diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d1217f0..543d468 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ A dashboard for the Baskerville project: setup, labelling and feedback
 ## How to set up and run
 
 ### The backend
-To have a fully functional Baskerville Dashboard you need to have Baskerville installed and set up. You will need a Baskerville config to continue.
+The backend is tightly connected to your Baskerville instance, it uses the same database and it uses the `baskerville` library for some of the parts.
+To have a fully functional Baskerville Dashboard you need to have Baskerville installed and set up and a valid Baskerville config to continue.
 To run the backend, rename the [`config.yaml.example`](backend/conf/config.yaml.example) and fill in the details:
 
 ```yaml
@@ -31,16 +32,47 @@ APP_CONFIG:
     - 'test.feedback'       # where test is the uuid of your organization, as provided to you by eq. It should be present in baskerville config.
     - 'test.registration'   # you can use environment variables like: - !ENV '${ORG_UUID}.registration'
 ```
-The next step is to run the flask app:
+
+For the installation, you need to follow [Baskerville's instructions first](https://github.com/deflect-ca/baskerville/tree/develop#installation).
+In short, `spark-iforest`, `esretriever` and `baskerville` should be installed in this order:
+```bash
+# clone and install spark-iforest
+git clone https://github.com/titicaca/spark-iforest
+cd spark-iforest/python
+pip install .
+
+# clone and install esretriever - for the ElasticSearch pipeline
+cd ../../
+git clone https://github.com/equalitie/esretriever.git
+cd esretriever
+pip install .
+
+# Finally, clone and install baskerville
+cd ../
+git clone --branch dashboard_changes_pt2 https://github.com/deflect-ca/baskerville.git
+cd baskerville
+pip install -e .
+```
+
+Next clone and install the dashboard:
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/deflect-ca/baskerville_dashboard.git
+cd baskerville_dashboard/backend
+pip install -e .
+```
+
+Finally run the flask app:
 ```bash
 python app.py
 ```
 The backend should be up and running on http://localhost:5000. You should be able to see `Baskerville-dashboard v0.0.1` in your browser.
 
-*Note: This is the dev server. For deployment, see the options [here](https://flask.palletsprojects.com/en/1.1.x/deploying/))*
+*Note: SocketIO for Python includes a production grade web server. For deployment, see the options [here](https://flask.palletsprojects.com/en/1.1.x/deploying/))*
 Make sure that the communication between the backend, your Baskerville deployment (Spark Cluster, Redis, Kafka, Postgres) and the Prediction Center (through Kafka)
 is allowed.
 
+*Note2: For the feedback functionality described bellow, you need to have a running Baskerville feedback pipeline.
+
 ### The front-end
 The front-end is developed with Angular (11.1.0 currently). 
 To run it:
@@ -54,6 +86,38 @@ The website is served on http://localhost:4200
 
 To deploy it and serve it through an NGINX for example you can follow the steps [here](https://angular.io/guide/deployment)
 
+Example of deployment (NodeJS version: v14.8.0):
+```bash
+cd baskerville_dashboard/front-end
+# install front-end packages - might take time
+npm install
+
+# provide values for the following
+export API_BASE_URL='https://api.baskerville-dashboard.deflect.ca/api/1'
+export SOCKET_URL='https://api.baskerville-dashboard.deflect.ca'
+export BASKERVILLE_DASH_ROOT=/root/baskerville_dashboard
+export BASKERVILLE_ROOT=/root/baskerville
+export ADMIN_PASS=admin_pass_very_secret
+export DB_PORT=5432
+export SPARK_LOCAL_HOSTNAME=localhost
+
+# this builds the front-end with provided configuration and copies the result in /var/www for nginx
+npm run config && ng build --prod && \
+rm -rf /var/www/baskerville_dashboard_frontend/ && \
+cp -r dist/baskerville_dashboard_frontend/ /var/www/baskerville_dashboard_frontend/ && \
+
+# reload nginx
+/etc/init.d/nginx reload
+```
+
+## Docker-compose
+You can find a Dockerized version of this repo [here](https://github.com/deflect-ca/baskerville_client)
+```bash
+export DOCKER_KAFKA_HOST=$(ipconfig getifaddr en0)
+docker-compose up -d dashboard
+```
+
+
 
