diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..510064d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+node_modules
+npm-debug.log
+.nyc_output
+coverage
+.git
+.gitignore
+README.md
+.env
+.env.local
+.env.development.local
+.env.test.local
+.env.production.local
+.DS_Store
+Dockerfile
+.dockerignore
+docker-compose*.yml
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e56a525
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Base build stage
+FROM node:22-alpine AS builder
+
+WORKDIR /app
+
+# Install dependencies
+COPY package*.json ./
+RUN npm install --only=production
+
+# Copy source
+COPY . .
+
+# Runtime stage
+FROM node:22-alpine
+
+WORKDIR /app
+
+# Copy only built output + dependencies
+COPY --from=builder /app /app
+
+# Run as non-root user for security
+RUN addgroup -S appgroup && adduser -S appuser -G appgroup
+USER appuser
+
+EXPOSE 3000
+
+# Run in production mode
+ENV NODE_ENV=production
+
+CMD ["npm", "run", "start"]
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2cd120f..b9bb364 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -99,6 +99,28 @@ npm run dev
 
 ---
 
+## Running with Docker 
+
+Run Eremos inside Docker, without installing Node.js locally.
+
+Build the image:
+
+```bash
+docker build -t eremos-core .
+```
+
+Run the container:
+
+```bash
+docker run --rm -it -p 3000:3000 eremos-core
+```
+
+Using Docker Compose:
+
+```bash
+docker compose up
+```
+
 ## Key Folders
 
 - `/agents` - Agent templates + logic  
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bfc2b91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+version: "3.9"
+
+services:
+  eremos-core:
+    build:
+      context: .
+      dockerfile: Dockerfile
+    container_name: eremos-core
+    restart: unless-stopped   # auto-restart if crash or system reboot
+    ports:
+      - "3000:3000"           # host:container
+    env_file:
+      - .env.local            # keep secrets outside the compose file
+    environment:
+      NODE_ENV: production
+    volumes:
+      - /app/node_modules     # avoid mounting host node_modules
+    command: npm run start     # run optimized build, not dev server