diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cae0421..eaeecdd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,15 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 > **Note**: odd version numbers, for example, `0.13.0`, are not included in this changelog. They are used to test the new features and fixes before the final release.
 
+## [0.27.0] - Unreleased
+
+### Added:
+
+- Task provider: Added `devproxy` task provider to run Dev Proxy commands
+- Problem watcher: Added `$devproxy-watch`
+- Snippets: Added `devproxy-task-start` - Start Dev Proxy VS Code Task
+- Snippets: Added `devproxy-task-stop` - Stop Dev Proxy VS Code Task
+
 ## [0.26.3] - 2025-06-27
 
 ### Fixed:
@@ -56,7 +65,6 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Snippets: Added `devproxy-plugin-openai-telemetry-config` - OpenAITelemetryPlugin config section
 - Snippets: Added `devproxy-plugin-prices-file` - OpenAITelemetryPlugin telemetry prices file
 - Snippets: Added `devproxy-plugin-price` - OpenAITelemetryPlugin telemetry model price
-- Code
 
 ### Changed:
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2bb1b32..3ba5f81 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -69,6 +69,10 @@ Shown when the active document is a Dev Proxy configuration file
 - New version detection
 - Upgrade Dev Proxy
 
+### Problem Watcher
+
+- `$devproxy-watch` - Used for background tasks to tell VS Code when Dev Proxy has started
+
 ### Settings
 
 - `dev-proxy-toolkit.version` - Determines the version to use when Dev Proxy and Dev Proxy Beta are installed side by side. Can be `stable` (default) or `beta`.
@@ -169,6 +173,8 @@ Shown when the active document is a Dev Proxy configuration file
 | `devproxy-reporter-json` | JsonReporter instance |
 | `devproxy-reporter-markdown` | MarkdownReporter instance |
 | `devproxy-reporter-plain-text` | PlainTextReporter instance |
+| `devproxy-task-start` | Start Dev Proxy VS Code Task |
+| `devproxy-task-stop` | Stop Dev Proxy VS Code Task |
 
 ### Status Bar
 
@@ -178,3 +184,30 @@ Shown when the active document is a Dev Proxy configuration file
 - Display radio tower when Dev Proxy is running
 - Display error is Dev Proxy is not installed
 - Upgrade Dev Proxy progress
+
+### Task Provider
+
+- Start Dev Proxy Task
+- Stop Dev Proxy Task
+
+Example `.vscode/tasks.json`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "version": "2.0.0",
+  "tasks": [
+    {
+      "label": "Start Dev Proxy",
+      "type": "devproxy",
+      "command": "start",
+      "isBackground": true,
+      "problemMatcher": "$devproxy-watch"
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "Stop Dev Proxy",
+      "type": "devproxy",
+      "command": "stop"
+    }
+  ]
+}
+```
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index f624f7e..05afc34 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "dev-proxy-toolkit",
-  "version": "0.26.3",
+  "version": "0.27.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "dev-proxy-toolkit",
-      "version": "0.26.3",
+      "version": "0.27.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "json-to-ast": "2.1.0",
         "semver": "7.7.2"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 6bdb5f0..5ff83c4 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "name": "dev-proxy-toolkit",
   "displayName": "Dev Proxy Toolkit",
   "description": "Makes it easy to create and update Dev Proxy configuration files.",
-  "version": "0.26.3",
+  "version": "0.27.0",
   "publisher": "garrytrinder",
   "engines": {
     "vscode": "^1.101.0"
@@ -131,6 +131,35 @@
         }
       ]
     },
+    "taskDefinitions": [
+      {
+        "type": "devproxy",
+        "required": [
+          "command"
+        ],
+        "properties": {
+          "command": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "enum": [
+              "start",
+              "stop"
+            ],
+            "description": "The Dev Proxy command to execute"
+          },
+          "configFile": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "description": "Path to the Dev Proxy configuration file"
+          },
+          "args": {
+            "type": "array",
+            "items": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "description": "Additional command-line arguments"
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    ],
     "snippets": [
       {
         "language": "json",
@@ -173,7 +202,34 @@
           "description": "The port number used to communicate with Dev Proxy API."
         }
       }
-    }
+    },
+    "problemMatchers": [
+      {
+        "name": "devproxy-watch",
+        "label": "Dev Proxy Background Task",
+        "owner": "dev-proxy-toolkit",
+        "source": "Dev Proxy",
+        "fileLocation": "absolute",
+        "pattern": [
+          {
+            "regexp": "^\\[\\d{2}:\\d{2}:\\d{2}\\]\\s+(error|warn)\\s+(.*)$",
+            "severity": 1,
+            "message": 2
+          },
+          {
+            "regexp": "^\\s+at\\s+(.+):(\\d+):(\\d+)$",
+            "file": 1,
+            "line": 2,
+            "column": 3
+          }
+        ],
+        "background": {
+          "activeOnStart": true,
+          "beginsPattern": "^.*Starting Dev Proxy.*$",
+          "endsPattern": "^.*(?:Dev Proxy is ready|Press CTRL\\+C to stop Dev Proxy).*$"
+        }
+      }
+    ]
   },
   "preview": false,
   "pricing": "Free",
diff --git a/src/extension.ts b/src/extension.ts
index 4943639..5085a83 100644
--- a/src/extension.ts
+++ b/src/extension.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { registerCodeActions } from './codeactions';
 import { updateGlobalState } from './state';
 import { VersionPreference } from './enums';
 import { registerMcpServer } from './mcp';
+import { registerTaskProvider } from './taskprovider';
 
