diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,25 +1,30 @@
-# NAC3 compiler
+# NAC3
+
+NAC3 is a major, backward-incompatible rewrite of the compiler for the [ARTIQ](https://m-labs.hk/artiq) physics experiment control and data acquisition system. It features greatly improved compilation speeds, a much better type system, and more predictable and transparent operation.
+
+NAC3 has a modular design and its applicability reaches beyond ARTIQ. The ``nac3core`` module does not contain anything specific to ARTIQ, and can be used in any project that requires compiling Python to machine code.
+
+**WARNING: NAC3 is currently experimental software and several important features are not implemented yet.**
+
+## Packaging
+
+NAC3 is packaged using the [Nix](https://nixos.org) Flakes system. Install Nix 2.4+ and enable flakes by adding ``experimental-features = nix-command flakes`` to ``nix.conf`` (e.g. ``~/.config/nix/nix.conf``).
+
+## Try NAC3
+
+After setting up Nix as above, use ``nix shell github:m-labs/artiq/nac3`` to get a shell with the NAC3 version of ARTIQ. See the ``examples`` directory in ARTIQ (``nac3`` Git branch) for some samples of NAC3 kernel code.
+
+## For developers
 
 This repository contains:
-- nac3ast: Python abstract syntax tree definition (based on RustPython).
-- nac3parser: Python parser (based on RustPython).
-- nac3core: Core compiler library, containing type-checking and code
-  generation.
-- nac3standalone: Standalone compiler tool (core language only).
-- nac3artiq: Integration with ARTIQ and implementation of ARTIQ-specific
-  extensions to the core language.
-- runkernel: Simple program that runs compiled ARTIQ kernels on the host
-  and displays RTIO operations. Useful for testing without hardware.
+- ``nac3ast``: Python abstract syntax tree definition (based on RustPython).
+- ``nac3parser``: Python parser (based on RustPython).
+- ``nac3core``: Core compiler library, containing type-checking and code generation.
+- ``nac3standalone``: Standalone compiler tool (core language only).
+- ``nac3artiq``: Integration with ARTIQ and implementation of ARTIQ-specific extensions to the core language.
+- ``runkernel``: Simple program that runs compiled ARTIQ kernels on the host and displays RTIO operations. Useful for testing without hardware.
 
+Use ``nix develop`` in this repository to enter a development shell.
+If you are using a different shell than bash you can use e.g. ``nix develop --command fish``.
 
-The core compiler knows nothing about symbol resolution, host variables
-etc. nac3artiq and nac3standalone provide (implement) the
-symbol resolver to the core compiler for resolving the type and value for
-unknown symbols. The core compiler only type checks classes and functions
-requested by nac3artiq/nac3standalone (the API should allow the
-caller to specify which methods should be compiled). After type checking, the
-compiler analyses the set of functions/classes that are used and performs
-code generation.
-
-value could be integer values, boolean values, bytes (for memcpy), function ID
-(full name + concrete type)
+Build NAC3 with ``cargo build --release``. See the demonstrations in ``nac3artiq`` and ``nac3standalone``.