update env vars and deployments for containers

.env.production

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Production Environment Configuration
+# Copy this to .env for server deployment
+
+# MongoDB Configuration (uses Docker Compose service names)
+MONGODB_HOST=mongodb
+MONGODB_PORT=27017
+MONGODB_DATABASE=scoffer
+
+# JWT Secret for Backend (CHANGE THIS IN PRODUCTION!)
+JWT_SECRET=your-super-secret-jwt-key-change-this-in-production
+
+# Frontend API URL for server deployment
+# Replace 'your-domain.com' with your actual domain
+REACT_APP_API_URL=https://your-domain.com/api
+
+# Alternative: If backend runs on different port/subdomain
+# REACT_APP_API_URL=https://api.your-domain.com

DEPLOYMENT.md

@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+# Server Deployment Guide
+
+## Overview
+This guide explains how to deploy your recipe management app containers on a server with proper inter-container communication.
+
+## Container Communication Setup
+
+### Current Configuration
+- **Backend ↔ Database**: ✅ Configured (uses `mongodb` service name)
+- **Frontend ↔ Backend**: ✅ Now configured (uses `backend` service name)
+- **Network**: All services on `recipe-network`
+
+## Deployment Steps
+
+### 1. Environment Configuration
+
+Create a `.env` file in the project root with your production settings:
+
+```bash
+# Copy the production template
+cp .env.production .env
+```
+
+Then edit `.env` to set your actual domain:
+```bash
+# Replace with your actual domain
+REACT_APP_API_URL=https://your-domain.com/api
+```
+
+### 2. Build and Deploy
+
+```bash
+# Build and start all containers
+docker-compose up -d --build
+
+# Check container status
+docker-compose ps
+
+# View logs
+docker-compose logs -f
+```
+
+### 3. Server Configuration
+
+#### Option A: Single Domain Setup
+If serving everything from one domain (e.g., `https://yourapp.com`):
+
+1. Set up reverse proxy (nginx/traefik) to route:
+   - `/` → Frontend container (port 3000)
+   - `/api/*` → Backend container (port 5000)
+
+2. Update your `.env`:
+   ```
+   REACT_APP_API_URL=https://yourapp.com/api
+   ```
+
+#### Option B: Subdomain Setup
+If using subdomains (e.g., `api.yourapp.com`):
+
+1. Set up DNS for subdomains
+2. Update your `.env`:
+   ```
+   REACT_APP_API_URL=https://api.yourapp.com
+   ```
+
+### 4. SSL/HTTPS Setup
+
+For production, ensure HTTPS is configured:
+- Use Let's Encrypt with certbot
+- Configure your reverse proxy for SSL termination
+- Update `REACT_APP_API_URL` to use `https://`
+
+## Container Port Mapping
+
+- **Frontend**: Container port 80 → Host port 3000
+- **Backend**: Container port 5000 → Host port 5000  
+- **Database**: Container port 27017 → Host port 27017
+- **Mongo Express**: Container port 8081 → Host port 8081
+
+## Environment Variables
+
+### Backend Container
+- `MONGODB_HOST=mongodb` (Docker service name)
+- `MONGODB_PORT=27017`
+- `MONGODB_DATABASE=scoffer`
+- `JWT_SECRET=your-production-secret`
+
+### Frontend Container
+- `REACT_APP_API_URL=https://your-domain.com/api`
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Frontend can't connect to backend
+1. Check that `REACT_APP_API_URL` points to the correct domain/port
+2. Verify backend container is running: `docker-compose ps`
+3. Check network connectivity: `docker-compose exec frontend ping backend`
+
+### Backend can't connect to database
+1. Verify MongoDB container is healthy: `docker-compose ps`
+2. Check backend logs: `docker-compose logs backend`
+3. Test connection: `docker-compose exec backend ping mongodb`
+
+### CORS Issues
+If you encounter CORS errors, ensure your backend allows requests from your frontend domain.
+
+## Security Notes
+
+1. **Change JWT_SECRET** in production
+2. **Use HTTPS** for all external communication
+3. **Restrict database access** (remove port mapping in production)
+4. **Use environment-specific secrets**
+
+## Example Nginx Configuration
+
+```nginx
+server {
+    listen 80;
+    server_name yourapp.com;
+    
+    # Frontend
+    location / {
+        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
+        proxy_set_header Host $host;
+        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
+    }
+    
+    # Backend API
+    location /api/ {
+        proxy_pass http://localhost:5000/api/;
+        proxy_set_header Host $host;
+        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
+    }
+}
+```

docker-compose.yml

@@ -49,8 +49,12 @@ services:
     build:
       context: ./frontend
       dockerfile: Dockerfile
+      args:
+        - REACT_APP_API_URL=${REACT_APP_API_URL:-http://backend:5000/api}
     container_name: scoffer-frontend
     restart: unless-stopped
+    environment:
+      - REACT_APP_API_URL=${REACT_APP_API_URL:-http://backend:5000/api}
     ports:
       - "3000:80"
     depends_on:

frontend/Dockerfile

@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 # Multi-stage build for React TypeScript app
 FROM node:18-alpine as build
 
+# Accept build arguments
+ARG REACT_APP_API_URL
+ENV REACT_APP_API_URL=$REACT_APP_API_URL
+
 # Set working directory
 WORKDIR /app