diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..205371f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+FROM python:2.7-slim
+
+# for working inside container
+RUN apt update -y && apt install vim -y
+
+WORKDIR /app
+
+RUN pip install scipy numpy
+
+COPY . /app
+
+RUN pip install -e .
+
+CMD ["python", "examples/psychotria.lagrange.py"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3dd3571
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+build:
+	docker build -t lagrange .
+
+run:
+	docker run -it lagrange bash
+
+test:
+	docker run -it lagrange
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7441701..034fd0d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,3 +19,9 @@ Analysis scripts can be created using the web-based configuration tool
 at http://www.reelab.net/lagrange. This tool lets you configure and
 download your analysis as a Python script which is then run on your
 own computer.
+
+### Quickstart
+- requires `docker` and `make`
+- `make build`
+- `make test`
+- `make run # gives shell in docker container with package installed`