diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c27480ef..21030052 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,11 +5,18 @@ spee.ch is a single-serving site that reads and publishes images to and from the
 * start lbry
 	* install the [`lbry`](https://github.com/lbryio/lbry) daemon
 	* start the `lbry` daemon
+* start mysql
+	* install mysql
+	* create a database called `lbry`
+	* save your connection uri somewhere handy (you will need it when you start the server)
+		* the uri should be in the form `mysql://user:pass@host:port/dbname`
 * clone this repo
-* create a folder called `Uploads` in the same root directory where you cloned the repo
+	* customize `config/develpment.json` by replacing the value of `Database.PublishUploadPath` with a string representing the local path where you want uploaded files to be stored.
 * run `npm install`
-* from your terminal, run `npm start`
-	* to run hot, run `nodemon server.js`
+* to start the server, from your command line run `node server.js` while passing three environmental variables: your lbry wallet address (`LBRY_WALLET_ADDRESS`), your mysql connection uri (`MYSQL_CONNECTION_STRING`), and the environment to run (`NODE_ENV`).
+	* i.e. `LBRY_WALLET_ADDRESS=<your wallet address here> MYSQL_CONNECTION_STRING=<your connection uri here> NODE_ENV=development node server.js`
+	* e.g. `LBRY_WALLET_ADDRESS=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX MYSQL_CONNECTION_STRING=mysql://root:XXXXXX@localhost:3306/lbry NODE_ENV=development node server.js`
+	* To run hot, use `nodemon` instead of `node`
 * visit [localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000)
 
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