diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e373a3e..e1e85ac 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ It lets an LLM use controlled local tools (screen, click, type, shell) to comple
 main.py
 screenjob.py
 requirements.txt
-docker-compose.yml
+start_backend.ps1
 src/
   agent.py
   app_main.py
@@ -103,6 +103,12 @@ CLI JSON output includes both legacy and structured fields:
 python main.py server
 ```
 
+Or use the PowerShell launcher:
+
+```powershell
+.\start_backend.ps1
+```
+
 Auth for all API routes:
 
 - `Authorization: Bearer <SCREENJOB_TOKEN>`
@@ -164,16 +170,6 @@ Each job payload includes:
 
 `data` should contain useful structured output for the requester (text, object, list, etc.).
 
-## Docker Compose
-
-Run server in container:
-
-```powershell
-docker compose up --build
-```
-
-Service uses official Python image and reads `.env`.
-
 ## Verification
 
 Local:
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 68d694d..0000000
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-services:
-  screenjob:
-    image: python:3.11-slim
-    working_dir: /app
-    env_file:
-      - .env
-    environment:
-      SCREENJOB_HOST: 0.0.0.0
-      SCREENJOB_PORT: 8787
-    volumes:
-      - ./:/app
-    ports:
-      - "8787:8787"
-    command: >
-      sh -c "pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt &&
-      python main.py server"
-    restart: unless-stopped
diff --git a/start_backend.ps1 b/start_backend.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..467ecd5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/start_backend.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+Set-StrictMode -Version Latest
+$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
+
+$scriptDir = Split-Path -Parent $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Path
+Set-Location $scriptDir
+
+function Test-EnvVarLine {
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$FilePath,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name
+    )
+    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $FilePath)) {
+        return $false
+    }
+    return [bool](Select-String -Path $FilePath -Pattern ("^\s*" + [regex]::Escape($Name) + "=") -Quiet)
+}
+
+if (-not (Get-Command python -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)) {
+    throw "Python was not found in PATH. Install Python 3.11+ and retry."
+}
+
+$envFile = Join-Path $scriptDir ".env"
+if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $envFile)) {
+    Write-Warning ".env was not found at $envFile. Server startup may fail if required vars are missing."
+} else {
+    if (-not (Test-EnvVarLine -FilePath $envFile -Name "OPENAI_API_KEY")) {
+        Write-Warning ".env is missing OPENAI_API_KEY."
+    }
+    if (-not (Test-EnvVarLine -FilePath $envFile -Name "SCREENJOB_TOKEN")) {
+        Write-Warning ".env is missing SCREENJOB_TOKEN."
+    }
+}
+
+Write-Host "Starting ScreenJob backend on configured host/port..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
+python main.py server