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+![Citus Banner](/github-banner.png)
+
+![Build Status](https://img.shields.io/badge/build-passing-brightgreen.svg)
+[![Citus IRC](https://img.shields.io/badge/irc-%23citus-blue.svg)](irc://irc.freenode.net/citus)
+[![Latest Docs](https://img.shields.io/badge/docs-latest-brightgreen.svg)](https://www.citusdata.com/documentation/citus-documentation-5/index.html)
+
+### What is Citus?
+
+* **Open-source** PostgreSQL extension (not a fork)
+* **Scalable** across multiple hosts through sharding and replication
+* **Distributed** engine for query parallelization
+* **Highly available** in the face of host failures
+
+Citus horizontally scales PostgreSQL across commodity servers using
+sharding and replication. Its query engine parallelizes incoming
+SQL queries across these servers to enable real-time responses on
+large datasets.
+
+Citus extends the underlying database rather than forking it, which
+gives developers and enterprises the power and familiarity of a
+traditional relational database. As an extension, Citus supports
+new PostgreSQL releases, allowing users to benefit from new features
+while maintaining compatibility with existing PostgreSQL tools.
+
+Common Use-Cases:
+* Powering real-time analytic dashboards
+* Exploratory queries on events as they happen
+* Large dataset archival and reporting
+* Session analytics (funnels, segmentation, and cohorts)
+
+To learn more, visit [citusdata.com](citusdata.com).
+
+### Quickstart
+
+#### Local Citus Cluster
+
+* Install docker-compose: [Mac](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-toolbox) | [Linux](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-and-use-docker-compose-on-ubuntu-14-04)
+* (Mac only) connect to Docker VM
+   ```bash
+   eval $(docker-machine env default)
+   ```
+
+* Pull and start the docker images
+   ```bash
+   wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/citusdata/docker/master/docker-compose.yml
+   docker-compose -p citus up -d
+   ```
+
+* Connect to the master database
+   ```bash
+   docker exec -it citus_master psql -U postgres -d postgres
+   ```
+
+* Follow the [first tutorial](https://www.citusdata.com/documentation/citus-documentation-5/tutorials/tut-real-time.html) instructions
+* To shut the cluster down, run
+
+   ```bash
+   docker-compose -p citus down
+   ```
+
+### Learn More
+
+The project
+[documentation](https://www.citusdata.com/documentation/citus-documentat
+ion-5/index.html) and
+[tutorials](https://www.citusdata.com/documentation/citus-documentation-
+5/tutorials/tut-real-time.html) are good places to start.
+We’re responsive on Github, so you can use the [issue
+tracker](https://github.com/citusdata/citus/issues) to check for or
+submit bug reports and feature requests. For more immediate help
+or general discussion we’re on IRC at `#citus` on Freenode and
+[@citusdata](https://twitter.com/citusdata) on Twitter.
+
+We also offer training and dedicated support options. More information
+is available on our [support
+page](https://www.citusdata.com/citus-products/citus-data-pricing).
+
+### Contributing
+
+Citus is built on and of open source. We welcome your contributions,
+and have added a
+[helpwanted](https://github.com/citusdata/citus/labels/helpwanted) label
+to issues which are accessible to new contributors. The CONTRIBUTING.md
+file explains how to get started developing the Citus extension
+itself and our code quality guidelines.
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