diff --git a/server-deploy.sh b/server-deploy.sh
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+++ b/server-deploy.sh
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+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Semblance — server-side deploy script
+# Run this DIRECTLY ON THE SERVER: /opt/semblance/server-deploy.sh
+#
+# Does NOT build the frontend (Node not on server).
+# Frontend must be deployed from local Mac via: ./deploy.sh
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+DEPLOY_DIR="/opt/semblance"
+FRONTEND_DEST="/var/www/html/semblance"
+
+echo "======================================"
+echo "Semblance — server-side deployment"
+echo "======================================"
+
+cd "$DEPLOY_DIR"
+
+# ── Pre-flight ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+if [ ! -f backend/.env ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: backend/.env not found."
+    echo "  cp backend/.env.example backend/.env && nano backend/.env"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+for VAR in SECRET_KEY JWT_SECRET_KEY OPENAI_API_KEY GEMINI_API_KEY; do
+    if ! grep -q "^${VAR}=.\+" backend/.env 2>/dev/null; then
+        echo "ERROR: $VAR is not set in backend/.env"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+done
+echo "✓ backend/.env OK"
+
+# ── Step 1: Pull latest code ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "[1/3] Pulling latest code..."
+git pull
+
+# ── Step 2: Ensure frontend dir exists ───────────────────────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "[2/3] Ensuring frontend directory..."
+sudo mkdir -p "$FRONTEND_DEST"
+sudo chown -R www-data:www-data "$FRONTEND_DEST"
+echo "✓ $FRONTEND_DEST ready"
+
+# ── Step 3: Rebuild and restart Docker services ───────────────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "[3/3] Rebuilding and restarting Docker services..."
+docker compose up -d --build
+
+echo ""
+echo "Container status:"
+docker compose ps
+
+echo ""
+echo "======================================"
+echo "Server deployment complete!"
+echo "  Backend: http://127.0.0.1:5137"
+echo ""
+echo "NOTE: Frontend not deployed (requires local build)."
+echo "  Run ./deploy.sh from your Mac to deploy the frontend."
+echo "======================================"