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-venv
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 # RightTree
 
-Right Plant Right Place Right Time implementation using React and Django.
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+Right Plant Right Place Right Time implementation using React and Django.
+
+## Running application for development
+### Initial Setup
+
+Before running the applications please ensure the following prerequisites have been met.
+#### Software
+Most applications in this repository are built using Docker which resolves many dependencies but you will require a local installation of `git`, `docker` and `docker-compose`.
+
+```bash
+$ sudo apt install git docker-compose
+```
+
+To install `docker`, follow the [official installation documentation](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/). [Instructions are also available for `docker-compose`](https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/).
+
+#### Initialise database
+
+Creates `right_tree` database and installs `postgis` extensions.
+
+```
+chmod +x ./database/init_database.sh
+./database/init_database.sh
+```
+
+#### Initial build
+
+Builds the Django backend docker image. This may need to be re-run if any new dependencies are added.
+```
+docker-compose build
+```
+
+### Run web application
+
+Starts up the applications including the frontend, backend and database.
+
+```
+docker-compose up
+```
+
+Once running the components can be accessed as follows:
+
+| Application | Hosted |
+| --- | --- |
+| React Frontend | http://localhost:3000 |
+| Django Backend | http://localhost:8000 |
+| Database | postgis://localhost:5432 |
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