diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..db0e730a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+node_modules/
+dist/
+.env
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
+.pytest_cache/
+.coverage
+coverage/
+*.log
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..deb12fca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# Gekko API Client
+
+A Python client for interacting with the Gekko trading platform API.
+
+## Features
+
+- Retrieve exchange information
+- List available trading strategies
+- Start and stop trading sessions
+- Flexible configuration options
+
+## Installation
+
+1. Clone the repository
+2. Install dependencies:
+   ```
+   pip install -r requirements.txt
+   ```
+
+## Usage
+
+```python
+from src.gekko_api import GekkoAPI
+
+# Initialize the API client
+api = GekkoAPI(base_url='http://localhost:3000')
+
+# Get exchange information
+exchange_info = api.get_exchange_info('Binance')
+
+# List available strategies
+strategies = api.list_strategies()
+
+# Start a trading session
+config = {
+    'exchange': 'Binance',
+    'pair': 'BTC/USDT',
+    'strategy': 'MACD'
+}
+session_id = api.start_trading(config)
+
+# Stop trading
+api.stop_trading(session_id)
+```
+
+## Running Tests
+
+```
+pytest tests/
+```
+
+## Contributing
+
+Please read the guidelines for contributing to this project.
+
+## License
+
+[Insert License Information]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d9ce6ee8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+requests==2.26.0
+pytest==7.3.1
+flask==2.1.0
+python-dotenv==0.20.0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/gekko_api.py b/src/gekko_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7099eb1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gekko_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import requests
+from typing import Dict, Any, Optional
+
+class GekkoAPI:
+    """
+    A client for interacting with the Gekko trading platform API.
+    
+    Supports basic operations like fetching exchange info, trading strategies,
+    and managing trade configurations.
+    """
+    
+    def __init__(self, base_url: str = 'http://localhost:3000'):
+        """
+        Initialize the Gekko API client.
+        
+        :param base_url: Base URL of the Gekko API server
+        """
+        self.base_url = base_url
+    
+    def get_exchange_info(self, exchange: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """
+        Retrieve information about a specific exchange.
+        
+        :param exchange: Name of the exchange
+        :return: Exchange information dictionary
+        :raises ValueError: If exchange is not found or API request fails
+        """
+        try:
+            response = requests.get(f'{self.base_url}/exchanges/{exchange}')
+            response.raise_for_status()
+            return response.json()
+        except requests.RequestException as e:
+            raise ValueError(f"Failed to retrieve exchange info: {str(e)}")
+    
+    def list_strategies(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """
+        List available trading strategies.
+        
+        :return: Dictionary of available trading strategies
+        :raises RuntimeError: If API request fails
+        """
+        try:
+            response = requests.get(f'{self.base_url}/strategies')
+            response.raise_for_status()
+            return response.json()
+        except requests.RequestException as e:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to list strategies: {str(e)}")
+    
+    def start_trading(self, config: Dict[str, Any]) -> Optional[str]:
+        """
+        Start a trading session with the given configuration.
+        
+        :param config: Trading configuration dictionary
+        :return: Trading session ID or None
+        :raises ValueError: If configuration is invalid or start fails
+        """
+        if not config:
+            raise ValueError("Trading configuration cannot be empty")
+        
+        try:
+            response = requests.post(f'{self.base_url}/trade', json=config)
+            response.raise_for_status()
+            return response.json().get('sessionId')
+        except requests.RequestException as e:
+            raise ValueError(f"Failed to start trading: {str(e)}")
+    
+    def stop_trading(self, session_id: str) -> bool:
+        """
+        Stop a specific trading session.
+        
+        :param session_id: ID of the trading session to stop
+        :return: True if trading stopped successfully, False otherwise
+        """
+        try:
+            response = requests.delete(f'{self.base_url}/trade/{session_id}')
+            return response.status_code == 200
+        except requests.RequestException:
+            return False
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_gekko_api.py b/tests/test_gekko_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d0075fef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_gekko_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+import pytest
+import requests
+from unittest.mock import patch
+from src.gekko_api import GekkoAPI
+
+class MockResponse:
+    def __init__(self, json_data, status_code=200):
+        self.json_data = json_data
+        self.status_code = status_code
+    
+    def json(self):
+        return self.json_data
+    
+    def raise_for_status(self):
+        if self.status_code >= 400:
+            raise requests.HTTPError(f"HTTP Error: {self.status_code}")
+
+def test_gekko_api_initialization():
+    api = GekkoAPI()
+    assert api.base_url == 'http://localhost:3000'
+
+@patch('requests.get')
+def test_get_exchange_info(mock_get):
+    mock_get.return_value = MockResponse({
+        'name': 'Binance',
+        'supported': True,
+        'requiredPermissions': ['trade', 'balance']
+    })
+    
+    api = GekkoAPI()
+    exchange_info = api.get_exchange_info('Binance')
+    
+    assert exchange_info['name'] == 'Binance'
+    mock_get.assert_called_once_with('http://localhost:3000/exchanges/Binance')
+
+@patch('requests.get')
+def test_list_strategies(mock_get):
+    mock_get.return_value = MockResponse({
+        'strategies': ['MACD', 'RSI', 'EMA']
+    })
+    
+    api = GekkoAPI()
+    strategies = api.list_strategies()
+    
+    assert 'strategies' in strategies
+    assert len(strategies['strategies']) == 3
+    mock_get.assert_called_once_with('http://localhost:3000/strategies')
+
+@patch('requests.post')
+def test_start_trading(mock_post):
+    mock_post.return_value = MockResponse({
+        'sessionId': 'trade_123456'
+    })
+    
+    api = GekkoAPI()
+    config = {
+        'exchange': 'Binance',
+        'pair': 'BTC/USDT',
+        'strategy': 'MACD'
+    }
+    
+    session_id = api.start_trading(config)
+    
+    assert session_id == 'trade_123456'
+    mock_post.assert_called_once_with('http://localhost:3000/trade', json=config)
+
+@patch('requests.post')
+def test_start_trading_empty_config(mock_post):
+    api = GekkoAPI()
+    
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Trading configuration cannot be empty"):
+        api.start_trading({})
+
+@patch('requests.delete')
+def test_stop_trading(mock_delete):
+    mock_delete.return_value = MockResponse({}, status_code=200)
+    
+    api = GekkoAPI()
+    result = api.stop_trading('trade_123456')
+    
+    assert result is True
+    mock_delete.assert_called_once_with('http://localhost:3000/trade/trade_123456')
\ No newline at end of file