diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fbee641..b088679 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,46 @@
 # MCPEventModeImageReconstruction
+
 This repository contains Python based image reconstruction software that can reduce the raw data collected by multi-channel plate detector under event mode into standard radiograph.
+
+# How to use
+
+The easiest way to use it to start reducing the data is by cloning this repository into your data reduction env with:
+
+```
+git clone https://github.com/KedoKudo/MCPEventModeImageReconstruction
+```
+
+create a virtual environment if possible, then install the dependencies with
+
+```
+pip install -r requirement.txt
+```
+
+followed by an local install with
+
+```
+pip install -e .
+```
+
+Now you can directly call the script to start the reduction
+
+```
+mcp3_reducer RAW_MCP_DATA.h5
+```
+
+For additional control options, use 
+
+```
+mcp3_reducer -h
+```
+
+# How to contribute
+
+If you would like to contribute, please fork this repo to your own account.
+Install the dev environment dependencies with
+
+```
+pip install -r requirement_dev.txt
+```
+
+Once you finished implementing the new features or bug fixes, you can submit a pull request and the maintainer will review and merge it once it is ready.