diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index aa31fdc4..34458274 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -106,4 +106,5 @@ venv.bak/
 .mypy_cache/
 
 .idea
-discord.log
\ No newline at end of file
+discord.log
+/.vscode/settings.json
diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..39b8bda1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{
+    "version": "0.2.0",
+    "configurations": [
+        {
+            "name": "Python",
+            "type": "python",
+            "request": "launch",
+            "stopOnEntry": true,
+            "pythonPath": "${config:python.pythonPath}",
+            "program": "${file}",
+            "args": [
+                "put_bot_user_token_here"
+            ],
+            "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+            "env": {},
+            "envFile": "${workspaceFolder}/.env",
+            "debugOptions": [
+                "RedirectOutput"
+            ]
+        }
+    ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b7269b8c..877bde64 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1 +1,19 @@
 # discord-bot
+
+Dependencies:
+* python3.5 or newer
+* pip for python3
+* `$ python3 -m pip install -U discord.py`
+* pyparsing for python3 (distro package or through pip)
+* requests for python3 (distro package or through pip)
+
+
+Optional stuff for private testing:
+* [create an app](https://discordapp.com/developers/applications/me)
+* add a user bot to this new app (look at the bottom of the app page)
+  * notice the Bot User Token
+* [add your new bot to your private server](https://discordapp.com/oauth2/authorize?client_id=BOTCLIENTID&scope=bot)
+* change channel IDs in `bot.py` for your test server channels
+
+How to run:
+* `$ python3 bot.py bot_user_token`
\ No newline at end of file