 export const activate = async (context: vscode.ExtensionContext): Promise<vscode.ExtensionContext> => {
 
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ export const activate = async (context: vscode.ExtensionContext): Promise<vscode
   registerCodeLens(context);
   registerCommands(context, configuration);
   registerMcpServer(context);
+  registerTaskProvider(context);
 
   const notification = handleStartNotification(context);
   processNotification(notification);
diff --git a/src/snippets.json b/src/snippets.json
index fb09727..f36542f 100644
--- a/src/snippets.json
+++ b/src/snippets.json
@@ -1086,5 +1086,29 @@
       "}"
     ],
     "description": "PlainTextReporter instance"
+  },
+  "StartTask": {
+    "prefix": "devproxy-task-start",
+    "body": [
+      "{",
+      "\t\"label\": \"Start Dev Proxy\",",
+      "\t\"type\": \"devproxy\",",
+      "\t\"command\": \"start\",",
+      "\t\"isBackground\": true,",
+      "\t\"problemMatcher\": \"\\$devproxy-watch\"",
+      "}"
+    ],
+    "description": "Start Dev Proxy VS Code Task"
+  },
+  "StopTask": {
+    "prefix": "devproxy-task-stop",
+    "body": [
+      "{",
+      "\t\"label\": \"Stop Dev Proxy\",",
+      "\t\"type\": \"devproxy\",",
+      "\t\"command\": \"stop\"",
+      "}"
+    ],
+    "description": "Stop Dev Proxy VS Code Task"
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/taskprovider.ts b/src/taskprovider.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc36a89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/taskprovider.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+import * as vscode from 'vscode';
+import { getDevProxyExe } from './detect';
+import { VersionPreference } from './enums';
+
+interface DevProxyTaskDefinition extends vscode.TaskDefinition {
+    type: 'devproxy';
+    command: 'start' | 'stop';
+    configFile?: string;
+    args?: string[];
+    label?: string;
+}
+
+export class DevProxyTaskProvider implements vscode.TaskProvider {
+    static DevProxyType = 'devproxy';
+    private devProxyExe: string;
+
+    constructor(private context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
+        const configuration = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration('dev-proxy-toolkit');
+        const versionPreference = configuration.get('version') as VersionPreference;
+        this.devProxyExe = getDevProxyExe(versionPreference);
+    }
+
+    provideTasks(): Thenable<vscode.Task[]> | undefined {
+        return this.getDevProxyTasks();
+    }
+
+    resolveTask(task: vscode.Task): vscode.Task | undefined {
+        const definition = task.definition as DevProxyTaskDefinition;
+        
+        if (definition.type !== DevProxyTaskProvider.DevProxyType) {
+            return undefined;
+        }
+
+        return this.createTaskFromDefinition(definition);
+    }
+
+    private async getDevProxyTasks(): Promise<vscode.Task[]> {
+        const tasks: vscode.Task[] = [];
+
+        tasks.push(this.createStartTask());
+        tasks.push(this.createStopTask());
+
+        return tasks;
+    }
+
+    private createStartTask(): vscode.Task {
+        const definition: DevProxyTaskDefinition = {
+            type: 'devproxy',
