diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..12ac7c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+POSTGRES_PORT=3000
+EXPRESS_PORT=5432
+
+POSTGRES_USER=postgres
+POSTGRES_PASSWORD=postgres
+POSTGRES_DB=rr
+
diff --git a/backend/api/Dockerfile b/backend/api/Dockerfile
index 1a26abf..3ed989a 100644
--- a/backend/api/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/api/Dockerfile
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 FROM node:18
 
-COPY ./* /app/
+COPY . /app
 WORKDIR /app
 
 RUN npm install
 
+EXPOSE 3000
+
 ENTRYPOINT ["npm", "run"]
 CMD ["prod"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/api/package-lock.json b/backend/api/package-lock.json
index 35a2734..2cf000a 100644
--- a/backend/api/package-lock.json
+++ b/backend/api/package-lock.json
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
       },
       "devDependencies": {
         "@types/express": "^4.17.14",
+        "@types/morgan": "^1.9.3",
         "@types/node": "^18.11.9"
       }
     },
@@ -123,6 +124,15 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-Y4XFY5VJAuw0FgAqPNd6NNoV44jbq9Bz2L7Rh/J6jLTiHBSBJa9fxqQIvkIld4GsoDOcCbvzOUAbLPsSKKg+uA==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "node_modules/@types/morgan": {
+      "version": "1.9.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/morgan/-/morgan-1.9.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-BiLcfVqGBZCyNCnCH3F4o2GmDLrpy0HeBVnNlyZG4fo88ZiE9SoiBe3C+2ezuwbjlEyT+PDZ17//TAlRxAn75Q==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@types/node": "*"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/@types/node": {
       "version": "18.11.9",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-18.11.9.tgz",
@@ -1166,6 +1176,15 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-Y4XFY5VJAuw0FgAqPNd6NNoV44jbq9Bz2L7Rh/J6jLTiHBSBJa9fxqQIvkIld4GsoDOcCbvzOUAbLPsSKKg+uA==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "@types/morgan": {
+      "version": "1.9.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/morgan/-/morgan-1.9.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-BiLcfVqGBZCyNCnCH3F4o2GmDLrpy0HeBVnNlyZG4fo88ZiE9SoiBe3C+2ezuwbjlEyT+PDZ17//TAlRxAn75Q==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "requires": {
+        "@types/node": "*"
+      }
+    },
     "@types/node": {
       "version": "18.11.9",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-18.11.9.tgz",
diff --git a/backend/api/package.json b/backend/api/package.json
index 95248c1..46e3922 100644
--- a/backend/api/package.json
+++ b/backend/api/package.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "scripts": {
     "build": "tsc",
     "dev": "ts-node-esm src/app.ts",
-    "prod": "tsc && node build/app.ts"
+    "prod": "tsc && node build/app.js"
   },
   "author": "jweissen",
   "license": "ISC",
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/express": "^4.17.14",
+    "@types/morgan": "^1.9.3",
     "@types/node": "^18.11.9"
   }
 }
diff --git a/backend/api/src/app.ts b/backend/api/src/app.ts
index 9fe8b2e..ee69f12 100644
--- a/backend/api/src/app.ts
+++ b/backend/api/src/app.ts
@@ -16,16 +16,29 @@ app.use(morganFormatted);
 
 // init database connection
 const pgp = pgPromise({});
-const db = pgp('postgres://postgres:postgres@localhost:5432/rr')
+const db = pgp('postgres://postgres:postgres@db:5432/rr')
 
-
-app.get('/highscore', async (req, res) => {
-    let data = await db.any(
-        'SELECT * FROM lb_highscore;'
-    )
-    res.send(data)
+app.get('/helloworld', (req, res) => {
+    res.json({message: "Hello World!"})
 })
 
+app.get('/highscore', async (req, res) => {
+    let data = await dbQueryCatcher(async () =>
+        await db.manyOrNone('SELECT * FROM lb_highscore;')
+    )
+    res.json(data)
+})
+
+async function dbQueryCatcher(request): Promise<any> {
+    let data;
+    try {
+        data = await request();
+    } catch (e) {
+        console.log((e as Error).message)
+    }
+    return data;
+}
+
 app.listen(port, () => {
-    morganFormatted.log(`Server started at http://localhost:3000`);
+    console.log(`Server started at http://localhost:3000`);
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 337f4df..c60a011 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -5,11 +5,17 @@ services:
     build: backend/db
     container_name: postgres-db
     environment:
-      POSTGRES_DB: rr
-      POSTGRES_USER: postgres
-      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: postgres
+      POSTGRES_DB: ${POSTGRES_DB}
+      POSTGRES_USER: ${POSTGRES_USER}
+      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
     ports:
-      - "5432:5432"
+      - "${POSTGRES_PORT}:5432"
     volumes:
       - ./backend/pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data
 
+  api:
+    build: backend/api
+    container_name: express-api
+    ports:
+      - "${EXPRESS_PORT}:3000"
+