diff --git a/docker-compose.db.yaml b/docker-compose.db.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5db74df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.db.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+services:
+  sqlserver:
+    image: mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2022-latest
+    platform: linux/amd64
+    container_name: dev-env-sqlserver
+    environment:
+      ACCEPT_EULA: "Y"
+      SA_PASSWORD: "${SA_PASSWORD}"
+      MSSQL_PID: "Express"
+    ports:
+      - "1433:1433"
+    volumes:
+      - sqlserverdata-dev:/var/opt/mssql
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "/opt/mssql-tools18/bin/sqlcmd -S localhost -U sa -P '${SA_PASSWORD}' -C -Q 'SELECT 1' || exit 1"]
+      interval: 10s
+      timeout: 5s
+      retries: 12
+      start_period: 30s
+    networks:
+      - devnet
+  database.migrations:
+    image: database.migrations
+    container_name: dev-env-database-migrations
+    depends_on:
+      sqlserver:
+        condition: service_healthy
+    build:
+      context: ./src/Core/Database
+      dockerfile: Database.Migrations/Dockerfile
+      args:
+        BUILD_CONFIGURATION: Release
+        APP_UID: 1000
+    environment:
+      DOTNET_RUNNING_IN_CONTAINER: "true"
+      DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+      MASTER_DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${MASTER_DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+      CLEAR_DATABASE: "true"
+    restart: "no"
+    networks:
+      - devnet
+
+  database.seed:
+    image: database.seed
+    container_name: dev-env-database-seed
+    depends_on:
+      database.migrations:
+        condition: service_completed_successfully
+    build:
+      context: ./src/Core
+      dockerfile: Database/Database.Seed/Dockerfile
+      args:
+        BUILD_CONFIGURATION: Release
+        APP_UID: 1000
+    environment:
+      DOTNET_RUNNING_IN_CONTAINER: "true"
+      DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+    restart: "no"
+    networks:
+      - devnet
+
+volumes:
+  sqlserverdata-dev:
+    driver: local
+  nuget-cache-dev:
+    driver: local
+
+networks:
+  devnet:
+    driver: bridge
diff --git a/docker-compose.dev.yaml b/docker-compose.dev.yaml
index 6fff877..26eedfc 100644
--- a/docker-compose.dev.yaml
+++ b/docker-compose.dev.yaml
@@ -35,15 +35,36 @@ services:
       DOTNET_RUNNING_IN_CONTAINER: "true"
       DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
       MASTER_DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${MASTER_DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+      CLEAR_DATABASE: "true"
     restart: "no"
     networks:
       - devnet
+
+  database.seed:
+    image: database.seed
+    container_name: dev-env-database-seed
+    depends_on:
+      database.migrations:
+        condition: service_completed_successfully
+    build:
+      context: ./src/Core
+      dockerfile: Database/Database.Seed/Dockerfile
+      args:
+        BUILD_CONFIGURATION: Release
+        APP_UID: 1000
+    environment:
+      DOTNET_RUNNING_IN_CONTAINER: "true"
+      DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+    restart: "no"
+    networks:
+      - devnet
+
   api.core:
     image: api.core
     container_name: dev-env-api-core
     depends_on:
-      sqlserver:
-        condition: service_healthy
+      database.seed:
+        condition: service_completed_successfully
     build:
       context: ./src/Core
       dockerfile: API/API.Core/Dockerfile
@@ -58,6 +79,7 @@ services:
       ASPNETCORE_URLS: "http://0.0.0.0:8080"
       DOTNET_RUNNING_IN_CONTAINER: "true"
       DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+      JWT_SECRET: "${JWT_SECRET}"
     restart: unless-stopped
     networks:
       - devnet
diff --git a/docker-compose.prod.yaml b/docker-compose.prod.yaml
index 7efaaba..eccbf98 100644
--- a/docker-compose.prod.yaml
+++ b/docker-compose.prod.yaml
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ services:
       DOTNET_RUNNING_IN_CONTAINER: "true"
       MASTER_DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${MASTER_DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
       DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+      JWT_SECRET: "${JWT_SECRET}"
     restart: unless-stopped
     networks:
       - prodnet
diff --git a/docker-compose.test.yaml b/docker-compose.test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08e93b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+services:
+  sqlserver:
+    image: mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2022-latest
+    platform: linux/amd64
+    container_name: test-env-sqlserver
+    environment:
+      ACCEPT_EULA: "Y"
+      SA_PASSWORD: "${SA_PASSWORD}"
+      MSSQL_PID: "Express"
+      DOTNET_RUNNING_IN_CONTAINER: "true"
+    volumes:
+      - sqlserverdata-test:/var/opt/mssql
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "/opt/mssql-tools18/bin/sqlcmd -S localhost -U sa -P '${SA_PASSWORD}' -C -Q 'SELECT 1' || exit 1"]
+      interval: 10s
+      timeout: 5s
+      retries: 12
+      start_period: 30s
+    networks:
+      - testnet
+
+  database.migrations:
+    image: database.migrations
+    container_name: test-env-database-migrations
+    depends_on:
