diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 180381a..d669d83 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,58 @@
 # ninwa
 
-node input watcher
\ No newline at end of file
+node input watcher
+
+## requirements
+
+- node.js
+- yarn
+- evtest
+
+## setup 
+
+- clone the project  
+`git clone https://git.velvettear.de/velvettear/ninwa.git`
+
+- enter the project directory  
+`cd ninwa`
+
+- installed required modules  
+`yarn install`
+
+- modify `config.json` according to your needs
+
+- execute ninwa  
+`node ninwa.js`
+
+## systemd
+
+**for security reasons it is highly recommended to not run ninwa with root permissions!**
+
+- create a new system user  
+`useradd -r -s /usr/bin/nologin ninwa`
+
+- symlink the provided systemd-service file and modify it according to your needs  
+`ln -s /path/to/ninwa/ninwa.service /etc/systemd/system/ninwa.service`
+
+- reload systemd-services  
+`systemctl daemon-reload`
+
+- enable and start the ninwa as a systemd-service  
+`systemctl enable --now ninwa`
+
+## configuration
+
+configuration is done entirely within the file `config.json`. 
+
+### log: [*object*]  
+- level: [*string*] verbosity of the log; either `debug`, `info`, `warning` or `error`  
+- timestamp: [*string*] format string for the timestamp; review [moment.js](https://momentjs.com/docs/#/displaying/format/) for further information
+
+### watchers: [*object-array*]  
+- device: [*string*] name of or path to an input device; ninwa automatically tries to locate the device in `/dev/input` and `/dev/input/by-id/` if only a name is given  
+- keys: [*object-array*]  
+    - key: [*string*] name of the key
+    - type: [*string*] type of the key event; either `keyup`, `keydown` or `keyhold`
+    - delay: [*number*] time in milliseconds until the key will be registered again (mostly useful for keyhold-events)
+    - command: [*string*] command to execute on key press
+    - args: [*string-array*] arguments to pass to the executed command
\ No newline at end of file