diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9d37c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+target
+Cargo.lock
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3d8882
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+[workspace]
+
+members = [
+    "backend",
+]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/Cargo.toml b/backend/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42933e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+[package]
+name = "mozaic4-backend"
+version = "0.0.0"
+edition = "2021"
+
+# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+
+[dependencies]
+rocket = "0.4.10"
+diesel = { version = "1.4.4", features = ["postgres"] }
+dotenv = "0.15.0"
+
+[dependencies.rocket_contrib]
+version = "0.4.10"
+default-features = false
+features = ["diesel_postgres_pool"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/diesel.toml b/backend/diesel.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..92267c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/diesel.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# For documentation on how to configure this file,
+# see diesel.rs/guides/configuring-diesel-cli
+
+[print_schema]
+file = "src/schema.rs"
diff --git a/backend/migrations/.gitkeep b/backend/migrations/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/backend/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/down.sql b/backend/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9f5260
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+-- This file was automatically created by Diesel to setup helper functions
+-- and other internal bookkeeping. This file is safe to edit, any future
+-- changes will be added to existing projects as new migrations.
+
+DROP FUNCTION IF EXISTS diesel_manage_updated_at(_tbl regclass);
+DROP FUNCTION IF EXISTS diesel_set_updated_at();
diff --git a/backend/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/up.sql b/backend/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d68895b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+-- This file was automatically created by Diesel to setup helper functions
+-- and other internal bookkeeping. This file is safe to edit, any future
+-- changes will be added to existing projects as new migrations.
+
+
+
+
+-- Sets up a trigger for the given table to automatically set a column called
+-- `updated_at` whenever the row is modified (unless `updated_at` was included
+-- in the modified columns)
+--
+-- # Example
+--
+-- ```sql
+-- CREATE TABLE users (id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY, updated_at TIMESTAMP NOT NULL DEFAULT NOW());
+--
+-- SELECT diesel_manage_updated_at('users');
+-- ```
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION diesel_manage_updated_at(_tbl regclass) RETURNS VOID AS $$
+BEGIN
+    EXECUTE format('CREATE TRIGGER set_updated_at BEFORE UPDATE ON %s
+                    FOR EACH ROW EXECUTE PROCEDURE diesel_set_updated_at()', _tbl);
+END;
+$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
+
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION diesel_set_updated_at() RETURNS trigger AS $$
+BEGIN
+    IF (
+        NEW IS DISTINCT FROM OLD AND
+        NEW.updated_at IS NOT DISTINCT FROM OLD.updated_at
+    ) THEN
+        NEW.updated_at := current_timestamp;
+    END IF;
+    RETURN NEW;
+END;
+$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
diff --git a/backend/src/main.rs b/backend/src/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd0ff2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#![feature(proc_macro_hygiene, decl_macro)]
+
+#[macro_use]
+extern crate rocket;
+#[macro_use]
+extern crate rocket_contrib;
+
+#[get("/")]
+fn index() -> &'static str {
+    "Hello, world!"
+}
+
+fn main() {
+    rocket::ignite().mount("/", routes![index]).launch();
+}