+            command: 'start',
+            label: 'Start Dev Proxy'
+        };
+
+        return this.createTaskFromDefinition(definition);
+    }
+
+    private createStopTask(): vscode.Task {
+        const definition: DevProxyTaskDefinition = {
+            type: 'devproxy',
+            command: 'stop',
+            label: 'Stop Dev Proxy'
+        };
+
+        return this.createTaskFromDefinition(definition);
+    }
+
+    private createTaskFromDefinition(definition: DevProxyTaskDefinition): vscode.Task {
+        let execution: vscode.ShellExecution;
+
+        if (definition.command === 'start') {
+            const args = this.buildArgumentsFromDefinition(definition);
+            execution = new vscode.ShellExecution(this.devProxyExe, args, {
+                cwd: '${workspaceFolder}'
+            });
+        } else if (definition.command === 'stop') {
+            // Use curl to stop Dev Proxy via API
+            const configuration = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration('dev-proxy-toolkit');
+            const apiPort = configuration.get('apiPort', 8897);
+            execution = new vscode.ShellExecution('curl', [
+                '-X', 'POST',
+                `http://localhost:${apiPort}/proxy/stopproxy`
+            ]);
+        } else {
+            throw new Error(`Unsupported command: ${definition.command}`);
+        }
+
+        const task = new vscode.Task(
+            definition,
+            vscode.TaskScope.Workspace,
+            definition.label || `Dev Proxy: ${definition.command}`,
+            DevProxyTaskProvider.DevProxyType,
+            execution,
+            definition.command === 'start' ? ['$devproxy-watch'] : []
+        );
+
+        // Configure task properties based on command
+        if (definition.command === 'start') {
+            task.group = vscode.TaskGroup.Build;
+            task.isBackground = true;
+            task.presentationOptions = {
+                echo: true,
+                reveal: vscode.TaskRevealKind.Always,
+                focus: false,
+                panel: vscode.TaskPanelKind.Dedicated,
+                showReuseMessage: true,
+                clear: false
+            };
+        } else if (definition.command === 'stop') {
+            task.group = vscode.TaskGroup.Build;
+            task.presentationOptions = {
+                echo: false,
+                reveal: vscode.TaskRevealKind.Silent,
+                focus: false
+            };
+        }
+
+        return task;
+    }
+
+    private buildArgumentsFromDefinition(definition: DevProxyTaskDefinition): string[] {
+        const args: string[] = [];
+
+        // Handle specific properties
+        if (definition.configFile) {
+            args.push('--config-file', definition.configFile);
+        }
+
+        // Add any additional args
+        if (definition.args) {
+            args.push(...definition.args);
+        }
+
+        return args;
+    }
+}
+
+export const registerTaskProvider = (context: vscode.ExtensionContext) => {
+    const provider = new DevProxyTaskProvider(context);
+    context.subscriptions.push(
+        vscode.tasks.registerTaskProvider(DevProxyTaskProvider.DevProxyType, provider)
+    );
+};