diff --git a/.devcontainer/docker-compose.yml b/.devcontainer/docker-compose.yml
index 5d52708f..2b271d37 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/.devcontainer/docker-compose.yml
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ services:
     environment:
       POSTGRES_USER: postgres
       POSTGRES_PASSWORD: postgres
-    ports:
-      - '5432:5432'
+    # ports:
+      # - '5432:5432'
     volumes:
       - db:/var/lib/postgresql/data
 
diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 74fa6faa..0d8bf486 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@ SMTP_USERNAME=
 
 
 # generate this with:   
-# 32 |> :crypto.strong_rand_bytes() |> Base.encode64()
+# elixir --eval "IO.puts Base.encode64(:crypto.strong_rand_bytes(32))"
 VAULT_KEY="xxxxx" 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 4853ce1d..9470527d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -37,3 +37,5 @@ npm-debug.log
 /assets/*.log
 
 .env
+
+forks/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e8658ef1..aa904ca5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@ To start your Phoenix server:
   * Install dependencies with `mix deps.get`
   * rename `.env.example` to `.env` and add your variable configurations
   * Create and migrate your database with `mix ecto.setup`
-  * Create some fake accounts `mix fake_accounts`
   * Compile assets `cd assets && yarn install & cd ..`
+  * Optionally create some fake accounts `mix fake_accounts`
   * Start Phoenix endpoint with `mix phx.server` or inside IEx with `iex -S mix phx.server`
 
 Now you can visit [`localhost:4000`](http://localhost:4000) from your browser.
-# Setup:
+
 
 ### Generate fake accounts
 
diff --git a/config/dev.exs b/config/dev.exs
index d145cb04..b60f218f 100644
--- a/config/dev.exs
+++ b/config/dev.exs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import Config
 # Configure your database
 config :rauversion, Rauversion.Repo,
   username: "postgres",
-  password: "postgres",
+  password: System.get_env("POSTGRES_PASSWORD", "postgres"),
   database: "rauversion_phx_dev",
   hostname: System.get_env("DB_HOST", "localhost"),
   show_sensitive_data_on_connection_error: true,
diff --git a/config/runtime.exs b/config/runtime.exs
index 677615fb..b59f7e53 100644
--- a/config/runtime.exs
+++ b/config/runtime.exs
@@ -33,13 +33,19 @@ config :active_storage, :services,
     root: "tmp/storage"
   ]
 
-config :rauversion, Rauversion.Vault,
-  ciphers: [
-    default: {
-      Cloak.Ciphers.AES.GCM,
-      tag: "AES.GCM.V1", key: Base.decode64!(System.get_env("VAULT_KEY"))
-    }
-  ]
+key = System.get_env("VAULT_KEY")
+with {:ok, key} <- Base.decode64(key) do
+  config :rauversion, Rauversion.Vault,
+    ciphers: [
+      default: {
+        Cloak.Ciphers.AES.GCM,
+        tag: "AES.GCM.V1", key: key
+      }
+    ]
+else _ ->
+  raise "Invalid key #{key} - please set env variable VAULT_KEY. You can generate one using: `elixir --eval 'IO.puts Base.encode64(:crypto.strong_rand_bytes(32))'`"
+end
+
 
 config :rauversion, google_maps_key: System.get_env("GOOGLE_MAPS_KEY")
 
@@ -158,4 +164,10 @@ if config_env() == :prod do
     # ],
     retries: 2,
     no_mx_lookups: false
+
+else
+
+    config :rauversion, Rauversion.Repo,
+      password: System.get_env("POSTGRES_PASSWORD", "postgres")
+
 end