diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 113c22a..f091533 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,8 +9,15 @@
 * start postgres
 * create postgres user
   * `$ sudo su postgres`
-  * `$ createuser --interactive` -> owl
+  * `$ createuser --interactive` -> "owl" role with relevant priviledges
+* create postgres database "matcher"
+  * `$ psql -U postgres`
+  * `> CREATE DATABASE matcher;`
+  * `> ALTER DATABASE matcher OWNER TO owl;`
 * create the db tables
+  * TODO find out where credentials are stored 
+  * setup credentials in default.py
+  * `$ python create_db.py`
 * setup a venv
   * enter the venv, e.g. in pycharm
   * `$ pip install -r requirements.txt`
diff --git a/create_db.py b/create_db.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..2c1c6f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/create_db.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python3
+
+from sqlalchemy.schema import CreateIndex, CreateTable
+
+from matcher import database, model
+
+DB_URL = "postgresql:///matcher"
+database.init_db(DB_URL)
+
+
+def create_db():
+    model.Base.metadata.create_all(database.session.get_bind())
+
+
+def print_create_table(classes):
+    database.init_db(DB_URL)
+
+    engine = database.session.get_bind()
+
+    for cls in classes:
+        sql = str(CreateTable(cls.__table__).compile(engine))
+        print(sql.strip() + ";")
+
+        for index in cls.__table__.indexes:
+            sql = str(CreateIndex(index).compile(engine))
+            print(sql.strip() + ";")
+
+
+# print_create_table([model.ItemIsA])
+# print_create_table([model.EditSession])
+# print_create_table([model.Changeset, model.ChangesetEdit, model.SkipIsA])
+# print_create_table([model.User])
+# print_create_table([model.Extract])
+
+create_db()