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+# Backend
+
+## ZRoom App Lamp Manipulation APIs
+
+The python flask app represents the backend of the ZRoom App as the web server accepting HTTP requests from the React Frontend / ZRoom App CLient. The backend consists of a REST API that activates the corresponding lamp that the client sent in its GET request.
+
+about a Casting Agency modeling a company that is responsible for creating and managing actors and movies. There are different roles within the company who are having different permissions for interacting with the company's application. 
+
+When running the app locally, the app is accessible under the following URL: http://localhost:5000 or  http://127.0.0.1:5000
+
+## Getting Started
+
+### Installing Dependencies
+
+#### Python 3.7
+
+Follow instructions to install the latest version of python for your platform in the [python docs](https://docs.python.org/3/using/unix.html#getting-and-installing-the-latest-version-of-python)
+
+#### Virtual Environment
+
+We recommend working within a virtual environment whenever using Python for projects. This keeps your dependencies for each project separate and organized. Instructions for setting up a virtual environment for your platform can be found in the [python docs](https://packaging.python.org/guides/installing-using-pip-and-virtual-environments/)
+
+#### PIP Dependencies
+
+Once you have your virtual environment setup and running, install dependencies by running:
+
+```bash
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+```
+
+This will install all of the required packages we selected within the `requirements.txt` file.
+
+##### Key Dependencies
+
+- [Flask](http://flask.pocoo.org/)  is a lightweight backend microservices framework. Flask is required to handle requests and responses.
+
+- [Flask-CORS](https://flask-cors.readthedocs.io/en/latest/#) is the extension we'll use to handle cross origin requests from our frontend server. 
+
+
+## API Reference
+
+This chapter gives a detailed documentation about the API endpoints and their expected behavior.
+
+### Endpoints
+
+- GET '/lamp/${integer}/activate'
+
+
+#### GET '/lamp/${integer}/activate'
+- Activates the corresponding lamp according to the lamp_id that is sent within the GET request
+- Request Arguments: id - integer
+- Returns: Returns an object with id of the manipulated lamp, and the success information
+```
+{
+    'lamp_id': 1,
+    'success': true
+}
+```
+
+### Error handling
+
+The API will return the following error responses based on the request failures:
+
+    400: Bad Request
+    404: Not Found
+    422: Unprocessable Entity
+    500: Internal Server Error
+
+
+## Running the server
+
+From within this directory first ensure you are working using your created virtual environment. 
+
+To run the server, execute the following within the backend folder:
+
+Linux:
+```
+python3 app.py
+```
+
+Windows PowerShell:
+```
+python app.py
+```