+      sqlserver:
+        condition: service_healthy
+    build:
+      context: ./src/Core/Database
+      dockerfile: Database.Migrations/Dockerfile
+      args:
+        BUILD_CONFIGURATION: Release
+        APP_UID: 1000
+    environment:
+      DOTNET_RUNNING_IN_CONTAINER: "true"
+      DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${TEST_DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+      MASTER_DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${TEST_MASTER_DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+      CLEAR_DATABASE: "true"
+    restart: "no"
+    networks:
+      - testnet
+
+  database.seed:
+    image: database.seed
+    container_name: test-env-database-seed
+    depends_on:
+      database.migrations:
+        condition: service_completed_successfully
+    build:
+      context: ./src/Core
+      dockerfile: Database/Database.Seed/Dockerfile
+      args:
+        BUILD_CONFIGURATION: Release
+        APP_UID: 1000
+    environment:
+      DOTNET_RUNNING_IN_CONTAINER: "true"
+      DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${TEST_DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+    restart: "no"
+    networks:
+      - testnet
+
+  api.specs:
+    image: api.specs
+    container_name: test-env-api-specs
+    depends_on:
+      database.seed:
+        condition: service_completed_successfully
+    build:
+      context: ./src/Core
+      dockerfile: API/API.Specs/Dockerfile
+      args:
+        BUILD_CONFIGURATION: Release
+    environment:
+      DOTNET_RUNNING_IN_CONTAINER: "true"
+      DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${TEST_DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+      JWT_SECRET: "${JWT_SECRET}"
+    volumes:
+      - ./test-results:/app/test-results
+    restart: "no"
+    networks:
+      - testnet
+
+  repository.tests:
+    image: repository.tests
+    container_name: test-env-repository-tests
+    depends_on:
+      database.seed:
+        condition: service_completed_successfully
+    build:
+      context: ./src/Core
+      dockerfile: Repository/Repository.Tests/Dockerfile
+      args:
+        BUILD_CONFIGURATION: Release
+    environment:
+      DOTNET_RUNNING_IN_CONTAINER: "true"
+      DB_CONNECTION_STRING: "${TEST_DB_CONNECTION_STRING}"
+      JWT_SECRET: "${JWT_SECRET}"
+    volumes:
+      - ./test-results:/app/test-results
+    restart: "no"
+    networks:
+      - testnet
+
+volumes:
+  sqlserverdata-test:
+    driver: local
+
+networks:
+  testnet:
+    driver: bridge
diff --git a/src/Core/API/API.Specs/API.Specs.csproj b/src/Core/API/API.Specs/API.Specs.csproj
index 0791bcb..45ce21a 100644
--- a/src/Core/API/API.Specs/API.Specs.csproj
+++ b/src/Core/API/API.Specs/API.Specs.csproj
@@ -34,6 +34,5 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <ProjectReference Include="..\API.Core\API.Core.csproj" />
-    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\Database\Database.Core\Database.Core.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>
diff --git a/src/Core/API/API.Specs/Dockerfile b/src/Core/API/API.Specs/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7929db8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Core/API/API.Specs/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/sdk:10.0 AS build
+ARG BUILD_CONFIGURATION=Release
+WORKDIR /src
+COPY ["API/API.Core/API.Core.csproj", "API/API.Core/"]
+COPY ["API/API.Specs/API.Specs.csproj", "API/API.Specs/"]
+COPY ["Repository/Repository.Core/Repository.Core.csproj", "Repository/Repository.Core/"]
+COPY ["Service/Service.Core/Service.Core.csproj", "Service/Service.Core/"]
+RUN dotnet restore "API/API.Specs/API.Specs.csproj"
+COPY . .
+WORKDIR "/src/API/API.Specs"
+RUN dotnet build "./API.Specs.csproj" -c $BUILD_CONFIGURATION -o /app/build
+
+FROM build AS final
+ARG BUILD_CONFIGURATION=Release
+WORKDIR /src
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y curl && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+RUN mkdir -p /app/test-results
+WORKDIR /src/API/API.Specs
+ENTRYPOINT ["dotnet", "test", "API.Specs.csproj", "-c", "Release", "--no-build", "--no-restore", "--logger", "trx;LogFileName=/app/test-results/test-results.trx"]
diff --git a/src/Core/Database/Database.Migrations/Database.Migrations.csproj b/src/Core/Database/Database.Migrations/Database.Migrations.csproj
index 3488889..ab0b5d7 100644
--- a/src/Core/Database/Database.Migrations/Database.Migrations.csproj
+++ b/src/Core/Database/Database.Migrations/Database.Migrations.csproj
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <TargetFramework>net10.0</TargetFramework>
     <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
-    <RootNamespace>DataLayer</RootNamespace>
+    <RootNamespace>Database.Migrations</RootNamespace>
     <DockerDefaultTargetOS>Linux</DockerDefaultTargetOS>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
diff --git a/src/Core/Database/Database.Migrations/Program.cs b/src/Core/Database/Database.Migrations/Program.cs
index 1fa4b3a..86281cb 100644
--- a/src/Core/Database/Database.Migrations/Program.cs
+++ b/src/Core/Database/Database.Migrations/Program.cs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ using System.Reflection;
 using DbUp;
 using Microsoft.Data.SqlClient;
 
