diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 9a41dd3..3ea8b0f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -56,4 +56,7 @@ vcs.xml
 google-services.json
 
 # Android Profiling
-*.hprof 
\ No newline at end of file
+*.hprof
+
+# Gradle properties file (contains sensitive credentials)
+gradle.properties 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.kotlin/sessions/kotlin-compiler-16266712807184755328.salive b/.kotlin/sessions/kotlin-compiler-16266712807184755328.salive
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/app/build.gradle b/app/build.gradle
index acd7231..bcde979 100644
--- a/app/build.gradle
+++ b/app/build.gradle
@@ -17,10 +17,22 @@ android {
         testInstrumentationRunner "androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
     }
 
+    signingConfigs {
+        release {
+            if (project.hasProperty('RELEASE_STORE_FILE')) {
+                storeFile file(RELEASE_STORE_FILE)
+                storePassword RELEASE_STORE_PASSWORD
+                keyAlias RELEASE_KEY_ALIAS
+                keyPassword RELEASE_KEY_PASSWORD
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     buildTypes {
         release {
             minifyEnabled true
             proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
+            signingConfig signingConfigs.release
         }
     }
     
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index cd0519b..21c2b85 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -20,4 +20,11 @@ kotlin.code.style=official
 # Enables namespacing of each library's R class so that its R class includes only the
 # resources declared in the library itself and none from the library's dependencies,
 # thereby reducing the size of the R class for that library
-android.nonTransitiveRClass=true
\ No newline at end of file
+android.nonTransitiveRClass=true
+
+# Keystore Properties
+# WARNING: Make sure this file is added to .gitignore
+RELEASE_STORE_FILE=../../pixelmint-release-key.jks
+RELEASE_STORE_PASSWORD=Star.Bucks1505
+RELEASE_KEY_ALIAS=dropkey
+RELEASE_KEY_PASSWORD=Star.Bucks1505
\ No newline at end of file