docs: add quickstart (#19)

* docs: quickstart

* feat: readme

README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+# NPO Template Merged
+
+A simple React, Vite, and Node.js monorepo built with Yarn workspaces. Uses Firebase for authentication, Chakra UI for components, and your choice of database (i.e. Postgres).
+
+## Getting Started
+
+### 1. Clone this repository, then `cd` into the directory
+
+```shell
+  > git clone https://github.com/ctc-uci/YOUR-REPO.git
+  > cd YOUR-REPO
+```
+
+> [!TIP]
+> `npo-template-merged` is a template repository. [You can create a copy through Github.](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/creating-and-managing-repositories/creating-a-repository-from-a-template)
+
+### 2. Install dependencies
+
+Install [Node.js, version 18.20.4)](https://nodejs.org/en/download/package-manager). 
+
+> [!TIP]
+> On MacOS and Linux, installing Node with `nvm` is recommended!
+
+Install [Yarn](https://classic.yarnpkg.com/lang/en/), our package manager of choice.
+
+```shell
+  > npm install --global yarn
+```
+
+Now, install packages:
+
+```shell
+  > yarn install
+```
+
+> [!TIP]
+> This monorepo uses [Yarn Workspaces](https://classic.yarnpkg.com/lang/en/docs/workspaces/) to manage dependencies across repositories. Unless you know what you're doing, you should install dependencies (`yarn install`) at the root of the repository (i.e. not in `/client` or `/server`).
+> 
+> However, you should add _new_ dependencies (`yarn add`) in the directory which actually uses them.
+
+### 3. Get environment secrets
+
+Both the `client` and `server` directories have their own `env.local` and `.env` files, respectively. If you're a general member, these secrets should be provided to you by your tech leads. 
+
+**Client**
+
+The `client` `.env` consists primarily of your Firebase secrets. An example is provided in `/client/.env.example`. Copy the contents into a new file named `.env`, then fill in the keys with the appropriate values.
+
+> [!TIP]
+> The code block below is an example of what your `.env` should (partially) look like.
+
+```shell
+VITE_FIREBASE_APIKEY=my-api-key
+VITE_FIREBASE_AUTHDOMAIN=localhost:3000
+VITE_FIREBASE_PROJECTID=my-project-id
+...
+```
+
+> [!CAUTION]
+> Due to recent changes to 3rd party cookies, `VITE_FIREBASE_AUTHDOMAIN` should point to where you're currently running your project (whether that be locally or deployed), and **not** the typically Firebase-provided auth domain. 
+
+```shell
++ VITE_FIREBASE_AUTHDOMAIN=localhost:3000
+- VITE_FIREBASE_AUTHDOMAIN=my-project.firebaseapp.com
+```
+Examples of what your secrets should look like are provided in `client/.env.example` and `server/.env.example`.
+
+**Server**
+
+The `server` `.env` consists primarily of your database secrets. An example is provided in `/server/.env.example`. Copy the contents into a new file named `.env`, then fill in the keys with the appropriate values.
+
+### 4. Start developing!
+
+Start the development server by running this command:
+
+```shell
+  yarn run dev
+```