diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index 921a64c..ab2b7d3 100644
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -11,9 +11,14 @@ import pathlib
 load_dotenv()
 TOKEN = os.getenv('DISCORD_TOKEN')
 
-# Load settings (we won't overwrite your file)
+# Where to read settings from
+CONFIG_PATH = os.getenv('SHAI_CONFIG', '/config/settings.conf')
+
+# Load settings
 config = ConfigParser()
-config.read('settings.conf')
+read_ok = config.read(CONFIG_PATH)
+if not read_ok:
+    print(f"[Config] WARNING: could not read config at {CONFIG_PATH}; using in-image defaults where possible.")
 
 # Intents (enable Members + Message Content in Dev Portal)
 intents = discord.Intents.default()
@@ -24,9 +29,12 @@ intents.reactions = True
 intents.emojis_and_stickers = True
 intents.voice_states = True
 
+# Data file path (prefer INI, else env, else sensible default)
+data_file = config['DEFAULT'].get('data_file', os.getenv('SHAI_DATA', '/data/data.json'))
+
 bot = commands.Bot(command_prefix='!', intents=intents)
 bot.config = config
-bot.data_manager = DataManager(config['DEFAULT']['data_file'])
+bot.data_manager = DataManager(data_file)
 
 async def _guild_selfcheck(g: discord.Guild, cfg):
     problems = []
diff --git a/data_manager.py b/data_manager.py
index b2a28b9..453d7e4 100644
--- a/data_manager.py
+++ b/data_manager.py
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ class DataManager:
             return default
 
     def _safe_write(self, data: dict):
+        # ensure parent dir exists
+        os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(self.json_path) or ".", exist_ok=True)
         tmp = self.json_path + ".tmp"
         with open(tmp, 'w') as f:
             json.dump(data, f, indent=4)
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index bc56a3e..8590ea3 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -1,20 +1,16 @@
-version: "3.8"
-
 services:
   shaiwatcher:
-    build:
-      context: .
-      dockerfile: dockerfile
-    container_name: shaiwatcher
+    build: .
     restart: unless-stopped
     environment:
       - DISCORD_TOKEN=${DISCORD_TOKEN}
-      # optional: set timezone
-      - TZ=UTC
+      # optional – only if you want non-default locations
+      # - SHAI_CONFIG=/config/settings.conf
+      # - SHAI_DATA=/data/data.json
     volumes:
-      # Persist your JSON data here
-      - shaiwatcher_data:/app/data
-      # use your repo’s settings.conf at runtime
-      - ./settings.conf:/app/settings.conf:ro
+      - ./config:/config          # will contain settings.conf
+      - shaiwatcher_data:/data    # persistent data.json
+    # if you deploy to a remote docker host via Portainer: no extra ports needed
+
 volumes:
   shaiwatcher_data:
diff --git a/docker-entrypoint.sh b/docker-entrypoint.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..50042b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -e
+
+# Defaults (can be overridden)
+: "${SHAI_CONFIG:=/config/settings.conf}"
+: "${SHAI_DATA:=/data/data.json}"
+
+# Seed /config/settings.conf on first run if it doesn't exist
+if [ ! -f "$SHAI_CONFIG" ]; then
+  mkdir -p "$(dirname "$SHAI_CONFIG")"
+  if [ -f /app/example/settings.conf ]; then
+    cp /app/example/settings.conf "$SHAI_CONFIG"
+    echo "Seeded default settings to $SHAI_CONFIG"
+  else
+    # Fall back: generate minimal config so the app can boot
+    cat > "$SHAI_CONFIG" <<EOF
+[DEFAULT]
+data_file = ${SHAI_DATA}
+EOF
+    echo "Generated minimal $SHAI_CONFIG"
+  fi
+fi
+
+# Ensure data directory exists
+mkdir -p "$(dirname "$SHAI_DATA")"
+
+# Make path visible to the app (bot.py will still read the INI)
+export SHAI_CONFIG SHAI_DATA
+
+exec "$@"
diff --git a/dockerfile b/dockerfile
index 3c097a8..8dbffd5 100644
--- a/dockerfile
+++ b/dockerfile
@@ -1,23 +1,26 @@
-# Simple, small image
 FROM python:3.11-slim
 
-ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1 \
-    PIP_NO_CACHE_DIR=1
-
-# System deps (add git if you need it)
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
-    ca-certificates tzdata && \
-    rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
-
 WORKDIR /app
+ENV PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE=1 \
+    PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
 
-# Install deps first (better cache)
+# deps first
 COPY requirements.txt .
-RUN pip install -r requirements.txt
+RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt
 
-# Copy the app
-COPY . .
+# app code
+COPY . /app
 
-# The bot reads settings.conf from /app/settings.conf
-# The data file should live in /app/data (mounted as a volume)
-CMD ["python", "-u", "bot.py"]
+# runtime dirs + seed default config path (actual seeding done in entrypoint)
+RUN mkdir -p /config /data
+
+# runtime env defaults (can be overridden by compose/env)
+ENV SHAI_CONFIG=/config/settings.conf \
+    SHAI_DATA=/data/data.json
+
+# small, explicit entrypoint
+COPY docker-entrypoint.sh /usr/local/bin/entrypoint
+RUN chmod +x /usr/local/bin/entrypoint
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["entrypoint"]
+CMD ["python","-u","/app/bot.py"]