diff --git a/checkout.sh b/checkout.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..f868c942a7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/checkout.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+#/bin/sh
+set -e
+
+ODOO=https://github.com/odoo/odoo.git
+DEV=https://github.com/odoo-dev/odoo.git
+
+usage () {
+cat <<EOF
+Usage: $0 [-m] [COPYNAME]
+
+Checks out and sets up the Odoo git repository for "internal" development.
+
+* Checks out the "production" repository (production branches) as the "odoo"
+  remote
+* Checks out the "development" repository (for employee development branches)
+  as the "dev" repository
+
+By default, the working copy is "odoo"
+
+Options:
+-h        displays this help text
+-m        includes github's merge refs. These are the pull requests to "odoo"
+          which merge cleanly into the main repository, after having applied
+          them to said repository
+EOF
+}
+
+while getopts :hm opt
+do
+    case $opt in
+        h)
+            usage
+            exit 0
+            ;;
+        m)
+            include_merge=yes
+            ;;
+        *)
+            usage
+            exit 1
+            ;;
+    esac
+done
+
+shift $((OPTIND-1))
+copyname=${1:-"odoo"}
+
+# Collect basic configuration data, ensures correct configuration of that repo
+printf "Enter your full name: "
+read name
+printf "Enter your (work) email: "
+read email
+
+# create & set up repo
+git init $copyname
+cd $copyname
+
+git config user.name "$name"
+git config user.email "$email"
+for key in branch diff interactive status; do
+    git config --global color.$key auto
+done
+
+# pre-push script preventing push to odoo repo by default. Git just execs
+# them, so they need a correct shebang and exec bit
+# if things get more extensive, should probably use git init templates
+cat <<EOF > .git/hooks/pre-push
+#!/bin/sh
+remote="\$1"
+url="\$2"
+
+if [ "\$url" != "$ODOO" ]
+then
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+echo "Pushing to the odoo remote ($ODOO) is forbidden, push to the dev remote"
+echo
+echo "See git help push if you really want to push to odoo"
+exit 1
+
+EOF
+chmod +x .git/hooks/pre-push
+
+# add basic repos as remotes
+git remote add odoo $ODOO
+git remote add dev $DEV
+
+if [ $include_merge ]
+then
+    git remote add merge $ODOO
+    git config remote.merge.fetch '+refs/pull/*/merge:refs/remotes/merge/*'
+fi
+
+echo
+git remote update
+
+exit 0