+* Postgresql version 9.6 or newer
+* Elixir version 1.4 or newer
+* Build-essential tools
+
+#### Installing dependencies on Debian system
+PostgreSQL 9.6 should be available on Debian stable (Jessie) from "main" area. Install it using apt: `apt install postgresql-9.6`. Make sure that older versions are not installed since Debian allows multiple versions to coexist but still runs only one version.
+
+You must install elixir 1.4+ from elixir-lang.org, because Debian repos only have 1.3.x version. You will need to add apt repo to sources.list(.d) and import GPG key. Follow instructions here: https://elixir-lang.org/install.html#unix-and-unix-like (See "Ubuntu or Debian 7"). This should be valid until Debian updates elixir in their repositories. Package you want is named `elixir`, so install it using `apt install elixir`
+
+Elixir will also require `make` and probably other related software for building dependencies - in case you don't have them, get them via `apt install build-essential`
+
+### Preparation
+
+ * You probably want application to run as separte user - so create a new one: `adduser pleroma`, you can login as it via `su pleroma`
+ * Clone the git repository into new user's dir (clone as the pleroma user to avoid permissions errors)
+ * Again, as new user, install dependencies with `mix deps.get` if it asks you to install "hex" - agree to that.
+
+### Database setup
+
+ * Create a database user and database for pleroma
+ * Open psql shell as postgres user: (as root) `su postgres -c psql`
+ * Create a new PostgreSQL user:
+
+ ```sql
+ \c pleroma_dev
+ CREATE user pleroma;
+ ALTER user pleroma with encrypted password '<your password>';
+ GRANT ALL ON ALL tables IN SCHEMA public TO pleroma;
+ GRANT ALL ON ALL sequences IN SCHEMA public TO pleroma;
+ ```
+
+ * Change password in `config/dev.exs`, and change user to `"pleroma"` (line like `username: "postgres"`)
+ * Create and update your database with `mix ecto.create && mix ecto.migrate`. If it gives errors, try running again, this is a known issue.
+
+### Some additional configuration
+
+ * You will need to let pleroma instance to know what hostname/url it's running on. _THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP. GET THIS WRONG AND YOU'LL HAVE TO RESET YOUR DATABASE_.
+
+ In file `config/dev.exs`, add these lines at the end of the file:
+
+ ```elixir
+ config :pleroma, Pleroma.Web.Endpoint,
+ url: [host: "example.tld", scheme: "https", port: 443]
+ ```
+
+ replacing `example.tld` with your (sub)domain
+
+ * The common and convenient way for adding HTTPS is by using Nginx as a reverse proxy. You can look at example Nginx configuration in `installation/pleroma.nginx`. If you need TLS/SSL certificates for HTTPS, you can look get some for free with letsencrypt: https://letsencrypt.org/
+ On Debian you can use `certbot` package and command to manage letsencrypt certificates.
+
+ * [Not tested with system reboot yet!] You'll also want to set up Pleroma to be run as a systemd service. Example .service file can be found in `installation/pleroma.service` you can put it in `/etc/systemd/system/`.
+
+## Running
+
+By default, it listens on port 4000 (TCP), so you can access it on http://localhost:4000/ (if you are on the same machine). In case of an error it will restart automatically.
+
+### As systemd service (with provided .service file)
+Running `service pleroma start`
+Logs can be watched by using `journalctl -fu pleroma.service`
+
+### Standalone/run by other means
+Run `mix phx.server` in repository's root, it will output log into stdout/stderr