diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 73ad142..d0fc14e 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 TOKEN=token
 TOPGG=token
-DEBUG_MODE=1
+DEBUG_MODE=0
 restWsBridgeTimeout=5000
 restTimeOffset=500
 restRequestTimeout=15000
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 31abf52..783805a 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,13 +1,20 @@
 FROM alpine:3.15 as install
+
+# set our node environment, either development or production
+# defaults to production, compose overrides this to development on build and run
+ARG NODE_ENV=production
+ENV NODE_ENV $NODE_ENV
+
 # Setup Work directory.
 WORKDIR /usr/src/bot
 COPY package.json ./
 
 # Let's install everything!
+# will not install devDependencies in production
 RUN apk add --update \
     && apk add --no-cache nodejs-current npm \
     && apk add --no-cache --virtual .build git curl build-base g++ \
-    && npm install --only=production \
+    && npm install \
     && apk del .build
 
 # Copy project to our WORKDIR
diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..857984f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+MIT License
+
+Copyright (c) 2017-2022 Maxminded
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 29df5d2..72d592a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,85 +1,239 @@
 # topggstatsupdater
-This project provides a microservice that updates your TopGG statistics on a hourly basis. Sharding supported.
+This is an example application that makes it possible to create a fully Docker supported Discord Bot that runs in shards. You can run this application in multiple ways:
+- Local development without Docker
+- Local develepment with Docker Compose
+- Docker CLI Run
+- Run with Docker Compose
+- Run with Docker Swarm Stack
+- Run all shards in one service
+- Spread or split shards over multiple services
 
-This project uses [DiscordJS](https://discord.js.org/#/docs/discord.js/stable/general/welcome) and [TopGG](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@top-gg/sdk)
+You can also create your own Docker image using Docker CLI or Docker compose.
 
+It's all documented in this readme file.
 
-## Development server
+This project provides a microservice that updates your TopGG statistics on an hourly basis. 
+Sharding is supported. It's possible to run all shards (one or multiple) on one service or 
+make each shard run on its own service 
+(see [README](https://github.com/McDefault/topggstatsupdater#split-shards-into-multiple-services)).
 
-Create file `nodemon.json` from template `nodemon.json.example` and fill in token and topgg environment variables.
+This project uses [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/), [DiscordJS](https://discord.js.org/#/docs/discord.js/stable/general/welcome) and [TopGG](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@top-gg/sdk) and more.
+
+## Development server without Docker
+
+Create file `nodemon.json` from template `nodemon.json.example` and fill in the `TOKEN` and `TOPGG` environment variables.
 
 Run `npm start` for a dev server. The app will automatically reload if you change any of the source files.
 
 ## Building with Docker CLI
 
-Run `docker build --rm -t <image> .` to build the Docker project.
+Run `docker build --rm -t <image> .` to build the Docker image for production.
+
+>  **NOTE**:
+>
+> If you plan on deploying your image to another machine, make sure to push your image to a repo.
+> Check out the Docker docs [here](https://docs.docker.com/docker-hub/repos/#pushing-a-docker-container-image-to-docker-hub)
+> if you want to use Docker Hub. (recommended)
+## Building and running the app with Docker Compose for development
+
+Run `docker-compose build` to build the dev image.
 
-## Building with Docker compose
+> **NOTE**: 
+> 
+> You can skip `build` if you plan on using composer `up` to run it, 
+> because `up` is setup to automatically build it for you.
 
-Run `docker-compose build` to build the Docker project
+Create file `.env` from template `.env.example` and fill in the `TOKEN` and `TOPGG` environment variables.
+
+Run `docker-compose up` to build and run the dev image.
 
 ## Running the app with Docker Run
 
-Run `docker run --env TOKEN=<discord_token> --env TOPGG=<topgg_token> <image>` to run the docker image
+Run `docker run --env TOKEN=<discord_token> --env TOPGG=<topgg_token> <image>` to run the docker image.
 
-Make sure to assign the following .env variables
+Make sure to assign the following .env variables:
 - TOKEN
 - TOPGG
 
-## Running the app with Docker Compose
+Make sure to use the same image you used when building your image.
+
+## Building the app with Docker Compose for production
 
-Create file `.env` from template `.env.example` and fill in token and topgg environment variables.
+[//]: # (Create file `.env` from template `.env.example` and fill in the `TOKEN` and `TOPGG` environment variables.)
 
-Run `docker-compose up` to run the docker image
+Run `docker-compose -f docker-compose.yaml -f docker-compose.prod.yaml build` to build the docker image for production.
 
+>  **NOTE**:
+>
+> If you plan on deploying your image to another machine, make sure to push your image to a repo.
+> Check out the Docker docs [here](https://docs.docker.com/docker-hub/repos/#pushing-a-docker-container-image-to-docker-hub)
+> if you want to use Docker Hub. (recommended)
+
+>  **NOTE**:
+>
+> **Composer is _not_ meant to run in production.**
+> It is only meant for development or building images.
+> Make sure to read [Getting started with swarm mode](https://docs.docker.com/engine/swarm/swarm-tutorial/) and check [this](https://github.com/BretFisher/ama/issues/8)
+> if you want to use run your build image on a proper environment. (recommended)
 ## Running the app with Docker Swarm
 
-Run `echo <discord_token> | docker secret create TOKEN_FILE -` to create TOKEN secret
+### Create Swarm stack file
 
-Run `echo <topgg_token> | docker secret create TOPGG_FILE -` to create TOPGG secret
+Run `docker-compose -f docker-compose.yaml -f docker-compose.prod.yaml config` to combine base and production compose file.
 
-Create file `.env` from template `.env.example` and leave token and topgg environment variables as they are.
+Suffix with ` > prod.yaml` to output it in a file.
 
-Run `docker stack up -c docker-compose.yaml app --with-registry-auth` to run the stack
+Copy this `prod.yaml` file to your production machine to run your stack on production.
 
-## Split shards into multiple services
+### Creating secrets
 
-This can be done with Swarm and Compose
+On the machine you're planning to run your Swarm stack on do:
 
-Create file `.env` from template `.env.example` and change `SHARD_SPLITTED` to `1` and `TOTAL_SHARDS` to the number of services/shards
+Run `echo <discord_token> | docker secret create TOKEN_FILE -` to create `TOKEN` secret.
 
-Assign the amount of services in the `docker-compose.yaml` and change the `SHARD_ID` accordingly. The stack in this repo has four shards as example. 
+Run `echo <topgg_token> | docker secret create TOPGG_FILE -` to create `TOPGG` secret.
 
-Either remove or add servives to decrease or increase the amount of services/shards. Each service can only have one shard if splitting is active.
+Make sure to change the following variables without <> to your personal keys:
+- discord_token
+- topgg_token
 
+>  **NOTE**:
+>
+> Creating secrets can be done in multiple ways and may differ depending on your OS. 
+> Make sure to read the [Docker Documentation](https://docs.docker.com/engine/swarm/secrets/)
+> to find the best way on creating a secret in your situation.
 
-      services:
-        discord-bot-stats-0:
-          <<: *discord-bot
-          container_name: shard-0
-          environment:
-            SHARD_ID: 0
+Create file `.env` from template `.env.example` and leave `TOKEN_FILE` and `TOPGG_FILE` environment variables as they are.
 
->  ***NOTE: The amount of services must be equal to `TOTAL_SHARDS` in your .env file.***
+
+### Run Swarm stack file
+
+Run `docker stack up -c prod.yaml app --with-registry-auth` to run the stack.
+
+## Split shards into multiple services
+
+By default this app runs all shards on a single service. It can be changed so that every service runs its own separate shard.
+
+This can be done with Swarm and Compose (dev and prod).
+
+Change `.env` file from template `.env.example` and set `SHARD_SPLITTED` to `1` and `TOTAL_SHARDS` to the number of services/shards
+
+Assign the amount of services in the `docker-compose.yaml`, `docker-compose.override.yaml` and `docker-compose.prod.yaml` 
+and change the `SHARD_ID` environment in `docker-compose.yaml` accordingly, like in the example. 
+The stack in this repo has four shards as example. 
+
+Either remove or add services to decrease or increase the amount of services/shards. 
+Each service can only have one shard if splitting is active.
+
+>  **NOTE**:
+>
+> For your convenience, these following parts are commented out in the codebase, so you only have to remove the comment-symbols to make it work.
+
+Replace `services` from `docker-compose.yaml` to the following:
+
+    services:
+      discord-stats-0:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+        container_name: shard-0
+        environment:
+          SHARD_ID: 0
+      discord-stats-1:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+        container_name: shard-1
+        environment:
+          SHARD_ID: 1
+      discord-stats-2:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+        container_name: shard-2
+        environment:
+          SHARD_ID: 2
+      discord-stats-3:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+        container_name: shard-3
+        environment:
+          SHARD_ID: 3
+
+### Development
+
+Replace `services` from `docker-compose.override.yaml` if you to apply it on your Docker Compose 
+to the following:
+
+    services:
+      discord-stats-0:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+      discord-stats-1:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+      discord-stats-2:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+      discord-stats-3:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+
+### Production
+
+Replace `services` from `docker-compose.prod.yaml` if you to apply it on your Docker Swarm stack
+to the following:
+
+    services:
+      discord-stats-0:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+      discord-stats-1:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+      discord-stats-2:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+      discord-stats-3:
+        <<: *discord-bot
+
+
+>  **NOTE**:
+> 
+> - The amount of services must be equal to `TOTAL_SHARDS` in your `.env` file.
+> 
+> - Make sure to start `SHARD_ID` from `0` and count up `1` each service.
+> 
+> - If this is not configured properly, some shards will be skipped. 
+
+Run `docker-compose -f docker-compose.yaml -f docker-compose.prod.yaml config  > prod_splitted.yaml` 
+to create a new stack file and copy it to your production similarly done before 
+like [here](https://github.com/McDefault/topggstatsupdater#create-swarm-stack-file).
+
+Run `docker stack up -c prod_splitted.yaml app --with-registry-auth` to run the new split stack 
+similarly done before
+like [here](https://github.com/McDefault/topggstatsupdater#create-swarm-stack-file).
 
 ## Optional .env variables
 
 `DEBUG_MODE=0`
 Specify debug mode on or off.
 
-
 `restWsBridgeTimeout=5000`
-Maximum time permitted between REST responses and their corresponding websocket events - default 5000
-
+Maximum time permitted between REST responses and their corresponding websocket events - default 5000.
 
 `restTimeOffset=500`
-Extra time in milliseconds to wait before continuing to make REST requests (higher values will reduce rate-limiting errors on bad connections) - Default 500
+Extra time in milliseconds to wait before continuing to make REST requests 
+(higher values will reduce rate-limiting errors on bad connections) - Default 500.
 
 `restRequestTimeout=15000`
-Time to wait before cancelling a REST request, in milliseconds - Default 15000
+Time to wait before cancelling a REST request, in milliseconds - Default 15000.
 
 `restSweepInterval=60`
-How frequently to delete inactive request buckets, in seconds (or 0 for never) - Default 60
+How frequently to delete inactive request buckets, in seconds (or 0 for never) - Default 60.
 
 `retryLimit=1`
-How many times to retry on 5XX errors (Infinity for indefinite amount of retries) - Default 1
+How many times to retry on 5XX errors (Infinity for indefinite amount of retries) - Default 1.
+
+## Sources
+
+Few resources used:
+
+- https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/commands/npm-install
+- https://docs.npmjs.com/specifying-dependencies-and-devdependencies-in-a-package-json-file
+- https://docs.docker.com/compose/compose-file/compose-file-v3/#deploy
+- https://docs.docker.com/compose/environment-variables/
+- https://docs.docker.com/compose/production/
+- https://docs.docker.com/compose/extends/#multiple-compose-files
+- https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/commandline/build/
+- https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/commandline/secret_create/
+- https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/builder/#dockerignore-file
+- https://docs.docker.com/compose/compose-file/compose-file-v3/#resources
+- https://docs.docker.com/engine/swarm/secrets/
+- https://docs.docker.com/docker-hub/repos/
diff --git a/docker-compose.override.yaml b/docker-compose.override.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8bbae6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.override.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+version: "3.7"
+
+
+#service template
+x-discord-bot:
+  &discord-bot
+  build: .
+  image: discord-statupdater:dev
+  command: npx nodemon src/index.js
+  volumes:
+    - ./src:/usr/src/bot/src
+  restart: unless-stopped
+  env_file:
+    - .env
+  environment:
+    NODE_ENV: 'development'
+
+#this config is automatically applied when using docker compose up
+#override service template for local development
+#automatically restarts the application after changing source files
+#mounts local src folder to service src folder
+services:
+  discord-stats-0:
+    <<: *discord-bot
+#  discord-stats-1:
+#    <<: *discord-bot
+#  discord-stats-2:
+#    <<: *discord-bot
+#  discord-stats-3:
+#    <<: *discord-bot
diff --git a/docker-compose.prod.yaml b/docker-compose.prod.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e4ad97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.prod.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+version: "3.7"
+
+#service template
+x-discord-bot:
+  &discord-bot
+  build: .
+  secrets:
+    - TOKEN_FILE
+    - TOPGG_FILE
+  deploy:
+    replicas: 1
+    resources:
+      limits:
+        memory: 512M
+      reservations:
+        cpus: '0.50'
+        memory: 200M
+
+#List of secrets for Docker Swarm
+secrets:
+  TOKEN_FILE:
+    external: true
+  TOPGG_FILE:
+    external: true
+
+#This file can be extended to the base file
+#This example shows one services running all shards
+#Remove the comments down below and set ENV SHARD_SPLITTED=1 and TOTAL_SHARDS=4 to get four services each running their own shard
+#list of services
+services:
+  discord-stats-0:
+    <<: *discord-bot
+#  discord-stats-1:
+#    <<: *discord-bot
+#  discord-stats-2:
+#    <<: *discord-bot
+#  discord-stats-3:
+#    <<: *discord-bot
diff --git a/docker-compose.yaml b/docker-compose.yaml
index fbd64a0..73f4a8a 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -1,30 +1,14 @@
 version: "3.7"
 
-#List of secrets for Docker Swarm
-secrets:
-  TOKEN_FILE:
-    external: true
-  TOPGG_FILE:
-    external: true
-
 #service template
 x-discord-bot:
   &discord-bot
-  build: .
-  image: discord-statupdater
-  secrets:
-    - TOKEN_FILE
-    - TOPGG_FILE
-  deploy:
-    replicas: 1
-    resources:
-      limits:
-        memory: 512M
+  image: discord-statupdater:prod
   restart: unless-stopped
   env_file:
     - .env
 
-#this example shows four services each running their own shard
+#This is the base service for production and development
 #list of services
 services:
   discord-stats-0:
@@ -32,18 +16,18 @@ services:
     container_name: shard-0
     environment:
       SHARD_ID: 0
-  discord-stats-1:
-    <<: *discord-bot
-    container_name: shard-1
-    environment:
-      SHARD_ID: 1
-  discord-stats-2:
-    <<: *discord-bot
-    container_name: shard-2
-    environment:
-      SHARD_ID: 2
-  discord-stats-3:
-    <<: *discord-bot
-    container_name: shard-3
-    environment:
-      SHARD_ID: 3
+#  discord-stats-1:
+#    <<: *discord-bot
+#    container_name: shard-1
+#    environment:
+#      SHARD_ID: 1
+#  discord-stats-2:
+#    <<: *discord-bot
+#    container_name: shard-2
+#    environment:
+#      SHARD_ID: 2
+#  discord-stats-3:
+#    <<: *discord-bot
+#    container_name: shard-3
+#    environment:
+#      SHARD_ID: 3
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/nodemon.json.example b/nodemon.json.example
index 82e9157..0425f34 100644
--- a/nodemon.json.example
+++ b/nodemon.json.example
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
   "env": {
     "TOKEN": "token",
     "TOPGG": "token",
-    "debug": 1,
+    "DEBUG_MODE": 1,
     "restWsBridgeTimeout": 5000,
     "restTimeOffset": 500,
     "restRequestTimeout": 15000,
     "restSweepInterval": 60,
-    "retryLimit": 1
+    "retryLimit": 1,
+    "NODE_ENV": "development"
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file