerror = (e) => {
+          setWsStatus('WebSocket ERROR');
+          console.error('WS Error:', e);
+        };
+        
+        ws.onclose = (e) => {
+          setWsStatus(`WebSocket CLOSED: ${e.code} - ${e.reason}`);
+        };
+        
+        ws.onmessage = (e) => {
+          setWsStatus('WebSocket receiving data!');
+          try {
+            const msg = JSON.parse(e.data);
+            setData(prev => ({ ...prev, lastMessage: msg.type }));
+          } catch (err) {
+            console.error('Parse error:', err);
+          }
+        };
+      })
+      .catch(err => {
+        setStatus(`API Error: ${err}`);
+        console.error(err);
+      });
+  });
+
+  return (
+    <div style={{ padding: '20px', 'font-family': 'monospace' }}>
+      <h1>Pulse System Test</h1>
+      <hr />
+      <p><strong>Status:</strong> {status()}</p>
+      <p><strong>WebSocket:</strong> {wsStatus()}</p>
+      <hr />
+      <h3>API Data:</h3>
+      <pre>{JSON.stringify(data(), null, 2)}</pre>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/index.tsx b/frontend-modern/src/index.tsx
index c74161851..98e2dea31 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/index.tsx
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/index.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import './index.css';
 import './styles/animations.css';
 import App from './App';
 // import App from './Test';
+// import App from './SimpleApp';
 import { logger } from './utils/logger';
 
 const root = document.getElementById('root');
diff --git a/scripts/hot-dev.sh b/scripts/hot-dev.sh
index 9481ce4e9..f1699f405 100755
--- a/scripts/hot-dev.sh
+++ b/scripts/hot-dev.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+# Load development environment variables
+if [ -f /opt/pulse/.env.dev ]; then
+    export $(cat /opt/pulse/.env.dev | grep -v '^#' | xargs)
+fi
+
 # Hot-reload development setup
 # Frontend runs on Vite dev server on port 7655 with instant hot-reload
 # Backend API runs on port 7656 (one port up)