diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8f06a8f..98013b9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -42,4 +42,11 @@ now vist http://localhost:1337 in your browser
 
 ## dev
 
-tbd
+`docker compose up -d f0ckm-db`
+
+on dev machine:
+
+`npm i`
+`npm run dev`
+
+now visit http://localhost:1337 in your browser, you can develop without needing to rebuild the docker image for every change
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 1d78b40..c32e3cf 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ services:
       - ./f0ckm-data/hall_custom/:/opt/f0bm/public/hall_custom/:Z
       - ./f0ckm-data/manifest.json:/opt/f0bm/public/manifest.json:Z
 
-    command: npm run start
     environment:
       - GIT_HASH=${f0ckm_TAG:-unknown}
     ports:
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 30ba856..e59a58e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "start": "node --trace-uncaught src/index.mjs",
-    "dev": "node --trace-uncaught --watch src/index.mjs",
+    "dev": "STORAGE_DIR=f0ckm-data DB_HOST=localhost DB_PORT=5454 node --trace-uncaught --watch src/index.mjs",
     "trigger": "node debug/trigger.mjs",
     "autotagger": "node debug/autotagger.mjs",
     "thumbnailer": "node debug/thumbnailer.mjs",
diff --git a/src/inc/config.mjs b/src/inc/config.mjs
index 7482c46..fb238a2 100644
--- a/src/inc/config.mjs
+++ b/src/inc/config.mjs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ let config = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(_config));
 
 // Environment variable overrides for database connection
 if (process.env.DB_HOST) config.sql.host = process.env.DB_HOST;
+if (process.env.DB_PORT) config.sql.port = parseInt(process.env.DB_PORT, 10);
 if (process.env.DB_USER) config.sql.user = process.env.DB_USER;
 if (process.env.DB_PASS) config.sql.password = process.env.DB_PASS;
 if (process.env.DB_NAME) config.sql.database = process.env.DB_NAME;