diff --git a/.drone/mail-setup.sh b/.drone/mail-setup.sh
index f962711..7d8384a 100755
--- a/.drone/mail-setup.sh
+++ b/.drone/mail-setup.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ set -ex
 add_fqdn_to_hosts $(get_ip_addr $(hostname)) mail
 add_fqdn_to_hosts $(get_ip_addr auth1) auth1
 
-. venv/bin/activate
+[ -f venv/bin/activate ] && . venv/bin/activate
 python tests/MockMailmanServer.py &
 python tests/MockSMTPServer.py &
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ab010a5..8a1e8e9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,26 +10,37 @@ overview of its architecture.
 If you are not modifying code related to email or Mailman, then you may use
 Docker containers instead, which are much easier to work with than the VM.
 ```
-docker.sh up
+docker-compose up -d
 ```
 This will create some containers with the bare minimum necessary for ceod to
-run. Run `docker logs -f phosphoric-acid` and wait until you see the line
-`sleep infinity`. Then attach to each of phosphoric-acid, mail and coffee,
-and start ceod (see 'Running the application', below). Once inside a container,
-make sure to `cd` into the current working directory on the host.
-
-To use ceo, run the following inside the phosphoric-acid container:
+run, and start ceod on each of phosphoric-acid, mail, and coffee container.
+You can check the containers status using:
+```sh
+docker-compose logs -f
 ```
-login
-<username is ctdalek, password is krb5>
-<cd into your directory OUTSIDE the container>
-. venv/bin/activate
+
+To use ceo, run the following:
+```sh
+docker-compose exec phosphoric-acid bash
+su ctdalek # optional, to run as normal user
+kinit ctdalek # password is krb5
 python -m ceo
 ```
 This should bring up the TUI.
 
+Normally, ceod should autoamtically restart when the source files are changed.
+To manually restart the service, run:
+```sh
+docker-compose kill -s SIGHUP phosphoric-acid
+```
+
+To stop the containers, run:
+```sh
+docker-compose down
+```
+
 ### VM
-If you are making changes related to email or Mailman, you will need the full
+If you need the full environment running in VM, follow the guide on
 [syscom dev environment](https://git.uwaterloo.ca/csc/syscom-dev-environment).
 This will setup all of the services needed for ceo to work. You should clone
 this repo in the phosphoric-acid container under ctdalek's home directory; you