diff --git a/contrib/run_scons.py b/contrib/run_scons.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e39d3b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/run_scons.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# use this to start SCons from the IDE for debugging
+import sys
+from SCons.Script.Main import main
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    sys.exit(main())