diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5978c3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# Dependencies
+node_modules/
+.npm/
+/package-lock.json
+
+# Build output
+dist/
+build/
+.next/
+.vite/
+
+# Environment files
+.env
+.env.local
+.env.*.local
+
+# Legacy database (sensitive data - NEVER upload)
+legacydb/
+
+# OS files
+.DS_Store
+Thumbs.db
+
+# IDE
+.idea/
+.vscode/
+*.swp
+*.swo
+*~
+
+# Logs
+logs/
+*.log
+npm-debug.log*
+
+# Coverage
+coverage/
+client/test-results/
+
+# Docker volumes
+mongo-data/
+data/db/
+.data/
+
+# Temporary files
+tmp/
+.tmp/
+.qlicker.pids
+
+# Uploaded files
+server/uploads/
+
+# Production setup runtime data (sensitive/generated — NEVER commit)
+production_setup/.env
+production_setup/certs/
+production_setup/backups/
+production_setup/legacydb/
+
+# Load testing generated state (contains credentials) and results
+load-testing/state.json
+load-testing/state/
+load-testing/results/
+load-testing/node_modules/
+load-testing/.env
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 93ffff0..9ba60a2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,44 @@
-# qlicker2
-In class polling, onlines quizzes, practice question, grade manage, question libraries, and SSO integration. 
+# Qlicker
+
+Qlicker is a classroom response system (clicker) for higher education. It allows professors to create interactive sessions with questions (multiple choice, true/false, short answer, multi-select, numerical) that students can answer in real-time, as well as timed quizzes. It includes grading, group management, video chat features, question libraries, and SSO integration.
+
+This repository is the new home for Qlicker, migrated from the original [MeteorJS implementation](https://github.com/qlicker/qlicker) to a modern **Fastify + React** stack. The code is being moved from [ryanmartinneutrino/qlicker-1](https://github.com/ryanmartinneutrino/qlicker-1).
+
+## Repository Structure
+
+Once the migration code is brought in, the repository will be structured as follows:
+
+```
+├── server/                                 # Fastify backend
+├── client/                                 # React frontend (Vite)
+├── ssoserver/                              # Isolated local SimpleSAMLphp IdP for SSO smoke tests
+├── load-testing/                           # k6 load testing scenario + seed script
+├── production_setup/                       # Self-contained production deployment package
+├── scripts/                                # Setup and utility scripts
+├── docs/                                   # Developer and user documentation
+├── docker-compose.yml                      # Docker orchestration (development)
+└── .env.example                            # Environment variable template
+```
+
+## Tech Stack
+
+- **Backend:** [Fastify](https://fastify.dev/) (Node.js)
+- **Frontend:** [React](https://react.dev/) + [Vite](https://vitejs.dev/)
+- **Database:** MongoDB
+- **Cache / Pub-Sub:** Redis (optional; enables multi-instance WebSocket pub/sub)
+- **Auth:** Session-based with optional SAML SSO
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- Node.js >= 20.x
+- npm >= 10.x
+- MongoDB >= 6.x (or Docker)
+- Redis >= 7.x (optional — or Docker)
+
+## Status
+
+> **Note:** The application code is being migrated into this repository. See [ryanmartinneutrino/qlicker-1](https://github.com/ryanmartinneutrino/qlicker-1) for the current working implementation.
+
+## License
+
+This project is licensed under the [GNU General Public License v3.0](LICENSE).