diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9de81eed3331cd64d729eca0df52c30e79c3af90..436c9247415e5212f0cb71803ef5488221a81772 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -81,34 +81,7 @@ output_factory.write_file(
 
 ### Docker
 
-Docker is the simplest install option.
-
-1. Create and start a new container
-
-   named `geomagio`,
-   listening on local port `8000`,
-   from the image `usgs/geomag-algorithms` on docker hub
-
-   ```
-   docker run -dit --name geomagio -p 8000:8000 usgs/geomag-algorithms
-   ```
-
-2. Use the running container
-
-- Run the `geomag.py` command line interface:
-
-  > To work with files outside the container,
-  > use a volume mount when starting the container
-
-  ```
-  docker exec -it geomagio geomag.py
-  ```
-
-- Or, to run an interactive python prompt:
-
-  ```
-  docker exec -it geomagio python
-  ```
+Docker is the simplest install option. Find instructions [here](./localdev/local_development.md).
 
 ## Algorithms
 
diff --git a/localdev/local_development.md b/localdev/local_development.md
index e3e216d969d7742c2673aee7480d46aaa24239d8..ec84029c5814f90501670463643b913e22fe8aac 100644
--- a/localdev/local_development.md
+++ b/localdev/local_development.md
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
 # Local Development
 
 ## Background
-This docker-compose can replace the docker-compose in geomag-stacks. This docker-compose uses the existing
-Dockerfile to create a `localdev-web-1` container. Ideally, this will more closely mimic what is happening in
-production. This docker-compose is also creating a mysql container called `localdev-database-1` and initializing the metadata and session tables. It is also creating a `localdev-edge-1` container using the geomag-edge Dockerfile in geomag-stacks. 
-The geomag-edge folder was not moved out of geomag-stacks out of an abudance of caution to prevent internal information
-from being revealed.
+This workflow can replace the docker-compose in geomag-stacks. This docker-compose uses the existing Dockerfile to create a `localdev-web-1` container, instead of pulling down the latest geomag-algorithms image. However, it is initializing the mysql database the same way it is done in geomag-stacks. This docker-compose is also creating a mysql container called `localdev-database-1` an edge container called `localdev-edge-1` using the geomag-edge Dockerfile in geomag-stacks. The geomag-edge folder was not moved out of geomag-stacks out of an abudance of caution to prevent internal information from being revealed.
 
 ## Prerequisites
 For mac development:
@@ -27,11 +23,16 @@ export MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=""
 ```
 
 ## Use
-To simply start build and run all the containers, make sure you are in the /localdev directory and run the following command.
+To simply start build and run all the containers, make sure you are in the /localdev directory and run the following command. This includes a reload command for the web container. It will restart the web container when changes are made locally.
 ```
 docker-compose up
 ```
 
+If you're not developing locally, use the following command to run the containers in the background. Reload will not work this way.
+```
+docker-compmose up -d 
+```
+
 ## Helpful Docker Commands
 `docker ps` shows the running containers.