diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9fe224c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# Virtual environments
+venv/
+.venv/
+pyPhotoAlbum/venv/
+
+# Python cache
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]
+*$py.class
+*.so
+.Python
+build/
+dist/
+eggs/
+*.egg-info/
+*.egg
+
+# IDE
+.idea/
+.vscode/
+*.swp
+*.swo
+
+# Git
+.git/
+
+# Test/coverage
+.coverage
+htmlcov/
+.pytest_cache/
+.tox/
+
+# OS files
+.DS_Store
+Thumbs.db
diff --git a/install-debian.sh b/install-debian.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..081ec01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install-debian.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,265 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Debian/Ubuntu installation script for pyPhotoAlbum
+# Creates a virtual environment and installs all dependencies
+
+set -e
+
+# Colors for output
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+GREEN='\033[0;32m'
+YELLOW='\033[1;33m'
+BLUE='\033[0;34m'
+NC='\033[0m' # No Color
+
+print_info() {
+    echo -e "${GREEN}[INFO]${NC} $1"
+}
+
+print_warn() {
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}[WARN]${NC} $1"
+}
+
+print_error() {
+    echo -e "${RED}[ERROR]${NC} $1"
+}
+
+print_step() {
+    echo -e "${BLUE}[STEP]${NC} $1"
+}
+
+# Get the directory where this script is located
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+VENV_DIR="$SCRIPT_DIR/venv"
+INSTALL_DIR="$HOME/.local"
+BIN_DIR="$INSTALL_DIR/bin"
+
+echo "========================================"
+echo "  pyPhotoAlbum Debian Installation     "
+echo "========================================"
+echo ""
+
+# Check if running on Debian/Ubuntu
+if [ -f /etc/os-release ]; then
+    . /etc/os-release
+    if [[ "$ID" != "debian" && "$ID" != "ubuntu" && "$ID_LIKE" != *"debian"* && "$ID_LIKE" != *"ubuntu"* ]]; then
+        print_warn "This script is designed for Debian/Ubuntu-based systems."
+        print_warn "Detected: $PRETTY_NAME"
+        read -p "Continue anyway? [y/N]: " continue_choice
+        if [[ ! "$continue_choice" =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then
+            exit 1
+        fi
+    else
+        print_info "Detected: $PRETTY_NAME"
+    fi
+fi
+
+# Check for required files
+if [ ! -f "$SCRIPT_DIR/pyproject.toml" ]; then
+    print_error "pyproject.toml not found. Please run this script from the project root."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Step 1: Install system dependencies
+print_step "Installing system dependencies..."
+echo ""
+
+# Check if we need sudo
+if [ "$(id -u)" -ne 0 ]; then
+    SUDO="sudo"
+else
+    SUDO=""
+fi
+
+$SUDO apt update
+
+# Install Python and venv support
+print_info "Installing Python and venv support..."
+$SUDO apt install -y python3 python3-venv python3-pip
+
+# Install system libraries required for PyQt6 and OpenGL
+print_info "Installing Qt6 and OpenGL libraries..."
+$SUDO apt install -y \
+    libgl1-mesa-dev \
+    libglu1-mesa-dev \
+    libxcb-xinerama0 \
+    libxcb-cursor0 \
+    libxkbcommon0 \
+    libdbus-1-3 \
+    libegl1 \
+    libfontconfig1 \
+    libfreetype6 \
+    libx11-6 \
+    libx11-xcb1 \
+    libxcb1 \
+    libxcb-glx0 \
+    libxcb-icccm4 \
+    libxcb-image0 \
+    libxcb-keysyms1 \
+    libxcb-randr0 \
+    libxcb-render0 \
+    libxcb-render-util0 \
+    libxcb-shape0 \
+    libxcb-shm0 \
+    libxcb-sync1 \
+    libxcb-xfixes0 \
+    libxcb-xkb1 \
+    libxkbcommon-x11-0 \
+    libglib2.0-0 \
+    libgtk-3-0 || print_warn "Some packages may not be available, continuing..."
+
+echo ""
+
+# Step 2: Create virtual environment
+print_step "Creating virtual environment..."
+echo ""
+
+if [ -d "$VENV_DIR" ]; then
+    print_warn "Virtual environment already exists at $VENV_DIR"
+    read -p "Remove and recreate? [y/N]: " recreate_choice
+    if [[ "$recreate_choice" =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then
+        print_info "Removing existing virtual environment..."
+        rm -rf "$VENV_DIR"
+    else
+        print_info "Using existing virtual environment..."
+    fi
+fi
+
+if [ ! -d "$VENV_DIR" ]; then
+    print_info "Creating virtual environment at $VENV_DIR..."
+    python3 -m venv "$VENV_DIR"
+fi
+
+# Activate virtual environment
+source "$VENV_DIR/bin/activate"
+
+# Upgrade pip
+print_info "Upgrading pip..."
+pip install --upgrade pip
+
+echo ""
+
+# Step 3: Install Python dependencies
+print_step "Installing Python dependencies..."
+echo ""
+
+print_info "Installing pyPhotoAlbum and its dependencies..."
+pip install -e "$SCRIPT_DIR"
+
+echo ""
+
+# Step 4: Create launcher script
+print_step "Creating launcher script..."