 ## How to provide feedback
 1. Login with the admin account.
diff --git a/backend/setup.py b/backend/setup.py
index 7e5cb7a..e84f1f4 100644
--- a/backend/setup.py
+++ b/backend/setup.py
@@ -34,5 +34,8 @@
           'baskerville_dashboard.utils',
           'baskerville_dashboard.vm',
       ],
+      package_data={
+          'baskerville_dashboard': ['data/*'],
+       },
       )
 
diff --git a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/app.py b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/app.py
index 97b007d..09d7c14 100644
--- a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/app.py
+++ b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/app.py
@@ -8,11 +8,12 @@
 import uuid
 
 import eventlet
+eventlet.monkey_patch()
+
 import redis
 from redis import Redis
 from pyaml_env import parse_config
 
-eventlet.monkey_patch()
 
 from baskerville_dashboard.auth import Auth
 from baskerville_dashboard.db.manager import SessionManager
@@ -150,8 +151,8 @@ def add_extra_users(config, session):
         ).first()
     new_user = False
     try:
-        for u in config.get('USERS'):
-            print(u)
+        for u in config.get('USERS', []):
+            logger.debug(f'Checking {u.get("username")}')
             user = session.query(User).filter_by(username=u['username']).first()
             if not user:
                 user = User()
@@ -203,18 +204,21 @@ def set_up_kafka_thread(app_config, baskerville_config):
     """
     global KAFKA_CONSUMER_THREAD
     import threading
-    KAFKA_CONSUMER_THREAD = threading.Thread(
-        target=consume_from_kafka,
-        args=(app_config, baskerville_config,),
-        daemon=True
-    )
-    KAFKA_CONSUMER_THREAD.start()
+    try:
+        KAFKA_CONSUMER_THREAD = threading.Thread(
+            target=consume_from_kafka,
+            args=(app_config, baskerville_config,),
+            daemon=True
+        )
+        KAFKA_CONSUMER_THREAD.start()
+    except:
+        traceback.print_exc()
+        logger.error(f'COULD NOT CONNECT TO KAFKA. ')
 
 
 def create_app(config=None, environment=None):
     global jwtApp, SECRET_KEY
     from baskerville_dashboard.db.manager import SessionManager
-    from baskerville.util.helpers import parse_config
 
     url_prefix = config['APP_CONFIG']['PREFIX']
     SECRET_KEY = config['APP_CONFIG']['SECRET_KEY']
@@ -258,7 +262,7 @@ def create_app(config=None, environment=None):
     return app
 
 
-app = create_app(parse_config('../config.yaml'))
+app = create_app(parse_config('../../conf/config.yaml'))
 Session(app)
 CORS(
     app,
diff --git a/backend/data/test_data_1k.json b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/data/test_data_1k.json
similarity index 100%
rename from backend/data/test_data_1k.json
rename to backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/data/test_data_1k.json
diff --git a/backend/data/training_config.sample.yaml b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/data/training_config.sample.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from backend/data/training_config.sample.yaml
rename to backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/data/training_config.sample.yaml
diff --git a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/db/manager.py b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/db/manager.py
index 8f0622c..658f02e 100644
--- a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/db/manager.py
+++ b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/db/manager.py
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ def set_engine(self, engine):
 
     @property
     def session(self):
-        return self.Session()
+        return self.Session
diff --git a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/routes/retrain.py b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/routes/retrain.py
index 27b2117..9a3ba15 100644
--- a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/routes/retrain.py
+++ b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/routes/retrain.py
@@ -7,9 +7,10 @@
 import traceback
 
 import uuid
+from pyaml_env import parse_config
+
 from baskerville.db.dashboard_models import PendingWork
 from baskerville.models.config import TrainingConfig
-from baskerville.util.helpers import parse_config
 from baskerville_dashboard.auth import login_required
 from baskerville_dashboard.db.manager import SessionManager
 from baskerville_dashboard.utils.helpers import ResponseEnvelope, \
diff --git a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/routes/try_baskerville.py b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/routes/try_baskerville.py
index 2402991..04dcf97 100644
--- a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/routes/try_baskerville.py
+++ b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/routes/try_baskerville.py
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@
     get_baskerville_config, ReadLogs, ResponseEnvelope, is_compressed, \
     get_extension, start_local_baskerville, get_default_data_path, \
     process_details, is_process_running
-from daemonize import Daemonize
-from daemons.daemonizer import run
+# from daemonize import Daemonize
+# from daemons.daemonizer import run
 from requests.auth import HTTPBasicAuth
 from werkzeug.utils import secure_filename
 from flask import Blueprint, request, jsonify, session, current_app, url_for
@@ -184,12 +184,14 @@ def start_baskerville_for():
     else:
         try:
             args_to_action = (config, pipeline)
+            # TODO: get the values from the current_app config
+            # current_app.config
             kwargs_to_action = {
                     'BASKERVILLE_ROOT': os.environ['BASKERVILLE_ROOT'],
-                    'DB_HOST': os.environ['DB_HOST'],
-                    'DB_USER': os.environ['DB_USER'],
-                    'DB_PASS': os.environ['DB_PASS'],
-                    'DB_PORT': os.environ['DB_PORT'],
+                    'DB_HOST': os.environ.get('DB_HOST'),
+                    'DB_USER': os.environ.get('DB_USER'),
+                    'DB_PASS': os.environ.get('DB_PASS'),
+                    'DB_PORT': os.environ.get('DB_PORT'),
                 }
             p = Process(
                 daemon=True,
diff --git a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/utils/helpers.py b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/utils/helpers.py
index d673b77..5817595 100644
--- a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/utils/helpers.py
+++ b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/utils/helpers.py
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def get_default_data_path():
     :return:
     """
     return os.path.join(
-        os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)), '..', '..', 'data'
+        os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)), '..', 'data'
     )
 
