diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c61add5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# bloodmallet.com frontend
+> You're seeing the code that runs the frontend of bloodmallet.com.
+
+Everyone is welcome to add issues, discuss improvements and features, or create
+pull requests.
+
+## Development setup
+
+1. Get or have [Python 3.6+](https://www.python.org/downloads/) (make sure to install it into PATH on windows)
+2. Create a [virtual environment](https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/venv.html)
+    - `python3 -m venv env` (creates a directory "env")
+    - activate virtual environment
+        - `env/Scripts/activate` (windows)
+        - `source env/bin/activate` (linux)
+3. Get or have [git](https://git-scm.com/downloads) installed
+4. Download this repository
+    - `git clone https://github.com/Bloodmallet/bloodmallet_web_frontend.git bloodmallet` (creates a directory "bloodmallet")
+5. Install requirements
+    - `cd bloodmallet` (navigate into the created directory)
+    - `python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel` (update all basic tools)
+    - `(env)bloodmallet/$ pip install -U -r requirements.txt` (install the actual requirements, have a look at the *_dev.txt file, too)
+6. Create local database and tables
+    - `(env)bloodmallet/$ cd bloodmallet` (so you're in "bloodmallet/bloodmallet/")
+    - `(env)bloodmallet/bloodmallet/$ python manage.py migrate`
+7. Start local django development server
+    - `(env)bloodmallet/bloodmallet/$ python manage.py runserver`
+8. Open `http://127.0.0.1:8000` in your browser of choice. And code away! :tada:
+
+### Optional:
+Maybe you want to [create a superuser](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/2.2/intro/tutorial02/#creating-an-admin-user) for local development.
diff --git a/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/__init__.py b/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/__init__.py
index 415542a9..e69de29b 100644
--- a/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/__init__.py
+++ b/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-import os
-
-if os.getenv('GAE_APPLICATION', None):
-    from .production import *
-else:
-    from .development import *
diff --git a/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/common.py b/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/common.py
index d5d393c2..ba13e803 100644
--- a/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/common.py
+++ b/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/common.py
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
     'crispy_forms',
     'vinaigrette',
     'general_website.apps.GeneralWebsiteConfig',
-    'compute_api.apps.ComputeApiConfig',
 ]
 
 MIDDLEWARE = [
@@ -53,6 +52,14 @@
     'vinaigrette.middleware.VinaigretteAdminLanguageMiddleware',
 ]
 
+try:
+    import compute_api
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    pass
+else:
+    INSTALLED_APPS.append('compute_api.apps.ComputeApiConfig')
+    MIDDLEWARE.append('compute_api.broadcast_middleware.BroadcastMiddleware')
+
 ROOT_URLCONF = 'bloodmallet.urls'
 
 TEMPLATES = [
@@ -94,7 +101,11 @@
     },
 ]
 
-from .secrets import SECRET_KEY
+try:
+    from .secrets import SECRET_KEY
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    from django.core.management.utils import get_random_secret_key
+    SECRET_KEY = get_random_secret_key()
 
 # Internationalization
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/2.1/topics/i18n/
@@ -142,12 +153,16 @@
 # replaces the Django standard User
 AUTH_USER_MODEL = 'general_website.User'
 
-# Google cloud storage handling
-DEFAULT_FILE_STORAGE = 'storages.backends.gcloud.GoogleCloudStorage'
-
 LOCALE_PATHS = (BASE_DIR + '/general_website/locale',)
 
-from .secrets import PROJECT, ZONE, CPU_TYPE, IMAGE_FAMILY, FALLBACK_ZONE
+try:
+    from .secrets import PROJECT, ZONE, CPU_TYPE, IMAGE_FAMILY, FALLBACK_ZONE
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    # information is not required for local development of the frontend
+    pass
+else:
+    # Google cloud storage handling
+    DEFAULT_FILE_STORAGE = 'storages.backends.gcloud.GoogleCloudStorage'
 
 STANDARD_CHART_NAME = 'Bloodmallet Standard Chart'
 
diff --git a/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/development.py b/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/development.py
index f772664b..8ca815c6 100644
--- a/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/development.py
+++ b/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/settings/development.py
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
 DEBUG = True
 
-BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
-BASE_DIR = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, '..')
-
 ALLOWED_HOSTS = [
     'localhost',
     '127.0.0.1',
@@ -60,40 +57,41 @@
             'level': 'DEBUG' if DEBUG else 'INFO',
             'propagate': True,
         },
-        'allauth.socialaccount.providers.patreon': {
-            'handlers': [
-                'console',
-            ],
-            'level': 'DEBUG',
-            'propagate': True
-        }
     },
 }
-# 'allauth.account',
-#     'allauth.socialaccount',
-#     'allauth.socialaccount.providers.patreon',
 
