diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8750bee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+app/__pycache__
+venv/
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diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a3c11cb..9fb714a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,9 @@
-# url-shortener
-Url-shortener project to showcase python use
+# URL-shortener
+URL-shortener project to showcase python use
+
+## Run locally
+```bash
+uvicorn app.main:app --reload
+```
+Then check: 
+http://127.0.0.1:8000 
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diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d855f15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+from fastapi import FastAPI, HTTPException
+from fastapi.responses import RedirectResponse
+
+app = FastAPI()
+
+@app.get("/")
+def home():
+    return {"message": "URL Shortener API"}
+    
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diff --git a/app/utils.py b/app/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..785e0b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import string
+import random
+
+def generate_short_code(length=6):
+    characters = string.ascii_letters + string.digits
+    return ''.join(random.choice(characters) for _ in range(length))
+    
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