-namespace DataLayer;
+namespace Database.Migrations;
 
 public static class Program
 {
@@ -22,6 +22,57 @@ public static class Program
         return result.Successful;
     }
 
+    private static bool ClearDatabase()
+    {
+        var myConn = new SqlConnection(masterConnectionString);
+
+        try
+        {
+            myConn.Open();
+
+            // First, set the database to single user mode to close all connections
+            var setModeCommand = new SqlCommand(
+                "IF EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM sys.databases WHERE name = 'Biergarten') " +
+                "ALTER DATABASE [Biergarten] SET SINGLE_USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;",
+                myConn);
+            try
+            {
+                setModeCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
+                Console.WriteLine("Database set to single user mode.");
+            }
+            catch (System.Exception ex)
+            {
+                Console.WriteLine($"Warning: Could not set single user mode: {ex.Message}");
+            }
+
+            // Then drop the database
+            var dropCommand = new SqlCommand("DROP DATABASE IF EXISTS [Biergarten];", myConn);
+            try
+            {
+                dropCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
+                Console.WriteLine("Database cleared successfully.");
+            }
+            catch (System.Exception ex)
+            {
+                Console.WriteLine($"Error dropping database: {ex}");
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+        catch (System.Exception ex)
+        {
+            Console.WriteLine($"Error clearing database: {ex}");
+            return false;
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            if (myConn.State == ConnectionState.Open)
+            {
+                myConn.Close();
+            }
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
     private static bool CreateDatabaseIfNotExists()
     {
         var myConn = new SqlConnection(masterConnectionString);
@@ -58,6 +109,13 @@ public static class Program
 
         try
         {
+            var clearDatabase = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("CLEAR_DATABASE");
+            if (clearDatabase == "true")
+            {
+                Console.WriteLine("CLEAR_DATABASE is enabled. Clearing existing database...");
+                ClearDatabase();
+            }
+
             CreateDatabaseIfNotExists();
             var success = DeployMigrations();
 