+# don't send mails...print them to console
 EMAIL_BACKEND = 'django.core.mail.backends.console.EmailBackend'
 
 # Database
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/2.1/ref/settings/#databases
-import pymysql
-pymysql.install_as_MySQLdb()
-from .secrets import LIVE_DB_HOST, LIVE_DB_NAME, LIVE_DB_USER, LIVE_DB_PASSWORD
+try:
+    from .secrets import LIVE_DB_HOST, LIVE_DB_NAME, LIVE_DB_USER, LIVE_DB_PASSWORD
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    # pure frontend development uses a local dbs
+    DATABASES = {
+        'default': {
+            'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.sqlite3',
+            'NAME': 'mydatabase',
+        }
+    }
+else:
+    import pymysql
+    pymysql.install_as_MySQLdb()
 
-DATABASES = {
-    'default': {
-        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.mysql',
-        'HOST': '127.0.0.1',
-        'PORT': '3306',
-        'NAME': LIVE_DB_NAME,
-        'USER': LIVE_DB_USER,
-        'PASSWORD': LIVE_DB_PASSWORD,
-        'OPTIONS': {
-            'charset': 'utf8mb4'
-        },
+    DATABASES = {
+        'default': {
+            'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.mysql',
+            'HOST': '127.0.0.1',
+            'PORT': '3306',
+            'NAME': LIVE_DB_NAME,
+            'USER': LIVE_DB_USER,
+            'PASSWORD': LIVE_DB_PASSWORD,
+            'OPTIONS': {
+                'charset': 'utf8mb4'
+            },
+        }
     }
-}
 
 # used to serve files from this path in non-debug production
 STATIC_ROOT = 'static'
@@ -103,7 +101,12 @@
 SASS_PROCESSOR_ROOT = STATIC_ROOT
 
 # google cloud storage
-from .secrets import DEV_BUCKET_NAME, DEV_CREDENTIALS
-GS_BUCKET_NAME = DEV_BUCKET_NAME
-from google.oauth2 import service_account
-GS_CREDENTIALS = service_account.Credentials.from_service_account_file(DEV_CREDENTIALS)
+try:
+    from .secrets import DEV_BUCKET_NAME, DEV_CREDENTIALS
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    # not required for local dev
+    pass
+else:
+    GS_BUCKET_NAME = DEV_BUCKET_NAME
+    from google.oauth2 import service_account
+    GS_CREDENTIALS = service_account.Credentials.from_service_account_file(DEV_CREDENTIALS)
diff --git a/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/urls.py b/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/urls.py
index 7dde77cb..4c2015da 100644
--- a/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/urls.py
+++ b/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/urls.py
@@ -22,9 +22,15 @@
     path('', include('general_website.urls')),
     path('admin/login/', app_login),
     path('admin/', admin.site.urls),
-    path('compute_api/', include('compute_api.urls', namespace='compute_engine')),
 ]
 
+try:
+    import compute_api
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    pass
+else:
+    urlpatterns.append(path('compute_api/', include('compute_api.urls', namespace='compute_engine')))
+
 handler400 = 'general_website.views.handler404'
 handler403 = 'general_website.views.handler404'
 handler404 = 'general_website.views.handler404'
diff --git a/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/wsgi.py b/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/wsgi.py
index f70f86ac..ac463810 100644
--- a/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/wsgi.py
+++ b/bloodmallet/bloodmallet/wsgi.py
@@ -11,6 +11,6 @@
 
 from django.core.wsgi import get_wsgi_application
 
-os.environ.setdefault('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE', 'bloodmallet.settings')
+os.environ.setdefault('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE', 'bloodmallet.settings.production')
 
 application = get_wsgi_application()
diff --git a/deploy.ps1 b/bloodmallet/deploy.ps1
similarity index 87%
rename from deploy.ps1
rename to bloodmallet/deploy.ps1
index 7a07c6af..76d98c34 100644
--- a/deploy.ps1
+++ b/bloodmallet/deploy.ps1
@@ -4,12 +4,10 @@ Write-Host "Deploying to bloodmallet.com"
 $start_location = pwd
 
 Write-Host "Starting virtual environment" -NoNewline
-# Activate virtual env
-env/Scripts/activate
-Write-Host "    Done" -ForegroundColor Green
 
