diff --git a/dev_server.sh b/dev_server.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..e7f1b63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev_server.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# refresh env
+/bin/bash ./flush_env.sh
+
+# start frontend
+cd frontend;
+screen -S blog_frontend -d -m bun dev;
+cd ..;
+
+# start backend
+cd backend;
+screen -S blog_backend -d -m cargo r;
+cd ..;
diff --git a/flush_env.sh b/flush_env.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
diff --git a/openresty/lua/hello_world.lua b/openresty/lua/hello_world.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d90d01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openresty/lua/hello_world.lua
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ngx.say("hello world")
diff --git a/refresh.sh b/refresh.sh
index a09e231..7a3f76f 100755
--- a/refresh.sh
+++ b/refresh.sh
@@ -12,13 +12,21 @@ if [ -z "$GIT_WORK_DIR" ]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
+if [ -z "$BACKEND_PORT" ]; then
+  echo "BACKEND_PORT is not set in the .env file"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 check_for_updates() {
   cd "$GIT_WORK_DIR" || exit
   res=$(git pull)
   if echo "$res" | grep -q "Already up to date"; then
     echo "Repo is up to date."
   else
-    echo "Repo has updated"
+    echo "Repo has updated; calling db update"
+    curl --request POST -sL \
+         --url "localhost:$BACKEND_PORT"
+    #todo: to be continued
   fi
   }
 
diff --git a/start_server.sh b/start_server.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..1fcad67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/start_server.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# refresh env
+/bin/bash ./flush_env.sh
+
+# start frontend
+cd frontend;
+bun next build
+screen -S blog_frontend -d -m bun start;
+cd ..;
+
+# start backend
+cd backend;
+screen -S blog_backend -d -m cargo r -r;
+cd ..;