diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1aeabd9..7d507fe 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,24 @@
 # react-native-template
 
+## Purpose
+This repo contains a react native template that:
+- Instantiates a basic redux store with two reducers
+- Declares a basic action creator
+- Configures a stack navigator with several components
+- Configures an encrypted realm database and exposes it with a singleton API
+
+## Dependencies
+- Node version 18
+
+## Running the app
+- Clone the repo
+- Navigate to the directory in a cli with node accessible
+- Run the command **npm install**
+- Wait for the installation to complete
+- Start an Android or iOS simulator (or connect a device with USB debugging configured)
+- In the cli, pass the command **npm run android** or **npm run ios**
+- Wait for the build to complete and install on the device
+
 ## Coding Conventions
 - Lower-case single-word folder names
 - Upper-case single-word file names
@@ -7,14 +26,14 @@
 - Lower-case exports IF export is a function
 
 ## Testing Scripts
-- "npm run test": run all tests with minimal console output
-- "npm run testVerbose": run all tests with all console output
-- "npm run testCoverage": produce coverage report for all project code
-- "npm run testActionCreators": only test action creators
-- "npm run testApp": only test app screens and components
-- "npm run testMigrations": only test database migrations
-- "npm run testRepos": only test database repositories
-- "npm run testDB": only test database setup and API calls
-- "npm run testNav": only test navigation
-- "npm run testThemes": only test app theming and styles setup
-- "npm run testServices": only test app services
\ No newline at end of file
+- "npm run **test**": run all tests with minimal console output
+- "npm run **testVerbose**": run all tests with all console output
+- "npm run **testCoverage**": produce coverage report for all project code
+- "npm run **testActionCreators**": only test action creators
+- "npm run **testApp**": only test app screens and components
+- "npm run **testMigrations**": only test database migrations
+- "npm run **testRepos**": only test database repositories
+- "npm run **testDB**": only test database setup and API calls
+- "npm run **testNav**": only test navigation
+- "npm run **testThemes**": only test app theming and styles setup
+- "npm run **testServices**": only test app services
\ No newline at end of file