diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 915af286..fdb99554 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,20 +1,14 @@
-FROM node:18-alpine AS builder
+FROM node:20-alpine
 
-# Set working directory inside the container
 WORKDIR /app
 
 COPY package*.json ./
 
-# Install dependencies with legacy peer deps fix
 RUN npm install --legacy-peer-deps
 
 COPY . .
-RUN npm run build
 
-# Production Image
-FROM node:18-alpine
-WORKDIR /app
-COPY --from=builder /app /app
+# No need to run 'npm run build' for development-mode Docker
 EXPOSE 3000
 
-CMD ["npm", "run","serve"]
\ No newline at end of file
+CMD [ "npm", "run", "dev" ]
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 33632d9e..6f0bd607 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -80,6 +80,25 @@ docker run -p 3000:3000 recodehive-app
 
     This command will start a development server and open the application in your default web browser.
 
+## ⚡ Local Development with Docker Compose & Hot Reload
+
+For an even smoother experience, contributors can leverage **Docker Compose with hot reloading**.  
+This lets you see code changes instantly at [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000) without rebuilding or restarting containers.
+
+### 🏃 Quick Start
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/your-username/recodehive-website.git
+cd recodehive-website
+docker-compose up
+```
+
+### 🚢 Production Deployment
+```bash
+npm run build
+npm run serve
+```
+
 **If you'd like to contribute to CodeHarborHub, please follow these guidelines:**
 
 - **Fork** the repository and clone it locally.
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 3b09ec5c..6a9e77b9 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 version: "3.9"
-
 services:
   recodehive:
     build: 
@@ -8,8 +7,8 @@ services:
       - "3000:3000"
     volumes:
       - .:/app
-      - /app/node_modules
+      - /app/node_modules   # Prevents node_modules being overwritten by the mount
     working_dir: /app
-    command: npm run start
+    command: npm run dev   # THIS is the crucial change for hot-reload!
     environment:
       - NODE_ENV=development
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b42bb8b0..d79e8d6f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "docusaurus": "docusaurus",
+    "dev": "docusaurus start",
     "start": "docusaurus start",
     "build": "docusaurus build",
     "swizzle": "docusaurus swizzle",
@@ -15,14 +16,14 @@
     "typecheck": "tsc"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "@docusaurus/core": "^3.8.1",
-    "@docusaurus/plugin-content-docs": "3.8.1",
-    "@docusaurus/plugin-google-analytics": "^3.8.1",
-    "@docusaurus/plugin-ideal-image": "3.8.1",
-    "@docusaurus/preset-classic": "^3.8.1",
-    "@docusaurus/theme-classic": "^3.8.1",
-    "@docusaurus/theme-mermaid": "3.8.1",
-    "@docusaurus/theme-search-algolia": "3.8.1",
+    "@docusaurus/core": "^3.9.1",
+    "@docusaurus/plugin-content-docs": "3.9.1",
+    "@docusaurus/plugin-google-analytics": "^3.9.1",
+    "@docusaurus/plugin-ideal-image": "3.9.1",
+    "@docusaurus/preset-classic": "^3.9.1",
+    "@docusaurus/theme-classic": "^3.9.1",
+    "@docusaurus/theme-mermaid": "3.9.1",
+    "@docusaurus/theme-search-algolia": "3.9.1",
     "@floating-ui/react": "^0.27.8",
     "@giscus/react": "^3.1.0",
     "@mdx-js/react": "^3.0.0",