diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
index c152b46..95321c7 100644
--- a/.dockerignore
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -49,9 +49,11 @@ build/
 # We need .env for our application
 #.env
 .env.*
-
+# Don't ignore config.env.js
+!config.env.js
 
 # Project specific files
+dev-start.sh
 labels.example
 virt-game-timer.service 
 package.json
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index eb125ff..291e807 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ yarn-error.log*
 .env.development.local
 .env.test.local
 .env.production.local
+config.env.js
 
 # Editor directories and files
 .idea/
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index d51d60d..98996ed 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,14 +1,35 @@
 # Use a lightweight server
 FROM nginx:alpine
 
+# Install bash for the script execution
+RUN apk add --no-cache bash
+
 # Set working directory
 WORKDIR /usr/share/nginx/html
 
 # Copy all the application files
 COPY . .
 
-# Copy the .env file
-COPY .env .
+# Create a simple script to generate config.env.js
+RUN echo '#!/bin/sh' > /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    echo 'echo "// config.env.js - Generated from .env" > config.env.js' >> /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    echo 'echo "// This file contains environment variables for the PWA" >> config.env.js' >> /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    echo 'echo "// Generated on $(date)" >> config.env.js' >> /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    echo 'echo "" >> config.env.js' >> /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    echo 'echo "window.ENV_CONFIG = {" >> config.env.js' >> /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    echo 'grep -v "^#" .env | grep "=" | while read line; do' >> /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    echo '  key=$(echo $line | cut -d= -f1)' >> /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    echo '  value=$(echo $line | cut -d= -f2-)' >> /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    echo '  echo "  $key: \"$value\"," >> config.env.js' >> /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    echo 'done' >> /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    echo 'echo "};" >> config.env.js' >> /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh && \
+    chmod +x /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh
+
+# Generate config.env.js from .env
+RUN /usr/share/nginx/html/docker-generate-config.sh
+
+# Remove the .env file and the generation script for security
+RUN rm .env docker-generate-config.sh
 
 # Expose port 80
 EXPOSE 80
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 79110fa..0d6fa21 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ game-timer/
 
 ## Environment Variables
 
-The application uses environment variables for configuration. These are loaded from a `.env` file at runtime.
+The application uses environment variables for configuration. These are loaded from a `.env` file and converted to a `config.env.js` file that is served by the web server.
 
 ### Setting Up Environment Variables
 
@@ -45,7 +45,12 @@ The application uses environment variables for configuration. These are loaded f
    BACKEND_URL=https://your-push-server.example.com
    ```
 
-3. For security, never commit your `.env` file to version control. It's already included in `.gitignore`.
+3. Generate the `config.env.js` file using the provided script:
+   ```bash
+   ./generate-config.sh
+   ```
+
+4. For security, never commit your `.env` file to version control. It's already included in `.gitignore`.
 
 ### Generating VAPID Keys
 
diff --git a/dev-start.sh b/dev-start.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..24e4446
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev-start.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Script to start a local development server with environment variables
+
+# Check if .env file exists
+if [ ! -f .env ]; then
+  echo "Error: .env file not found!"
+  echo "Please create a .env file based on .env.example"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# Generate config.env.js from .env
+echo "Generating config.env.js from .env..."
+./generate-config.sh
+
+# Start a local development server
+echo "Starting development server..."
+if command -v python3 &> /dev/null; then
+  echo "Using Python3 HTTP server on port 8000..."
+  python3 -m http.server 8000
+elif command -v python &> /dev/null; then
+  echo "Using Python HTTP server on port 8000..."
+  python -m SimpleHTTPServer 8000
+elif command -v npx &> /dev/null; then
+  echo "Using npx serve on port 8000..."
+  npx serve -l 8000
+else
+  echo "Error: Could not find a suitable static file server."
+  echo "Please install Python or Node.js, or manually start a server."
+  exit 1
+fi
diff --git a/generate-config.sh b/generate-config.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..0ce6951
--- /dev/null
+++ b/generate-config.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Script to generate config.env.js from .env file
+# Usage: ./generate-config.sh
+
+# Check if .env file exists
+if [ ! -f .env ]; then
+  echo "Error: .env file not found!"
+  echo "Please create a .env file based on .env.example"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "Generating config.env.js from .env..."
+
+# Create config.env.js file
+echo "// config.env.js - Generated from .env" > config.env.js
+echo "// This file contains environment variables for the PWA" >> config.env.js
+echo "// Generated on $(date)" >> config.env.js
+echo "" >> config.env.js
+echo "window.ENV_CONFIG = {" >> config.env.js
+
+# Read .env file line by line
+while IFS="=" read -r key value || [ -n "$key" ]; do
+  # Skip comments and empty lines
+  [[ $key =~ ^#.*$ ]] && continue
+  [[ -z $key ]] && continue
+  
+  # Remove quotes if present
+  value="${value%\"}"
+  value="${value#\"}"
+  value="${value%\'}"
+  value="${value#\'}"
+  
+  # Add the key-value pair to config.env.js
+  echo "  $key: \"$value\"," >> config.env.js
+done < .env
+
+echo "};" >> config.env.js
+
+echo "config.env.js generated successfully!"
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index f494ae9..d4e1ee5 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@
         </div>
     </div>
       
