diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,43 @@
-# braid
-websocket server for the measure platform
+# BRAID v0.8.5
+## Websocket server for the Measure platform
+---
+[![Build Status](https://semaphoreci.com/api/v1/projects/7767f0f3-4da6-4c84-9167-4db5402a3262/2573412/badge.svg)](https://semaphoreci.com/yardstick/braid)
+
+## Essential Information:
+* braid uses [mocha (test framework)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/mocha), [chai (BDD/TDD assertion library)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/chai), [sinnon (spies, stubs, and mocks)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/sinon), [nyc (code coverage calculator)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/nyc) for our unit testing. Get aquainted with these packages to have a smooth unit testing experience.
+* For web sockets braid uses [ws](https://www.npmjs.com/package/ws)
+* Braid uses [typescript](https://www.npmjs.com/package/typescript) for our primary code development because of it's opinionated type management among other things. Get a good understanding of what typescript is, it's benifitsm drawbacks and dev flow
+
+## Local Development
+* you can see if braid is running by typing in `https://ysbraid.localhost:8443`
+* to connect to braid you need to use the url `wss://ysbraid.localhost:8443?token={token}`
+  * the token is generated in the application that you're connecting to the braid app with (currently only measure has an implementation for this)
+* you can generate a token for development in you local console (`app-console`) with the following commands:
+
+```
+secret = "test"
+payload = {
+  :data => {
+    :client => 'client name (mhs is only one implemented currently)',           :client_type => 'site (only one in use rite now)',
+    :user_id => (yardstick user id),
+    :user_type => '(teacher/user)',
+    :channel => 'desired channel name'
+  },
+  :sub => 'Braid JWT',
+  :aud => "internal",
+  :iss => 'Yardstick Software',
+  :exp => Time.now.to_i + 120 * 3600 (optional)}
+
+token = JWT.encode payload, hmac_secret, "HS256"
+
+```
+
+## Setting up
+* download the braid repo into a folder in the same director as the primary yardstick folder
+* `vagrant up` in the primary yardstick folder
+* run the command `compose stop braid && compose rm braid && tsc && compose build braid && compose up -d`
+  * `compose stop` stops the default braid container that `vagrant up` builds
+  * `compose rm braid` removes the default braid container
+  * `tsc` transpiles the typescript in braid into javascript
+  * `compose build braid` builds the braid container based on the latest transpiled javascript files
+  * `comopose up -d` builds the braid container based on the files in the braid folder, overriding the defaul braid build container