diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index aebf205..b73f19b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -13,8 +13,11 @@
 
 # Go workspace file
 go.work
+
 *.DS_Store
 *package-lock.json
 vendor
 *.expo
 *node_modules
+
+*.env
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index a73fdb0..5805b47 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ repos:
       - id: check-added-large-files
       - id: check-merge-conflict
       - id: end-of-file-fixer
+        exclude: 'backend/docs/'
       - id: trailing-whitespace
       - id: no-commit-to-branch
         args: ['--branch', 'main']
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8157b15..0a6a3c7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -79,16 +79,14 @@ process can vary, so follow the instructions for each item below!
 - This will generate the swagger docs as well as start the backend
 - You can now view swagger: http://localhost:8080/swagger/index.html
 
-5. Next, open one last tab to run commands in: run `task start-ngrok`
+5. Next, create a .env file in the root directory with a single line:
+   `EXPO_PUBLIC_API_DOMAIN={your ngrok static domain here}`
 
-- This will just give you a prompt to enter your ngrok domain for example mine
-  is:
+6. Next, open one last tab to run commands in: run `task start-ngrok`
 
-  `kind-dane-roughly.ngrok-free.app`
-
-6. Next, open another new tab to run commands in: run `task start-frontend`
+7. Next, open another new tab to run commands in: run `task start-frontend`
 
 - This will start the frontend
 
-7. From here follow the prompt in step 6 to launch the frontend on your device
+8. From here follow the prompt in step 6 to launch the frontend on your device
    of choice
diff --git a/Taskfile.yaml b/Taskfile.yaml
index 24ec15f..fb9b710 100644
--- a/Taskfile.yaml
+++ b/Taskfile.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 version: '3'
-
+dotenv: ['.env']
 tasks:
   build:
     - |
@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@ tasks:
       npm start
 
   start-ngrok:
-    - |
-      cd backend
-      echo "Type ngrok domain name:"
-      read ngrok;
-      ngrok http --domain=${ngrok} 8080
+    dotenv: ['.env']
+    cmds:
+      - |
+        cd backend
+        ngrok http --domain=$EXPO_PUBLIC_API_DOMAIN 8080
 
   start-docker:
     - |
diff --git a/backend/docs/swagger.json b/backend/docs/swagger.json
index 58eaa73..b0a755a 100644
--- a/backend/docs/swagger.json
+++ b/backend/docs/swagger.json
@@ -42,4 +42,4 @@
             }
         }
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/client/config.json b/client/config.json
deleted file mode 100644
index c264000..0000000
--- a/client/config.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "api-link": "https://kind-dane-roughly.ngrok-free.app"
-}
diff --git a/client/services/api-links.ts b/client/services/api-links.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..298d3f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/services/api-links.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export const api_url = `https://${process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_API_DOMAIN}`;
diff --git a/client/services/medication.ts b/client/services/medication.ts
index ff05ebd..b2fbdd6 100644
--- a/client/services/medication.ts
+++ b/client/services/medication.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import axios from 'axios';
-
-import config from '../config.json';
+import { api_url } from './api-links';
 
 export const getAllMedications = async (): Promise<Medication[]> => {
-  const response = await axios.get(`${config['api-link']}/medications`);
+  const response = await axios.get(`${api_url}/medications`);
   return response.data;
 };