diff --git a/src/index.php b/src/index.php
index b801654..b4ddd06 100644
--- a/src/index.php
+++ b/src/index.php
@@ -70,11 +70,14 @@ if ($params_favicon_source) {
     }
 }
 
-// Core template CSS
-$wa->useStyle('template.base');   // css/template.css
-
-// Scripts
-$wa->useScript('template.js');
+// Core template CSS + JS — use minified when not in development mode
+if ($params_developmentmode) {
+	$wa->useStyle('template.base');       // css/template.css
+	$wa->useScript('template.js');        // js/template.js
+} else {
+	$wa->useStyle('template.base.min');   // css/template.min.css
+	$wa->useScript('template.js.min');    // js/template.min.js
+}
 
 // Load Osaka font for site title
 $wa->useStyle('template.font.osaka');
@@ -215,18 +218,19 @@ if ($this->params->get('fA6KitCode')) {
 $params_leftIcon           = htmlspecialchars($this->params->get('drawerLeftIcon', 'fa-solid fa-chevron-left'), ENT_COMPAT, 'UTF-8');
 $params_rightIcon          = htmlspecialchars($this->params->get('drawerRightIcon', 'fa-solid fa-chevron-right'), ENT_COMPAT, 'UTF-8');
 
-// Load theme palette stylesheets based on configuration
-$wa->useStyle('template.light.standard');      // css/theme/light.standard.css
-$wa->useStyle('template.dark.standard');       // css/theme/dark.standard.css
+// Load theme palette stylesheets — minified when not in development mode
+$suffix = $params_developmentmode ? '' : '.min';
+$wa->useStyle('template.light.standard' . $suffix);
+$wa->useStyle('template.dark.standard' . $suffix);
 
 // Load custom palettes only if selected in template configuration AND files exist
 if ($params_LightColorName === 'custom' && file_exists(JPATH_ROOT . '/media/templates/site/mokocassiopeia/css/theme/light.custom.css'))
 {
-	$wa->useStyle('template.light.custom');
+	$wa->useStyle('template.light.custom' . $suffix);
 }
 if ($params_DarkColorName === 'custom' && file_exists(JPATH_ROOT . '/media/templates/site/mokocassiopeia/css/theme/dark.custom.css'))
 {
-	$wa->useStyle('template.dark.custom');
+	$wa->useStyle('template.dark.custom' . $suffix);
 }
 
 // Load user assets last (after all other styles and scripts)
diff --git a/src/language/en-GB/tpl_mokocassiopeia.ini b/src/language/en-GB/tpl_mokocassiopeia.ini
index bf9acee..0eb79cc 100644
--- a/src/language/en-GB/tpl_mokocassiopeia.ini
+++ b/src/language/en-GB/tpl_mokocassiopeia.ini
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 ; ===== System / layout =====
 TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_DEVELOPMENTMODE_LABEL="Development Mode"
-TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_DEVELOPMENTMODE_DESC="If 'Development Mode' is active, certain features may be disabled, such as Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics."
+TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_DEVELOPMENTMODE_DESC="When enabled, unminified CSS and JavaScript files are loaded for easier debugging. When disabled, minified assets are served for faster page loads. Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics may also be disabled in development mode."
 TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_FLUID_LABEL="Layout"
 TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_STATIC="Static"
 TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_FLUID="Fluid"
diff --git a/src/language/en-US/tpl_mokocassiopeia.ini b/src/language/en-US/tpl_mokocassiopeia.ini
index 089c689..13332c5 100644
--- a/src/language/en-US/tpl_mokocassiopeia.ini
+++ b/src/language/en-US/tpl_mokocassiopeia.ini
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 ; ===== System / layout =====
 TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_DEVELOPMENTMODE_LABEL="Development Mode"
-TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_DEVELOPMENTMODE_DESC="If 'Development Mode' is active, certain features may be disabled, such as Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics."
+TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_DEVELOPMENTMODE_DESC="When enabled, unminified CSS and JavaScript files are loaded for easier debugging. When disabled, minified assets are served for faster page loads. Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics may also be disabled in development mode."
 TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_FLUID_LABEL="Layout"
 TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_STATIC="Static"
 TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_FLUID="Fluid"
diff --git a/src/templateDetails.xml b/src/templateDetails.xml
index e7c9883..0b0d4a4 100644
--- a/src/templateDetails.xml
+++ b/src/templateDetails.xml
@@ -105,12 +105,10 @@
 		<fields name="params">
 			<!-- Advanced tab (non-theme/system options only) -->
 			<fieldset name="advanced">
-				<!--
-				<field name="developmentmode" type="radio" label="TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_DEVELOPMENTMODE_LABEL" description="TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_DEVELOPMENTMODE_DESC" default="1" layout="joomla.form.field.radio.switcher" filter="boolean">
+					<field name="developmentmode" type="radio" label="TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_DEVELOPMENTMODE_LABEL" description="TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_DEVELOPMENTMODE_DESC" default="0" layout="joomla.form.field.radio.switcher" filter="boolean">
 					<option value="0">JNO</option>
 					<option value="1">JYES</option>
 				</field>
-			-->
 				<field name="fluidContainer" type="radio" layout="joomla.form.field.radio.switcher" default="0" label="TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_FLUID_LABEL">
 					<option value="0">TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_STATIC</option>
 					<option value="1">TPL_MOKOCASSIOPEIA_FLUID</option>