diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..494b834e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+FROM node:18-slim
+
+# Create app directory
+WORKDIR /usr/src/app
+
+# Install dependencies (use npm ci when lockfile present, otherwise npm install)
+COPY package.json package-lock.json* ./
+RUN if [ -f package-lock.json ]; then \
+      npm ci --only=production; \
+    else \
+      npm install --only=production; \
+    fi
+
+# Copy application source
+COPY . .
+
+# Set production environment
+ENV NODE_ENV=production
+
+# Use unprivileged user (node image provides 'node')
+USER node
+
+# The app listens on this port by default; can be overridden with $PORT
+EXPOSE 8079
+
+# Start the app using the package.json start script
+CMD ["npm", "start"]
\ No newline at end of file