+echo ""
+
+mkdir -p "$BIN_DIR"
+
+cat > "$BIN_DIR/pyphotoalbum" << EOF
+#!/bin/bash
+# pyPhotoAlbum launcher script
+# Activates the virtual environment and runs the application
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$SCRIPT_DIR"
+VENV_DIR="$VENV_DIR"
+
+# Activate venv and run
+source "\$VENV_DIR/bin/activate"
+exec python "\$SCRIPT_DIR/pyPhotoAlbum/main.py" "\$@"
+EOF
+
+chmod +x "$BIN_DIR/pyphotoalbum"
+print_info "Launcher script created at $BIN_DIR/pyphotoalbum"
+
+echo ""
+
+# Step 5: Install desktop integration
+print_step "Installing desktop integration..."
+echo ""
+
+DESKTOP_DIR="$HOME/.local/share/applications"
+ICON_DIR="$HOME/.local/share/icons/hicolor"
+
+mkdir -p "$DESKTOP_DIR"
+mkdir -p "$ICON_DIR/256x256/apps"
+
+# Create desktop file with correct path
+cat > "$DESKTOP_DIR/pyphotoalbum.desktop" << EOF
+[Desktop Entry]
+Type=Application
+Name=pyPhotoAlbum
+GenericName=Photo Album Designer
+Comment=Design photo albums and export them to PDF
+Exec=$BIN_DIR/pyphotoalbum %F
+Icon=pyphotoalbum
+Terminal=false
+Categories=Graphics;Photography;Qt;
+Keywords=photo;album;pdf;design;layout;
+MimeType=application/x-pyphotoalbum-project;
+StartupNotify=true
+StartupWMClass=pyPhotoAlbum
+Actions=NewProject;
+
+[Desktop Action NewProject]
+Name=New Project
+Exec=$BIN_DIR/pyphotoalbum --new
+EOF
+
+print_info "Desktop file created at $DESKTOP_DIR/pyphotoalbum.desktop"
+
+# Copy icon
+if [ -f "$SCRIPT_DIR/pyPhotoAlbum/icons/icon.png" ]; then
+    cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/pyPhotoAlbum/icons/icon.png" "$ICON_DIR/256x256/apps/pyphotoalbum.png"
+    print_info "Icon installed"
+
+    # Generate additional icon sizes if ImageMagick is available
+    if command -v convert &> /dev/null || command -v magick &> /dev/null; then
+        for size in 48 64 128; do
+            mkdir -p "$ICON_DIR/${size}x${size}/apps"
+            if command -v magick &> /dev/null; then
+                magick "$SCRIPT_DIR/pyPhotoAlbum/icons/icon.png" -resize ${size}x${size} "$ICON_DIR/${size}x${size}/apps/pyphotoalbum.png" 2>/dev/null
+            else
+                convert "$SCRIPT_DIR/pyPhotoAlbum/icons/icon.png" -resize ${size}x${size} "$ICON_DIR/${size}x${size}/apps/pyphotoalbum.png" 2>/dev/null
+            fi
+        done
+        print_info "Additional icon sizes generated"
+    fi
+fi
+
+# Update desktop database
+if command -v update-desktop-database &> /dev/null; then
+    update-desktop-database "$DESKTOP_DIR" 2>/dev/null || true
+fi
+
+# Update icon cache
+if command -v gtk-update-icon-cache &> /dev/null; then
+    gtk-update-icon-cache -f "$ICON_DIR" 2>/dev/null || true
+fi
+
+echo ""
+
+# Deactivate venv
+deactivate
+
+# Final message
+echo "========================================"
+echo -e "${GREEN}  Installation complete!${NC}"
+echo "========================================"
+echo ""
+echo "You can now run pyPhotoAlbum by:"
+echo "  1) Running 'pyphotoalbum' in the terminal"
+echo "  2) Finding 'pyPhotoAlbum' in your application menu"
+echo ""
+
+# Check if ~/.local/bin is in PATH
+if [[ ":$PATH:" != *":$HOME/.local/bin:"* ]]; then
+    print_warn "~/.local/bin is not in your PATH"
+    echo ""
+    echo "Add this to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.profile:"
+    echo "  export PATH=\"\$HOME/.local/bin:\$PATH\""
+    echo ""
+    echo "Then run: source ~/.bashrc"
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "To run directly from source directory:"
+echo "  $SCRIPT_DIR/launch-pyphotoalbum.sh"
+echo ""
diff --git a/launch-pyphotoalbum.sh b/launch-pyphotoalbum.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d5ae3c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/launch-pyphotoalbum.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# pyPhotoAlbum launch script
+# Runs the application from the project directory using the local venv
+
+# Get the directory where this script is located
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+VENV_DIR="$SCRIPT_DIR/venv"
+
+# Check if venv exists
+if [ ! -d "$VENV_DIR" ]; then
+    echo "Error: Virtual environment not found at $VENV_DIR"
+    echo "Please run install-debian.sh first to set up the environment."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Activate venv and run the application
+source "$VENV_DIR/bin/activate"
+exec python "$SCRIPT_DIR/pyPhotoAlbum/main.py" "$@"