Document how to use Github Codespaces

doc/getting-started.md

@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Getting started
 
+## Codespaces
+
+If you are not a developer, or you are using a Windows machine,
+we recommend running this application using Github Codespaces.
+See [Running with Codespaces](/doc/running-with-codespaces.md).
+
 ## Getting the basics
 
 This is a Rails application, you will need access to:

doc/running-with-codespaces.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# Running the application with Github Codespaces
+
+If you are not a developer and wish to run the application 
+(e.g. a Content Designer, UX) or are using a Windows machine, we recommend
+running this application using [Github Codespaces](https://github.com/features/codespaces).
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+You will need a Github account with read/write access to the repository. 
+
+You will
+also need for your Github account to be granted access to run Codespaces paid for 
+by DfE Digital. To check if this is the case, click on the green "Code" button on
+the repository, and choose the "Codespaces". If you can see "Codespace usage for 
+this repository is paid for by DFE-Digital." then you have the correct access.
+
+## Running a Codespace
+
+1. Click on the green "Code" button and choose "Codespaces" from the tabs
+1. Click the plus + icon
+1. The Codespace will start up in a new tab. Initial setup takes some time, but
+   once it has completed the initial setup will not need to run again (unless you
+   destroy and rebuild the Codespace)
+1. Once it has built you will be able to view the codebase in a virtual VS Code IDE 
+   running in your browser. If you wish to use another IDE, some others offer bridges
+   to connect to Codespaces, for example [JetBrains](https://docs.github.com/en/codespaces/developing-in-a-codespace/using-github-codespaces-in-your-jetbrains-ide)
+
+The above instructions will create a Codespace on the `main` branch. 
+
+To build a Codespace on a different branch, create a branch on the repository and follow
+the same instructions from that branch.
+
+## Post-creation setup
+
+After creating the Codespace, you will need to create a user and seed the database to 
+enable yourself to log in and see data. Open a terminal in your IDE and follow the 
+instructions in [Seeding the database](/doc/seeding-the-database.md)
+
+You will need to re-do the seeds every time you destroy and rebuild the Codespace, but
+*not* if you merely stop and restart the Codespace.
+