diff --git a/.env b/.env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0256ef612f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# URLs - change these to your local or cloud deployment IP address/URL if necessary
+PUBLIC_URL=http://localhost
+WS_PUBLIC_URL=ws://localhost
+
+# Port numbers - change these if you are already using these ports for other (non-PeerPrep) services
+FRONTEND_PORT=3000
+QUESTION_API_PORT=2000
+USER_API_PORT=3001
+MATCHING_API_PORT=3002
+COLLAB_API_PORT=3003
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e8fe1a1a9e..4f75898f0a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,6 +2,35 @@
 # CS3219 Project (PeerPrep) - AY2425S1
 ## Group: G44
 
+### Running PeerPrep
+Before you run PeerPrep, please check the `.env` file in the root directory, and modify the IP address/URL and/or ports if necessary. It should look something like this:
+```sh
+# URLs - change these to your local or cloud deployment IP address/URL if necessary
+PUBLIC_URL=http://localhost
+WS_PUBLIC_URL=ws://localhost
+
+# Port numbers - change these if you are already using these ports for other (non-PeerPrep) services
+FRONTEND_PORT=3000
+QUESTION_API_PORT=2000
+USER_API_PORT=3001
+MATCHING_API_PORT=3002
+COLLAB_API_PORT=3003
+```
+
+Then, in the root directory, run
+```sh
+docker compose up -d
+```
+and access PeerPrep at [localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000), or the IP address/URL you set earlier in the `.env` file
+
+> To force a rebuild of the images, run
+> `docker compose up -d --build`
+
+#### Developing
+If you are developing PeerPrep, you can use [Compose Watch](https://docs.docker.com/compose/how-tos/file-watch/) to automatically update and preview code changes:
+```sh
+docker compose up --watch --build
+```
 
 ### API Endpoints
 #### Question Service
@@ -60,22 +89,6 @@ Replies with:
 }
 ```
 
-### Running PeerPrep
-In the root directory, run
-```sh
-docker compose up -d
-```
-and access PeerPrep at [localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000)
-
-> To force a rebuild of the images, run
-> `docker compose up -d --build`
-
-#### Developing
-If you are developing PeerPrep, you can use [Compose Watch](https://docs.docker.com/compose/how-tos/file-watch/) to automatically update and preview code changes:
-```sh
-docker compose up --watch --build
-```
-
 ### Note: 
 - You can choose to develop individual microservices within separate folders within this repository **OR** use individual repositories (all public) for each microservice. 
 - In the latter scenario, you should enable sub-modules on this GitHub classroom repository to manage the development/deployment **AND** add your mentor to the individual repositories as a collaborator. 
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index e912149780..92cdb1a85b 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -6,8 +6,16 @@ services:
     build:
       context: ./frontend
       dockerfile: Dockerfile.dev
+      args:
+        PUBLIC_URL: ${PUBLIC_URL}
+        WS_PUBLIC_URL: ${WS_PUBLIC_URL}
+        FRONTEND_PORT: ${FRONTEND_PORT}
+        QUESTION_API_PORT: ${QUESTION_API_PORT}
+        USER_API_PORT: ${USER_API_PORT}
+        MATCHING_API_PORT: ${MATCHING_API_PORT}
+        COLLAB_API_PORT: ${COLLAB_API_PORT}
     ports:
-      - "3000:3000"
+      - "${FRONTEND_PORT}:${FRONTEND_PORT}"
     develop:
       watch:
         - action: sync
@@ -19,7 +27,7 @@ services:
       context: ./backend/question-service
       dockerfile: Dockerfile.dev
     ports:
-      - "2000:2000"
+      - "${QUESTION_API_PORT}:2000"
     develop:
       watch:
         - action: sync
@@ -33,7 +41,7 @@ services:
     env_file:
       - ./backend/user-service/.env
     ports:
-      - "3001:3001"
+      - "${USER_API_PORT}:3001"
 
   zookeeper:
     image: confluentinc/cp-zookeeper:7.7.1
@@ -73,7 +81,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       KAFKA_BROKER: kafka:9092
