diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 64a44a0..edf66d2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -35,16 +35,19 @@ no one is liable if this software breaks, deletes, corrupts, or ruins anything
 **note**: if you have chicken scheme installed, then you can install the eggs
 above by running `make dependencies` as root.
 
-## compilation
+## quickstart
 
-chicken scheme runs faster if it's compiled to a binary file. by default, the
-binary is named `repo2html`, and is installed in `/usr/local/bin`.
-
-to compile repo2html into a binary file, follow the steps below:
-
-1. ensure you're in the repo2html git repository
-2. as root, run `make dependencies`
-3. run `make`
+1. ensure you've set up a web directory and have replaced the
+   `REPO2HTML_PREFIX` value in the `post-receive` and `git-daemon.service`
+   files
+2. you've created a `git` user, and are logged in as the `git` user
+3. as root, run `make dependencies`
+4. run `make`
+5. as root, run `make install`
+6. run `mkdir ~/projects && git init --bare my-repository`
+7. run `cp post-receive ~/projects/my-repository/hooks/`
+8. run `chmod u+x ~/projects/my-repository/hooks/post-receive`
+9. run `cp git-daemon.service /etc/systemd/system/`
 
 ## server setup
 
@@ -65,14 +68,14 @@ this section assumes the following about your server:
 ensure you're in the repo2html git repository, and follow the steps below:
 
 1. as root, run `adduser git`
-2. as root, run `mkdir /var/www/git`
-3. as root, run `chown git:git /var/www/git`
-4. as root, run `ufw allow 9418`
-5. run `su git`
-6. run `mkdir ~/.ssh && chmod 700 ~/.ssh`
-7. run `touch ~/.ssh/authorized_keys && chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys`
-8. add your public ssh key from your local machine to `~/.ssh/authorized_keys`
-9. run `mkdir -p ~/projects/my-repository`
+2. as root, run `mkdir /var/www/git && chown git:git /var/www/git`
+3. as root, run `ufw allow 9418`
+4. run `su git`
+5. run `mkdir ~/.ssh && chmod 700 ~/.ssh`
+6. run `touch ~/.ssh/authorized_keys && chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys`
+7. add your public ssh key from your local machine to `~/.ssh/authorized_keys`
+8. run `mkdir ~/projects`
+9. run `git init --bare my-repository`
 
 ### setting up nginx
 
@@ -89,7 +92,18 @@ ensure you're in the repo2html git repository, and follow the steps below:
 4. as root, run `certbot`, and follow the prompts
 5. as root, run `systemctl restart nginx`
 
-## installation
+### compilation
+
+chicken scheme runs faster if it's compiled to a binary file. by default, the
+binary is named `repo2html`, and is installed in `/usr/local/bin`.
+
+to compile repo2html into a binary file, follow the steps below:
+
+1. ensure you're in the repo2html git repository
+2. as root, run `make dependencies`
+3. run `make`
+
+### installation
 
 ensure you're in the repo2html git repository, and follow the steps below: