diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,29 @@
 # fedireads
 
 Social reading and reviewing, decentralized with ActivityPub
+
+## Setting up the developer environment
+You will need postgres installed and running on your computer.
+
+``` bash
+python3 -m venv venv
+source venv/bin/activate
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+createdb fedireads
+```
+
+Create the psql user in `psql fedireads`:
+``` psql
+CREATE ROLE fedireads WITH LOGIN PASSWORD 'fedireads';
+GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON DATABASE fedireads TO fedireads;
+```
+
+Initialize the database
+``` bash
+./rebuilddb.sh
+```
+This creates two users, `mouse` with password `password123` and `rat` with password `ratword`.
+
+And go to the app at localhost:8000
+
+For most testing, you'll want to use ngrok. Remember to set the DOMAIN in settings.py to your ngrok domain.