docs: add setup and installation instructions to README

README.md

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ It consists of a **Spring Boot backend API** and a **React frontend** (new addit
 ---
 
 ## 📁 Project Structure
+
 GreenCode/
 ├── src/                 # Spring Boot source code
 ├── config/              # external configuration & scripts
@@ -34,4 +35,91 @@ GreenCode/
 ├── pom.xml              # Maven build file
 └── docker-compose.yml   # Docker orchestration
 
+---
+
+## 🛠️ Setup and Installation
+
+### Prerequisites
+- Java 17 or higher
+- Maven 3.8+
+- PostgreSQL 15+ (or use Docker)
+- Node.js 18+ (for frontend)
+- Docker & Docker Compose (recommended)
+
+### Local Development Setup
+
+#### Using Docker (Recommended)
+
+1. **Clone the repository**
+   ```bash
+   git clone https://github.com/bos-com/GreenCode.git
+   cd GreenCode
+   ```
+
+2. **Configure environment variables**
+   ```bash
+   cp env.example .env
+   # Edit .env with your database credentials
+   ```
+
+3. **Start the application with Docker**
+   ```bash
+   docker-compose up -d
+   ```
+
+4. **Access the application**
+   - Backend API: http://localhost:8080
+   - Swagger Docs: http://localhost:8080/swagger-ui.html
+
+#### Local Setup (Without Docker)
+
+1. **Clone and navigate to the project**
+   ```bash
+   git clone https://github.com/bos-com/GreenCode.git
+   cd GreenCode
+   ```
+
+2. **Configure database**
+   - Create a PostgreSQL database named `greencode`
+   - Update `src/main/resources/application.yml` with your database credentials
+
+3. **Build and run**
+   ```bash
+   mvn clean install
+   mvn spring-boot:run
+   ```
+
+4. **Access the API**
+   - API running at: http://localhost:8080
+   - Swagger documentation: http://localhost:8080/swagger-ui.html
+
+### Building for Production
+
+```bash
+mvn clean package
+java -jar target/greencode-*.jar
+```
+
+---
+
+## 📚 Additional Documentation
+
+- [Architecture Documentation](docs/architecture/README.md)
+- [API Documentation](docs/api/README.md)
+- [Deployment Guide](docs/deployment/README.md)
+
+---
+
+## 🤝 Contributing
+
+1. Fork the repository
+2. Create a feature branch (`git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature`)
+3. Commit your changes (`git commit -m 'feat: add amazing feature'`)
+4. Push to the branch (`git push origin feature/amazing-feature`)
+5. Open a Pull Request
+
+---
+
+## 📄 License
 
+This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.