From e68872b299a849e9c440d69975067dece3ef793b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Charmunks <isaac@jedfonner.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2025 22:38:12 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] documentation updates

---
 README.md   | 38 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------
 example.env |  4 +++-
 2 files changed, 35 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index eda8f59..8a1a20b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,7 +4,11 @@ Spaces is a web app that allows access to visual studio code, kicad, and blender
 ## Setup:
 ### Manual Setup:
 #### Prerequisites: 
-Before installing, you must have docker set up and the daemon running. You must also have nodejs and npm installed.
+Before installing, you must have:
+- Docker installed and the daemon running
+- Node.js (v18.x or higher) and npm installed
+- PostgreSQL database set up and accessible
+- Airtable account with API key and base ID for email verification
 
 #### Installation: 
 ```bash
@@ -29,9 +33,12 @@ npm run serve:client
 ### Docker Setup:
 
 #### Prerequisites: 
-Before installing, you must have both docker and docker-compose set up and the daemon running.
+Before installing, you must have:
+- Docker and docker-compose installed and the daemon running
+- PostgreSQL database set up and accessible
+- Airtable account with API key and base ID for email verification
 
-### Installation:
+#### Installation:
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/hackclub/spaces-new.git
 
@@ -48,13 +55,32 @@ docker compose up --build
 PG_CONNECTION_STRING=your-postgres-db-url
 # airtable credentials for email otps
 AIRTABLE_API_KEY=your-airtable-pat
-AIRTABLE_BASE_ID=your=airtable-baseid
-# port for backend server
+AIRTABLE_BASE_ID=your-airtable-base-id
+
+# Server configuration
 PORT=3000
-# set to true if using docker
+NODE_ENV=development
+
+# Frontend configuration
+FRONTEND_URL=http://localhost:5173
+
+# Server URL for container access URLs
+SERVER_URL=http://localhost
+
+# Set to 'true' if running in Docker, 'false' for manual setup
 DOCKER=false
 ```
 
+**Required Environment Variables:**
+- `PG_CONNECTION_STRING` - PostgreSQL database connection URL
+- `AIRTABLE_API_KEY` - Airtable API key for email verification
+- `AIRTABLE_BASE_ID` - Airtable base ID for storing verification codes
+- `PORT` - Backend server port (default: 3000)
+- `DOCKER` - Must be 'true' for Docker setup, 'false' for manual setup
+- `SERVER_URL` - Base URL for container access (e.g., http://localhost or your domain)
+- `FRONTEND_URL` - Frontend URL for CORS (default: http://localhost:5173)
+- `NODE_ENV` - Environment mode: 'development' or 'production'
+
 ## API Documentation:
 
 By default the API will be accessible at `/api/v1`
diff --git a/example.env b/example.env
index ea1b6fb..6f40203 100644
--- a/example.env
+++ b/example.env
@@ -4,4 +4,6 @@ AIRTABLE_BASE_ID=your=airtable-baseid
 PORT=3000
 DOCKER=false
 API_URL=http://localhost:3000/api/v1
-SERVER_URL=http://localhost
\ No newline at end of file
+SERVER_URL=http://localhost
+NODE_ENV=development
+FRONTEND_URL=http://localhost:5173