diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dd8e8438
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# MongoDB Credentials for the local Docker container
+MONGO_USERNAME=root
+MONGO_PASSWORD=root
+
+# Mongo-Express UI Credentials
+MONGO_EXPRESS_USERNAME=admin
+MONGO_EXPRESS_PASSWORD=admin
+
+# Rerum server settings
+PORT=3001
+RERUM_API_VERSION=1.0.0
+COLLECTION_ACCEPTEDSERVER=acceptedServer
+COLLECTION_V0=annotation
+AUDIENCE=http://rerum.io/api
+ISSUER_BASE_URL=https://example.auth0.com/
+RERUM_BASE=http://localhost:3001
+RERUM_PREFIX=http://localhost:3001/v1/
+RERUM_ID_PREFIX=http://localhost:3001/v1/id/
+RERUM_AGENT_CLAIM=http://store.rerum.io/agent
+RERUM_CONTEXT=http://store.rerum.io/v1/context.json
+RERUM_API_DOC=http://localhost:3001/v1/API.html
+
+# The local MongoDB connection string
+MONGO_CONNECTION_STRING=mongodb://${MONGO_USERNAME}:${MONGO_PASSWORD}@mongo:27017/
+MONGODBNAME=annotationStore
+MONGODBCOLLECTION=alpha
+
+# Read only mode
+DOWN=false
+READONLY=false
+
+# Auth0 and bot secrets (replace with fake values for local use)
+CLIENT_ID=dummy_client_id
+CLIENT_SECRET=dummy_client_secret
+BOT_TOKEN=dummy_bot_token
+BOT_AGENT=http://devstore.rerum.io/v1/id/dummy_agent
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..efa6f43e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+
+FROM node
+
+# Set the working directory inside the container.
+WORKDIR /app
+
+# Copy package.json and package-lock.json first to leverage Docker's build cache.
+COPY package*.json ./
+
+# Install application dependencies.
+RUN npm install
+
+# Copy the rest of the application code.
+COPY . .
+
+# Expose the port the app runs on.
+EXPOSE 3001
+
+# The command to start the application.
+CMD ["node", "./bin/rerum_v1.js"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 603df373..7db3ca49 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -77,6 +77,44 @@ MONGODBCOLLECTION = OBTAINED_FROM_MONGODB_SET_UP
 DOWN = false
 READONLY = false
 ```
+#### Add .env.example instructions
+##### Using `.env.example` for Community Testing
+To allow the application to run safely without exposing secrets:
+1. Copy the example environment file to `.env`:
+   ```bash
+   cp .env.example .env
+2. .env.example contains dummy values for all required variables. You do not need real credentials to run the app locally.
+3. Note:
+   Write actions (create, update, delete) may not work without valid Auth0 credentials.
+   You can still explore the API, MongoDB, and UI for testing purposes.
+   #### Instructions
+   1. Running the RERUM API with Docker
+      Ensure Docker and Docker Compose are installed.
+      Copy the example environment file:
+      bash
+      Copy code
+      cp .env.example .env
+
+   2. Build and start the containers:
+       bash
+       Copy code
+       docker-compose up --build
+
+Services will be available at:
+RERUM API → http://localhost:3001
+Mongo Express → http://localhost:8081
+Local Auth0 → http://localhost:3002
+
+   3. To stop the containers:
+      bash
+      Copy code
+      docker-compose down
+
+4. This setup uses dummy credentials so the API runs safely. For full Auth0 functionality, replace the dummy values in .env with real credentials. 
+5. The .env.example file contains safe dummy credentials:
+   Auth0 CLIENT_ID, CLIENT_SECRET
+   Bot tokens
+6. You can safely run the application with these values without affecting real data.
 
 #### Set Up Auth0 Authorization
 Please contact the [Research Computing Group at Saint Louis University](https://github.com/CenterForDigitalHumanities) via an E-mail to research.computing@slu.edu for more information and assistance with this step of the installation process.
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..de8292e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+services:
+  rerum:
+    build: .
+    container_name: rerum-server
+    restart: always
+    ports:
+      - "3001:3001"
+    env_file: .env
+    environment:
+      - MONGO_CONNECTION_STRING=mongodb://${MONGO_USERNAME}:${MONGO_PASSWORD}@mongo:27017/
+    depends_on:
+      - localauth0  # Restored dependency on localauth0
+      - mongo
+
+  mongo:
+    image: mongo
+    container_name: rerum-mongo
+    restart: always
+    ports:
+      - "27017:27017"
+    volumes:
+      - mongo-data:/data/db
+    environment:
+      - MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_USERNAME=${MONGO_USERNAME}
+      - MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_PASSWORD=${MONGO_PASSWORD}
+      
+  mongo-express:
+    image: mongo-express
+    container_name: rerum-mongo-express
+    restart: always
+    ports:
+      - "8081:8081"
+    environment:
+      - ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_ADMINUSERNAME=${MONGO_USERNAME}
+      - ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_ADMINPASSWORD=${MONGO_PASSWORD}
+      - ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_URL=mongodb://${MONGO_USERNAME}:${MONGO_PASSWORD}@mongo:27017/
+      - ME_CONFIG_BASICAUTH_USERNAME=${MONGO_EXPRESS_USERNAME}
+      - ME_CONFIG_BASICAUTH_PASSWORD=${MONGO_EXPRESS_PASSWORD}
+    depends_on:
+      - mongo
+
+  # RESTORED SERVICE - Uses port 3002 and includes the debugging command
+  localauth0:
+    image: public.ecr.aws/primaassicurazioni/localauth0:0.8.2
+    container_name: rerum-localauth0
+    restart: always
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD", "/localauth0", "healthcheck"]
+    ports:
+      - "3002:3002"
+    env_file: .env
+    depends_on:
+      - mongo
+    # CRITICAL DEBUGGING STEP: Forces the application to run in the foreground. 
+    # This will dump the startup error (which is causing ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE) directly to your console.
+    command: /localauth0 
+
+volumes:
+  mongo-data: