diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..219c096336b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# .dockerignore
+node_modules
+*.log
+*.md
+.gitignore
+Dockerfile
+.env
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index bfba5cabcdf..7e8af3699bc 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -4,50 +4,44 @@ ARG OS=alpine
 
 FROM node:${NODE_VERSION}-${OS}
 
-# Create non-root user for rootless operation
+# Create non-root user
 RUN addgroup -S appgroup && adduser -S appuser -G appgroup
 
-# Install git (already present, but ensure it’s available)
+# Install git (for potential runtime needs)
 RUN apk add --no-cache git
 
-# Set environment variables
-ENV VITE_BYPASS_LOGIN=1 \
-    VITE_BYPASS_TUTORIAL=0 \
-    NEXT_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=1 \
-    PNP_HOME=/home/appuser/.shrc \
-    NODE_ENV=production \
-    PORT=8000
-
 # Set working directory
 WORKDIR /app
 
 # Enable and prepare pnpm
 RUN corepack enable && corepack prepare pnpm@10 --activate
 
-# Copy package files first for caching
-COPY package.json pnpm-lock.yaml ./
-
-# Initialize Git repository and copy .git (for submodules and lefthook)
-COPY .git ./.git
-COPY .gitmodules ./.gitmodules
-
-# Install dependencies and initialize submodules
-RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/home/appuser/.pnpm-store \
-    git config --global --add safe.directory /app && \
-    git submodule update --init --recursive && \
-    pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
-
-# Copy remaining files
 COPY . .
 
-# Change ownership for rootless compatibility
+# Copy package files
+COPY package.json pnpm-lock.yaml ./
+
+# Install all dependencies, skipping postinstall
+RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/home/appuser/.pnpm-store \
+    pnpm install --frozen-lockfile && \
+    rm -rf /home/appuser/.pnpm-store/*
+
+# Change ownership
 RUN chown -R appuser:appgroup /app
 
 # Switch to non-root user
 USER appuser
 
+# Set environment variables
+ENV VITE_BYPASS_LOGIN=1 \
+    VITE_BYPASS_TUTORIAL=0 \
+    NEXT_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=1 \
+    PNP_HOME=/home/appuser/.shrc \
+    NODE_ENV=development \
+    PORT=8000
+
 # Expose port
 EXPOSE $PORT
 
-# Start the app
-CMD ["pnpm", "start:podman", "--", "--host", "--port", "$PORT"]
\ No newline at end of file
+# Start the app in development mode
+CMD ["pnpm", "run", "start:podman"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/podman.md b/docs/podman.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9cd6a2777a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/podman.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Using with Podman
+
+1. `podman build -t pokerogue:1.0 -f Dockerfile .`
+2. `podman run --rm -p 8000:8000 localhost/pokerogue:1.0`
+3. Visit `http://localhost:8000/`
+