diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ba8bf42b..6dc3d7da 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,26 +9,7 @@ requiring datacenters and expensive enterprise hardware, to run this operation o
 
 ## Set up instructions
 
-For local development, you're strongly encouraged to use docker or podman.
-From a fresh to running system, you'll need to do this:
-
-```
-$ ./gradlew assemble
-
-$ ./gradlew docker
-
-$ vim run/settings.profile
-
-(follow instructions in file)
-
-$ run/setup.sh
-
-$ run/reconvert.sh
-
-$ docker-compose up
-```
-
-Wait a moment and check out [https://localhost:8080](https://localhost:8080).
+Follow instructions in [run](run/).
 
 ## Documentation
 
diff --git a/run/readme.md b/run/readme.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5a9b9ce5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run/readme.md
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Run
+
+When developing locally, this directory will contain run-time data required for
+the search engine. In a clean check-out, it only contains the tools required to 
+bootstrap this directory structure.
+
+## Set up
+
+While the system is designed to run bare metal in production,
+for local development, you're strongly encouraged to use docker
+or podman. 
+
+From a fresh to running system, you'll need to do this:
+
+From the project root
+```
+$ ./gradlew assemble docker
+
+$ run/setup.sh
+
+$ docker-compose up -d mariadb
+
+$ run/reconvert.sh
+
+$ docker-compose up
+```
+
+Wait a moment and check out [http://localhost:8080](http://localhost:8080).
diff --git a/run/setup.sh b/run/setup.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..4ab3a74e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run/setup.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -e
+
+pushd $(dirname $0)
+
+popd