diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6511bcf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# Copy this file to .env.local for local development
+VITE_API_URL=http://localhost/clqms01
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a6d5d44..fb4965f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -23,4 +23,4 @@ vite.config.js.timestamp-*
 vite.config.ts.timestamp-*
 
 /.claude
-/.serena
\ No newline at end of file
+/.serenastatic/config.json
diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba99d83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Build script for different environments
+
+# Usage: ./build.sh [dev|prod]
+
+ENV=${1:-dev}
+
+case $ENV in
+  dev)
+    echo "Building for development..."
+    cp static/config.json.dev static/config.json 2>/dev/null || echo "Using env variable VITE_API_URL"
+    vite build
+    ;;
+  prod)
+    echo "Building for production..."
+    # Production uses env variable, no config.json needed
+    rm -f static/config.json
+    vite build
+    ;;
+  *)
+    echo "Usage: ./build.sh [dev|prod]"
+    exit 1
+    ;;
+esac
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/config.js b/src/lib/stores/config.js
index 9aa0ef7..7b78bd9 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/config.js
+++ b/src/lib/stores/config.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ function createConfigStore() {
     subscribe,
 
     /**
-     * Load configuration from config.json
+     * Load configuration from config.json or env variables
      */
     load: async () => {
       if (!browser) return;
@@ -32,12 +32,22 @@ function createConfigStore() {
           error: null,
         });
       } catch (err) {
-        console.error('Failed to load config:', err);
-        set({
-          apiUrl: '',
-          loaded: true,
-          error: err.message,
-        });
+        // Fallback to env variable if config.json not found
+        const envApiUrl = import.meta.env.VITE_API_URL;
+        if (envApiUrl) {
+          set({
+            apiUrl: envApiUrl,
+            loaded: true,
+            error: null,
+          });
+        } else {
+          console.error('Failed to load config:', err);
+          set({
+            apiUrl: '',
+            loaded: true,
+            error: err.message,
+          });
+        }
       }
     },
 
diff --git a/static/config.json b/static/config.json.example
similarity index 100%
rename from static/config.json
rename to static/config.json.example