diff --git a/support/containers/networks/compose.phoenix-expose.yaml b/support/containers/networks/compose.phoenix-expose.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e4c4924
--- /dev/null
+++ b/support/containers/networks/compose.phoenix-expose.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+services:
+  phoenix:
+    ports:
+      - "${PORT:?}:${PORT:?}"
diff --git a/support/containers/networks/compose.postgres-expose.yaml b/support/containers/networks/compose.postgres-expose.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a006ad8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/support/containers/networks/compose.postgres-expose.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+services:
+  postgres:
+    ports:
+      - "5432:5432"
diff --git a/support/scripts/systemd-container-service-file-generate b/support/scripts/systemd-container-service-file-generate
index c9ffb5e..9472ef0 100755
--- a/support/scripts/systemd-container-service-file-generate
+++ b/support/scripts/systemd-container-service-file-generate
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 service_name="phoenix-todo-list"
-service_file="${HOME}/systemd/user/${service_name}.service"
+service_file="${HOME}/.config/systemd/user/${service_name}.service"
 
 if [ "$1" = "-h" ] || [ "$1" = "--help" ]; then
   echo "This script generates a user-level systemd service file.
@@ -13,13 +13,19 @@ Optional arguments:
 
   --podman - Use Podman instead of Docker.
 
+  --expose-phoenix - Expose the PHX_HOST port to the host environment
+
   --postgres - Enables the use of a Postgres server container when running the service.
 
+  --expose-postgres - Expose Postgres port 5432 to the host environment
+
   - Traefik-specific options:
 
     --dev - Configures the service for a development environment (i.e. no HTTPS).
       - If no option is selected, then 'dev' will be used by default.
+
     --staging - Configures the service for a production environment (i.e. uses HTTPS).
+
     --prod - Configures the service for a production environment (i.e. uses HTTPS).
 
     --traefik-client - Configures the service to be used with Traefik.
@@ -65,10 +71,6 @@ while test $# -gt 0; do
     # use docker instead of podman
     use_podman=1
     ;;
-  --postgres)
-    # run a postgres server as part of the service
-    use_postgres=1
-    ;;
   --dev)
     # configures traefik for use in a dev deployment (i.e. no HTTPS)
     is_dev=1
@@ -81,6 +83,18 @@ while test $# -gt 0; do
     # configures traefik for use in a production deployment (i.e. uses HTTPS)
     is_prod=1
     ;;
+  --expose-phoenix)
+    # configure the service for use with traefik and start a traefik server
+    expose_phoenix=1
+    ;;
+  --postgres)
+    # run a postgres server as part of the service
+    use_postgres=1
+    ;;
+  --expose-postgres)
+    # configure the service for use with traefik and start a traefik server
+    expose_postgres=1
+    ;;
   --traefik-client)
     # configure the service for use with traefik, but don't start a traefik server
     use_traefik_client=1
@@ -130,7 +144,7 @@ else
   use_docker=1 # use docker-specific options in the systemd service file
 fi
 
-# set deployment_environment (based on DEPLOYMENT_TYPE env var, or relevant flags)
+# set deployment_environment (based on DEPLOYMENT_ENVIRONMENT env var, or relevant flags)
 # shellcheck disable=SC2153
 deployment_environment="$DEPLOYMENT_ENVIRONMENT" # use global env var by default
 if [ "$is_dev" = 1 ]; then
@@ -149,18 +163,24 @@ fi
 containers_to_run="-f compose.phoenix.yaml"
 
 if [ "$use_traefik_client" = 1 ] || [ "$use_traefik_host" = 1 ]; then
+  if [ "$expose_phoenix" = 1 ]; then
+    printf "\033[33mYour configuration will expose the PHX_HOST port directly, while also proxying the service through Traefik. This is probably not necessary.\033[39m\n"
+  fi
+
   containers_to_run="$containers_to_run -f networks/compose.phoenix-traefik.yaml -f compose.phoenix-config-traefik-${deployment_environment}.yaml"
+elif [ "$expose_phoenix" = 1 ]; then
+  containers_to_run="$containers_to_run -f networks/compose.phoenix-expose.yaml"
 else
-  containers_to_run="$containers_to_run -f networks/compose.phoenix-host.yaml"
+  printf "\033[33mNo host has been specified. You may not be able to connect to this service.\033[39m\n"
 fi
 
 # postgres
 if [ "$use_postgres" = 1 ]; then
   containers_to_run="$containers_to_run -f compose.phoenix-postgres.yaml -f compose.postgres.yaml"
 
-  if [ "$use_traefik_client" != 1 ] && [ "$use_traefik_host" != 1 ]; then
+  if [ "$expose_postgres" = 1 ]; then
     # enable postgres host networking
-    containers_to_run="$containers_to_run -f networks/compose.postgres-host.yaml"
+    containers_to_run="$containers_to_run -f networks/compose.postgres-expose.yaml"
   fi
 fi
 
@@ -174,7 +194,7 @@ fi
 if [ "$dry_run" = 1 ]; then
   output_to=/dev/stdout
 else
-  output_to="${HOME}/.config/systemd/user/${service_name}.service"
+  output_to="${service_file}"
 fi
 
 if [ "$dry_run" != 1 ]; then
@@ -232,9 +252,8 @@ Environment=AWS_SECRET=\"$AWS_SECRET\"
 ## sentry
 Environment=SENTRY_DSN=\"$SENTRY_DSN\"
 
-## traefik
-Environment=TRAEFIK_DASHBOARD_FQDN=\"$TRAEFIK_DASHBOARD_FQDN\"
-
+## traefik (used when running a Traefik host as part of this project's container service)
+# Environment=TRAEFIK_DASHBOARD_FQDN=\"$TRAEFIK_DASHBOARD_FQDN\"
 
 # LIFECYCLE #
 ExecStartPre=$command_to_run down