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def get_default_conf_path():
     :return:
     """
     return os.path.join(
-        os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)), '..', '..', 'conf'
+        os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)), '..', '..', '..', 'conf'
     )
 
 
diff --git a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/utils/kafka.py b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/utils/kafka.py
index b16dd30..2a30092 100644
--- a/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/utils/kafka.py
+++ b/backend/src/baskerville_dashboard/utils/kafka.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 import json
 import traceback
 
+import kafka.errors
+
 from baskerville.db.dashboard_models import Message, PendingWork
 from baskerville.models.config import KafkaConfig
 from baskerville_dashboard.utils.enums import NotificationKind
@@ -25,14 +27,36 @@ def value_deserializer(v):
         return {}
 
 
+def create_kafka_topics(bootstrap_servers, topics):
+    from kafka.admin import KafkaAdminClient, NewTopic
+    admin_client = KafkaAdminClient(
+        bootstrap_servers=bootstrap_servers,
+        client_id='test'
+    )
+
+    topic_list = []
+    for topic in topics:
+        topic_list.append(
+            NewTopic(name=topic, num_partitions=1, replication_factor=1)
+        )
+    try:
+        admin_client.create_topics(
+            new_topics=topic_list, validate_only=False
+        )
+    except kafka.errors.TopicAlreadyExistsError:
+        pass
+
+
 def get_kafka_consumer(kafka_config: KafkaConfig, topics=()):
     global KAFKA_CONSUMER
     from kafka import KafkaConsumer
     from kafka.client_async import selectors
     if not KAFKA_CONSUMER:
+        bootstrap_servers = f"{kafka_config['connection']['bootstrap_servers']}:9092"
+        create_kafka_topics(bootstrap_servers, topics)
         KAFKA_CONSUMER = KafkaConsumer(
             *topics,
-            bootstrap_servers=kafka_config['bootstrap_servers'],
+            bootstrap_servers=bootstrap_servers,
             selector=selectors.DefaultSelector,
             auto_offset_reset='earliest',
             value_deserializer=value_deserializer
@@ -47,7 +71,7 @@ def get_aiokafka_consumer(kafka_config: KafkaConfig, topics=()):
     if not ASYNC_KAFKA_CONSUMER:
         ASYNC_KAFKA_CONSUMER = AIOKafkaConsumer(
             *topics,
-            bootstrap_servers=kafka_config['bootstrap_servers'],
+            bootstrap_servers=kafka_config['connection']['bootstrap_servers'],
             auto_offset_reset='earliest',
             value_deserializer=value_deserializer
         )
@@ -58,14 +82,15 @@ def get_kafka_producer(kafka_config: KafkaConfig):
     global KAFKA_PRODUCER
     from kafka.client_async import selectors
     if not KAFKA_PRODUCER:
+        connection = kafka_config['connection']
         KAFKA_PRODUCER = KafkaProducer(
-        bootstrap_servers=kafka_config.bootstrap_servers,
+        bootstrap_servers=connection['bootstrap_servers'],
         selector=selectors.DefaultSelector,
-        security_protocol=kafka_config['security_protocol'],
-        ssl_check_hostname=kafka_config['ssl_check_hostname'],
-        ssl_cafile=kafka_config['ssl_cafile'],
-        ssl_certfile=kafka_config['ssl_certfile'],
-        ssl_keyfile=kafka_config['ssl_keyfile']
+        security_protocol=connection['security_protocol'],
+        ssl_check_hostname=connection['ssl_check_hostname'],
+        ssl_cafile=connection['ssl_cafile'],
+        ssl_certfile=connection['ssl_certfile'],
+        ssl_keyfile=connection['ssl_keyfile']
     )
 
     return KAFKA_PRODUCER