diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 12105dd..e4f841e 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -3,17 +3,17 @@ FROM node:23.7.0-alpine
 # Install dependencies with versions
 RUN apk add --no-cache \
     redis \
-    mysql \
-    mysql-client \
+    mariadb \
+    mariadb-client \
     tmux
 
 # Create non-root user
 RUN addgroup -S appgroup && adduser -S appuser -G appgroup
 
-# Setup MySQL
+# Setup MariaDB
 RUN mkdir -p /run/mysqld && \
     chown -R mysql:mysql /run/mysqld && \
-    mysql_install_db --user=mysql --datadir=/var/lib/mysql
+    mariadb-install-db --user=mysql --datadir=/var/lib/mysql
 
 WORKDIR /usr/src/app
 COPY package*.json ./
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ USER appuser
 EXPOSE 80 6379 3306
 
 HEALTHCHECK --interval=30s --timeout=10s --start-period=5s --retries=3 \
-    CMD mysqladmin ping -h localhost || exit 1
+    CMD mariadb-admin ping -h localhost || exit 1
 
 CMD ["./start.sh"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docker-start.sh b/docker-start.sh
index 045122a..fb7a966 100644
--- a/docker-start.sh
+++ b/docker-start.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ cleanup() {
     echo "Cleaning up..."
     tmux kill-session -t $APP_NAME 2>/dev/null || true
     redis-cli shutdown || true
-    mysqladmin -u root shutdown || true
+    mariadb-admin -u root shutdown || true
     exit 0
 }
 
@@ -25,23 +25,23 @@ if ! redis-cli ping > /dev/null 2>&1; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
-# Start MySQL
-echo "Starting MySQL..."
-mysqld --user=mysql --datadir=/var/lib/mysql &
+# Start MariaDB
+echo "Starting MariaDB..."
+mariadbd --user=mysql --datadir=/var/lib/mysql &
 
-# Wait for MySQL with timeout
-echo "Waiting for MySQL to be ready..."
+# Wait for MariaDB with timeout
+echo "Waiting for MariaDB to be ready..."
 COUNTER=0
-while ! mysqladmin ping -h localhost --silent; do
+while ! mariadb-admin ping -h localhost --silent; do
     if [ $COUNTER -gt $MAX_MYSQL_WAIT ]; then
-        echo "MySQL failed to start within $MAX_MYSQL_WAIT seconds"
+        echo "MariaDB failed to start within $MAX_MYSQL_WAIT seconds"
         exit 1
     fi
     echo "Still waiting..."
     sleep 2
     COUNTER=$((COUNTER+2))
 done
-echo "MySQL is ready!"
+echo "MariaDB is ready!"
 
 # Run migrations with error handling
 echo "Running database migrations..."
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ while true; do
         echo "Redis died"
         exit 1
     fi
-    if ! mysqladmin ping -h localhost --silent; then
-        echo "MySQL died"
+    if ! mariadb-admin ping -h localhost --silent; then
+        echo "MariaDB died"
         exit 1
     fi
     if ! tmux has-session -t $APP_NAME 2>/dev/null; then