diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 59a3694..58a6feb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,84 +1,72 @@
 <div align="center">
-<h1>
-  Stoat for Desktop
-  
-  [![Stars](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/stoatchat/for-desktop?style=flat-square&logoColor=white)](https://github.com/stoatchat/for-desktop/stargazers)
-  [![Forks](https://img.shields.io/github/forks/stoatchat/for-desktop?style=flat-square&logoColor=white)](https://github.com/stoatchat/for-desktop/network/members)
-  [![Pull Requests](https://img.shields.io/github/issues-pr/stoatchat/for-desktop?style=flat-square&logoColor=white)](https://github.com/stoatchat/for-desktop/pulls)
-  [![Issues](https://img.shields.io/github/issues/stoatchat/for-desktop?style=flat-square&logoColor=white)](https://github.com/stoatchat/for-desktop/issues)
-  [![Contributors](https://img.shields.io/github/contributors/stoatchat/for-desktop?style=flat-square&logoColor=white)](https://github.com/stoatchat/for-desktop/graphs/contributors)
-  [![License](https://img.shields.io/github/license/stoatchat/for-desktop?style=flat-square&logoColor=white)](https://github.com/stoatchat/for-desktop/blob/main/LICENSE)
-</h1>
-Application for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
+<h1>Sanctum</h1>
+A self-hosted Revolt desktop client for Windows and Linux, built on top of <a href="https://github.com/stoatchat/for-desktop">Stoat for Desktop</a>.
+Connects exclusively to <a href="https://mithraic.space">mithraic.space</a>.
 </div>
 <br/>
 
 ## Installation
 
-<a href="https://repology.org/project/stoat-desktop/versions">
-    <img src="https://repology.org/badge/vertical-allrepos/stoat-desktop.svg" alt="Packaging status" align="right">
-</a>
+Download the latest release from [git.mithraic.cloud/ad3laid3/sanctum/releases](https://git.mithraic.cloud/ad3laid3/sanctum/releases).
 
-- All downloads and instructions for Stoat can be found on our [Website](https://stoat.chat/download).
+**Linux (zip):**
+```bash
+mkdir -p ~/.local/share/sanctum
+unzip sanctum-linux-x64-*.zip -d ~/.local/share/sanctum/
+# create a .desktop launcher
+cat > ~/.local/share/applications/sanctum.desktop <<EOF
+[Desktop Entry]
+Name=Sanctum
+Exec=$HOME/.local/share/sanctum/sanctum
+Icon=$HOME/.local/share/sanctum/resources/assets/desktop/icon.png
+Type=Application
+Categories=Network;InstantMessaging;
+StartupWMClass=sanctum
+EOF
+```
 
-## Development Guide
+**Windows (zip):**  
+Extract the zip and run `sanctum.exe`.
 
-_Contribution guidelines for Desktop app TBA!_
+The app checks for updates automatically on launch and will notify you when a new version is available.
 
-<!-- Before contributing, make yourself familiar with [our contribution guidelines](https://developers.revolt.chat/contrib.html), the [code style guidelines](./GUIDELINES.md), and the [technical documentation for this project](https://revoltchat.github.io/frontend/). -->
+## Development
 
-Before getting started, you'll want to install:
+Before getting started, install:
 
 - Git
 - Node.js
-- pnpm (run `corepack enable`)
-
-Then proceed to setup:
+- pnpm (`corepack enable`)
 
 ```bash
 # clone the repository
-git clone --recursive https://github.com/stoatchat/for-desktop stoat-for-desktop
-cd stoat-for-desktop
+git clone https://git.mithraic.cloud/ad3laid3/sanctum
+cd sanctum
 
-# install all packages
+# install dependencies
 pnpm i --frozen-lockfile
 
-# start the application
+# start the app (connects to mithraic.space)
 pnpm start
-# ... or build the bundle
-pnpm package
-# ... or build all distributables
-pnpm make
 ```
 
-Various useful commands for development testing:
+### Building releases
+
+CI runs automatically when a version tag is pushed:
 
 ```bash
-# connect to the development server
-pnpm start -- --force-server http://localhost:5173
-
-# test the flatpak (after `make`)
-pnpm install:flatpak
-pnpm run:flatpak
-# ... also connect to dev server like so:
-pnpm run:flatpak --force-server http://localhost:5173
-
-# Nix-specific instructions for testing
-pnpm package
-pnpm run:nix
-# ... as before:
-pnpm run:nix --force-server=http://localhost:5173
-# a better solution would be telling
-# Electron Forge where system Electron is
+git tag v1.x.x
+git push origin v1.x.x
 ```
 
-### Pulling in Stoat's assets
-
-If you want to pull in Stoat brand assets after pulling, run the following:
+To build locally:
 
 ```bash
-# update the assets
-git -c submodule."assets".update=checkout submodule update --init assets
+# Linux (deb + zip)
+PLATFORM=linux pnpm make
+
+# Windows (zip, no Wine required)
+pnpm make --platform win32 --arch x64
 ```
 
-Currently, this is required to build, any forks are expected to provide their own assets.
+Artifacts are written to `out/make/`.