diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b734cd05..0b911db2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,8 +73,25 @@ cd react
 
 ### 2. Environment Setup
 
+This project can be run locally using Node.js or with Docker.
+
+#### Option 1: Docker (Recommended)
+
+Using Docker is the recommended way to run the project, as it automatically sets up all the services and databases for you.
+
+1.  **Install Docker Desktop**: Make sure you have Docker Desktop installed and running on your system.
+2.  **Create `default.json`**: A `default.json` file containing environment variables will be provided to contributors. Place this file in `middlewareNode/config/`.
+3.  **Build and Run**: From the project root, run the following command:
+    ```bash
+    docker-compose -f deploy/dev/docker-compose.yml up --build
+    ```
+4.  **Access the Application**: The application will be available at [http://localhost:8080](http://localhost:8080).
+
+#### Option 2: Local Node.js Setup
+
 Before running any services, create the local development environment from the **project root directory**:
 
+
 ```bash
 ./create_dev_envs.sh
 ```
diff --git a/chessServer/Dockerfile b/chessServer/Dockerfile
index 66db9e60..096e5c74 100644
--- a/chessServer/Dockerfile
+++ b/chessServer/Dockerfile
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
-FROM node
+FROM node:18.20.8-alpine
 
 WORKDIR /usr/src/app
 
 COPY package*.json ./
 
-RUN npm install
-RUN npm ci --only=production
+RUN npm install --only=production
 
 COPY . .
 
-EXPOSE 3000
-CMD [ "node", "index.js" ]
\ No newline at end of file
+EXPOSE 3001
+CMD [ "node", "index.js" ]
diff --git a/deploy/dev/docker-compose.yml b/deploy/dev/docker-compose.yml
index 404c78a0..75f018c6 100644
--- a/deploy/dev/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/deploy/dev/docker-compose.yml
@@ -4,48 +4,37 @@ services:
   apache:
     image: httpd:2.4
     ports:
-      - "80:80"
+      - "8080:80"
     volumes:
-      - ./deploy/dev/httpd.conf:/usr/local/apache2/conf/httpd.conf:ro
+      - ../dev/httpd.conf:/usr/local/apache2/conf/httpd.conf:ro
     depends_on:
       - react-app
-      - middlewareNode
-      - chessServer
-      - stockfishServer
+      - middlewarenode
+      - chessserver
+      - stockfishserver
 
   react-app:
     build: ../../react-ystemandchess
     container_name: react-app
     expose:
       - "3000"
-    environment:
-      - REACT_APP_CHESS_SERVER_URL=http://localhost:3001
-      - REACT_APP_MIDDLEWARE_URL=http://localhost:8000
-      - REACT_APP_STOCKFISH_URL=http://localhost:8080
 
-  middlewareNode:
+  middlewarenode:
     build: ../../middlewareNode
     container_name: middlewarenode
     expose:
       - "8000"
-    environment:
-      - PORT=8000
+    volumes:
+      - ../../middlewareNode/config/default.json:/app/config/default.json:ro
 
-  chessServer:
+  chessserver:
     build: ../../chessServer
     container_name: chessserver
     expose:
       - "3001"
-    environment:
-      - PORT=3001
 
-  stockfishServer:
+  stockfishserver:
     build: ../../stockfishServer
     container_name: stockfishserver
     expose:
       - "9324"
-    environment:
-      - PORT=9324
-
-# Usage: docker-compose up --build
-# Access at: http://localhost
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/middlewareNode/Dockerfile b/middlewareNode/Dockerfile
index 137d6f16..e4bd4847 100644
--- a/middlewareNode/Dockerfile
+++ b/middlewareNode/Dockerfile
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
-FROM node
+FROM node:18.20.8-alpine
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
 COPY package*.json ./
 
-RUN npm install
-RUN npm ci --only=production
+RUN npm install --only=production
 
 COPY . .
 
 EXPOSE 8000
-CMD [ "node", "server.js" ]
\ No newline at end of file
+CMD [ "node", "server.js" ]
diff --git a/stockfishServer/Dockerfile b/stockfishServer/Dockerfile
index 0a03467f..31fa5409 100644
--- a/stockfishServer/Dockerfile
+++ b/stockfishServer/Dockerfile
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
-FROM node:alpine
+FROM node:18.20.8-alpine
 
 WORKDIR /usr/src/app
 
 COPY package*.json ./
 
-RUN npm install
-RUN npm ci --only=production
+RUN npm install --only=production
 
 COPY . .
 
-EXPOSE 8080
-CMD [ "node", "index.js" ]
+RUN chmod +x /usr/src/app/src/bin/stockfish_11_linux
+
+EXPOSE 9324
+CMD [ "node", "src/index.js" ]