diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1269488
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+data
diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
index 3314f59..530069d 100644
--- a/app/main.py
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -1,18 +1,21 @@
-# app/main.py
 from fastapi import FastAPI, Request
 from datetime import datetime
 from pathlib import Path
 import json
 
 app = FastAPI()
-DATA_FILE = Path("data.json")
 
+DATA_DIR = Path("data")
+DATA_FILE = DATA_DIR / "data.json"
+
+# Ensure the data directory exists
+DATA_DIR.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
 
 @app.post("/submit")
 async def submit_data(request: Request):
     payload = await request.json()
 
-    # Create the file if it doesn't exist
+    # Initialize data file if it doesn't exist
     if not DATA_FILE.exists():
         with open(DATA_FILE, "w") as f:
             json.dump([], f)
@@ -27,3 +30,4 @@ async def submit_data(request: Request):
         json.dump(existing_data, f, indent=4)
 
     return {"message": "Data saved successfully"}
+