diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 5489133..22723f8 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 # For SQLServer
-DATABASE_URL="sqlserver://localhost:1433;database=HIERR;user=sa;password=<YourStrong@Passw0rd>;encrypt=DANGER_PLAINTEXT;"
+DATABASE_URL="sqlserver://hierr-sql-1:1433;database=HIERR;user=sa;password=<YourStrong@Passw0rd>;encrypt=DANGER_PLAINTEXT;"
 # For SQLite
 # DATABASE_URL="file:./db.sqlite"
 NEXTAUTH_URL="http://localhost:3000"
 NEXTAUTH_SECRET=DUMMY
-EMAIL_SERVER="smtp://localhost:25"
+EMAIL_SERVER="smtp://hierr-smtp-1:25"
 EMAIL_FROM="test@example.com"
 NEXT_PUBLIC_POLIS_SURVEYS='[{"id": "yourSurveyID1", "title": "yourSurveyTitle1", "description": "yourSurveyDescription1"}]'
 NEXT_PUBLIC_SEARCH_API='{your ArcGIS Search Api Key}'
diff --git a/compose.yaml b/compose.yaml
index 2649f06..e5743dc 100644
--- a/compose.yaml
+++ b/compose.yaml
@@ -13,3 +13,15 @@ services:
       - 25:25
     environment:
       - ServerOptions__HostName=smtp4dev
+  node:
+    image: debian:12-slim
+    ports:
+      - 3000:3000
+    stdin_open: true # used to keep container running
+    tty: true
+    user: "${UID_GID}"
+    environment:
+      HOME: "${USER_HOME}"
+    volumes:
+      - ./:/HIERR
+      - ${USER_HOME}:${USER_HOME}
diff --git a/src/README.md b/src/README.md
index c7f9893..de70e8b 100644
--- a/src/README.md
+++ b/src/README.md
@@ -5,14 +5,11 @@ Run these commands to set up and run the project locally for the first time.
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/CodeforHawaii/HIERR.git
 cd HIERR
-# Use nvm to set the NodeJS version https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm
-nvm use
-npm install
 cp -f .env.example .env # Note: You may have to update the .env file with your specific secret values.
 # Use docker to set up SQL and SMTP servers locally https://www.docker.com/
 # See "SMTP Cloud Server Setup" and "Prisma SQL Server Migration" sections if
 # wanting to use a different set up.
-docker compose up -d
+UID_GID="$(id -u):$(id -g)" USER_HOME=$HOME docker compose up -d
 ```
 
 Next, create database table `HIERR`. Enter the bash shell in the docker image:
@@ -41,15 +38,34 @@ Then, you may exit:
 exit
 ```
 
+Prepare the HIERR container:
+
+```bash
+# instal curl in hierr container
+docker exec -u 0:0 -it hierr-node-1 bash -c "apt update && apt install -y curl"
+# open hierr container and run
+docker exec -it hierr-node-1 bash
+curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash
+exit
+docker exec -it hierr-node-1 bash
+cd /HIERR
+nvm install
+nvm use
+npm install
+```
+
 Finally, run the DB migration scripts and run the dev server:
 
 ```bash
+# still inside the HIERR container...
 npx prisma migrate dev
 npx prisma db push
 # Run dev server on http://localhost:3000
 npm run dev
 ```
 
+You can now access HIERR from http://localhost:3000
+
 The SMTP email web interface is available at http://localhost:3001.
 
 # Update Prisma