diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 047ca3c..6455498 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,9 +1,29 @@
-RESEND_API_KEY=
-NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=localhost:8088
-GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID=
-GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET=
+# Rename this file to `.env` and fill in the values.
+
+# Required variables for basic local functionality
+
+# For database connection. A 16-character password with digits and letters.
 SUPABASE_DB_PASSWORD=
-POSTHOG_KEY=
+
+# For authentication.
+# Ask the project admin. Should start with "AIza".
 NEXT_PUBLIC_FIREBASE_API_KEY=
+
+# The URL where your local backend server is running.
+# You can change the port if needed.
+NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=localhost:8088
+
+
+# Optional variables for full local functionality
+
+# For the location / distance filtering features.
+# Create a free account at https://rapidapi.com/wirefreethought/api/geodb-cities and get an API key.
 GEODB_API_KEY=
-GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS_DEV=
\ No newline at end of file
+
+# For analytics like page views, user actions, feature usage, etc.
+# Create a free account at https://posthog.com and get a project API key. Should start with "phc_".
+POSTHOG_KEY=
+
+# For sending emails (e.g. for user sign up, password reset, notifications, etc.).
+# Create a free account at https://resend.com and get an API key. Should start with "re_".
+RESEND_API_KEY=
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 87368b5..6d7605b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 
 # Compass
 
-This repository provides the source code for [Compass](https://compassmeet.com), a web application where people can bond and form deep 1-on-1 relationships in a fully transparent and efficient way. It just got released—please share it with anyone who would benefit from it!
+This repository provides the source code for [Compass](https://compassmeet.com), a web application for people to form deep 1-on-1 relationships in a fully transparent and efficient way. And it just got released!
 
-To contribute, please submit a pull request or issue, or fill out this [form](https://forms.gle/tKnXUMAbEreMK6FC6) for suggestions and collaborations.
+**We can’t do this alone.** Whatever your skills—coding, design, writing, moderation, marketing, or even small donations—you can make a real difference. [Contribute](https://www.compassmeet.com/about) in any way you can and help our community thrive!
 
 ## Features
 
@@ -18,16 +18,17 @@ To contribute, please submit a pull request or issue, or fill out this [form](ht
 - Open source
 - Democratically governed
 
-The full description is available [here](https://martinbraquet.com/meeting-rational).
+A detailed description of the vision is available [here](https://martinbraquet.com/meeting-rational).
 
 ## To Do
 
 - [x] Authentication (user/password and Google Sign In)
-- [x] Set up PostgreSQL in Production with supabase or prisma console (can stick with SQLite in dev / local)
-- [x] Set up hosting (vercel)
-- [x] Ask for detailed info per profile upon registration (intellectual interests, location, cause areas, personality type, conflict style, desired type of connection, prompt answers, gender, etc.)
+- [x] Set up PostgreSQL in Production with supabase
+- [x] Set up web hosting (vercel)
+- [x] Set up backend hosting (google cloud)
+- [x] Ask for detailed info upon registration (location, desired type of connection, prompt answers, gender, etc.)
 - [x] Set up page listing all the profiles
-- [x] Search through all the profile variables
+- [x] Search through most profile variables
 - [x] (Set up chat / direct messaging)
 - [x] Set up domain name (https://compassmeet.com)
 
@@ -35,24 +36,26 @@ The full description is available [here](https://martinbraquet.com/meeting-ratio
 
 Any action item is open to anyone for collaboration, but the following ones are particularly easy to do for first-time contributors.
 
+- [ ] Add profile features (intellectual interests, cause areas, personality type, conflict style, etc.)
+- [ ] Add filters to search through remaining profile features (politics, religion, education level, etc.)
+- [ ] Cover with tests (very important, just the test template and framework are ready)
 - [ ] Clean up terms and conditions
 - [ ] Clean up privacy notice
-- [ ] Clean up learn more page
+- [x] Clean up learn more page
 - [x] Add dark theme
-- [ ] Cover with tests (almost nothing is covered right now)
 
 ## Implementation
 
-The web app is coded in Typescript using React as front-end and Prisma as back-end. It includes:
+The web app is coded in Typescript using React as front-end. It includes:
 
