diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 127377ed2520ebb7b90179df39d2c74b9d05eadc..b47b3ac90a3815b7ba34de67c0dfd722de9d4b99 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,36 @@
 # cell_algorithms
 
 ```bash
+# clone repo
+git clone git@github.com:eth-cscs/cell_algorithms.git
+cd cell_algorithms/
+
+# setup sub modules
 git submodule init
 git submodule update
+
+# setup environment
+module load gcc 
+module load cmake
+export CC=`which gcc`
+export CXX=`which g++`
+
+# build modparser
+cd modparser
+cmake .
+make -j
+cd ..
+
+# create mechanisms
+cd mechanisms
+./generate.sh
+cd ..
+
+# build main project
+cmake .
+make -j
+
+# test
+cd tests
+./test.exe
 ```