Add project README with setup and run instructions

- Add overview and prerequisites
- Provide local dev and Docker run steps
- Document useful npm scripts

README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+# Connect4 Moderator Observer UI
+
+A website interface for connecting to the [Connect4 WebSocket server](https://github.com/joshuafhiggins/connect4-moderator-server) as an observer or player, watching live matches, and managing tournaments.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- Linux/macOS terminal or Windows PowerShell
+- Git
+- Docker (optional, for containerized runs)
+
+## Run Locally (Node.js + npm)
+
+### 1) Install Node.js (includes npm)
+
+#### Option A: Install with `nvm` (recommended, including Windows support)
+
+On Linux/macOS:
+
+```bash
+curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.3/install.sh | bash
+source ~/.zshrc
+nvm install --lts
+nvm use --lts
+node -v
+npm -v
+```
+
+On Windows (PowerShell), use `nvm-windows`:
+
+```powershell
+winget install CoreyButler.NVMforWindows
+nvm install lts
+nvm use lts
+node -v
+npm -v
+```
+
+### 2) Install dependencies
+
+From the project root:
+
+```bash
+npm i
+```
+
+### 3) Start the UI in development mode
+
+```bash
+npm run dev
+```
+
+Open [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000).
+
+## Run with Docker
+
+This repository includes:
+
+- `Dockerfile` (multi-stage production build)
+- `docker-compose.yml`
+- `docker_build.sh`
+
+### Build image directly from `Dockerfile`
+
+```bash
+docker build . -t joshuafhiggins/connect4-ui
+```
+
+or use the provided script:
+
+```bash
+./docker_build.sh
+```
+
+### Run container directly
+
+```bash
+docker run --rm -p 3000:3000 --name connect4-ui joshuafhiggins/connect4-ui
+```
+
+### Run with Docker Compose
+
+```bash
+docker compose up --build
+```
+
+Run detached:
+
+```bash
+docker compose up -d --build
+```
+
+Stop:
+
+```bash
+docker compose down
+```
+
+## Useful npm Scripts
+
+- `npm run dev` - start Next.js dev server
+- `npm run build` - build for production
+- `npm run start` - run production build
+- `npm run lint` - lint the project