diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index de2e7a4..cdf3b4b 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ RUN npm ci
 COPY frontend/ ./
 
 # Build frontend for production
+ENV VITE_API_URL=""
 RUN npm run build
 
 # Production stage
diff --git a/frontend/src/config/api.js b/frontend/src/config/api.js
index 2bddbb2..9adbd7b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/config/api.js
+++ b/frontend/src/config/api.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 // API Configuration
-const API_URL = import.meta.env.VITE_API_URL || 'http://localhost:4000';
+const API_URL = import.meta.env.VITE_API_URL || '';
 
 export default API_URL;
diff --git a/k8s.yaml b/k8s.yaml
index c9eba75..aecb4e9 100644
--- a/k8s.yaml
+++ b/k8s.yaml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ spec:
   selector:
     matchLabels:
       app: awards
-  replicas: 2
+  replicas: 1
   template:
     metadata:
       labels:
@@ -77,6 +77,22 @@ spec:
             limits:
               memory: "512Mi"
               cpu: "500m"
+          livenessProbe:
+            httpGet:
+              path: /health
+              port: 4000
+            initialDelaySeconds: 10
+            periodSeconds: 30
+            timeoutSeconds: 3
+            failureThreshold: 3
+          readinessProbe:
+            httpGet:
+              path: /health
+              port: 4000
+            initialDelaySeconds: 5
+            periodSeconds: 10
+            timeoutSeconds: 3
+            failureThreshold: 3
       volumes:
         - name: data
           persistentVolumeClaim: