diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8edaded
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# Contributing to Routis
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- Docker + Docker Compose plugin
+- Node.js 22+
+- Python 3.13+ with [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/)
+- Git
+
+## Local setup
+
+```bash
+git clone git@github.com:TheRealDarkCoder/routis.git
+cd routis
+cp .env.example .env
+docker compose up
+```
+
+| Service  | URL                          |
+|----------|------------------------------|
+| Web      | http://localhost:3000        |
+| API      | http://localhost:8000        |
+| API docs | http://localhost:8000/docs   |
+
+**Run API tests:**
+```bash
+docker compose exec api uv run pytest
+```
+
+**Regenerate the TypeScript API client** after any backend route or schema change (from root folder):
+```bash
+npm run codegen
+```
+Commit the generated output — CI will catch drift if you forget.
+
+## Picking up an issue
+
+- Issues labelled `difficulty/starter` are a good entry point
+- Leave a comment on the issue before starting so we don't duplicate work
+- If you have a question, ask it on the issue — not in a private message
+
+## Opening a pull request
+
+Branch naming: `feat/M1/short-description`, `fix/M0/short-description`, `chore/short-description`
+
+```bash
+git checkout develop
+git pull
+git checkout -b feat/M1/your-feature
+```
+
+Open your PR against `develop`, not `main`. Fill in the [PR template](/.github/pull_request_template.md) — the checklist is short. A maintainer will review within a few days.
+
+`main` is the production branch. It only receives merges from `develop` via maintainers.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 61f0e9e..1eb88bd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ Anonymous course review platform for the University of Oulu. Students can submit
 
 ## Getting Started
 
+Read [Contributing Guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md)
+
 ```bash
 cp .env.example .env
 docker compose up