diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 2c04dbe..40645b5 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -38,3 +38,6 @@ npm-debug.log
 # Ignore all user-generated content (uploads, QR codes, etc.)
 /priv/static/user_generated/
 
+# Ignore customized Docker Compose file.
+docker-compose.yml
+
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7bef1f2..dfc415b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -230,7 +230,10 @@ mix ecto.migrations
    cd components_elixir
    ```
 
-2. **Build and run with Docker Compose:**
+2. **Copy docker-compose.yml.example to docker-compose.yml**
+   Follow steps in [Customizing Docker Deployment](#customizing-docker-deployment).
+
+3. **Build and run with Docker Compose:**
    ```bash
    docker compose up --build
    ```
@@ -241,7 +244,7 @@ mix ecto.migrations
    - Elixir compiles all dependencies
    - Network conditions may significantly affect download speeds
 
-3. **Access the application:**
+4. **Access the application:**
    - Open [http://localhost:4000](http://localhost:4000)
    - Default password: `changeme`
 
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml.example
similarity index 70%
rename from docker-compose.yml
rename to docker-compose.yml.example
index 2786e11..e88888e 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml.example
@@ -21,14 +21,19 @@ services:
       - "4000:4000"
     environment:
       DATABASE_URL: "ecto://postgres:postgres@db:5432/components_elixir_prod"
-      SECRET_KEY_BASE: "WYxST6ZVqFdeXRfjP3MUAc+hNVCJ6LW/+aqwuP27Ab77R4yXFQlO2HsukrOzCVif"
+      SECRET_KEY_BASE: "your-secret-key-here"  # Generate with: mix phx.gen.secret
       PHX_HOST: "localhost"
       PHX_SERVER: "true"
       PORT: "4000"
     depends_on:
       db:
         condition: service_healthy
-    command: ["/bin/sh", "-c", "/app/bin/migrate && /app/bin/server"]
+    command:
+      [
+        "/bin/sh",
+        "-c",
+        "/app/bin/components_elixir eval 'ComponentsElixir.Release.migrate' && /app/bin/components_elixir start",
+      ]
 
 volumes:
-  postgres_data:
\ No newline at end of file
+  postgres_data:
diff --git a/rel/env.bat.eex b/rel/env.bat.eex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d82afd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rel/env.bat.eex
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+@echo off
+rem Set the release to load code on demand (interactive) instead of preloading (embedded).
+rem set RELEASE_MODE=interactive
+
+rem Set the release to work across nodes.
+rem RELEASE_DISTRIBUTION must be "sname" (local), "name" (distributed) or "none".
+rem set RELEASE_DISTRIBUTION=name
+rem set RELEASE_NODE=<%= @release.name %>
diff --git a/rel/env.sh.eex b/rel/env.sh.eex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab7b76a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rel/env.sh.eex
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# # Sets and enables heart (recommended only in daemon mode)
+# case $RELEASE_COMMAND in
+#   daemon*)
+#     HEART_COMMAND="$RELEASE_ROOT/bin/$RELEASE_NAME $RELEASE_COMMAND"
+#     export HEART_COMMAND
+#     export ELIXIR_ERL_OPTIONS="-heart"
+#     ;;
+#   *)
+#     ;;
+# esac
+
+# # Set the release to load code on demand (interactive) instead of preloading (embedded).
+# export RELEASE_MODE=interactive
+
+# # Set the release to work across nodes.
+# # RELEASE_DISTRIBUTION must be "sname" (local), "name" (distributed) or "none".
+# export RELEASE_DISTRIBUTION=name
+# export RELEASE_NODE=<%= @release.name %>
diff --git a/rel/remote.vm.args.eex b/rel/remote.vm.args.eex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..983397a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rel/remote.vm.args.eex
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+## Customize flags given to the VM: https://www.erlang.org/doc/man/erl.html
+## -mode/-name/-sname/-setcookie are configured via env vars, do not set them here
+
+## Increase number of concurrent ports/sockets
+##+Q 65536
+
+## Tweak GC to run more often
+##-env ERL_FULLSWEEP_AFTER 10
diff --git a/rel/vm.args.eex b/rel/vm.args.eex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..983397a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rel/vm.args.eex
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+## Customize flags given to the VM: https://www.erlang.org/doc/man/erl.html
+## -mode/-name/-sname/-setcookie are configured via env vars, do not set them here
+
+## Increase number of concurrent ports/sockets
+##+Q 65536
+
+## Tweak GC to run more often
+##-env ERL_FULLSWEEP_AFTER 10