diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 480d453..ecea85e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1 +1,64 @@
-# nettleship.net
+# nettleship.net 
+
+This repository contains the full stack codebase for the Nettleship.net website, including both the client and server components.
+
+This project began in Python a while ago, just so I could play Uno with my friends in class on our laptops. Websites like this already existed, but we wanted our own version that was fully customizable. I managed to get the Python version to a playable state, though the code itself could’ve been better. 
+
+I later decided to restart the project in JavaScript, and in doing so, I researched best practices for professional APIs and frontends. My aim is to learn as much about web development as possible. 
+
+While rewriting it, I’ve also been taking notes so I can use this code for my A Level Computer Science coursework. 
+
+## Project Structure
+
+- `client/`: Contains the frontend code
+- `server/`: Contains the backend code
+
+## Getting Started
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+- Node.js v22.2.0
+- npm
+- MongoDB
+
+### Installation
+
+1. Clone the repository:
+
+    ```sh
+    git clone https://github.com/oomsooms/nettleship-net.git
+    cd nettleship-net
+    ```
+
+2. Install dependencies for both client and server:
+
+    ```sh
+    cd client
+    npm install
+    cd ../server
+    npm install
+    ```
+
+## Running the Application
+
+### Client
+
+1. Navigate to the client directory:
+
+    ```sh
+    cd client
+    ```
+
+2. Start the development server:
+
+    ```sh
+    npm run dev
+    ```
+
+3. The client will be running on http://localhost:3000.
+
+For server setup and running instructions, refer to the [server README](./server/README.md).
+
+## License
+
+This project is licensed under the GPL-3.0 License - see the [LICENSE](/LICENSE) file for details.
diff --git a/server/README.md b/server/README.md
index e69de29..9adb73e 100644
--- a/server/README.md
+++ b/server/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+
+# Server
+
+This is the API backend for the Nettleship.net website, built with Express and MongoDB.
+
+## Project Structure
+
+- `src/`: Contains the main application code.
+- `tests/`: Contains unit and integration tests.
+- `logs/`: Contains log files.
+- `public/`: Contains public assets like uploads when in development. Production uses AWS S3 + cloudfront.
+
+## Getting Started
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+- Node.js v22.2.0
+- npm
+- MongoDB
+
+### Installation
+
+1. Clone the repository:
+
+    ```sh
+    git clone https://github.com/oomsooms/nettleship-net.git
+    cd nettleship-net/server
+    ```
+
+2. Install dependencies:
+
+    ```sh
+    npm install
+    ```
+
+3. Create a `.env` file based on `.env.example`:
+
+    ```sh
+    cp .env.example .env
+    ```
+
+4. Update the `.env` file with your configuration.
+
+### Environment Variables
+
+The `NODE_ENV` environment variable is used in several places throughout the codebase to determine the environment in which the application is running. Here is a list of its usages and their effects:
+
+1. **Logging Configuration**:
+   - File: [src/config/logger.js](src/config/logger.js)
+   - Effect: In non-production environments, only console logging is enabled. In production, file logging is used.
+
+2. **Request Validation**:
+   - File: [src/api/middlewares/validateRequest.js](src/api/middlewares/validateRequest.js)
+   - Effect: In production, a generic error message is returned for invalid requests. In other environments, detailed validation errors are returned.
+
+3. **Database Connection**:
+   - File: [src/config/db.js](src/config/db.js)
+   - Effect: In test environments, an in-memory MongoDB server is used. In other environments, the database URI from the environment variables is used.
+
+4. **Server Configuration**:
+   - File: [src/app.js](src/app.js)
+   - Effect: In production, HTTP request logs are written to a file. In other environments, logs are output to the console.
+
+### Running the Server
+
+1. Start the development server:
+
+    ```sh
+    npm run dev
+    ```
+
+2. The server will be running on http://localhost:8000.
+
+### Testing
+
+I have used Jest for the server tests.
+
+Unit tests will mock all functions before the tests.
+Intergration tests will use MongoDB Memory Server.
+
+to run the tests:
+
+```sh
+npm test
+```
+
+### Test Suites
+
+Here is an overview of what each test covers:
+
+- **Test name**: Test description
+
+(still need to redo tests before adding them here)
+
+### Linting
+
+I have used ESLint for linting.
+
+To lint the code:
+
+```sh
+npm run lint
+```
+
+To automatically fix linting errors:
+
+```sh
+npm run lint:fix
+```
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