diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46214ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Aether Platform - Operations Makefile
+# Use these shortcuts for faster development and deployment.
+
+.PHONY: up down restart-api build-api build-ui logs ps
+
+# Start the entire stack
+up:
+	docker compose up -d
+
+# Stop the entire stack
+down:
+	docker compose down
+
+# FAST UPDATE: Pick up Python code changes without rebuilding
+# Since source is mounted as a volume, we just need to restart the container.
+# This takes ~2 seconds instead of ~60 seconds.
+restart-api:
+	docker compose restart ae_api
+
+# REBUILD API: Use this only when requirements.txt or Dockerfile changes.
+build-api:
+	docker compose up -d --build ae_api
+
+# REBUILD UI: Standard autonomous build for SvelteKit
+build-ui:
+	docker compose build ae_app && docker compose up -d ae_app
+
+# View combined logs
+logs:
+	docker compose logs -f --tail=100
+
+# Check service status
+ps:
+	docker compose ps
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 49e68dc..de07b5f 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -120,7 +120,6 @@ services:
             linode.oneskyit.com: "104.237.143.4"
         volumes:
             - ./conf/aether_fastapi_gunicorn_conf.py:/conf/gunicorn_fastapi_conf.py
-            - ./conf/aether_fastapi_requirements_current.txt:/requirements_current.txt
             - ./logs/ae_api:/logs
             - ${AE_API_SRC}:/srv/aether_api
             - ${HOSTED_FILES_SRC}:/srv/hosted_files