diff --git a/api.php b/api.php
index df21363b7493e482285e8bee8e5b1466391211f7..c405455d9669813ed7e2e6df16057c799887a48d 100644
--- a/api.php
+++ b/api.php
@@ -51,10 +51,6 @@ $query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE user_token = '$userToken'";
 $result = $obj->executeQuery($query);
 $data = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result);
 
-if (empty($data)) {
-    sendBadRequest();
-    die();
-}
 if (count($requestPath) > 2) {
     sendBadRequest();
 } else if (1 == 2) {
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2fc8fe5f3d7c0f506d8492558cd4347d45ca3443
--- /dev/null
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# a simple twitter like application
+
+this is a small web application build on pure **php** that allows you to create and share posts, follow other users, add users as friends, make audio and video calls, and send messages just like Twitter!
+
+## Features
+
+- **User Registration and Authentication**: Create an account, log in, and manage your profile.
+
+- **Post Creation**: Share your thoughts, updates, and photos with your followers.
+
+- **Following**: Follow other users to see their posts in your feed.
+
+- **Friendship**: Add users as friends to establish a closer connection.
+
+- **Audio Calls**: Make audio calls with your friends directly from the platform.
+
+- **Video Calls**: Have face-to-face video calls with your friends.
+
+- **Direct Messaging**: Send private messages to your friends and followers.
+
+## Getting Started
+
+1. Clone this repository:
+
+   ```bash
+   $ git clone https://github.com/zabio-ahmadi/secure_software_dev.git
+   ```
+
+2. Change to the project directory:
+
+   ```bash
+   $ cd secure_software-dev
+   ```
+
+3. modifiy the prod.env and put your own **api keys**:
+
+```env
+DB_HOST=mysql
+DB_USER=root
+DB_PASSWORD=your_data_base_password
+DB_NAME=social_network
+SMTP_HOST=smtp.gmail.com
+SMTP_USER_MAIL=your_email_address
+SMTP_USER_PASSWORD=your_app_password #created in google two step verification
+SMTP_PORT=465
+SMTP_PROTOCOL=ssl
+SMTP_SENDER_EMAIL_ADDRESS=webmaster@yourmail.ch
+SESSION_DURATION=3600 # duration of the session
+ecryption_key=your_secret_key # your secret for a jwt like encryption method
+```
+
+4. run the docker command :
+
+   ```bash
+   $  docker compose up -d
+   ```
+
+5. Open your web browser and visit [http://localhost:80](http://localhost:) to use secure dev app.