diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5fde3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+FROM python:3.12.8-slim-bookworm
+
+# create a volume for the sqlite database, so that it persists between container restarts
+# need persistent storage attached to server
+VOLUME /var/data/
+WORKDIR /usr/src/app
+
+# Copy package files and install dependencies
+COPY requirements.txt ./
+RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt
+
+# Copy the rest of the application code
+COPY . .
+EXPOSE 8000
+
+# Runs when the container is started
+CMD honcho start
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f1165ab..58d4770 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Cosmere ATProto Feed Generator Flask Server
 
+![Docker](https://img.shields.io/docker/image-size/richardr1126/cosmere-feed-bsky/latest)
 ![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)
 ![Python Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/Python-3.7%2B-blue.svg)
 ![Flask](https://img.shields.io/badge/Flask-2.3.2-blue.svg)
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ To create your own feed, install dependencies, configure environment variables,
 1. **Update files:**
    - Update `publish_feed.py` with your details. **(REQUIRED)**
    - Modify filters in `firehose/data_filter.py`. **(OPTIONAL)**
-   - Change database routes in `firehose/database.py` and `web/database_ro.py`. **(REQUIRED for production)**
+   - Change database names/routes in `firehose/database.py` and `web/database_ro.py`. **(REQUIRED)**
    - Change `DID_TO_PRIORITIZE` in `algos/chrono_trending.py` with a bsky DID which will show it's posts at the top of the feed **(REQUIRED)**
    > **Note:** Because current DB folder for production `/var/data` might not be accessible in your environment.
 
@@ -99,6 +100,13 @@ To update your feed's display data, modify the relevant variables and rerun the
 
 The server operates two main processes: the web server and the firehose data stream. Use `honcho` to manage these processes as defined in the `Procfile`:
 
+Build and run Docker image:
+```shell
+docker build -t myfeed .
+docker run --rm -it -p 8000:8000 -v feeddata:/var/data/ myfeed
+```
+
+Manually run the server:
 ```shell
 honcho start
 ```
diff --git a/example.env b/example.env
index a021a11..cf26d14 100644
--- a/example.env
+++ b/example.env
@@ -10,6 +10,4 @@ CHRONOLOGICAL_TRENDING_URI="at://did:plc:abcde..."
 
 # YOUR bluesky password, or preferably an App Password (found in your client settings)
 HANDLE="your-handle"
-PASSWORD="your-password"
-
-DEV_MODE="true"
\ No newline at end of file
+PASSWORD="your-password"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/firehose/database.py b/firehose/database.py
index 8c44147..d4104b7 100644
--- a/firehose/database.py
+++ b/firehose/database.py
@@ -2,25 +2,23 @@
 from typing import Optional
 import logging
 import shutil
-import signal
-import sys
 
 from utils.logger import logger  # Ensure this is correctly implemented
-from utils.config import DEV_MODE, HANDLE, PASSWORD  # Ensure these are set in your config
+from utils.config import HANDLE, PASSWORD  # Ensure these are set in your config
 import peewee
 from apscheduler.schedulers.background import BackgroundScheduler
 from apscheduler.jobstores.base import JobLookupError
 from apscheduler.triggers.date import DateTrigger
 from apscheduler.triggers.interval import IntervalTrigger
 from apscheduler.events import EVENT_JOB_EXECUTED, EVENT_JOB_ERROR
-from atproto import Client, IdResolver, SessionEvent, Session, exceptions
+from atproto import Client, SessionEvent, Session, exceptions
 
 # Configure logging
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 # Database setup
-file = '/var/data/new_cosmere_feed.db' if not DEV_MODE else 'new_cosmere_feed.db'
+file = '/var/data/new_cosmere_feed.db'
 db = peewee.SqliteDatabase(file, timeout=60, pragmas={
     'journal_mode': 'wal',
     'cache_size': -1024 * 256,
diff --git a/utils/config.py b/utils/config.py
index a688565..07b5900 100644
--- a/utils/config.py
+++ b/utils/config.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 HOSTNAME = os.environ.get('HOSTNAME', None)
 HANDLE = os.environ.get('HANDLE', None)
 PASSWORD = os.environ.get('PASSWORD', None)
-DEV_MODE = os.environ.get('DEV_MODE', 'false').lower() == 'true'
 
 if HOSTNAME is None:
     raise RuntimeError('You should set "HOSTNAME" environment variable first.')
diff --git a/web/database_ro.py b/web/database_ro.py
index b69b709..bd11e47 100644
--- a/web/database_ro.py
+++ b/web/database_ro.py
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from utils.logger import logger
-from utils.config import DEV_MODE
 import peewee
 
-file = 'file:/var/data/new_cosmere_feed.db?mode=ro' if not DEV_MODE else 'file:./new_cosmere_feed.db?mode=ro'
+file = 'file:/var/data/new_cosmere_feed.db?mode=ro'
 
 # Configure the read-only SQLite database connection using URI
 db = peewee.SqliteDatabase(