diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
deleted file mode 100644
index e20147a..0000000
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-# IMPORTANT: run from root of monolithic repo
-
-FROM ubuntu
-
-WORKDIR /app
-
-COPY ./package.json .
-
-COPY ./packages/api/package.json ./packages/api/
-
-# copy the core private package
-COPY ./packages/core ./packages/core
-COPY ./packages/core/package.json ./packages/core/
-# run and compile the core package
-WORKDIR /app/packages/core
-# todo: might not need this and just do from level higher
-RUN yarn install
-
-WORKDIR /app/packages/api
-
-# copy all of the source code
-COPY ./dist ./packages/api
-RUN yarn install --production
-
-# steps
-# 1. compile all dependencies
-# add the 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/api/.dockerignore b/packages/api/.dockerignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40b878d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/api/.dockerignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+node_modules/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/api/.gcloudignore b/packages/api/.gcloudignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d7d693
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/api/.gcloudignore
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# This file specifies files that are *not* uploaded to Google Cloud
+# using gcloud. It follows the same syntax as .gitignore, with the addition of
+# "#!include" directives (which insert the entries of the given .gitignore-style
+# file at that point).
+#
+# For more information, run:
+#   $ gcloud topic gcloudignore
+#
+.gcloudignore
+# If you would like to upload your .git directory, .gitignore file or files
+# from your .gitignore file, remove the corresponding line
+# below:
+.git
+.gitignore
+
+# Node.js dependencies:
+node_modules/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/api/Dockerfile b/packages/api/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7f7a23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/api/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# IMPORTANT: run from root of monolithic repo
+FROM ubuntu
+
+WORKDIR /app
+
+# The global package.json only contains build dependencies
+COPY ./package.json .
+COPY ./yarn.lock .
+
+# copy the source coded needed for all dependencies
+COPY ./packages/core packages/core
+COPY ./packages/api packages/api
+
+# run and compile the core package
+WORKDIR /app/packages/core
+# todo: might not need this and just do from level higher
+RUN yarn install
+
+WORKDIR /app/packages/api
+RUN yarn install --production
+RUN yarn build
+
+CMD ["yarn", "start"]
+
+
+# docker build -t talksik/nirvana-api:1.0
+# docker run -p 5000:8080 -d  
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/api/app.yaml b/packages/api/app.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7fde67a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/api/app.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+runtime: nodejs14
diff --git a/packages/api/package.json b/packages/api/package.json
index 9f9cd9a..de953ad 100644
--- a/packages/api/package.json
+++ b/packages/api/package.json
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
   "license": "MIT",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "NODE_ENV=development nodemon",
+    "start": "node dist/index.js",
+    "gcp-build": "tsc -p .",
     "start:dev": "ts-node index.ts",
     "production": "NODE_ENV=production nodemon"
   },