diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1631ec9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+mysql:
+  image: mysql
+  ports:
+    - "3306:3306"
+  environment:
+    - MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=root
+    - MYSQL_DATABASE=test
+  volumes:
+    - "./conf.d:/etc/mysql/conf.d:ro"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 95a5a71..d306cb9 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -74,6 +74,11 @@
       <artifactId>hsqldb</artifactId>
       <scope>runtime</scope>
     </dependency>
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>mysql</groupId>
+      <artifactId>mysql-connector-java</artifactId>
+      <scope>runtime</scope>
+    </dependency>
 
     <!-- EhCache -->
     <dependency>
diff --git a/src/main/resources/application-mysql.properties b/src/main/resources/application-mysql.properties
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd561fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/resources/application-mysql.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# database init, supports mysql too
+database=mysql
+spring.datasource.url=jdbc:mysql://localhost/test
+spring.datasource.username=root
+spring.datasource.password=root
+ # Uncomment this the first time the app runs
+# spring.datasource.initialize=true
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/resources/db/mysql/petclinic_db_setup_mysql.txt b/src/main/resources/db/mysql/petclinic_db_setup_mysql.txt
index 6b3014b..6733a93 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/db/mysql/petclinic_db_setup_mysql.txt
+++ b/src/main/resources/db/mysql/petclinic_db_setup_mysql.txt
@@ -9,11 +9,9 @@
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 1) Download and install the MySQL database (e.g., MySQL Community Server 5.1.x),
-   which can be found here: http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/
+   which can be found here: http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/. Or run the 
+   "docker-compose.yml" from the root of the project (if you have docker installed
+   locally).
 
-2) Add the MySQL JDBC driver  to your classpath.
-
-3) Set "database=mysql" in "application.properties"
-
-4) Create the PetClinic database and user by executing the "db/mysql/{schema,data}.sql"
-   scripts (or set "spring.datasource.initialize=true" the first time you run the app.
+2) Create the PetClinic database and user by executing the "db/mysql/{schema,data}.sql"
+   scripts (or set "spring.datasource.initialize=true" the first time you run the app).