diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e978e54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+Bootstrapping Salt
+==================
+
+Before `Salt`_ can be used for provisioning on the desired machine, the 
+binaries need to be installed. Since `Salt`_ supports many different 
+distributions and versions of operating systems, the `Salt`_ installation 
+process is handled by this shell script ``bootstrap-salt-minion.sh``.  This 
+script runs through a series of checks to determine operating system type and 
+version to then install the `Salt`_ binaries using the appropriate methods.
+
+Adding support for other operating systems
+------------------------------------------
+In order to install salt for a distribution you need to define:
+
+   To Install Dependencies, which is required, one of:
+       1. install_<distro>_<distro_version>_<install_type>_deps
+       2. install_<distro>_<distro_version>_deps
+       3. install_<distro>_<install_type>_deps
+       4. install_<distro>_deps
+
+
+   To install salt, which, of course, is required, one of:
+       1. install_<distro>_<distro_version>_<install_type>
+       2. install_<distro>_<install_type>
+
+   Optionally, define a minion configuration function, which will be called if
+   the -c|config-dir option is passed. One of:
+       1. config_<distro>_<distro_version>_<install_type>_minion
+       2. config_<distro>_<distro_version>_minion
+       3. config_<distro>_<install_type>_minion
+       4. config_<distro>_minion
+       5. config_minion [THIS ONE IS ALREADY DEFINED AS THE DEFAULT]
+
+   Also optionally, define a post install function, one of:
+       1. install_<distro>_<distro_versions>_<install_type>_post
+       2. install_<distro>_<distro_versions>_post
+       3. install_<distro>_<install_type>_post
+       4. install_<distro>_post
+
+Below is an example for Ubuntu Oneiric:
+
+    install_ubuntu_1110_deps() {
+        apt-get update
+        apt-get -y install python-software-properties
+        add-apt-repository -y 'deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric universe'
+        add-apt-repository -y ppa:saltstack/salt
+    }
+
+    install_ubuntu_1110_post() {
+        add-apt-repository -y --remove 'deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric universe'
+    }
+
+    install_ubuntu_stable() {
+        apt-get -y install salt-minion
+    }
+
+Since there is no ``install_ubuntu_1110_stable()`` it defaults to the 
+unspecified version script.
+
+The bootstrapping script must be plain POSIX sh only, **not** bash or another 
+shell script. By design the targeting for each operating system and version is 
+very specific. Assumptions of supported versions or variants should not be 
+made, to avoid failed or broken installations.
+
+Supported Operating Systems
+---------------------------
+- Ubuntu 10.x/11.x/12.x
+- Debian 6.x
+- CentOS 6.3
+- Fedora
+- Arch
+- FreeBSD 9.0
+
+
+One Line Bootstrap
+------------------
+
+Salt can be installed using a single line command.
+For example, using ``curl`` to install latest git::
+
+  curl -L http://bootstrap.saltstack.org | sudo sh -s git develop
+
+
+Or, using ``wget`` to install current distro's stable version::
+
+  wget -O - http://bootstrap.saltstack.org | sudo sh
+
+If you have certificate issues using ``wget`` try the following::
+
+  wget --no-check-certificate -O - http://bootstrap.saltstack.org | sudo sh
+
+
+.. vim: fenc=utf-8 spell spl=en cc=80 tw=79 fo=want sts=2 sw=2 et