diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 13975dc..4c849e7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,8 +17,11 @@ cp config.example.toml config.toml
 # Set a private api_key in config.toml.
 
 mkdir -p data
-USHORT_UID="$(id -u)" USHORT_GID="$(id -g)" \
-  docker compose -f deploy/docker-compose.build.yml up --build -d
+USHORT_CONFIG="$PWD/config.toml" \
+USHORT_DATA="$PWD/data" \
+USHORT_UID="$(id -u)" \
+USHORT_GID="$(id -g)" \
+  docker compose -f deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml up -d
 ```
 
 The example starts ushort at <http://localhost:18082/s/> and stores its SQLite
@@ -28,12 +31,24 @@ Check it and stop it with:
 
 ```bash
 curl http://localhost:18082/s/api/health
-docker compose -f deploy/docker-compose.build.yml down
+docker compose -f deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml down
 ```
 
-For a production server, use the published image through
-`deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml`; it does not build or require a source
-checkout.
+This pulls the published image; it does not compile ushort or require a Rust
+toolchain.
+
+## Build from source instead
+
+To build the current checkout locally, use the alternative build definition:
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p data
+USHORT_UID="$(id -u)" USHORT_GID="$(id -g)" \
+  docker compose -f deploy/docker-compose.build.yml up --build -d
+```
+
+It uses the same root-level `config.toml` and `data/` directory as the quick
+start.
 
 ## Documentation
 
diff --git a/deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml b/deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml
index 3dbf4ac..023db53 100644
--- a/deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml
+++ b/deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ services:
     ports:
       - "127.0.0.1:18082:8080"
     volumes:
-      - ./config.toml:/app/config.toml:ro
-      - ./data:/app/data
-    user: "1001:1001"
+      - "${USHORT_CONFIG:-./config.toml}:/app/config.toml:ro"
+      - "${USHORT_DATA:-./data}:/app/data"
+    user: "${USHORT_UID:-1001}:${USHORT_GID:-1001}"
     read_only: true
     security_opt:
       - no-new-privileges:true
diff --git a/docs/development.md b/docs/development.md
index 93bf8f2..a6eae04 100644
--- a/docs/development.md
+++ b/docs/development.md
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ USHORT_UID="$(id -u)" USHORT_GID="$(id -g)" \
 
 The production definition,
 [`deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml`](../deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml), never
-builds source. It pulls the published version instead.
+builds source. It pulls the published version instead and is therefore the
+recommended quick-start path in the root README.
 
 ## Automated tests