diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c28b727..3d7a443 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,6 +21,23 @@ You can run `yarn dev` in either / both folders to start the server and client w
 
 If you're deploying the front-end to something like Vercel, you'll need to set the root folder to `client/`.
 
+### Environment Variables
+
+You can change these to your liking.
+
+`client/.env`:
+
+- `API_URL`: defaults to localhost:3001, but allows you to host the front-end separately from the backend on a service like Vercel or Netlify
+- `WELCOME_CONTENT`: a markdown string (with \n newlines) that's rendered on the home page
+- `WELCOME_TITLE`: the file title for the post on the homepage.
+
+`server/.env`:
+
+- `PORT`: the default port to start the server on (3000 by default)
+- `ENV`: can be `production` or `debug`, toggles logging
+- `JWT_SECRET`: a secure token for JWT tokens. You can generate one [here](https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm).
+- `MEMORY_DB`: if "true", a sqlite database will not be created and changes will only exist in memory. Mainly for the demo.
+
 ## Current status
 
 Drift is a major work in progress. Below is a (rough) list of completed and envisioned features. If you want to help address any of them, please let me know regardless of your experience and I'll be happy to assist.
@@ -34,7 +51,7 @@ Drift is a major work in progress. Below is a (rough) list of completed and envi
   - [ ] SSO via HTTP header (Issue: [#11](https://github.com/MaxLeiter/Drift/issues/11))
 - [x] downloading files (individually and entire posts)
 - [ ] password protected posts
-- [ ] sqlite database (should be very easy to set-up; the ORM is just currently set to memory for ease of development)
+- [x] sqlite database
 - [ ] non-node backend
 - [ ] administrator account / settings
 - [ ] docker-compose (PR: [#13](https://github.com/MaxLeiter/Drift/pull/13))
diff --git a/server/.gitignore b/server/.gitignore
index cfbfa63..2a5caaf 100644
--- a/server/.gitignore
+++ b/server/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 .env
 node_modules/
-dist/
\ No newline at end of file
+dist/
+drift.sqlite
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/lib/sequelize.ts b/server/lib/sequelize.ts
index 7d53dd0..f364c3b 100644
--- a/server/lib/sequelize.ts
+++ b/server/lib/sequelize.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
-import {Sequelize} from 'sequelize-typescript';
+import { Sequelize } from 'sequelize-typescript';
 
 export const sequelize = new Sequelize({
   dialect: 'sqlite',
-  database: 'movies',
-  storage: ':memory:',
-  models: [__dirname + '/models']
+  database: 'drift',
+  storage: process.env.MEMORY_DB === "true" ? ":memory:" : __dirname + './../drift.sqlite',
+  models: [__dirname + '/models'],
+  host: 'localhost',
 });
diff --git a/server/src/server.ts b/server/src/server.ts
index 503dcdb..2e96ea8 100644
--- a/server/src/server.ts
+++ b/server/src/server.ts
@@ -4,8 +4,7 @@ import config from '../lib/config';
 import { sequelize } from '../lib/sequelize';
 
 (async () => {
-  await sequelize.sync({ force: true });
-
+  await sequelize.sync();
   createServer(app)
     .listen(
       config.port,