diff --git a/src/Core/Database/Database.Seed/Database.Seed.csproj b/src/Core/Database/Database.Seed/Database.Seed.csproj
index 656d3be..4c68909 100644
--- a/src/Core/Database/Database.Seed/Database.Seed.csproj
+++ b/src/Core/Database/Database.Seed/Database.Seed.csproj
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <TargetFramework>net10.0</TargetFramework>
     <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
-    <RootNamespace>DBSeed</RootNamespace>
+    <RootNamespace>Database.Seed</RootNamespace>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <ProjectReference Include="..\Database.Migrations\Database.Migrations.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\Repository\Repository.Core\Repository.Core.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>
diff --git a/src/Core/Database/Database.Seed/Dockerfile b/src/Core/Database/Database.Seed/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1bfaf89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Core/Database/Database.Seed/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/sdk:10.0 AS build
+ARG BUILD_CONFIGURATION=Release
+WORKDIR /src
+# Copy everything from the context (src/Core)
+COPY . .
+RUN dotnet restore "./Database/Database.Seed/Database.Seed.csproj"
+RUN dotnet build "./Database/Database.Seed/Database.Seed.csproj" -c $BUILD_CONFIGURATION -o /app/build
+
+FROM build AS publish
+ARG BUILD_CONFIGURATION=Release
+RUN dotnet publish "./Database/Database.Seed/Database.Seed.csproj" -c $BUILD_CONFIGURATION -o /app/publish /p:UseAppHost=false
+
+FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/runtime:10.0 AS final
+WORKDIR /app
+COPY --from=publish /app/publish .
+ENTRYPOINT ["dotnet", "Database.Seed.dll"]
diff --git a/src/Core/Database/Database.Seed/Program.cs b/src/Core/Database/Database.Seed/Program.cs
index 720005b..0fb1138 100644
--- a/src/Core/Database/Database.Seed/Program.cs
+++ b/src/Core/Database/Database.Seed/Program.cs
@@ -5,73 +5,60 @@ using System.Reflection;
 
 try
 {
-    var connectionString = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(
-        "DB_CONNECTION_STRING"
-    );
-    if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(connectionString))
-        throw new InvalidOperationException(
-            "Environment variable DB_CONNECTION_STRING is not set or is empty."
-        );
+    var connectionString = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("DB_CONNECTION_STRING");
 
-    await using var connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString);
-    await connection.OpenAsync();
+    Console.WriteLine("Attempting to connect to database...");
 
-    // drop and recreate the database
-    var useMaster = connection.CreateCommand();
-    useMaster.CommandText = "USE master;";
-    await useMaster.ExecuteNonQueryAsync();
+    // Retry logic for database connection
+    SqlConnection? connection = null;
+    int maxRetries = 10;
+    int retryDelayMs = 2000;
 
-    var dbName = "Biergarten";
-        var dropDb = connection.CreateCommand();
-        dropDb.CommandText = $@"
-            IF DB_ID(N'{dbName}') IS NOT NULL
-            BEGIN
-                ALTER DATABASE [{dbName}] SET SINGLE_USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;
-                DROP DATABASE [{dbName}];
-            END";
-        await dropDb.ExecuteNonQueryAsync();
-
-    var createDb = connection.CreateCommand();
-    createDb.CommandText = $@"CREATE DATABASE [{dbName}];";
-    await createDb.ExecuteNonQueryAsync();
-    await connection.CloseAsync();
-    await connection.OpenAsync();
-
-
-    Console.WriteLine("Connected to database.");
-
-    Console.WriteLine("Starting migrations...");
-
-    // Run Database.Core migrations (embedded resources) via DbUp
-    var migrationAssembly = Assembly.Load("Database.Core");
-    var upgrader = DeployChanges
-        .To.SqlDatabase(connectionString)
-        .WithScriptsEmbeddedInAssembly(migrationAssembly)
-        .LogToConsole()
-        .Build();
-
-    var upgradeResult = upgrader.PerformUpgrade();
-    if (!upgradeResult.Successful)
-        throw upgradeResult.Error;
-
-    Console.WriteLine("Migrations completed.");
-
-
-    ISeeder[] seeders =
-    [
-        new LocationSeeder(),
-        new UserSeeder(),
-    ];
-
-    foreach (var seeder in seeders)
+    for (int attempt = 1; attempt <= maxRetries; attempt++)
     {
-        Console.WriteLine($"Seeding {seeder.GetType().Name}...");
-        await seeder.SeedAsync(connection);
-        Console.WriteLine($"{seeder.GetType().Name} seeded.");
+        try
+        {
+            connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString);
+            await connection.OpenAsync();
+            Console.WriteLine($"Connected to database successfully on attempt {attempt}.");
+            break;
+        }
+        catch (SqlException ex) when (attempt < maxRetries)
+        {
+            Console.WriteLine($"Connection attempt {attempt}/{maxRetries} failed: {ex.Message}");
+            Console.WriteLine($"Retrying in {retryDelayMs}ms...");
+            await Task.Delay(retryDelayMs);
+            connection?.Dispose();
+            connection = null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (connection == null)
+    {
+        throw new Exception($"Failed to connect to database after {maxRetries} attempts.");
+    }
+
+    Console.WriteLine("Starting seeding...");
+
+    using (connection)
+    {
+
+        ISeeder[] seeders =
+        [
+            new LocationSeeder(),
+            new UserSeeder(),
+        ];
+
+        foreach (var seeder in seeders)
+        {
+            Console.WriteLine($"Seeding {seeder.GetType().Name}...");
+            await seeder.SeedAsync(connection);
+            Console.WriteLine($"{seeder.GetType().Name} seeded.");
+        }
+
+        Console.WriteLine("Seed completed successfully.");
     }
 
