diff --git a/backend/src/middleware/docs.js b/backend/src/middleware/docs.js
index f4ce6a6..bd6e188 100644
--- a/backend/src/middleware/docs.js
+++ b/backend/src/middleware/docs.js
@@ -1,50 +1,63 @@
 const express = require("express");
 const path = require("path");
 
-// applies a bunch of middleware
+// Root paths
+const PROJECT_ROOT = path.join(__dirname, "../../../..");
+
+const PATHS = {
+    core: path.join(PROJECT_ROOT, "oseda-course"),
+    cli: path.join(PROJECT_ROOT, "oseda-cli"),
+    lib: path.join(PROJECT_ROOT, "oseda-lib"),
+};
+
+// Route → file mapping
+const DOC_ROUTES = {
+    "/api/docs/overview": path.join(PATHS.core, "README.md"),
+
+    "/api/docs/cli": path.join(PATHS.cli, "README.md"),
+    "/api/docs/cli/usage": path.join(PATHS.cli, "Usage.md"),
+
+    "/api/docs/contributing/getting-started": path.join(
+        PATHS.core,
+        "docs/COURSE_CONTRIBUTING.md"
+    ),
+    "/api/docs/contributing/guidelines": path.join(
+        PATHS.core,
+        "docs/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.MD"
+    ),
+
+    "/api/docs/core/frontend": path.join(
+        PATHS.core,
+        "frontend/README.md"
+    ),
+    "/api/docs/core/backend": path.join(
+        PATHS.core,
+        "backend/README.md"
+    ),
+    "/api/docs/core/readme": path.join(
+        PATHS.core,
+        "README.md"
+    ),
+
+    "/api/docs/lib": path.join(PATHS.lib, "README.md"),
+};
 
 /**
- * Statically serves all documentation endpoints
+ * Registers all documentation routes
  * @param {Express} server
  */
 const serveDocs = (server) => {
-    const overviewReadmePath = path.join(__dirname, "../../../README.md");
-
-    server.use("/api/docs/overview", express.static(overviewReadmePath));
-
-
-
-    // mount the readme at the top level
-    const cliReadmePath = path.join(__dirname, "../../../../oseda-cli/README.md");
-    server.use("/api/docs/cli/", express.static(cliReadmePath))
-
-    const cliUsagePath = path.join(__dirname, "../../../../oseda-cli/Usage.md");
-    server.use("/api/docs/cli/usage", express.static(cliUsagePath))
-
-    
-    const courseContributing = path.join(__dirname, "../../../docs/COURSE_CONTRIBUTING.md");
-    server.use("/api/docs/contributing/getting-started", express.static(courseContributing))
-
-    const codeOfConduct = path.join(__dirname, "../../../docs/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.MD");
-    server.use("/api/docs/contributing/guidelines", express.static(codeOfConduct));
-
-    const frontendReadme = path.join(__dirname, "../../../frontend/README.md");
-    server.use("/api/docs/core/frontend", express.static(frontendReadme));
-
-    const backendReadme = path.join(__dirname, "../../../backend/README.md");
-    server.use("/api/docs/core/backend", express.static(backendReadme));
-
-    const coreReadme = path.join(__dirname, "../../../README.md");
-    server.use("/api/docs/core/readme", express.static(coreReadme));
-
-    const libReadme = path.join(__dirname, "../../../../oseda-lib/README.md");
-    server.use("/api/docs/lib", express.static(libReadme));
-
-
-
-}
-
+    Object.entries(DOC_ROUTES).forEach(([route, filePath]) => {
+        server.get(route, (req, res) => {
+            res.sendFile(filePath, (err) => {
+                if (err) {
+                    res.status(err.status || 500).send("Error loading document");
+                }
+            });
+        });
+    });
+};
 
 module.exports = {
-    serveDocs
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+    serveDocs,
+};