diff --git a/backend/.dockerignore b/backend/.dockerignore
index 6e64de2..e8b62b8 100644
--- a/backend/.dockerignore
+++ b/backend/.dockerignore
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ docker-compose.yml
 
 # Documentation
 *.md
+!README.md
 docs/
 
 # OS
diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index 1e5104a..f8aba3c 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1 \
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
     curl \
     postgresql-client \
+    build-essential \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
 # Install UV
@@ -25,8 +26,8 @@ WORKDIR /app
 # Development stage
 FROM base as development
 
-# Copy dependency files
-COPY pyproject.toml uv.lock ./
+# Copy dependency files (including README.md referenced in pyproject.toml)
+COPY pyproject.toml uv.lock README.md ./
 
 # Install all dependencies (including dev)
 RUN uv sync --frozen
@@ -43,8 +44,8 @@ CMD ["uv", "run", "python", "-m", "uvicorn", "app.main:socket_app", "--host", "0
 # Production stage
 FROM base as production
 
-# Copy dependency files
-COPY pyproject.toml uv.lock ./
+# Copy dependency files (including README.md referenced in pyproject.toml)
+COPY pyproject.toml uv.lock README.md ./
 
 # Install production dependencies only
 RUN uv sync --frozen --no-dev
diff --git a/backend/README.md b/backend/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d98a2cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Paper Dynasty Backend
+
+FastAPI-based real-time baseball game engine with WebSocket support.
+
+## Quick Start
+
+```bash
+# Install UV
+curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
+
+# Install dependencies
+uv sync
+
+# Run server
+uv run python -m app.main
+```
+
+## Documentation
+
+See `CLAUDE.md` for full documentation.