diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..7e9ad56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# install.sh
+# Automated installation script for Docker and Docker Compose on Debian/Ubuntu systems.
+
+echo "Starting installation process..."
+
+# 1. OS Detection (Basic check for Debian/Ubuntu)
+if [ -f /etc/os-release ]; then
+    . /etc/os-release
+    OS=$NAME
+    VER=$VERSION_ID
+    echo "Detected OS: $OS $VER"
+    if [[ "$ID" != "debian" && "$ID" != "ubuntu" && "$ID_LIKE" != *"debian"* && "$ID_LIKE" != *"ubuntu"* ]]; then
+        echo "⚠️  Warning: This script is optimized for Debian/Ubuntu. Your system ($ID) might require different steps."
+        read -p "Press Enter to continue anyway, or Ctrl+C to abort..."
+    fi
+else
+    echo "❌ Error: Cannot detect OS. /etc/os-release not found."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# 2. Check for curl
+if ! command -v curl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "Installing curl..."
+    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y curl
+fi
+
+# 3. install Docker
+if command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "✅ Docker is already installed."
+else
+    echo "Installing Docker..."
+    curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
+    sudo sh get-docker.sh
+    rm get-docker.sh
+    echo "✅ Docker installed successfully."
+fi
+
+# 4. Post-installation steps (Manage Docker as a non-root user)
+if getent group docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    if groups "$USER" | grep &>/dev/null "\bdocker\b"; then
+        echo "✅ User '$USER' is already in the 'docker' group."
+    else
+        echo "Adding user '$USER' to the 'docker' group..."
+        sudo usermod -aG docker "$USER"
+        echo "⚠️  You will need to log out and log back in for this change to take effect."
+    fi
+else
+    echo "Creating 'docker' group and adding user..."
+    sudo groupadd docker
+    sudo usermod -aG docker "$USER"
+    echo "⚠️  You will need to log out and log back in for this change to take effect."
+fi
+
+# 5. Check Docker Compose
+if docker compose version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "✅ Docker Compose plugin is installed."
+else
+    echo "⚠️  Docker Compose plugin seems missing even after Docker installation."
+    echo "Attempting to install 'docker-compose-plugin' via apt..."
+    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y docker-compose-plugin
+fi
+
+echo "Detailed verification:"
+docker --version
+docker compose version
+
+echo "=========================================="
+echo "Installation complete!"
+echo "If you saw a warning about group membership, please log out and log back in."
+echo "Then run './start.sh' to check requirements and start the app."
+echo "=========================================="
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index 482afb2..0fa3431 100755
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,31 @@ set -euo pipefail
 
 ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 cd "$ROOT_DIR"
+
+check_requirements() {
+  echo "Checking system requirements..."
+  
+  if ! command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "❌ Error: 'docker' command not found."
+    echo "   Please install Docker: https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  if ! docker info >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "❌ Error: Docker daemon is not running or you need to add your user to the 'docker' group."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  if ! docker compose version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "❌ Error: 'docker compose' command not found."
+    echo "   Please install Docker Compose plugin."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  echo "✅ Docker requirements met."
+}
+
+check_requirements
 AUTO_UPDATE="${AUTO_UPDATE:-1}"
 AUTO_X11_AUTH="${AUTO_X11_AUTH:-1}"