diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..78ee506
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+__pycache__/
+bulletins.db
+venv/
+
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 38300ef..dd9c3ad 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,13 +4,14 @@
 
 This is the TC²-BBS system integrated with Meshtastic devices. The system allows for message handling, bulletin boards, mail systems, and a channel directory.
 
-## Setup
+### Docker
 
-### Docker installation
-TC²-BBS Meshtastic is available on Docker Hub
+If you're a Docker user, TC²-BBS Meshtastic is available on Docker Hub!
 
 [![Docker HUB](https://icon-icons.com/downloadimage.php?id=151885&root=2530/PNG/128/&file=docker_button_icon_151885.png)](https://hub.docker.com/r/thealhu/tc2-bbs-mesh)
 
+## Setup
+
 ### Requirements
 
 - Python 3.x
@@ -20,81 +21,132 @@ TC²-BBS Meshtastic is available on Docker Hub
 ### Installation
 
 1. Clone the repository:
-
-```sh
-git clone https://github.com/TheCommsChannel/TC2-BBS-mesh.git
-cd TC2-BBS-mesh
-```
-
-2. Set up a Python virtual environment:
-
-```sh
-python -m venv venv
-```
-
-3. Activate the virtual environment:
-  
-
-- On Windows:
-
-```sh
-venv\Scripts\activate
-```
-
-- On macOS and Linux:
-
-```sh
-source venv/bin/activate
-```
-
-4. Install the required packages:
-
-```sh
-pip install -r requirements.txt
-```
-
-5. Set up the configuration in `config.ini`:
    
-  **[interface]**
-  
-  If using `type = serial` and you have multiple devices connected, you will need to uncomment the `port =` line and enter in the port of your device. 
-  
-  Linux Example:
-  `port = /dev/ttyUSB0` 
-  
-  Windows Example:
-  `port = COM3` 
-  
-  If using type = tcp you will need to uncomment the hostname = 192.168.x.x line and put in the IP address of your Meshtastic device 
-  
-  **[sync]**
-  
-  Enter in a list of other BBS nodes you would like to sync messages and bulletins with. Separate each by comma and no spaces as shown in the example below. 
-  You can find the nodeID in the menu under `Radio Configuration > User` for each node, or use this script for getting nodedb data from a device:
-  
-  [Meshtastic-Python-Examples/print-nodedb.py at main · pdxlocations/Meshtastic-Python-Examples (github.com)](https://github.com/pdxlocations/Meshtastic-Python-Examples/blob/main/print-nodedb.py)
+   ```sh
+   cd ~
+   git clone https://github.com/TheCommsChannel/TC2-BBS-mesh.git
+   cd TC2-BBS-mesh
+   ```
 
-  Example Config:
-```ini
-[interface]
-type = serial
-# port = /dev/ttyUSB0
-# hostname = 192.168.x.x
+2. Set up a Python virtual environment:  
+   
+   ```sh
+   python -m venv venv
+   ```
 
-[sync]
-bbs_nodes = !f53f4abc,!f3abc123
-```
+3. Activate the virtual environment:  
+   
+   - On Windows:  
+   
+   ```sh
+   venv\Scripts\activate  
+   ```
+   
+   - On macOS and Linux:
+   
+   ```sh
+   source venv/bin/activate
+   ```
+
+4. Install the required packages:  
+   
+   ```sh
+   pip install -r requirements.txt
+   ```
+
+5. Set up the configuration in `config.ini`:  
+   
+   **[interface]**  
+   If using `type = serial` and you have multiple devices connected, you will need to uncomment the `port =` line and enter the port of your device.   
+   
+   Linux Example:  
+   `port = /dev/ttyUSB0`   
+   
+   Windows Example:  
+   `port = COM3`   
+   
+   If using type = tcp you will need to uncomment the hostname = 192.168.x.x line and put in the IP address of your Meshtastic device.  
+   
+   **[sync]**  
+   Enter a list of other BBS nodes you would like to sync messages and bulletins with. Separate each by comma and no spaces as shown in the example below.   
+   You can find the nodeID in the menu under `Radio Configuration > User` for each node, or use this script for getting nodedb data from a device:  
+   
+   [Meshtastic-Python-Examples/print-nodedb.py at main · pdxlocations/Meshtastic-Python-Examples (github.com)](https://github.com/pdxlocations/Meshtastic-Python-Examples/blob/main/print-nodedb.py)  
+   
+   Example Config:  
+   
+   ```ini
+   [interface]  
+   type = serial  
+   # port = /dev/ttyUSB0  
+   # hostname = 192.168.x.x  
+   
+   [sync]  
+   bbs_nodes = !f53f4abc,!f3abc123  
+   ```
 
 ### Running the Server
 
 Run the server with:
 
 ```sh
-python server.py
+python server.py```  
 ```
 
 Be sure you've followed the Python virtual environment steps above and activated it before running.
 
