diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index 1dfbd04..c283d43 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -51,28 +51,25 @@ jobs:
             # Authenticate with Gitea registry on Droplet
             docker login -u "${{ github.actor }}" -p "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" git.nciphered.com
             
-            # Ensure isolated network exists
-            docker network create dockernet 2>/dev/null || true
-            
             # Pull latest image
             docker pull git.nciphered.com/${{ github.repository }}:latest
             
             # Stop existing container
-            docker rm -f stick-app-container || true
+            docker rm -f ${{ secrets.APP_CONTAINER_NAME }} || true
             
-            # Run container on the 'dockernet' network
+            # Run container with user-defined docker flags (e.g., --network, -p)
             docker run -d \
-              --name stick-app-container \
-              --network dockernet \
-              -p 80:3007 \
+              --name ${{ secrets.APP_CONTAINER_NAME }} \
+              ${{ secrets.DOCKER_RUN_FLAGS }} \
               -e DATABASE_URL="${{ secrets.DATABASE_URL_DROPLET }}" \
               -e DATABASE_NAME="${{ secrets.DATABASE_NAME }}" \
               -e JWT_SECRET="${{ secrets.JWT_SECRET }}" \
               -e HOST="0.0.0.0" \
-              -e PORT="3007" \
+              -e PORT="${{ secrets.APP_PORT }}" \
               --restart unless-stopped \
               git.nciphered.com/${{ github.repository }}:latest
 
+
   deploy-cloudrun:
     name: Deploy to Google Cloud Run
     needs: build
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3b689fd..8ec7f55 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -205,46 +205,30 @@ pub async fn delete_task_handler(
 
 ## Production Deployment to a Cloud Host (DigitalOcean Droplet)
 
-For production deployments (such as to a DigitalOcean Droplet), we avoid using `--network="host"`. Instead, we deploy both the database and the application container to a shared, user-defined Docker bridge network named **`dockernet`**. This provides secure internal DNS resolution and container isolation.
+For production deployments (such as to a DigitalOcean Droplet), the application is fully containerized and configured via standard environment variables. 
 
-### 1. Create the Isolated Docker Network
-On your Droplet, create the bridge network:
+The application is completely decoupled from the underlying hosting, networking, and database infrastructure. You are responsible for provisioning the database and supplying the connection configuration.
+
+### 1. Build the Application Container
+Build the application Docker image:
 ```bash
-docker network create dockernet
-```
-
-### 2. Build and Run the Database Infrastructure
-Build the custom MongoDB infrastructure image using the dedicated `Infra.DockerFile`:
-```bash
-# 1. Build the database image
-docker build -t stick-db -f Infra.DockerFile .
-
-# 2. Run the database container on 'dockernet' with host persistence
-docker run --name stick-mongodb \
-  --network dockernet \
-  -v /var/lib/mongodb/data:/data/db \
-  -d \
-  stick-db
-```
-*Note: The database container is named `stick-mongodb`. Other containers on `dockernet` can now resolve this container using `mongodb://stick-mongodb:27017`.*
-
-### 3. Build and Deploy the Application Container
-Build the main application image and launch it on the same network:
-```bash
-# 1. Build the application image
 docker build -t stick-app .
+```
 
-# 2. Run the application container, linking to the database using its container name
-docker run --name stick-app-container \
-  --network dockernet \
+### 2. Deploy the Application Container
+Run the container on your target Docker network, providing the connection details to your pre-existing MongoDB database container through environment variables:
+```bash
+docker run -d \
+  --name stick-app-container \
+  --network your-docker-network \
   -p 80:3007 \
-  -e DATABASE_URL="mongodb://stick-mongodb:27017" \
+  -e DATABASE_URL="mongodb://your-mongodb-host:27017" \
   -e DATABASE_NAME="stick_db" \
   -e JWT_SECRET="your_secure_production_jwt_signing_key_at_least_32_chars_long" \
   -e HOST="0.0.0.0" \
   -e PORT="3007" \
-  -d \
+  --restart unless-stopped \
   stick-app
 ```
-*Note: `-p 80:3007` maps the Droplet's external HTTP port 80 to the application's internal container port 3007.*
+*Note: Adjust the port mapping (`-p`), container name, network name, and `DATABASE_URL` environment variable as necessary to integrate with your custom proxy or container infrastructure.*