update README

Author: tomasohCHOM

CONTRIBUTING.MD

@@ -1,14 +1,84 @@
-# FullyHacks 2025
+# 🚀 FullyHacks 2025
 
-## Welcome to FullyHacks 2025 - CSUF's first 24-hour in-person hackathon
+**Welcome to FullyHacks 2025 — CSUF's first 24-hour in-person hackathon!**  
+This repository contains the codebase for the official website and supporting tools. See more [info.](https://acmcsuf.com/hackathons) about FullyHacks!
 
-## Tech Stacks:
+---
 
-1. Next.js (Full-stack framework)
-2. TailwindCSS, DaisyUI (Styling)
-3. Prisma (ORM)
-4. MongoDB (Database)
+## 🛠 Tech Stack
 
-## CONTRIBUTING
+- **Framework:** [Next.js](https://nextjs.org/)
+- **Styling:** [TailwindCSS](https://tailwindcss.com/), [DaisyUI](https://daisyui.com/)
+- **ORM:** [Prisma](https://www.prisma.io/)
+- **Database:** [MongoDB](https://www.mongodb.com/)
 
-### [READ HERE](https://github.com/acmcsufoss/fullyhacks/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.MD)
+---
+
+## ⚙️ Local Development Setup
+
+### 1. Fork & Clone the Repo
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/acmcsufoss/fullyhacks.git
+cd fullyhacks
+```
+
+### 2. Install Dependencies
+
+```bash
+npm install
+```
+
+### 3. Create a `.env` File
+
+Add the following to your `.env` file to enable local development:
+
+```env
+NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL="http://localhost:3000"
+NEXTAUTH_URL="http://localhost:3000"
+NODE_ENV=dev
+```
+
+> 💡 Refer to `.env.example` for all supported environment variables.
+
+---
+
+## 🏃‍♂️ Running the Project
+
+### Start the Website
+
+```bash
+npm run dev
+```
+
+### Open Prisma Studio (for database inspection)
+
+```bash
+npx prisma studio
+```
+
+---
+
+## ✅ Before You Commit
+
+- Format your code using:
+
+```bash
+npm run format
+```
+
+---
+
+## 🔐 Environment Variables & Privacy
+
+- Server environment variables are **confidential** to protect participant data.
+- Only the **FullyHacks Web Team** should use the production variables.
+- You’re welcome to connect your own database locally to explore.
+
+---
+
+## ⚠️ Important Note
+
+This repo is **not** connected to the live Vercel deployment.  
+Due to Vercel’s team organization costs, the deployed repo is located here:  
+👉 [anhduy1202/fullyhacks](https://github.com/anhduy1202/fullyhacks)