diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae57049
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+DISCORD_TOKEN=
+LASTFM_API_KEY=
+DATABASE_URL=sqlite:watcat.db
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 4f83806..c6c5ace 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 /target
 /.env
+/watcat.db
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a63b7b0..7f94a67 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,9 +8,17 @@ why?
 
 cosmo relies on [imagetext-py](https://github.com/nathanielfernandes/imagetext-py), which either does not have a freebsd wheel or else uv cannot find it
 
-also I'm a rust shill and python hater and just needed an excuse
+~~also I'm a rust shill and python hater and just needed an excuse~~
 
 but your code sucks
 -------------------
 
 I'm trying, okay?
+
+running
+-------
+
+populate .env with necessary values. a template .env.example is given
+
+create the database ``sqlx database create --database-url="sqlite:watcat.db"``
+(note: make sure you have sqlx installed first)