diff --git a/README b/README
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..212461d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+							CART AND POLE
+
+This is a simple Hamiltonian-based simulation of the classic cart and
+pole / inverted pendulum system, with a stabilising control system,
+using SDL2 for the graphics.
+
+To build and run (requires CMake >= 3.13 and SDL2):
+
+	cmake -B build
+	cmake --build build
+	build/cart-and-pole