     ports:
-      - "3002:3002"
+      - "${MATCHING_API_PORT}:3002"
     depends_on:
       kafka:
         condition: service_healthy
@@ -83,4 +91,4 @@ services:
       context: ./backend/signaling-service
       dockerfile: Dockerfile.dev
     ports:
-      - "3003:3003"
+      - "${COLLAB_API_PORT}:3003"
diff --git a/frontend/.env.local b/frontend/.env.local
index 1c8c7356e0..22e5b0a2a8 100644
--- a/frontend/.env.local
+++ b/frontend/.env.local
@@ -1,29 +1,29 @@
-PUBLIC_URL=http://localhost
-WS_PUBLIC_URL=ws://localhost
+# PUBLIC_URL=http://localhost
+# WS_PUBLIC_URL=ws://localhost
 
-# Frontend servce
-FRONTEND_PORT=3000
-NEXT_PUBLIC_FRONTEND_URL=$PUBLIC_URL:$FRONTEND_PORT
+# # Frontend servce
+# FRONTEND_PORT=3000
+# NEXT_PUBLIC_FRONTEND_URL=$PUBLIC_URL:$FRONTEND_PORT
 
-# Question service
-QUESTION_API_PORT=2000
-NEXT_PUBLIC_QUESTION_API_BASE_URL=$PUBLIC_URL:$QUESTION_API_PORT/questions
+# # Question service
+# QUESTION_API_PORT=2000
+# NEXT_PUBLIC_QUESTION_API_BASE_URL=$PUBLIC_URL:$QUESTION_API_PORT/questions
 
-# User service
-USER_API_PORT=3001
-USER_API_BASE_URL=$PUBLIC_URL:$USER_API_PORT
-NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_AUTH_URL=$USER_API_BASE_URL/auth
-NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_USERS_URL=$USER_API_BASE_URL/users
-NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_EMAIL_URL=$USER_API_BASE_URL/email
-NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_HISTORY_URL=$USER_API_BASE_URL/users/history
+# # User service
+# USER_API_PORT=3001
+# USER_API_BASE_URL=$PUBLIC_URL:$USER_API_PORT
+# NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_AUTH_URL=$USER_API_BASE_URL/auth
+# NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_USERS_URL=$USER_API_BASE_URL/users
+# NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_EMAIL_URL=$USER_API_BASE_URL/email
+# NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_HISTORY_URL=$USER_API_BASE_URL/users/history
 
-# Matching service
-MATCHING_API_PORT=3002
-NEXT_PUBLIC_MATCHING_API_URL=$PUBLIC_URL:$MATCHING_API_PORT/matching
+# # Matching service
+# MATCHING_API_PORT=3002
+# NEXT_PUBLIC_MATCHING_API_URL=$PUBLIC_URL:$MATCHING_API_PORT/matching
 
-# Collab service
-COLLAB_API_PORT=3003
-NEXT_PUBLIC_COLLAB_API_URL=$WS_PUBLIC_URL:$COLLAB_API_PORT
+# # Collab service
+# COLLAB_API_PORT=3003
+# NEXT_PUBLIC_COLLAB_API_URL=$WS_PUBLIC_URL:$COLLAB_API_PORT
 
 NEXT_PUBLIC_EMAIL_USER=peerprep.no.reply@gmail.com
 NEXT_PUBLIC_EMAIL_PASS=peerprepg44
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/Dockerfile.dev b/frontend/Dockerfile.dev
index 9ca431a6ac..d926e1ac0d 100644
--- a/frontend/Dockerfile.dev
+++ b/frontend/Dockerfile.dev
@@ -1,6 +1,36 @@
 FROM node:22-alpine3.19 AS builder
 WORKDIR /app
 
+ARG PUBLIC_URL
+ARG WS_PUBLIC_URL
+ARG FRONTEND_PORT
+ARG QUESTION_API_PORT
+ARG USER_API_PORT
+ARG MATCHING_API_PORT
+ARG COLLAB_API_PORT
+
+ENV PUBLIC_URL=${PUBLIC_URL}
+ENV WS_PUBLIC_URL=${WS_PUBLIC_URL}
+
+ENV FRONTEND_PORT=${FRONTEND_PORT}
+ENV NEXT_PUBLIC_FRONTEND_URL=${PUBLIC_URL}:${FRONTEND_PORT}
+
+ENV QUESTION_API_PORT=${QUESTION_API_PORT}
+ENV NEXT_PUBLIC_QUESTION_API_BASE_URL=${PUBLIC_URL}:${QUESTION_API_PORT}/questions
+
+ENV USER_API_PORT=${USER_API_PORT}
+ENV USER_API_BASE_URL=${PUBLIC_URL}:${USER_API_PORT}
+ENV NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_AUTH_URL=${USER_API_BASE_URL}/auth
+ENV NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_USERS_URL=${USER_API_BASE_URL}/users
+ENV NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_EMAIL_URL=${USER_API_BASE_URL}/email
+ENV NEXT_PUBLIC_USER_API_HISTORY_URL=${USER_API_BASE_URL}/users/history
+
+ENV MATCHING_API_PORT=${MATCHING_API_PORT}
+ENV NEXT_PUBLIC_MATCHING_API_URL=${PUBLIC_URL}:${MATCHING_API_PORT}/matching
+
+ENV COLLAB_API_PORT=${COLLAB_API_PORT}
+ENV NEXT_PUBLIC_COLLAB_API_URL=${PUBLIC_URL}:${COLLAB_API_PORT}
+
 COPY package.json package-lock.json ./
 RUN npm ci
 COPY . .