diff --git a/docker/Dockerfile b/docker/Dockerfile
deleted file mode 100644
index 3fff869..0000000
--- a/docker/Dockerfile
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-FROM python:3.12-slim
-
-# Set work directory
-WORKDIR /app
-
-# Install system dependencies (graphviz required, git for cloning)
-RUN apt-get update && \
-    apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends git graphviz && \
-    rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
-
-# Clone the repo with submodules
-RUN git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/pablorevilla-meshtastic/meshview.git /app
-
-# Create virtual environment
-RUN python -m venv /app/env
-
-# Upgrade pip and install requirements in venv
-RUN /app/env/bin/pip install --no-cache-dir --upgrade pip && \
-    /app/env/bin/pip install --no-cache-dir -r /app/requirements.txt
-
-# Copy sample config
-RUN cp /app/sample.config.ini /app/config.ini
-
-# Expose port
-EXPOSE 8081
-
-# Run the app via venv
-CMD ["/app/env/bin/python", "/app/mvrun.py"]
diff --git a/meshview/migrations.py b/meshview/migrations.py
index e6e3bc4..e76eeda 100644
--- a/meshview/migrations.py
+++ b/meshview/migrations.py
@@ -110,13 +110,19 @@ def run_migrations(database_url: str) -> None:
         database_url: Database connection string
     """
     logger.info("Running database migrations...")
+    import sys
+
+    sys.stdout.flush()
 
     config = get_alembic_config(database_url)
 
     try:
         # Run migrations to head
+        logger.info("Calling alembic upgrade command...")
+        sys.stdout.flush()
         command.upgrade(config, "head")
         logger.info("Database migrations completed successfully")
+        sys.stdout.flush()
     except Exception as e:
         logger.error(f"Error running migrations: {e}")
         raise
diff --git a/mvrun.py b/mvrun.py
index b48b564..40c740b 100644
--- a/mvrun.py
+++ b/mvrun.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def run_script(python_executable, script_name, pid_file, *args):
     process = None
     try:
         # Combine the script name and arguments
-        command = [python_executable, script_name] + list(args)
+        command = [python_executable, '-u', script_name] + list(args)
 
         # Run the subprocess (output goes directly to console for real-time viewing)
         process = subprocess.Popen(command)
diff --git a/startdb.py b/startdb.py
index aa65de1..46267fe 100644
--- a/startdb.py
+++ b/startdb.py
@@ -8,6 +8,15 @@ from sqlalchemy import delete
 from meshview import migrations, models, mqtt_database, mqtt_reader, mqtt_store
 from meshview.config import CONFIG
 
+# -------------------------
+# Basic logging configuration
+# -------------------------
+logging.basicConfig(
+    level=logging.INFO,
+    format="%(asctime)s %(filename)s:%(lineno)d [pid:%(process)d] %(levelname)s - %(message)s",
+    datefmt="%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S",
+)
+
 # -------------------------
 # Logging for cleanup
 # -------------------------
@@ -149,16 +158,23 @@ async def main():
     logger.info("Migration status set to 'in progress'")
 
     try:
-        # Run any pending migrations (synchronous operation)
+        # Check if migrations are needed before running them
         logger.info("Checking for pending database migrations...")
-        migrations.run_migrations(database_url)
-        logger.info("Database migrations check complete")
+        if await migrations.is_database_up_to_date(mqtt_database.engine, database_url):
+            logger.info("Database schema is already up to date, skipping migrations")
+        else:
+            logger.info("Database schema needs updating, running migrations...")
+            migrations.run_migrations(database_url)
+            logger.info("Database migrations completed")
 
         # Create tables if needed (for backwards compatibility)
+        logger.info("Creating database tables...")
         await mqtt_database.create_tables()
+        logger.info("Database tables created")
 
     finally:
         # Clear migration in progress flag
+        logger.info("Clearing migration status...")
         await migrations.set_migration_in_progress(mqtt_database.engine, False)
         logger.info("Migration status cleared - database ready")
 
@@ -172,7 +188,10 @@ async def main():
     cleanup_hour = get_int(CONFIG, "cleanup", "hour", 2)
     cleanup_minute = get_int(CONFIG, "cleanup", "minute", 0)
 
-    logger.info("Starting MQTT ingestion and cleanup tasks...")
+    logger.info(f"Starting MQTT ingestion from {CONFIG['mqtt']['server']}:{CONFIG['mqtt']['port']}")
+    if cleanup_enabled:
+        logger.info(f"Daily cleanup enabled: keeping {cleanup_days} days of data")
+
     async with asyncio.TaskGroup() as tg:
         tg.create_task(
             load_database_from_mqtt(