diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 2716112..9fd071d 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ ENV APP_ENV=production \
     CACHE_STORE=redis \
     QUEUE_CONNECTION=redis \
     LOG_CHANNEL=stack \
-    LOG_LEVEL=error
+    LOG_LEVEL=${LOG_LEVEL:-error}
 
 # Copy application code first
 COPY . .
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ RUN npm run build
 # Remove node_modules after build to save space
 RUN rm -rf node_modules
 
-# Publish Livewire assets and Laravel optimizations
-RUN php artisan livewire:publish --assets \
-    && php artisan config:cache \
-    && php artisan route:cache \
-    && php artisan view:cache \
+# Publish Livewire assets
+RUN php artisan livewire:publish --assets
+
+# Laravel optimizations (skip config and route cache - they need runtime env vars)
+RUN php artisan view:cache \
     && composer dump-autoload --optimize
 
 # Set permissions
@@ -51,13 +51,9 @@ RUN cat > /etc/caddy/Caddyfile <<EOF
 :8000 {
     root * /app/public
 
-    php_server {
-        index index.php
-    }
-
     encode gzip
 
-    file_server
+    php_server
 
     header {
         X-Frame-Options "SAMEORIGIN"
@@ -90,10 +86,18 @@ for i in $(seq 1 30); do
     sleep 2
 done
 
+# Cache config with runtime env vars
+echo "Caching configuration..."
+php artisan config:cache
+
 # Run migrations
 echo "Running migrations..."
 php artisan migrate --force || echo "Migrations failed or already up-to-date"
 
+# Run seeders (idempotent - uses updateOrInsert)
+echo "Running seeders..."
+php artisan db:seed --force || echo "Seeders failed or already run"
+
 # Start Horizon in the background
 php artisan horizon &