diff --git a/DEVELOPMENT-GUIDE.md b/DEVELOPMENT-GUIDE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b43c7c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DEVELOPMENT-GUIDE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# Development guide
+
+Opinionated guide for getting started developing on charge-lnd.
+
+Requirements:
+ - Linux (used for this guide)
+ - LND node (for testing changes)
+
+## Virtual environment
+
+Libraries will need to be installed in order for charge-lnd to work. Create a virtual environment so the libraries can be installed.
+
+First create the virtual environment.
+```
+python -m venv ./venv
+```
+
+Make sure your Python version is Python 3.
+
+Enter the virtual environment.
+```
+source venv/bin/activate
+```
+
+Or use the `activate` which works for your terminal such as `activate.fish` for the fish terminal.
+
+
+Install charge-lnd with requirements.
+```
+pip install -f requirements.txt .
+```
+
+Test to see if charge-lnd is basically working.
+
+```
+./venv/bin/charge-lnd --help
+```
+
+## Reinstall charge-lnd when source files change
+
+Every time a source file is changed, the charge-lnd script will need to be installed again.
+
+```
+pip install .
+```
+
+For quicker development feedback, it is recommended to build/install the changes right away after source files changes. On Linux `entr` command can be used to watch for source file changes.
+
+
+```
+find charge_lnd -name '*.py' | entr -s 'pip install .'
+```
+
+Make sure your terminal is in the virtual environment or the pip command won't work.
+
+## Test changes
+
+There are currently no automated test for charge-lnd so manual testing is required. If you are testing against your own node, use `--dry-run` to avoid making unnecessary changes. A macaroon can also be created without the `offchain:write` permission. See [INSTALL.md](INSTALL.md) for details on creating a macaroon.
+
+After getting your nodes tls certificate, creating your macaroon for charge-lnd and creating a test config file, a test command can be run against your own node.
+```
+./venv/bin/charge-lnd --tlscert tls.cert --macaroon charge-lnd.macaroon --grpc mynode.domain:10009 --dry-run -c charge-lnd.config
+```
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 55353e9..44df9d2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -189,7 +189,8 @@ All strategies (except the ignore strategy) will apply the following properties
 ## Contributing
 
 Contributions are highly welcome!
-Feel free to submit issues and pull requests on https://github.com/accumulator/charge-lnd/
+Feel free to [submit issues](https://github.com/accumulator/charge-lnd/issues) and [pull requests](https://github.com/accumulator/charge-lnd/pulls).
+See [development guide](DEVELOPMENT-GUIDE.md) for help getting started.
 
 Please also consider opening a channel with my node, or sending tips via keysend: