diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cebe3dd..9268913 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ To start using OSINTBuddy, follow these simple installation steps:
    cd osintbuddy
    ```
 
-2. Install Docker
+2. Install Docker & Compose
     - [Install Guide for Mac](https://docs.docker.com/desktop/install/mac-install/)
     - [Install Guide for Windows](https://docs.docker.com/desktop/install/windows-install/)
     - [Install Guide for Linux](https://docs.docker.com/desktop/install/linux-install/)
diff --git a/launcher b/launcher
index b30c94c..b035ea5 100755
--- a/launcher
+++ b/launcher
@@ -45,13 +45,13 @@ usage () {
     echo -e "    $(c YsB)build$(c):       Build the OSINTBuddy app (or a specific container ./launcher build ui)."
     echo -e "    $(c YsB)restart$(c):     Restart the app (or a specific container: ./launcher restart janus)."
     echo -e "    $(c YsB)api:gen$(c):     Generate API client SDK from the backend OpenAPI spec; launch the UI outside of the container"
-    echo -e "    $(c YsB)setup:dev$(c):   Create python venv and install dev dependencies"
+    echo -e "    $(c YsB)setup:dev$(c):   Create python3 venv and install dev dependencies"
     echo -e "    $(c YsB)bootstrap$(c):   Initialize and download dependencies and check for environment misconfigurations"
     echo -e "    $(c YsB)debug:send$(c):  Upload all logs to https://paste.c-net.org for help with debugging"
     echo -e "    $(c YsB)cleanup$(c):     Remove docker volumes."
     echo -e "    $(c YsB)exec$(c):        Execute commands for a container."
     echo -e "    $(c YsB)migrate$(c):     Generate a migration."
-    echo -e "    $(c YsB)python$(c):      Open a python shell on the backend."
+    echo -e "    $(c YsB)python$(c):      Open a python3 shell on the backend."
     echo -e "    $(c YsB)ui$(c):          Stop the UI container and launch the frontend locally."
     echo -e "    $(c YsB)kill$(c):        Kill containers; down the stack."
     echo -e "    $(c YsB)containers$(c):  List the names you can access the containers by"
diff --git a/ob/cmd/bootstrap b/ob/cmd/bootstrap
index 47c6c41..0a2546b 100755
--- a/ob/cmd/bootstrap
+++ b/ob/cmd/bootstrap
@@ -120,13 +120,20 @@ check_prereqs() {
         exit 1
     fi
     
-    # 3. running recommended node version
+    # 3. has node and running recommended node version
+    if [ -z "$(which node)" ]; then
+        warning "Node environment not detected! We recommend installing Node 18.18.2 for this project."
+        warning "Some ./launcher commands may not work without a node environment."
+        heading "Attempting to start the OSINTBuddy stack without Node."
+    fi
+    
     test=($(node --version))
     test=${test[0]//v/}  # Get version alone and strip the prefixed v
     
+    
+    
     if compare_version "${node_min_version}" "${test}"; then
-        echo "ERROR: Node version ${test} not supported, please upgrade to at least ${node_min_version}, or recommended ${node_rec_version}"
-        exit 1
+        echo "WARNING: Node version ${test} not supported, please upgrade to at least ${node_min_version}, or recommended ${node_rec_version}"
     fi
     
     # Recommend best Node version
@@ -135,12 +142,11 @@ check_prereqs() {
     fi
     
     # 4. running recommended Python version
-    test=($(python --version))
+    test=($(python3 --version))
     test=${test[1]///}  # Get version alone and strip the prefixed v
     
     if compare_version "${python_min_version}" "${test}"; then
-        echo "ERROR: Python version ${test} not supported, please upgrade to at least ${python_min_version}, or recommended ${python_rec_version}"
-        exit 1
+        warning "WARNING: Python version ${test} not supported, please upgrade to at least ${python_min_version}, or recommended ${python_rec_version}"
     fi
     
     # Recommend best Python version