diff --git a/backend/.gcloudignore b/backend/.gcloudignore
index 19315ab..7b654f2 100644
--- a/backend/.gcloudignore
+++ b/backend/.gcloudignore
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@ yarn-debug.log*
 yarn-error.log*
 
 # Build outputs
-dist/
-build/
 .next/
 out/
 
@@ -26,6 +24,9 @@ logs/
 firebase-debug.log
 firebase-debug.*.log
 
+# Source files
+src/
+
 # Test files
 coverage/
 .nyc_output
@@ -38,11 +39,6 @@ tmp/
 
 # Documentation and markdown files
 *.md
-AGENTIC_RAG_DATABASE_INTEGRATION.md
-DATABASE.md
-HYBRID_IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md
-RAG_PROCESSING_README.md
-go-forward-fixes-summary.md
 
 # Scripts and setup files
 *.sh
diff --git a/backend/deploy.sh b/backend/deploy.sh
index afc3795..3c4a6a1 100755
--- a/backend/deploy.sh
+++ b/backend/deploy.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,22 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 set -e
 
-echo "Building TypeScript..."
-npm run build
+echo "Starting deployment script at $(date)"
 
-echo "Deploying function to Firebase..."
+echo "Listing current directory contents:"
+ls -la
+
+echo "Checking size of node_modules before build:"
+du -sh node_modules
+
+echo "Building TypeScript at $(date)..."
+npm run build
+echo "Finished building TypeScript at $(date)"
+
+echo "Checking size of dist directory:"
+du -sh dist
+
+echo "Deploying function to Firebase at $(date)..."
 gcloud functions deploy api \
   --gen2 \
   --runtime nodejs20 \
@@ -12,4 +24,6 @@ gcloud functions deploy api \
   --source . \
   --entry-point api \
   --trigger-http \
-  --allow-unauthenticated 
\ No newline at end of file
+  --allow-unauthenticated
+
+echo "Finished deployment at $(date)" 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index adac6ef..df22049 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
       "version": "1.0.0",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
-        "axios": "^1.11.0",
-        "form-data": "^4.0.4"
+        "axios": "^1.11.0"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
         "concurrently": "^8.2.2"