-- [NextAuth.js v4](https://next-auth.js.org/)
-- [Prisma Postgres](https://www.prisma.io/postgres)
-- [Prisma ORM](https://www.prisma.io/orm)
-- Vercel
+- [Supabase](https://supabase.com/) for the PostgreSQL database
+- [Google Cloud](https://console.cloud.google.com) for hosting the backend API
+- [Firebase](https://firebase.google.com/) for authentication and media storage
+- [Vercel](https://vercel.com/) for hosting the front-end
 
 ## Development
 
-Below are all the steps to contribute. If you have any trouble or questions, please don't hesitate to open an issue or contact us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/8Vd7jzqjun)!
+Below are all the steps to contribute. If you have any trouble or questions, please don't hesitate to open an issue or contact us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/8Vd7jzqjun)! We're responsive and happy to help.
 
 ### Installation
 
@@ -66,33 +69,30 @@ Install `opentofu`, `docker`, and `yarn`. Try running this on Linux or macOS for
 ```bash
 ./setup.sh
 ```
+If it doesn't work, you can install them manually (Google how to install `opentofu`, `docker`, and `yarn` for your OS).
 
-Install the dependencies:
+Then, install the dependencies for this project:
 ```bash
 yarn install
 ```
 
 ### Environment Variables
 
-Configure your database connection via an environment variable. Create an `.env` file:
+We can't make the following information public, for security and privacy reasons:
+- Database, otherwise anyone could access all the user data (including private messages)
+- Firebase, otherwise anyone could remove users or modify the media files
+- Email, analytics, and location services, otherwise anyone could use our paid plan
+
+So, for your development, we will give you user-specific access when possible (e.g., Firebase) and for the rest you will need to set up cloned services (email, locations, etc.) and store your secrets as environment variables.
+
+To do so, simply create an `.env` file as a copy of `.env.example`, open it, and fill in the variables according to the instructions in the file:
 ```bash
 cp .env.example .env
 ```
 
-To ensure your authentication works properly, you'll also need to set the `AUTH_SECRET`. You can generate such a random 32-character string with:
-```bash
-npx auth secret
-```
-
-In the end, your `.env` file should look similar to this (but using _your own values_ for the secret):
-```bash
-DATABASE_URL="postgresql://postgres:password@localhost:5432/compass"
-AUTH_SECRET="gTwLSXFeNWFRpUTmxlRniOfegXYw445pd0k6JqXd7Ag="
-```
-
 ### Installing PostgreSQL
 
-Run the following commands to set up your local development database and Prisma schema. Run only the section that corresponds to your operating system.
+Run the following commands to set up your local development database. Run only the section that corresponds to your operating system.
 
 On macOS:
 ```bash
@@ -120,9 +120,7 @@ ALTER USER postgres WITH PASSWORD 'password';
 
 Create the database
 ```bash
-npx prisma generate
-npx prisma db push
-npx prisma db seed
+...
 ```
 Note that your local database will be made of synthetic data, not real users. This is fine for development and testing.
 
@@ -132,6 +130,7 @@ Make sure the tests pass:
 ```bash
 yarn test
 ```
+TODO: fix tests
 
 ### Running the Development Server
 
diff --git a/docs/development.md b/docs/development.md
index 3b25cbd..3fe5ed8 100644
--- a/docs/development.md
+++ b/docs/development.md
@@ -4,21 +4,12 @@
 
 To add a profile variable (personality type, etc.), make modifications here:
 
-* [schema.prisma](../prisma/schema.prisma)
-* [seed.ts](../prisma/seed.ts)
-* [profile.tsx](../lib/client/profile.tsx)
-* [schema.ts](../lib/client/schema.ts)
-* [page.tsx](../app/complete-profile/page.tsx)
-* [page.tsx](../app/profiles/page.tsx)
-* [ProfileFilters.tsx](../app/profiles/ProfileFilters.tsx)
-* [route.ts](../app/api/profiles/route.ts)
-* [route.ts](../app/api/profiles/%5Bid%5D/route.ts)
-* [route.ts](../app/api/user/update-profile/route.ts)
+* ...
 
-Then update the database:
+Then update the database by running a migration:
 
 ```bash
-npx prisma migrate dev --name add-some-profile-variable
+...
 ```
 
 ### Cover with tests