diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..68a49da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+This is free and unencumbered software released into the public domain.
+
+Anyone is free to copy, modify, publish, use, compile, sell, or
+distribute this software, either in source code form or as a compiled
+binary, for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, and by any
+means.
+
+In jurisdictions that recognize copyright laws, the author or authors
+of this software dedicate any and all copyright interest in the
+software to the public domain. We make this dedication for the benefit
+of the public at large and to the detriment of our heirs and
+successors. We intend this dedication to be an overt act of
+relinquishment in perpetuity of all present and future rights to this
+software under copyright law.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
+MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
+IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR
+OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE,
+ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
+OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+
+For more information, please refer to <http://unlicense.org/>
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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index 0000000..3484f6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# BBS.ピケ.コム
+
+this is a silly little BBS page I've thrown together out of a desite to have something I can use to get images from *practically anything* to a modern computer. it's designed as an imageboard in the style of [ふたは☆チャンネル](https://2chan.net)/[4chan](https://4channel.org), since I find that structure is remakably practical while being so minimalist you don't even need names to follow a conversation.
+
+## hosting
+1. install:
+   - PHP (I use 7.3.31)
+   - PostgreSQL (I use 11.14)
+   - ffmpeg (I use 4.1.8)
+   - exiftool (I use 11.16)
+2. clone this repo, `git clone https://git.xn--rck9c.xn--tckwe/pk11/bbs.git`
+2. copy `vars.php.example` to `vars.php`
+3. edit `vars.php` as explained in the file
+   - ensure that your `image` and `thumb` folders exist
+4. create the following table in the configured database:
+   ```sql
+   CREATE TABLE posts (
+       post_id INT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
+       post_time TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL DEFAULT NOW(),
+       user_id VARCHAR(40),
+       name VARCHAR(256),
+       trip VARCHAR(10),
+       email VARCHAR(256),
+       comment VARCHAR(2048),
+       img VARCHAR(256)
+   );
+   ```
diff --git a/bbs.php b/bbs.php
index 723066d..739a77a 100644
--- a/bbs.php
+++ b/bbs.php
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 	 * 
 	 * You also need to make the following table:
 	 * 
-	 * CEATE TABLE posts (
+	 * CREATE TABLE posts (
 	 *     post_id INT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
 	 *     post_time TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL DEFAULT NOW(),
 	 *     user_id VARCHAR(40),
diff --git a/vars.php.example b/vars.php.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..031d72d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vars.php.example
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+<?php
+
+// Application constants
+define('UPLOAD_PATH', 'image/'); // Folder to save images to
+define('THUMB_PATH', 'thumb/'); // Folder to save thumbnails to
+define('ASSETS_PATH', 'assets/'); // Folder to store assets (header images, etc) in
+define('MAX_FILE_SIZE', 8 << 20); // Maximum image size, 8 MiB
+define('ADMIN_ID', '<SHA1 uid from your cookies>'); // uid that is able to delete anything
+define('UID_SALT', '<some string to salt uids with>');
+define('MAX_POSTS', 50); // Max posts after which old posts will be auto deleted. Only existing posts count, not manually deleted ones.
+
+// Database constants for PostgreSQL database
+$DB_HOST = 'localhost';
+$DB_NAME = '<db name>';
+$DB_USER = '<db role name>';
+$DB_PASSWORD = '<db role password>';