diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc5b30b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+# can use an alternative base image as well
+FROM phusion/baseimage:0.9.19
+
+# set your node version, if desired
+RUN curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_4.x | bash -
+RUN apt-get install -y nodejs
+
+# install other dependencies
+# install a local redis server - per http://redis.io/topics/quickstart
+RUN curl -O http://download.redis.io/redis-stable.tar.gz
+RUN tar xvzf redis-stable.tar.gz
+RUN mv redis-stable /opt/redis-stable
+# for access to make
+RUN apt-get install -y --reinstall build-essential
+RUN cd /opt/redis-stable && make && cd ..
+RUN rm redis-stable.tar.gz
+RUN mkdir -p /etc/redis
+RUN mkdir -p /var/redis
+# make customizations to the redis conf as needed
+RUN mkdir -p /var/redis/6379
+RUN cp /opt/redis-stable/utils/redis_init_script /etc/init.d/redis_6379
+RUN sed -i -- 's|daemonize no|daemonize yes|g' /opt/redis-stable/redis.conf
+RUN sed -i -- 's|pidfile /var/run/redis.pid|pidfile /var/run/redis_6379.pid|g' /opt/redis-stable/redis.conf
+#RUN sed -i -- 's|port 6379|port 8080|g' /opt/redis-stable/redis.conf
+#RUN sed -i -- 's|loglevel notice|loglevel debug|g' /opt/redis-stable/redis.conf
+RUN sed -i -- 's|logfile ""|logfile /var/log/redis_6379.log|g' /opt/redis-stable/redis.conf
+RUN sed -i -- 's|dir ./|dir /var/redis/6379|g' /opt/redis-stable/redis.conf
+RUN cp /opt/redis-stable/redis.conf /etc/redis/6379.conf
+RUN cp /opt/redis-stable/src/redis-server /usr/local/bin/
+RUN cp /opt/redis-stable/src/redis-cli /usr/local/bin/
+RUN update-rc.d redis_6379 defaults
+# now should be able to start redis with: /etc/init.d/redis_6379 start
+# install mutt locally, and install it silently/non-interactively
+ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND noninteractive
+RUN apt-get install -y mutt
+# install a local nginx for reverse proxy / load balancing, or IP rate limiting?
+#RUN apt-get update
+#RUN apt-get install -y nginx
+# any nginx customizations & running as service setup go here...
+# TODO: to enable accurate IP rate limiting, the reverse proxy should be configured to set the `X-Real-IP` header
+# install screen - in case want to start services manually in background and switch between them as windows via screen
+RUN apt-get install -y screen
+
+# Create app directory
+RUN mkdir -p /opt/textbelt/
+ENV HOME /opt/textbelt/
+WORKDIR /opt/textbelt/
+COPY package.json /opt/textbelt/
+
+# Install node.js dependencies
+RUN apt-get install -y git
+RUN npm install
+
+# Bundle app source
+COPY . /opt/textbelt/
+
+# (any) textbelt customizations (to save in docker image)
+RUN sed -i -- "s|fromAddress = 'foo@bar.com'|fromAddress = 'me@mydomain.com'|g" /opt/textbelt/lib/text.js
+#RUN rm /opt/textbelt/lib/text.js--
+
+# Clean up APT when done.
+RUN apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* /tmp/* /var/tmp/*
+
+EXPOSE 9090
+
+# Use baseimage-docker's init process.
+CMD ["/sbin/my_init"]
+
+# now you can use try using the docker image
+# - as a server: (then make REST calls to it to send message)
+#   run command : docker run --rm -it -p 9090:9090 typpo/textbelt node server/app.js
+# - as node.js module/client:
+#   run command: docker run --rm -it typpo/textbelt node
+#     then copy/paste or type in the code to send message as shown README example
+#   or run command: docker run --rm -it typpo/textbelt node pathTo/yourScript.js
+#     assuming your script has the code that calls the textbelt module to send message
+#   or run command: docker run --rm -it -p 9090:9090 typpo/textbelt bash
+#     to be taken to the shell for you to debug and test things out
+#     e.g. start/stop/query redis, nginx, test/use mutt
+#     run textbelt as module in node shell, node script, or start textbelt server
+
+# NOTE: if you use an external redis server and/or external reverse proxy / load balancer
+# you will need to handle the network config and mapping such that the textbelt
+# docker container can talk to those servers (which may or may not be in their own docker containers)