diff --git a/pymatbridge/matlab/util/pymat_get_variable.m b/pymatbridge/matlab/util/pymat_get_variable.m
index 8e6a29e..9de9cf1 100644
--- a/pymatbridge/matlab/util/pymat_get_variable.m
+++ b/pymatbridge/matlab/util/pymat_get_variable.m
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 % if the var doesn't exist in the workspace, inform adequately
 expr = strcat('exist(''', varname, ''',''var'')');
 var_exists = evalin('base', expr);
-if ~var_exists;
+if ~var_exists
     response.exists = false;
     response.var = '';
 else
diff --git a/pymatbridge/pymatbridge.py b/pymatbridge/pymatbridge.py
index 4aad82e..1888d87 100644
--- a/pymatbridge/pymatbridge.py
+++ b/pymatbridge/pymatbridge.py
@@ -2,11 +2,36 @@
 pymatbridge
 ===========
 
-This is a module for communicating and running
+This is a module for communicating and running Matlab from within python
+
+Example
+-------
+
+>>> import pymatbridge
+>>> m = pymatbridge.Matlab()
+>>> m.start()
+Starting MATLAB on ZMQ socket ipc:///tmp/pymatbridge
+Send 'exit' command to kill the server
+.MATLAB started and connected!
+True
+>>> 
+                            < M A T L A B (R) >
+                  Copyright 1984-2014 The MathWorks, Inc.
+                   R2014b (8.4.0.150421) 64-bit (maci64)
+                             September 15, 2014
+
+ 
+To get started, type one of these: helpwin, helpdesk, or demo.
+For product information, visit www.mathworks.com.
+ 
+Socket created at: ipc:///tmp/pymatbridge
+
+>>> 
+>>> m.run_code('a=1;')
+{'content': {'stdout': '', 'datadir': '/private/tmp/MatlabData/', 'code': 'a=1;', 'figures': []}, 'success': 'true'}
+>>> m.get_variable('a')
+1
 
-Part of Python-MATLAB-bridge, Max Jaderberg 2012
-
-This is a modified version using ZMQ, Haoxing Zhang Jan.2014
 """
 
 import os
diff --git a/pymatbridge/version.py b/pymatbridge/version.py
index 90ba94d..814367b 100644
--- a/pymatbridge/version.py
+++ b/pymatbridge/version.py
@@ -95,5 +95,7 @@
                                 "matlab/util/json_v0.2.2/json/java/*",
                                 "tests/*.py", "examples/*.ipynb"]}
 
-REQUIRES = []
+REQUIRES = ['pyzmq']
+EXTRAS_REQUIRE = ['numpy', 'scipy', 'ipython']
+
 BIN=['scripts/publish-notebook']
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02ec117
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pyzmq
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 4c55b21..30fc215 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ def copy_bin(bin_path):
             packages=PACKAGES,
             package_data=PACKAGE_DATA,
             requires=REQUIRES,
+            extras_require=EXTRAS_REQUIRE,
             scripts=BIN
             )