diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..c0d36a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/start.sh
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+# builds if executable isn't foound
+if [ ! -f "tailwindcss" ]
+then
+    sh build.sh
+fi
+
+# initialized and configures tailwind if not configured
+if [ ! -f "tailwind.config.js" ]
+then
+    tailwindcss init
+    sed -i '' "s|  content: \\[\\],|  content: \\['./templates/**/*.html'\\],|g" tailwind.config.js
+fi
+
+# compiles tailwind css & launches locally
+rm -rf public static/css
+tailwindcss -i css/index.css -o ./static/css/index.css --watch & zola serve &
+
+# compiles tailwind css for prod & builds project
+tailwindcss -i css/index.css -o ./static/css/index.css --minify
+zola build
+
+# kills zola and tw bg processes on interrupt
+trap 'kill $(jobs -p); exit 1' INT
+wait
+