diff --git a/desktop/.gitignore b/desktop/.gitignore
index 2dc38ee8..b486ea24 100644
--- a/desktop/.gitignore
+++ b/desktop/.gitignore
@@ -39,9 +39,6 @@ build/
 ### Mac OS ###
 .DS_Store
 
-## Database related
-connectionpetstore.properties
-
 # Log files
 *.log
 log.txt
diff --git a/desktop/src/main/resources/connectionpetstore.properties b/desktop/src/main/resources/connectionpetstore.properties
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..95369ec9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/main/resources/connectionpetstore.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Backend URL — swap comments to switch between local and remote
+api.baseUrl=http://localhost:8080
+#api.baseUrl=https://petshop-backend.nicepond-c7280126.westus2.azurecontainerapps.io