updating documentation with instructions on how to start up

README.md

@@ -4,3 +4,43 @@ If you'd like to participate or just stay in the loop as this project progresses
 https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/simple-archive
 
 To see more details about what we've discussed so far, check out the running notes on the project: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zDayF4ERMjj22QI3RaUZeTeb6nIVl3c2KDNw5WLLUqE/edit
+
+## Getting Started
+
+If you'd like to set up your own copy of the SIMPLE database, here's what we recommend:
+
+1. Clone or download a copy of this repo somewhere locally
+
+2. Set up an environment for the python code. 
+A conda environment file exists for convenience.
+
+3. Install the AstrodbKit2 package:
+
+```bash
+pip install git+https://github.com/dr-rodriguez/AstrodbKit2
+```
+
+5. Create the database. If you already have a binary DB file (eg, with SQLite), skip to the next step. 
+
+```python
+from astrodbkit2.astrodb import create_database
+from simple.schema import *
+
+connection_string = 'sqlite:///SIMPLE.db'  # SQLite
+create_database(connection_string)
+```
+
+6. Connect to your existing database.
+
+```python
+from astrodbkit2.astrodb import Database
+
+connection_string = 'sqlite:///SIMPLE.db'  # SQLite
+db = Database(connection_string)
+```
+
+7. Load database contents from repo, if needed.
+
+```python
+db.load_database('data')
+```