allow for custom ports

.env.production

@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ MONGODB_DATABASE=scoffer
 # JWT Secret for Backend (CHANGE THIS IN PRODUCTION!)
 JWT_SECRET=your-super-secret-jwt-key-change-this-in-production
 
+# Port Configuration (customize as needed for your server)
+FRONTEND_PORT=3000
+BACKEND_PORT=5000
+MONGODB_PORT=27017
+MONGO_EXPRESS_PORT=8081
+
 # Frontend API URL for server deployment
 # IMPORTANT: This should point to your EXTERNAL domain with HTTPS
 # The reverse proxy handles SSL termination and forwards HTTP to containers

PORT_CONFIGURATION.md

@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+# Port Configuration Guide
+
+## Overview
+
+The Docker Compose setup now supports configurable ports through environment variables. This allows you to customize which host ports are used for each service without modifying the docker-compose.yml file.
+
+## Available Port Variables
+
+| Service | Environment Variable | Default Port | Description |
+|---------|---------------------|--------------|-------------|
+| Frontend | `FRONTEND_PORT` | 3000 | React app served by nginx |
+| Backend | `BACKEND_PORT` | 5000 | Node.js API server |
+| MongoDB | `MONGODB_PORT` | 27017 | MongoDB database |
+| Mongo Express | `MONGO_EXPRESS_PORT` | 8081 | Database admin interface |
+
+## Usage Examples
+
+### Default Configuration
+If no environment variables are set, the services will use default ports:
+```bash
+docker-compose up -d
+```
+- Frontend: http://localhost:3000
+- Backend: http://localhost:5000
+- MongoDB: localhost:27017
+- Mongo Express: http://localhost:8081
+
+### Custom Port Configuration
+
+#### Option 1: Environment Variables
+```bash
+export FRONTEND_PORT=8080
+export BACKEND_PORT=3001
+export MONGODB_PORT=27018
+export MONGO_EXPRESS_PORT=8082
+
+docker-compose up -d
+```
+
+#### Option 2: .env File
+Create or update your `.env` file:
+```bash
+# Port Configuration
+FRONTEND_PORT=8080
+BACKEND_PORT=3001
+MONGODB_PORT=27018
+MONGO_EXPRESS_PORT=8082
+
+# Other configuration...
+REACT_APP_API_URL=http://localhost:3001/api
+JWT_SECRET=your-secret-key
+```
+
+Then run:
+```bash
+docker-compose up -d
+```
+
+#### Option 3: Inline with Docker Compose
+```bash
+FRONTEND_PORT=8080 BACKEND_PORT=3001 docker-compose up -d
+```
+
+## Common Scenarios
+
+### Development on Different Ports
+If you have other services running on default ports:
+```bash
+# .env file
+FRONTEND_PORT=3001
+BACKEND_PORT=5001
+MONGODB_PORT=27018
+MONGO_EXPRESS_PORT=8082
+REACT_APP_API_URL=http://localhost:5001/api
+```
+
+### Production Server with Port Restrictions
+If your server has specific port requirements:
+```bash
+# .env file
+FRONTEND_PORT=80
+BACKEND_PORT=8000
+MONGODB_PORT=27017
+MONGO_EXPRESS_PORT=8081
+REACT_APP_API_URL=https://your-domain.com/api
+```
+
+### Multiple Environments on Same Server
+For running multiple instances (dev/staging/prod):
+
+**Development (.env.dev)**:
+```bash
+FRONTEND_PORT=3000
+BACKEND_PORT=5000
+MONGODB_PORT=27017
+MONGO_EXPRESS_PORT=8081
+REACT_APP_API_URL=http://localhost:5000/api
+```
+
+**Staging (.env.staging)**:
+```bash
+FRONTEND_PORT=3001
+BACKEND_PORT=5001
+MONGODB_PORT=27018
+MONGO_EXPRESS_PORT=8082
+REACT_APP_API_URL=https://staging.your-domain.com/api
+```
+
+**Production (.env.prod)**:
+```bash
+FRONTEND_PORT=80
+BACKEND_PORT=8000
+MONGODB_PORT=27019
+MONGO_EXPRESS_PORT=8083
+REACT_APP_API_URL=https://your-domain.com/api
+```
+
+Deploy with specific environment:
+```bash
+# Copy the desired environment file
+cp .env.staging .env
+docker-compose up -d
+
+# Or specify directly
+docker-compose --env-file .env.staging up -d
+```
+
+## Important Notes
+
+### Internal Container Ports
+The environment variables only affect **host ports** (external access). Internal container ports remain the same:
+- Frontend container: Always port 80 (nginx)
+- Backend container: Always port 5000 (Node.js)
+- MongoDB container: Always port 27017
+- Mongo Express: Always port 8081
+
+### API URL Configuration
+When changing the backend port, remember to update `REACT_APP_API_URL`:
+```bash
+# If backend runs on port 3001
+BACKEND_PORT=3001
+REACT_APP_API_URL=http://localhost:3001/api
+```
+
+### Port Conflicts
+Check for port conflicts before starting:
+```bash
+# Check if ports are in use
+netstat -tulpn | grep :3000
+netstat -tulpn | grep :5000
+netstat -tulpn | grep :27017
+netstat -tulpn | grep :8081
+
+# Or use lsof
+lsof -i :3000
+lsof -i :5000
+```
+
+### Firewall Considerations
+Ensure your firewall allows traffic on the configured ports:
+```bash
+# Ubuntu/Debian
+sudo ufw allow 3000
+sudo ufw allow 5000
+
+# CentOS/RHEL
+sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=3000/tcp --permanent
+sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=5000/tcp --permanent
+sudo firewall-cmd --reload
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Port Already in Use
+```bash
+Error: bind: address already in use
+```
+**Solution**: Change the port or stop the conflicting service:
+```bash
+# Find what's using the port
+lsof -i :3000
+
+# Kill the process or change your port
+FRONTEND_PORT=3001 docker-compose up -d
+```
+
+### Frontend Can't Connect to Backend
+If you change the backend port, update the API URL:
+```bash
+# Wrong - API URL doesn't match backend port
+BACKEND_PORT=3001
+REACT_APP_API_URL=http://localhost:5000/api
+
+# Correct
+BACKEND_PORT=3001
+REACT_APP_API_URL=http://localhost:3001/api
+```
+
+### Database Connection Issues
+The backend connects to MongoDB using the service name `mongodb:27017` (internal). The `MONGODB_PORT` variable only affects external access.
+
+## Quick Reference
+
+### Start with Custom Ports
+```bash
+# Quick start with custom ports
+FRONTEND_PORT=8080 BACKEND_PORT=3001 docker-compose up -d
+
+# Check services
+docker-compose ps
+
+# View logs
+docker-compose logs -f
+```
+
+### Reset to Defaults
+```bash
+# Remove custom environment variables
+unset FRONTEND_PORT BACKEND_PORT MONGODB_PORT MONGO_EXPRESS_PORT
+
+# Or remove from .env file and restart
+docker-compose down
+docker-compose up -d
+```

