diff --git a/mise.toml b/mise.toml
index 038ef3b..22ddba3 100644
--- a/mise.toml
+++ b/mise.toml
@@ -17,3 +17,6 @@ electron-build = { run = "go build -buildvcs=false -o fetch . && make -C third_p
 electron-build-mac = { run = "go build -buildvcs=false -o fetch . && make -C third_party/akaiutil && cd electron && npx electron-builder --mac --dir" }
 docker-up = "docker compose up --build"
 docker-build = "docker build -t akai-fetch ."
+check-toolchain = "bash scripts/check-toolchain.sh"
+check-docker-toolchain = "bash scripts/check-docker-toolchain.sh"
+check-all = { run = "bash scripts/check-toolchain.sh && echo '' && bash scripts/check-docker-toolchain.sh" }
diff --git a/scripts/check-docker-toolchain.sh b/scripts/check-docker-toolchain.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8a63335
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/check-docker-toolchain.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Check Docker toolchain: docker, docker compose, colima (macOS).
+# Usage: ./scripts/check-docker-toolchain.sh
+set -euo pipefail
+
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+GREEN='\033[0;32m'
+YELLOW='\033[1;33m'
+NC='\033[0m'
+
+ok()   { echo -e "  ${GREEN}✓${NC} $1"; }
+warn() { echo -e "  ${YELLOW}!${NC} $1"; }
+fail() { echo -e "  ${RED}✗${NC} $1"; }
+
+IS_MAC=false
+[[ "$(uname)" == "Darwin" ]] && IS_MAC=true
+
+echo "=== Docker Toolchain Check ==="
+echo ""
+
+# ─── Docker ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "Docker:"
+if command -v docker &>/dev/null; then
+    docker_ver=$(docker --version 2>/dev/null)
+    ok "docker found: $docker_ver"
+
+    # Check if docker daemon is running
+    if docker info &>/dev/null; then
+        ok "docker daemon is running"
+    else
+        fail "docker daemon is not running"
+        if $IS_MAC && command -v colima &>/dev/null; then
+            echo "    Try: colima start"
+        elif $IS_MAC; then
+            echo "    Start Docker Desktop or install colima: brew install colima"
+        else
+            echo "    Try: sudo systemctl start docker"
+        fi
+    fi
+else
+    fail "docker not found"
+    if command -v brew &>/dev/null; then
+        echo "    Install: brew install --cask docker (Docker Desktop) or brew install docker"
+    else
+        echo "    Install: https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/"
+    fi
+fi
+
+echo ""
+
+# ─── Docker Compose ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "Docker Compose:"
+if docker compose version &>/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    compose_ver=$(docker compose version 2>/dev/null | head -1)
+    ok "docker compose plugin found: $compose_ver"
+elif command -v docker-compose &>/dev/null; then
+    compose_ver=$(docker-compose --version 2>/dev/null)
+    ok "docker-compose found: $compose_ver"
+else
+    fail "docker compose not found"
+    if command -v brew &>/dev/null; then
+        echo "    Install: brew install docker-compose (legacy) or ensure Docker Desktop includes the plugin"
+    else
+        echo "    Install: https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/"
+    fi
+fi
+
+echo ""
+
+# ─── Colima (macOS only) ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+if $IS_MAC; then
+    echo "Colima (macOS):"
+    if command -v colima &>/dev/null; then
+        colima_ver=$(colima version 2>/dev/null)
+        ok "colima found: $colima_ver"
+
+        # Check if colima is running
+        if colima status 2>/dev/null | grep -q "Running"; then
+            ok "colima is running"
+        else
+            warn "colima is not running"
+            echo "    Start: colima start"
+        fi
+
+        # Check if docker context is set to colima
+        if docker context inspect 2>/dev/null | grep -q "colima"; then
+            ok "docker context is set to colima"
+        else
+            warn "docker context may not be set to colima"
+            echo "    Switch: docker context use colima"
+        fi
+    else
+        warn "colima not found (alternative to Docker Desktop for macOS)"
+        if command -v brew &>/dev/null; then
+            echo "    Install: brew install colima"
+        fi
+        echo "    Note: Not required if using Docker Desktop"
+    fi
+    echo ""
+fi
+
+# ─── Docker Buildx ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "Docker Buildx:"
+if docker buildx version &>/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    buildx_ver=$(docker buildx version 2>/dev/null)
+    ok "docker buildx found: $buildx_ver"
+else
+    warn "docker buildx not found (needed for multi-platform builds)"
+    if command -v brew &>/dev/null; then
+        echo "    Install: brew install docker-buildx"
+    fi
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "=== Docker toolchain check complete ==="
diff --git a/scripts/check-toolchain.sh b/scripts/check-toolchain.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8e62e14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/check-toolchain.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Check core toolchain: gcc, homebrew, mise, go, node.