+    <!-- Load environment configuration first -->
+    <script src="/config.env.js"></script>
+    
     <!-- Main application script -->
     <script type="module" src="/js/app.js"></script>
     <script>
@@ -214,7 +217,7 @@
                     let backendUrl;
                     try {
                         const configModule = await import('/js/config.js');
-                        backendUrl = configModule.BACKEND_URL;
+                        backendUrl = configModule.getBackendUrl();
                     } catch (error) {
                         output.textContent = 'Failed to load backend URL. Please check configuration.\n';
                         return;
diff --git a/js/app.js b/js/app.js
index f78e4fd..1945d62 100644
--- a/js/app.js
+++ b/js/app.js
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import * as state from './core/state.js';
 import * as ui from './ui/ui.js';
 import * as timer from './core/timer.js';
 import camera from './ui/camera.js'; // Default export
-import { initEnv } from './env-loader.js';
 import * as pushSettingsUI from './ui/pushSettingsUI.js'; // Import the new push settings UI module
 
 // Import externalized modules
@@ -21,8 +20,13 @@ async function initialize() {
 
     // 0. Wait for environment variables to load
     try {
-        await initEnv();
-        console.log("Environment variables loaded");
+        // Use the ensureEnvLoaded function from config.js to make sure environment variables are loaded
+        await config.ensureEnvLoaded();
+        console.log("Environment variables loaded and verified");
+        
+        // Log the loaded environment variables for debugging
+        console.log("BACKEND_URL:", config.getBackendUrl());
+        console.log("PUBLIC_VAPID_KEY:", config.getPublicVapidKey());
     } catch (error) {
         console.warn("Failed to load environment variables, using defaults:", error);
     }
diff --git a/js/config.js b/js/config.js
index 09b47fd..b534198 100644
--- a/js/config.js
+++ b/js/config.js
@@ -1,16 +1,36 @@
 // config.js
-import { getEnv } from './env-loader.js';
+import { getEnv, waitForEnv } from './env-loader.js';
 
-export function getPublicVapidKey() {
-    // Get the VAPID key from environment variables through the env-loader
-    return getEnv('PUBLIC_VAPID_KEY');
+// Initialize environment variables
+let envInitialized = false;
+let initPromise = null;
+
+// Function to ensure environment variables are loaded
+export async function ensureEnvLoaded() {
+  if (envInitialized) return;
+  
+  if (!initPromise) {
+    initPromise = waitForEnv().then(() => {
+      envInitialized = true;
+      console.log('Environment variables loaded in config.js');
+    });
+  }
+  
+  return initPromise;
 }
 
-// The VAPID key should not be exposed directly in the source code
-// Use the getter function instead: getPublicVapidKey()
+// Initialize immediately
+ensureEnvLoaded();
+
+// Direct access to environment variables (synchronous, may return default values if called too early)
+export function getPublicVapidKey() {
+  return getEnv('PUBLIC_VAPID_KEY');
+}
+
+export function getBackendUrl() {
+    return getEnv('BACKEND_URL');
+}
 
-// Get backend URL from environment variables
-export const BACKEND_URL = getEnv('BACKEND_URL');
 export const FLIC_BUTTON_ID = 'game-button'; // Example ID, might need configuration
 export const LOCAL_STORAGE_KEY = 'gameTimerData';
 
diff --git a/js/env-loader.js b/js/env-loader.js
index 311581f..97f76cb 100644
--- a/js/env-loader.js
+++ b/js/env-loader.js
@@ -1,80 +1,56 @@
 // env-loader.js
-// This module is responsible for loading environment variables from .env file
+// This module is responsible for loading environment variables for the PWA
 
 // Store environment variables in a global object
-window.ENV_CONFIG = {};
+window.ENV_CONFIG = {
+  // Default values that will be overridden when config.env.js loads
+  PUBLIC_VAPID_KEY: 'your_public_vapid_key_here',
+  BACKEND_URL: 'https://your-push-server.example.com'
+};
 
-// Function to load environment variables from .env file
+// Function to load environment variables from config.env.js
 async function loadEnvVariables() {
   try {
-    // Fetch the .env file as text
-    const response = await fetch('/.env');
+    // Try to fetch the config.env.js file which will be generated at build time or deployment
+    const response = await fetch('/config.env.js');
     
     if (!response.ok) {
-      console.warn('Could not load .env file. Using default values.');
-      setDefaultEnvValues();
+      console.warn('Could not load config.env.js file. Using default values.');
       return;
     }
     
-    const envText = await response.text();
+    const configText = await response.text();
     
-    // Parse the .env file content
-    const envVars = parseEnvFile(envText);
-    
-    // Store in the global ENV_CONFIG object
-    window.ENV_CONFIG = { ...window.ENV_CONFIG, ...envVars };
-    
-    console.log('Environment variables loaded successfully');
+    // Extract the configuration object from the JavaScript file
+    // The file should be in format: window.ENV_CONFIG = { key: "value" };
+    try {
+      // Create a safe way to evaluate the config file
+      const configScript = document.createElement('script');
+      configScript.textContent = configText;
+      document.head.appendChild(configScript);
+      document.head.removeChild(configScript);
+      
+      console.log('Environment variables loaded successfully from config.env.js');
+      
+      // Dispatch an event to notify that environment variables have been loaded
+      window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('env-config-loaded', { 
+        detail: { config: window.ENV_CONFIG } 
+      }));
+    } catch (parseError) {
+      console.error('Error parsing config.env.js:', parseError);
+    }
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Error loading environment variables:', error);
-    setDefaultEnvValues();
   }
 }
 
-// Parse .env file content into key-value pairs
-function parseEnvFile(envText) {
-  const envVars = {};
-  
-  // Split by lines and process each line
-  envText.split('\n').forEach(line => {
-    // Skip empty lines and comments
-    if (!line || line.trim().startsWith('#')) return;
-    
-    // Extract key-value pairs
-    const match = line.match(/^\s*([\w.-]+)\s*=\s*(.*)?\s*$/);
-    if (match) {
-      const key = match[1];
-      let value = match[2] || '';
-      
-      // Remove quotes if present
-      if (value.startsWith('"') && value.endsWith('"')) {
-        value = value.slice(1, -1);
-      }
-      
-      envVars[key] = value;
-    }
-  });
-  
-  return envVars;
-}
-
-// Set default values for required environment variables
-function setDefaultEnvValues() {
-  window.ENV_CONFIG = {
-    ...window.ENV_CONFIG,
-    PUBLIC_VAPID_KEY: 'your_public_vapid_key_here',
-    BACKEND_URL: 'https://your-push-server.example.com'
-  };
-  console.log('Using default environment values');
-}
-
 // Export function to initialize environment variables
 export async function initEnv() {
   await loadEnvVariables();
   return window.ENV_CONFIG;
 }
 
-// Auto-initialize when imported
+// Start loading environment variables immediately
 initEnv();
 
 // Export access functions for environment variables
@@ -82,7 +58,30 @@ export function getEnv(key, defaultValue = '') {
   return window.ENV_CONFIG[key] || defaultValue;
 }
 
+// Export a function to wait for environment variables to be loaded
+export function waitForEnv() {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    // If we already have non-default values, resolve immediately
+    if (window.ENV_CONFIG.BACKEND_URL !== 'https://your-push-server.example.com') {
+      resolve(window.ENV_CONFIG);
+      return;
+    }
+    
+    // Otherwise, wait for the env-config-loaded event
+    window.addEventListener('env-config-loaded', (event) => {
+      resolve(event.detail.config);
+    }, { once: true });
+    
+    // Set a timeout to resolve with current values if loading takes too long
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      console.warn('Environment loading timed out, using current values');
+      resolve(window.ENV_CONFIG);
+    }, 3000);
+  });
+}
+
 export default {
   initEnv,
-  getEnv
-}; 
\ No newline at end of file
+  getEnv,
+  waitForEnv
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/js/services/pushFlicIntegration.js b/js/services/pushFlicIntegration.js
index 93fbc8b..5ada525 100644
--- a/js/services/pushFlicIntegration.js
+++ b/js/services/pushFlicIntegration.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // pushFlicIntegration.js
-import { getPublicVapidKey, BACKEND_URL, FLIC_BUTTON_ID, FLIC_ACTIONS } from '../config.js';
+import { getPublicVapidKey, getBackendUrl, FLIC_BUTTON_ID} from '../config.js';
 
 let pushSubscription = null; // Keep track locally if needed
 let actionHandlers = {}; // Store handlers for different Flic actions
@@ -28,19 +28,6 @@ function getBasicAuthCredentials() {
     return null;
 }
 
