diff --git a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
index f729f94022..2731ad6297 100644
--- a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 Contributions are what makes the open source community such an amazing place to learn, inspire, and create. Any contributions you make are **greatly appreciated**. To ensure the best possible outcome for everyone, please read this guide carefully before starting work.
 
-Our contributions guide can be found here: [engineering.unkey.com/contributing](https://engineering.unkey.com/contributing)
+Our contributions guide can be found here: [engineering.unkey.com/contributing](https://engineering.unkey.com/docs/contributing)
diff --git a/QUICKSTART-DEPLOY.md b/QUICKSTART-DEPLOY.md
index ad09a2e3bd..568a900c7d 100644
--- a/QUICKSTART-DEPLOY.md
+++ b/QUICKSTART-DEPLOY.md
@@ -10,13 +10,38 @@ This guide will help you get the Unkey deployment platform up and running locall
 
 ## Step 1: Start the Platform
 
-1. Start all services using Docker Compose:
+1. Change to the deployment directory:
 
 ```bash
-docker-compose up metald-aio dashboard ctrl -d
+cd deployment
 ```
 
-2. Wait for all services to be healthy
+2. Create an `.env` file in `apps/dashboard` (use .env.example as a template):
+
+```bash
+cp apps/dashboard/.env.example apps/dashboard/.env
+```
+
+Follow the instructions in .env.example to fill the values.
+
+
+3. Start services using Docker Compose:
+
+```bash
+docker compose up -d metald-aio dashboard ctrl
+```
+
+
+If the dashboard build fails in Docker, run it locally:
+
+```bash
+docker compose up planetscale agent 
+cd apps/dashboard 
+pnpm i
+pnpm dev
+```
+
+4. Wait for all services to be healthy
 
 The platform now uses a Docker backend that creates containers instead of VMs, making it much faster and easier to run locally.
 
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/.env.example b/apps/dashboard/.env.example
index 7f0678b42b..c56527e92c 100644
--- a/apps/dashboard/.env.example
+++ b/apps/dashboard/.env.example
@@ -8,17 +8,37 @@ NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_UP_URL=/auth/sign-up
 
 # Planetscale
 
-DATABASE_HOST="aws.connect.psdb.cloud"
-DATABASE_USERNAME=
+# Docker sets this automatically. For local dashboard, use localhost:3900
+# DATABASE_HOST example for PlanetScale Cloud: aws.connect.psdb.cloud
+DATABASE_HOST=
+# For local:
+#   DATABASE_USERNAME=unkey
+#   DATABASE_PASSWORD=password
 DATABASE_PASSWORD=
+DATABASE_USERNAME=
 
 # Unkey
 
-UNKEY_WORKSPACE_ID=
+# "api_local_root_keys" for local
 UNKEY_API_ID=
+# "ws_local_root" for local
+UNKEY_WORKSPACE_ID=
 
-# ClickHouse
-CLICKHOUSE_URL=
+# 'workos' or 'local'
+AUTH_PROVIDER=
+# Set by Docker. Use "agent-auth-secret" for local
+AGENT_TOKEN=
+# Set by Docker. Use http://localhost:8080 for local
+AGENT_URL=
+# For fully local runs, you typically need:
+# AUTH_PROVIDER=local
+# AGENT_URL=http://localhost:8080
+# AGENT_TOKEN=agent-auth-secret
+
+# Clickhouse
+
+# Automatically set by Docker. For local-only development:
+# CLICKHOUSE_URL=http://default:password@localhost:8123
 
 # Optional