diff --git a/console.sh b/console.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..ff9cbbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/console.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+sdk="${1:-vm-sdk}"
+
+cat <<EOF > $sdk/.zshrc
+# local zshrc for easy start of console
+# usage: ZDOTDIR=/path/to/vm-sdk zsh
+pushd \$ZDOTDIR > /dev/null
+# check that all submodules are there, useful for git repos
+[[ -r lib/zuper/zuper ]] || git submodule update --init
+source sdk
+popd > /dev/null
+EOF
+
+ZDOTDIR=$sdk zsh