-    Console.WriteLine("Seed completed successfully.");
-    await connection.CloseAsync();
     return 0;
 }
 catch (Exception ex)
diff --git a/src/Core/Repository/Repository.Tests/Dockerfile b/src/Core/Repository/Repository.Tests/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d5db48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Core/Repository/Repository.Tests/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/sdk:10.0 AS build
+ARG BUILD_CONFIGURATION=Release
+WORKDIR /src
+COPY ["Repository/Repository.Core/Repository.Core.csproj", "Repository/Repository.Core/"]
+COPY ["Repository/Repository.Tests/Repository.Tests.csproj", "Repository/Repository.Tests/"]
+RUN dotnet restore "Repository/Repository.Tests/Repository.Tests.csproj"
+COPY . .
+WORKDIR "/src/Repository/Repository.Tests"
+RUN dotnet build "./Repository.Tests.csproj" -c $BUILD_CONFIGURATION -o /app/build
+
+FROM build AS final
+RUN mkdir -p /app/test-results
+WORKDIR /src/Repository/Repository.Tests
+ENTRYPOINT ["dotnet", "test", "./Repository.Tests.csproj", "-c", "Release", "--no-build", "--logger", "trx;LogFileName=/app/test-results/repository-tests.trx"]
diff --git a/src/Core/Service/Service.Core/Services/JwtService.cs b/src/Core/Service/Service.Core/Services/JwtService.cs
index c881e70..197dd21 100644
--- a/src/Core/Service/Service.Core/Services/JwtService.cs
+++ b/src/Core/Service/Service.Core/Services/JwtService.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System;
 using System.Security.Claims;
 using System.Text;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
@@ -6,14 +7,13 @@ using Microsoft.IdentityModel.Tokens;
 using JwtRegisteredClaimNames = System.IdentityModel.Tokens.Jwt.JwtRegisteredClaimNames;
 
 namespace ServiceCore.Services;
-public class JwtService(IConfiguration config) : IJwtService
+public class JwtService : IJwtService
 {
-    // private readonly string? _secret = config["Jwt:Secret"];
-    private readonly string? _secret = "128490218jfklsdajfdsa90f8sd0fid0safasr31jl2k1j4AFSDR!@#$fdsafjdslajfl";
+    private readonly string? _secret = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("JWT_SECRET");
     public string GenerateJwt(Guid userId, string username, DateTime expiry)
     {
         var handler = new JsonWebTokenHandler();
-        
+
         var key = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(_secret ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("secret not set"));
 
         // Base claims (always present)
@@ -35,4 +35,4 @@ public class JwtService(IConfiguration config) : IJwtService
 
         return handler.CreateToken(tokenDescriptor);
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}