diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f6fe994..f8a1d18 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -311,3 +311,7 @@ poetry.toml
 pyrightconfig.json
 
 # End of https://www.toptal.com/developers/gitignore/api/node,python
+
+# Codetyper.nvim - AI coding partner files
+*.coder.*
+.coder/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93f2e21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+QR Code App
+
+This repository contains a simple QR-code backend (FastAPI) and a React + Vite frontend.
+
+Prerequisites
+- Python 3.10+ (for backend)
+- Node.js (18+) and npm (for frontend)
+
+Backend (FastAPI)
+
+1) Create and activate a virtual environment
+
+```bash
+python3 -m venv backend/.venv
+source backend/.venv/bin/activate   # macOS / Linux
+```
+
+2) Install Python dependencies
+
+```bash
+pip install -r backend/requirements.txt
+```
+
+3) Run the backend (development)
+
+```bash
+uvicorn app.main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 5001 --reload
+
+# option B (uses the included runner)
+python backend/main.py
+```
+
+The backend listens on port 5001 by default and exposes the QR generator at:
+
+POST http://localhost:5001/api/qrcode/generate
+
+Payload JSON shape: { "text": "string", "size": number }
+Response: image/png (binary image bytes)
+
+Frontend (React + Vite)
+
+1) Install dependencies and run dev server
+
+```bash
+cd frontend
+npm install
+npm run dev
+```
+
+Vite's dev server typically serves at http://localhost:5173. The frontend is configured to call the backend at http://localhost:5001 (see frontend/src/api/qrcode.ts). Ensure the backend is running before using the UI.
+
+Notes
+
+- CORS is enabled in the backend for local development.
+- If you change backend port, update the host constant in `frontend/src/api/qrcode.ts`.
+
+Author
+
+- Carlos Gutierrez <cgutierrez44833@ucumberlands.edu>