docker-compose.yml

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ services:
     container_name: scoffer-mongodb
     restart: unless-stopped
     ports:
-      - "27017:27017"
+      - "${MONGODB_PORT:-27017}:27017"
     volumes:
       - mongodb_data:/data/db
       - ./backend/seedData.js:/docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/01-seedData.js:ro
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ services:
       - MONGODB_DATABASE=scoffer
       - JWT_SECRET=${JWT_SECRET}
     ports:
-      - "5000:5000"
+      - "${BACKEND_PORT:-5000}:5000"
     depends_on:
       mongodb:
         condition: service_healthy
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       - REACT_APP_API_URL=${REACT_APP_API_URL:-http://backend:5000/api}
     ports:
-      - "3000:80"
+      - "${FRONTEND_PORT:-3000}:80"
     depends_on:
       - backend
     networks:
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ services:
     container_name: scoffer-mongo-express
     restart: unless-stopped
     ports:
-      - "8081:8081"
+      - "${MONGO_EXPRESS_PORT:-8081}:8081"
     environment:
       ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_URL: mongodb://mongodb:27017/
       ME_CONFIG_BASICAUTH: false

env.example

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-# MongoDB Configuration for Docker Compose (no authentication)
-MONGODB_HOST=mongodb
-MONGODB_PORT=27017
-MONGODB_DATABASE=scoffer
-
-# JWT Secret for Backend
-JWT_SECRET=your-super-secret-jwt-key-change-this-in-production