diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
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+Contributing to ShareLaTeX
+==========================
+
+Thank you for reading this! If you've found a bug, or have a new feature in mind,
+then here are some notes on how to best report issues or implement changes.
+
+Security
+--------
+
+Please do not publish security vulnerabilities publicly until we've had a chance
+to address them. All security related issues/patches should be sent directly to
+security@sharelatex.com where we will attempt to address them quickly. If you're
+unsure whether something is a security issue or not, then please be cautious and
+contact us at security@sharelatex.com first.
+
+Reporting bugs
+--------------
+
+If you've found a bug then please:
+
+1. Check if there is an existing issue for it. If there is then please add
+   any more information that you have, or give it a "+1".
+2. If there is there is no issue, then please open one.
+3. Please describe the issue as clearly as possible, including how to
+   reproduce the bug, which situations it appears in, what you expected to
+   happen, and what actually happens.
+4. Please include a screenshot for front end issues if you can.
+
+Pull Requests
+-------------
+
+We love pull requests, so be bold with them! Don't be afraid of going ahead
+and changing something, or adding a new feature. If you're setting of to make
+a big change then opening an issue (or commenting on an existing one) is the
+best way to discuss your ideas first.
+
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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+ShareLaTeX is a web based collaborative LaTeX editor. There are two versions of it,
+the online version that anyone can sign up to at www.sharelatex.com, and this open source
+version which allows anyone to run a local installation of ShareLaTeX.
+
+This repository pulls together all of the different services in ShareLaTeX's service
+orientied architecture (SOA).
+
+Installation
+============
+
+First, check out a local copy of this repository:
+
+	$ git clone git@github.com:sharelatex/sharelatex.git
+	$ cd sharelatex
+
+Next run `npm install` to download all of the dependencies and services
+(you need Node.js installed, version 0.10.0 or later):
+
+	$ npm install
+
+This can take a while, so now would be a good time for a cup of tea.
+When that has finished, run ShareLaTeX with
+
+	$ grunt run
+
+ShareLaTeX should now be running at http://localhost:3000.
+
+Dependencies
+============
+
+You need a local instance of Redis and Mongodb running on their standard ports.
+
+Other repositories
+==================
+
+ShareLaTeX consists of many separate services, each with their own Node.js process
+and source code repository. These are all downloaded when you run `npm install` and 
+they are run when you run `grunt run`.
+
+The different services are:
+
+web-sharelatex
+--------------
+
+The front facing web server that serves all the HTML pages, CSS and javascript
+to the client. Also contains a lot of logic around creating and editing
+projects, and account management.
+
+document-updater-sharelatex
+---------------------------
+
+Process updates that come in from the editor when users modify documents. Ensures that
+the updates are applied in the right order, and that only one operation is modifying
+the document at a time. Also caches the documents in redis for very fast but persistent
+modifications.
+
+