+# Usage: ./scripts/check-toolchain.sh
+set -euo pipefail
+
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+GREEN='\033[0;32m'
+YELLOW='\033[1;33m'
+NC='\033[0m'
+
+ok()   { echo -e "  ${GREEN}✓${NC} $1"; }
+warn() { echo -e "  ${YELLOW}!${NC} $1"; }
+fail() { echo -e "  ${RED}✗${NC} $1"; }
+
+echo "=== Core Toolchain Check ==="
+echo ""
+
+# ─── GCC / C Compiler ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "C Compiler:"
+if command -v gcc &>/dev/null; then
+    gcc_ver=$(gcc --version 2>/dev/null | head -1)
+    ok "gcc found: $gcc_ver"
+elif command -v cc &>/dev/null; then
+    cc_ver=$(cc --version 2>/dev/null | head -1)
+    ok "cc found: $cc_ver"
+elif command -v clang &>/dev/null; then
+    clang_ver=$(clang --version 2>/dev/null | head -1)
+    ok "clang found: $clang_ver"
+else
+    fail "No C compiler found"
+    echo "    Install: brew install gcc (macOS) or sudo apt install build-essential (Linux)"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Verify gcc can compile (catches broken Xcode toolchain on macOS)
+tmp_src=$(mktemp /tmp/toolchain_test.XXXXXX.c)
+tmp_bin=$(mktemp /tmp/toolchain_test.XXXXXX)
+trap 'rm -f "$tmp_src" "$tmp_bin"' EXIT
+cat > "$tmp_src" << 'EOF'
+int main(void) { return 0; }
+EOF
+
+if cc "$tmp_src" -o "$tmp_bin" 2>/dev/null || gcc "$tmp_src" -o "$tmp_bin" 2>/dev/null; then
+    ok "gcc can compile test program"
+    rm -f "$tmp_bin"
+else
+    fail "gcc cannot compile — toolchain may be broken"
+    echo "    Fix: xcode-select --install (macOS) or reinstall gcc"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo ""
+
+# ─── Homebrew ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "Homebrew:"
+if command -v brew &>/dev/null; then
+    brew_path=$(which brew)
+    ok "brew found at $brew_path"
+else
+    warn "brew not found"
+    if [[ "$(uname)" == "Darwin" ]]; then
+        echo "    Install: /bin/bash -c \"\$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)\""
+    fi
+fi
+
+echo ""
+
+# ─── Mise ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "Mise:"
+if command -v mise &>/dev/null; then
+    mise_ver=$(mise --version 2>/dev/null)
+    ok "mise found: $mise_ver"
+else
+    warn "mise not found"
+    if command -v brew &>/dev/null; then
+        echo "    Install: brew install mise"
+    else
+        echo "    Install: curl https://mise.run | sh"
+    fi
+fi
+
+echo ""
+
+# ─── Go ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "Go:"
+if command -v go &>/dev/null; then
+    go_ver=$(go version 2>/dev/null)
+    ok "go found: $go_ver"
+else
+    fail "go not found"
+    if command -v mise &>/dev/null; then
+        echo "    Install: mise install go"
+    else
+        echo "    Install: brew install go (macOS) or use mise"
+    fi
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo ""
+
+# ─── Node ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "Node:"
+if command -v node &>/dev/null; then
+    node_ver=$(node --version 2>/dev/null)
+    ok "node found: $node_ver"
+else
+    warn "node not found (required only for Electron)"
+    if command -v mise &>/dev/null; then
+        echo "    Install: mise install node"
+    fi
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "=== Core toolchain check complete ==="