-# Navigate to necessary subdirectory (which has the actual app for the appengine)
-cd bloodmallet/
+# Activate virtual env (here could be a list search that looks for env, venv and .env instead)
+../env/Scripts/activate
+Write-Host "    Done" -ForegroundColor Green
 
 Write-Host "Preparing Styles" -NoNewline
 # Create fresh css files
diff --git a/deploy_preparations.ps1 b/bloodmallet/deploy_preparations.ps1
similarity index 85%
rename from deploy_preparations.ps1
rename to bloodmallet/deploy_preparations.ps1
index 54dd2443..045e2902 100644
--- a/deploy_preparations.ps1
+++ b/bloodmallet/deploy_preparations.ps1
@@ -3,12 +3,9 @@ $start_location = pwd
 
 Write-Host "Starting virtual environment" -NoNewline
 # Activate virtual env
-env/Scripts/activate
+../env/Scripts/activate
 Write-Host "    Done" -ForegroundColor Green
 
-# Navigate to necessary subdirectory (which has the actual app for the appengine)
-cd bloodmallet/
-
 Write-Host "Preparing translations" -NoNewline
 # collect and compile translateable texts
 $languages = @('cn', 'de', 'es', 'fr', 'it', 'ko', 'pt', 'ru')
diff --git a/bloodmallet/general_website/models.py b/bloodmallet/general_website/models.py
index 45bb7b4a..6c1f3c34 100644
--- a/bloodmallet/general_website/models.py
+++ b/bloodmallet/general_website/models.py
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@ def can_create_chart(self) -> bool:
             return True
         if self.is_staff:
             return True
-        if self.groups.filter(name='alpha_tester').exists():     # pylint: disable=no-member
-            return True
+        # alpha tester weekend has ended
+        # if self.groups.filter(name='alpha_tester').exists():     # pylint: disable=no-member
+        #     return True
         return False
 
 
diff --git a/bloodmallet/general_website/urls.py b/bloodmallet/general_website/urls.py
index 27e4a4d5..76911773 100644
--- a/bloodmallet/general_website/urls.py
+++ b/bloodmallet/general_website/urls.py
@@ -5,11 +5,15 @@
 from allauth.socialaccount.views import ConnectionsView
 
 urlpatterns = [
+
+     # general
     path('', views.index, name='index_empty'),
     path('index.html', views.index, name='index_long'),
     path('index', views.index, name='index'),
     path('FAQ', views.faq, name='FAQ'),
     path('error', views.error, name='error'),
+
+     # charts
     path('my_charts', views.my_charts, name='my_charts'),
     path('chart/create', views.add_charts, name='add_charts'),
     path('chart/<uuid:chart_id>', views.chart, name='chart'),
@@ -20,7 +24,11 @@
         name='get_standard_chart_data'
     ),
     path('chart/delete', views.delete_chart, name='delete_chart'),
+
+     # portals o_O but blizzard killed most...needs heavy data updates
     path('portals', views.portals, name='portals'),
+
+     # settings
     path('settings/general', views.settings, name='settings'),
     path('settings/profile', views.profile, name='profile'),
     path('settings/change_password', views.change_password, name='change_password'),
diff --git a/bloodmallet/manage.py b/bloodmallet/manage.py
index d029ab0c..5cb14754 100644
--- a/bloodmallet/manage.py
+++ b/bloodmallet/manage.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import sys
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    os.environ.setdefault('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE', 'bloodmallet.settings')
+    os.environ.setdefault('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE', 'bloodmallet.settings.development')
     try:
         from django.core.management import execute_from_command_line
     except ImportError as exc:
diff --git a/requirements_commented.txt b/requirements.txt
similarity index 83%
rename from requirements_commented.txt
rename to requirements.txt
index 121f5d45..0732b19b 100644
--- a/requirements_commented.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-# This requirements file is a commented mirror of bloodmallet/requirements.txt, which is needed where it is for deployment. Furthermore due to the deployment the requirements file can't have comments for now.
+# This requirements file is a commented mirror of bloodmallet/requirements.txt, which is needed where it is for deployment.
+# Furthermore due to the deployment the requirements file can't have comments for now.
+# (It would break the deployment)
 
 # Attention!
 # Make sure to use 'python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel' before trying to use 'pip install -U -r requirements.txt'
diff --git a/requirements_dev.txt b/requirements_dev.txt
index 5cd609b3..d339b27c 100644
--- a/requirements_dev.txt
+++ b/requirements_dev.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 pylint>=2.1.1
 yapf>=0.24.0
--r requirements_commented.txt
+-r requirements.txt