[chore] add readme

README.md

@@ -1 +1,62 @@
-# girls-write-now
+# Girls Write Now
+This project is designed and developed by a team of UC Berkeley students through one of [Cal Blueprint](https://calblueprint.org/)'s project teams during the 2022-23 academic year. 
+
+Learn more about [Vouchers 4 Veggies](https://girlswritenow.org/) and [Cal Blueprint](https://calblueprint.org/).
+
+---
+## Getting Started
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+Check your installation of `npm` and `node`:
+
+```sh
+node -v
+npm -v
+```
+
+We strongly recommend using a Node version manager like [nvm](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm) (for Mac) or [nvm-windows](https://github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows) (for Windows) to install Node.js and npm. See [Downloading and installing Node.js and npm](https://docs.npmjs.com/downloading-and-installing-node-js-and-npm).
+
+### Installation
+
+1. Clone the repo & install dependencies
+   1. Clone this repo
+      * using SSH (recommended)
+         ```sh
+         git clone [email protected]:calblueprint/girls-write-now.git
+         ```
+      * using HTTPS
+         ```sh
+         git clone https://github.com/calblueprint/girls-write-now.git
+         ```
+   2. Enter the cloned directory
+        ```sh
+        cd girls-write-now
+        ```
+   3. Install project dependencies. This command installs all packages from [`package.json`](package.json).
+      ```sh
+      npm install
+      ```
+2. Set up secrets:
+   1. In the project's root directory (`girls-write-now/`), create a new file named `.env`
+   2. Copy the credentials from [Blueprint's internal Notion](https://www.notion.so/calblueprint/Secrets-34fde2e9c9bb41d0ad1cb2bebedadd28?pvs=4) (access is required) and paste them into the `.env` file.
+
+**Helpful resources**
+* [GitHub: Cloning a Repository](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/creating-and-managing-repositories/cloning-a-repository#cloning-a-repository)
+* [GitHub: Generating SSH keys](https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent)
+### Development environment
+
+- **[VSCode](https://code.visualstudio.com/) (recommended)**
+  1. Open the `girls-write-now` project in VSCode.
+  2. Install recommended workspace VSCode extensions. You should see a pop-up on the bottom right to "install the recommended extensions for this repository".
+
+### Running the app
+
+1. In the project directory, run:
+   ```shell
+    npx expo start
+   ```
+2. There are several ways to test the app:
+     - **Expo Go (Recommended)**: [download Expo Go](https://docs.expo.dev/get-started/installation/#2-expo-go-app-for-android-and) on your phone, **connect to same network as your laptop**, and use your phone camera to scan the QR code displayed in the command line.
+     -  Web: typing `w` into the expo command line opens the app in a web view. 
+        -  Warning: since the app is designed to be used on a mobile app, web compatibility might be limited, and some functionality might be different when using the web setup.