diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dda3208
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# writer
+A simple web/markdown-based notebook thingy
+
+This is a notebook app written in typescript using koa for the backend and react+redux for the frontend.
+
+## Getting started
+
+You need to create a ormconfig.json file, you can use ormconfig.example.json as, well, an example (you only need to change the database connection settings)
+
+Then start with `npm run dev`
+
+Parcel will be listening at http://localhost:1234, and koa at http://localhost:3000