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+# Quick Start
+
+Get The Other Dude running in minutes.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- **Docker** and **Docker Compose** (v2+)
+- **Python 3.6+** (for the setup wizard)
+- **Git**
+
+## Install
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/staack/the-other-dude.git
+cd the-other-dude
+python3 setup.py
+```
+
+The setup wizard walks you through everything:
+
+1. Configures your environment (database credentials, encryption keys, reverse proxy)
+2. Initializes the secret management service (OpenBao)
+3. Builds Docker images (API, poller, frontend)
+4. Starts the full stack
+5. Verifies all services are healthy
+
+No manual `.env` editing required.
+
+## First Login
+
+Once the stack is running:
+
+1. Open the URL shown by the setup wizard in your browser.
+2. Log in with the admin credentials created during setup.
+3. Complete security enrollment — your password never leaves your browser.
+4. **Save your Emergency Kit PDF.** You need this to log in from new browsers or devices.
+5. Follow the Setup Wizard to create your first organization and add your first device.
+
+## Adding Your First Device
+
+You need:
+
+- The device's **management IP address**
+- **API port** — default is 8729 (the RouterOS API-SSL service must be enabled: IP > Services > api-ssl)
+- **RouterOS credentials** — a username and password with API access
+
+The platform connects to devices using the RouterOS binary API over TLS. No SNMP configuration is needed.
+
+## What's Next
+
+- [User Guide](docs/USER-GUIDE.md) — full walkthrough of all features
+- [Deployment Guide](docs/DEPLOYMENT.md) — production deployment, TLS, backups
+- [Configuration](docs/CONFIGURATION.md) — environment variables and tuning
+- [Architecture](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) — system design and data flows