diff --git a/README b/README
index 6c614f5..55aecc4 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -1 +1,18 @@
-esgd - exceedingly simple gopher daemon
+esgd is a simple gopher daemon. it supports a simpler subset
+of the CGI/1.1 specification for CGI, and it automatically
+brings gophermaps missing certain features up to compliance.
+the modules used in esgd are part of the standard python
+distribution.
+
+options:
+-u, --user: user to change to on startup
+-g, --group: group to change to on startup
+-s, --host: host name
+-p, --port: port
+-d, --dir: directory to host from
+
+files:
+esgd.py - main executable
+README - this file
+sandbox - test gophermaps for setting up the server
+init - init scripts/configuration files