diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 371938e..fe4792d 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@ FROM node:18-alpine
 # Set working directory
 WORKDIR /app
 
-# Copy package files and install dependencies
-COPY package.json package-lock.json ./
-RUN npm ci --only=production
-
-# Copy application source
+# Copy package files, config script
+COPY package.json package-lock.json esbuild.config.js ./
+# Copy application source before build so esbuild can locate entry files
 COPY . .
+# Install all dependencies, create dist folder, build with esbuild, then remove devDeps
+RUN npm ci && mkdir -p dist && npm run build && npm prune --production
 
 # Expose the application port
 EXPOSE 3000
diff --git a/esbuild.config.js b/esbuild.config.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..504a746
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esbuild.config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import { build } from 'esbuild';
+
+build({
+  entryPoints: ['index.js'],
+  bundle: true,
+  platform: 'node',
+  target: 'node18',
+  outfile: 'dist/index.js',
+  minify: true,
+  legalComments: 'none',
+  drop: ['console', 'debugger'],
+}).catch((e) => {
+  console.error('esbuild failed:', e);
+  process.exit(1);
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 596c713..9b90686 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -58,11 +58,6 @@ if (process.argv.includes('-d')) {
   process.exit(0);
 }
 
-// Disable console.log in production to suppress output in daemon mode
-if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production') {
-  console.log = () => {};
-}
-
 const pluginRegistry = [];
 export function registerPlugin(pluginName, handler) {
   pluginRegistry.push({ name: pluginName, handler });
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a47e276..3d40e76 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   "scripts": {
     "start": "node index.js",
     "dev": "nodemon index.js",
-    "daemon": "pm2 start index.js --name checkpoint",
+    "daemon": "pm2 start dist/index.js --name checkpoint",
     "stop": "pm2 stop checkpoint",
     "restart": "pm2 restart checkpoint",
     "logs": "pm2 logs checkpoint",