diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..45f8a699
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# macOS
+.DS_Store
+.DS_Store?
+._*
+.Spotlight-V100
+.Trashes
+ehthumbs.db
+Thumbs.db
+
+# Node modules
+node_modules/
+npm-debug.log*
+yarn-debug.log*
+yarn-error.log*
+
+# Environment variables
+.env.local
+.env.development.local
+.env.test.local
+.env.production.local
+
+# Logs
+logs
+*.log
+
+# Runtime data
+pids
+*.pid
+*.seed
+*.pid.lock
+
+# Coverage directory used by tools like istanbul
+coverage/
+
+# Build outputs
+dist/
+build/
+.next/
+
+# IDE
+.vscode/
+.idea/
+*.swp
+*.swo
+
+# OS generated files
+*~
diff --git a/backend/.env b/backend/.env
index 9eab1fe5..bd5dd773 100644
--- a/backend/.env
+++ b/backend/.env
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ REDIS_URL=redis://localhost:6379
 
 # Email Configuration
 SMTP_HOST=smtp.gmail.com
-SMTP_PORT=587
+SMTP_PORT=2525
 SMTP_SECURE=false
 RECIPIENT_EMAIL=eliza@deafgain.org
 GOOGLE_EMAIL=system@deafgain.org
diff --git a/cline_docs/activeContext.md b/cline_docs/activeContext.md
index 6623ce28..e9838a85 100644
--- a/cline_docs/activeContext.md
+++ b/cline_docs/activeContext.md
@@ -1,6 +1,33 @@
 # Active Context - Current Work Status
 
-## Current Task: COMPLETED ✅
+## Current Task: GMAIL SMUGGLER FULLY OPERATIONAL ✅
+**SMTP Relay Solution Successfully Implemented**:
+- **DigitalOcean Server (chrishaulmark.com)**: SMTP ports 25, 465, 587 BLOCKED by DigitalOcean
+- **Dedicated Server (74.80.182.50)**: All SMTP ports WORKING ✅
+- **Gmail Smuggler Container**: DEPLOYED and RUNNING ✅ on port 2525 (unblocked)
+
+**Solution**: DNS override + port 2525 SMTP relay bypasses DigitalOcean SMTP blocking completely.
+
+### Gmail Smuggler Final Configuration
+- **Container Name**: `gmail-smuggler`
+- **Location**: `10.4.0.206:~/gmail-smuggler/` (internal VM)
+- **Status**: Running with Docker Compose auto-restart
+- **Port**: 2525 (external) → 587 (internal, forwarding to smtp.gmail.com:587)
+- **Technology**: Alpine Linux + socat TCP relay
+- **OPNsense**: Port forwarding 2525 → 10.4.0.206:2525
+
+### Implementation Details
+1. **DNS Override**: `74.80.182.50    smtp.gmail.com` in `/etc/hosts` ✅
+2. **Backend Configuration**: `SMTP_PORT=2525` in `backend/.env` ✅
+3. **Port Forwarding**: OPNsense forwards port 2525 to internal VM ✅
+4. **Connection Verified**: DigitalOcean VPS → 74.80.182.50:2525 → Gmail ✅
+
+### Email Flow
+```
+Court Docket Website → smtp.gmail.com:2525 → 74.80.182.50:2525 → 10.4.0.206:2525 → Gmail SMTP
+```
+
+## Previous Task: COMPLETED ✅
 **DeafGain LLC Footer Addition** - Added "Designed by DeafGain LLC" footer to the court docket website.
 
 ## Previous Task: COMPLETED ✅