-// Prompt the user for credentials after permissions are granted
-function promptForCredentials() {
-    console.log('Prompting user for auth credentials.');
-    const username = prompt('Please enter your username for backend authentication:');
-    if (!username) return null;
-    const password = prompt('Please enter your password:');
-    if (!password) return null;
-    
-    const credentials = { username, password };
-    localStorage.setItem('basicAuthCredentials', JSON.stringify(credentials));
-    return credentials;
-}
-
 // Create Basic Auth header string
 function createBasicAuthHeader(credentials) {
     if (!credentials?.username || !credentials.password) return null;
@@ -167,7 +154,9 @@ async function sendSubscriptionToServer(subscription, buttonId) {
 
     try {
         // Add support for handling CORS preflight with credentials
-        const response = await fetch(`${BACKEND_URL}/subscribe`, {
+        console.log("BACKEND_URL Key: " + getBackendUrl());
+        console.log("FLIC_BUTTON_ID Key: " + FLIC_BUTTON_ID);
+        const response = await fetch(`${getBackendUrl()}/subscribe`, {
             method: 'POST',
             body: JSON.stringify({ button_id: buttonId, subscription: subscription }),
             headers: headers,
diff --git a/js/services/serviceWorkerManager.js b/js/services/serviceWorkerManager.js
index 414ca76..81cbab9 100644
--- a/js/services/serviceWorkerManager.js
+++ b/js/services/serviceWorkerManager.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 // serviceWorkerManager.js - Service worker registration and Flic integration
-import * as config from '../config.js';
 import * as pushFlic from './pushFlicIntegration.js';
 
 // Store the action handlers passed from app.js
diff --git a/js/ui/pushSettingsUI.js b/js/ui/pushSettingsUI.js
index f29ee4b..2000c0f 100644
--- a/js/ui/pushSettingsUI.js
+++ b/js/ui/pushSettingsUI.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // pushSettingsUI.js - UI handling for push notification settings
 import { setupPushNotifications } from '../services/serviceWorkerManager.js';
-import { FLIC_BUTTON_ID } from '../config.js';
+import { FLIC_BUTTON_ID, getBackendUrl} from '../config.js';
 
 // --- DOM Elements ---
 const elements = {
@@ -381,20 +381,9 @@ export async function sendSubscriptionToServer() {
         'Authorization': createBasicAuthHeader(credentials)
     };
     
-    // Import the backend URL from config
-    let backendUrl;
-    try {
-        const configModule = await import('../config.js');
-        backendUrl = configModule.BACKEND_URL;
-    } catch (error) {
-        // No alert, just log the error and return
-        console.error('Could not get backend URL from config:', error);
-        return;
-    }
-    
     try {
         // Make the request to the server
-        const response = await fetch(`${backendUrl}/subscribe`, {
+        const response = await fetch(`${getBackendUrl()}/subscribe`, {
             method: 'POST',
             body: JSON.stringify({ 
                 button_id: FLIC_BUTTON_ID, 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 96e14d4..d51e586 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@
     "docker:build": "docker build -t 'game-timer:latest' .",
     "start": "docker run -d -p 80:80 --name game-timer game-timer:latest",
     "stop": "docker stop game-timer && docker rm game-timer",
-    "rebuild": "npm run stop || true && npm run docker:build && npm run start"
+    "rebuild": "npm run stop || true && npm run docker:build && npm run start",
+    "generate-config": "./generate-config.sh",
+    "dev": "./dev-start.sh"
   },
   "keywords": [
     "timer",
@@ -21,4 +23,4 @@
     "type": "git",
     "url": "https://gitea.virtonline.eu/2HoursProject/game-timer.git"
   }
-} 
\ No newline at end of file
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test.html b/test.html
index 2c32e21..378473f 100644
--- a/test.html
+++ b/test.html
@@ -163,8 +163,8 @@
                 // Get backend URL from config or use a default
                 let backendUrl;
                 try {
-                    const configModule = await import('./src/js/config.js');
-                    backendUrl = configModule.BACKEND_URL;
+                    const configModule = await import('./js/config.js');
+                    backendUrl = configModule.getBackendUrl();
                 } catch (error) {
                     backendUrl = prompt('Enter backend URL:', 'https://your-backend-url.com');
                     if (!backendUrl) return;