+## Automatically run at boot
+
+If you would like to have the script automatically run at boot, follow the steps below:
+
+1. **Edit the service file**
+   
+   First, edit the mesh-bbs.service file using your preferred text editor. The 3 following lines in that file are what we need to edit:
+   
+   ```sh
+   User=pi
+   WorkingDirectory=/home/pi/TC2-BBS-mesh
+   ExecStart=/home/pi/TC2-BBS-mesh/venv/bin/python3 /home/pi/TC2-BBS-mesh/server.py
+   ```
+   
+   The file is currently setup for a user named 'pi' and assumes that the TC2-BBS-mesh directory is located in the home directory (which it should be if the earlier directions were followed)
+   
+   We just need to replace the 4 parts that have "pi" in those 3 lines with your username.
+
+2. **Configuring systemd**
+   
+   From the TC2-BBS-mesh directory, run the following commands:
+   
+   ```sh
+   sudo cp mesh-bbs.service /etc/systemd/system/
+   ```
+   
+   ```sh
+   sudo systemctl enable mesh-bbs.service
+   ```
+   
+   ```sh
+   sudo systemctl start mesh-bbs.service
+   ```
+   
+   The service should be started now and should start anytime your device is powered on or rebooted. You can check the status ofk the service by running the following command:
+   
+   ```sh
+   sudo systemctl status mesh-bbs.service
+   ```
+   
+   If you need to stop the service, you can run the following:
+   
+   ```sh
+   sudo systemctl stop mesh-bbs.service
+   ```
+   
+   If you make changes to the watchlist.txt file, you will need to restart the service with the following command:
+   
+   ```sh
+   sudo systemctl restart mesh-bbs.service
+   ```
+
 ## Features
 
 - **Mail System**: Send and receive mail messages.
@@ -106,14 +158,13 @@ Be sure you've followed the Python virtual environment steps above and activated
 
 ## Usage
 
-You interact with the BBS by sending direct messages to the node that's connected to the system running the Python script. Sending any message to it will get a response with the main menu.
+You interact with the BBS by sending direct messages to the node that's connected to the system running the Python script. Sending any message to it will get a response with the main menu.  
 Make selections by sending messages based on the letter or number in brackets - Send M for [M]ail Menu for example.
 
 A video of it in use is available on our YouTube channel:
 
 [![TC²-BBS-Mesh](https://img.youtube.com/vi/d6LhY4HoimU/0.jpg)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6LhY4HoimU)
 
-
 ## Thanks
 
 Big thanks to [Meshtastic](https://github.com/meshtastic) and [pdxlocations](https://github.com/pdxlocations) for the great Python examples:
diff --git a/db_operations.py b/db_operations.py
index 0d8aaa3..b1440e8 100644
--- a/db_operations.py
+++ b/db_operations.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def get_channels():
 def add_bulletin(board, sender_short_name, subject, content, bbs_nodes, interface, unique_id=None):
     conn = get_db_connection()
     c = conn.cursor()
-    date = datetime.now().strftime('%m/%d/%Y %H:%M')
+    date = datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M')
     if not unique_id:
         unique_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
     c.execute(
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ def delete_bulletin(bulletin_id, bbs_nodes, interface):
 def add_mail(sender_id, sender_short_name, recipient_id, subject, content, bbs_nodes, interface, unique_id=None):
     conn = get_db_connection()
     c = conn.cursor()
-    date = datetime.now().strftime('%m/%d/%Y %H:%M')
+    date = datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M')
     if not unique_id:
         unique_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
     c.execute("INSERT INTO mail (sender, sender_short_name, recipient, date, subject, content, unique_id) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)",
diff --git a/mesh-bbs.service b/mesh-bbs.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5bf33b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mesh-bbs.service
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=TC²-BBS Meshtastic Version
+After=multi-user.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+Restart=always
+RestartSec=20
+User=pi
+WorkingDirectory=/home/pi/TC2-BBS-mesh
+ExecStart=/home/pi/TC2-BBS-mesh/venv/bin/python3 /home/pi/TC2-BBS-mesh/server.py
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 35dee8e..36ba220 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from config_init import initialize_config, get_interface
 from db_operations import initialize_database
 from message_processing import on_receive
 from pubsub import pub
+import time
 
 # Configure logging
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO, format='%(asctime)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s')
@@ -51,7 +52,8 @@ def main():
 
     try:
         while True:
-            pass
+            time.sleep(1)
+
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         logging.info("Shutting down the server...")
         interface.close()