diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c4b634f5..38879c9b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
     "lint": "eslint --ext .jsx --ext .js src",
     "lint-nice": "eslint --ext .jsx --ext .js src || exit 0;",
     "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1",
-    "start": "copyfiles index.html environment.js dist && webpack-dev-server --progress --host 0.0.0.0 --port 4690",
+    "start": "copyfiles index.html environment.js dist && cross-env USE_HTTPS=false webpack-dev-server --progress --host 0.0.0.0 --port 4690",
+    "start-secure": "copyfiles index.html environment.js dist && cross-env USE_HTTPS=true webpack-dev-server --progress --host 0.0.0.0 --port 4690",
     "prebuild": "npm install && rimraf dist",
     "build": "cross-env NODE_ENV=production webpack --mode production --config webpack.config.production.js",
     "postbuild": "copyfiles index.html dist",
diff --git a/webpack.config.js b/webpack.config.js
index 0d67cfe7..12fb9dcf 100644
--- a/webpack.config.js
+++ b/webpack.config.js
@@ -1,33 +1,55 @@
 const { resolve } = require('path');
 const webpack = require('webpack');
+const fs = require('fs');
 
+// PublicPath defines the base path for all assets served by Webpack.
 const PublicPath = '/frontend/';
 
 module.exports = {
+  // Mode specifies the build mode. 'development' is used for debugging.
   mode: 'development',
+
+  // Context sets the base directory for resolving entry points and loaders.
   context: resolve(__dirname, 'src'),
+
+  // Entry points for the application. These include Webpack Dev Server for live reloading
+  // and application-specific files like devmode.js and index.jsx.
   entry: [
-    'webpack-dev-server/client?http://localhost:4690',
-    'webpack/hot/only-dev-server',
+    'webpack-dev-server/client?http://localhost:4690', // Enables live reloading
+    'webpack/hot/only-dev-server', // Enables Hot Module Replacement (HMR)
     './devmode.js',
     './index.jsx'
   ],
+
+  // Output configuration for the bundled files.
   output: {
-    filename: 'static/bundle.js',
-    path: resolve(__dirname, 'dist'),
-    publicPath: PublicPath
+    filename: 'static/bundle.js', // Name of the output bundle
+    path: resolve(__dirname, 'dist'), // Directory for output files
+    publicPath: PublicPath // Base URL for all assets
   },
+
+  // Enables source maps for easier debugging in the browser.
   devtool: 'inline-source-map',
+
+  // Configuration for the Webpack Dev Server.
   devServer: {
+    // Ensures the app works with client-side routing by serving index.html for unknown routes.
     historyApiFallback: true,
+
+    // Enables Hot Module Replacement (HMR) for live updates without a full page reload.
     hot: true,
+
+    // Serves static files from the 'dist' directory.
     static: {
       directory: resolve(__dirname, 'dist'),
       publicPath: PublicPath
     },
+
+    // Proxies API requests to a backend server running on http://localhost:4680.
     proxy: {
       '/': {
         target: 'http://localhost:4680',
+        // Ensures certain requests (e.g., /frontend and /environment.js) are not proxied.
         bypass(req, res, proxyOptions) {
           if (req.originalUrl.indexOf('/frontend') === 0 ||
               req.originalUrl.indexOf('/environment.js') === 0) {
@@ -35,61 +57,85 @@ module.exports = {
           }
         }
       }
-    }
+    },
+
+    // Configures HTTPS if the USE_HTTPS environment variable is set to 'true'.
+    https: process.env.USE_HTTPS === 'true' ? {
+      key: fs.readFileSync(resolve(__dirname, './certs/server.key')), // SSL key
+      cert: fs.readFileSync(resolve(__dirname, './certs/server.crt')), // SSL certificate
+    } : false, // Defaults to HTTP if USE_HTTPS is not set
+
+    // Makes the server accessible on all network interfaces.
+    host: '0.0.0.0',
+
+    // Specifies the port for the development server.
+    port: 4690,
+
+    // Automatically opens the application in the default browser.
+    open: true,
   },
+
+  // Module rules define how different file types are processed.
   module: {
     rules: [
-      // Load JS!
+      // Processes JavaScript and JSX files using Babel.
       {
         test: /\.jsx?$/,
         use: ['babel-loader'],
         exclude: /node_modules/
       },
-      // Load SASS!
+      // Processes SASS/SCSS files and enables CSS modules with hashed class names.
       {
         test: /\.s[ac]ss$/i,
         exclude: /node_modules/,
         use: [
           {
-            loader: 'style-loader'
+            loader: 'style-loader' // Injects styles into the DOM
           },
           {
-            loader: 'css-loader?modules',
+            loader: 'css-loader?modules', // Resolves CSS imports and enables CSS modules
             options: {
               sourceMap: true,
               importLoaders: 2,
               modules: {
-                localIdentName: '[path][name]__[local]--[hash:base64:7]'
+                localIdentName: '[path][name]__[local]--[hash:base64:7]' // Scoped class names
               }
             }
           },
           {
-            loader: 'sass-loader',
+            loader: 'sass-loader', // Compiles SASS/SCSS to CSS
             options: {
               sourceMap: true
             }
           }
         ]
       },
+      // Processes plain CSS files.
       {
         test: /\.css$/i,
         use: ['style-loader', 'css-loader']
       },
+      // Handles font files (e.g., woff, woff2, ttf, eot) as assets.
       {
         test: /\.(woff|woff2|ttf|eot)$/i,
         type: 'asset/resource'
       },
+      // Handles PNG image files as assets.
       {
         test: /\.(png)$/,
         type: 'asset/resource'
       }
     ]
   },
+
+  // Specifies file extensions Webpack will resolve automatically.
   resolve: {
     extensions: ['.js', '.jsx']
   },
+
+  // Plugins extend Webpack's functionality.
   plugins: [
-    // enable HMR globally
+    // Enables Hot Module Replacement (HMR) globally.
     new webpack.HotModuleReplacementPlugin()
   ]
 };