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+# Getting Started
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- Go 1.21+
+- GCC (required for SQLite CGO bindings)
+  - Ubuntu/Debian: `sudo apt install gcc`
+  - macOS: comes with Xcode Command Line Tools (`xcode-select --install`)
+
+## Clone and Run
+
+```bash
+git clone git@git.samantha42.xyz:samantha/Portfolio-Engine.git
+cd Portfolio-Engine
+go mod download
+go run main.go
+```
+
+## Build
+
+```bash
+chmod +x build.sh
+./build.sh
+./Portifolio
+```
+
+## Startup Output
+
+```
+Connected to SQLite database
+Tables ready
+Server running on :8080
+
+Shell ready. Type 'help' for commands.
+>
+```
+
+The HTTP server and the interactive shell run concurrently. The API is live while you type shell commands.
+
+The SQLite database (`app.db`) is created automatically on first run in the project root. Foreign key enforcement is enabled.
+
+## Verify It's Running
+
+```bash
+curl http://localhost:8080/health
+```
+
+A `200 OK` with a JSON body confirms the server is up and the database is reachable. A `503` with `"status": "degraded"` means the database is unreachable.
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