1 files changed, 89 insertions, 6 deletions

diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
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--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -1,12 +1,95 @@
 # pista
 
-> my bash prompt, reWriTteN iN rUst 
+> a simple bash prompt for programmers 
 
-hopefully it will look like this when done:
+### installation
 ```shell
-~/c/r/pista master ×
-$ ls
+$ cargo install pista
+```
+
+cargo is rust's package manager. if you dont have cargo installed, head over to
+http://rustup.rs and follow the instructions.  
+make sure to add `$HOME/.cargo/bin` to your `$PATH`!
+
+
+once you have installed `pista`, set your `PS1` to use it!
+```shell
+PS1="$(pista)"    # regular variant
+PS1="$(pista -m)" # minimal variant
+```
+
+
+`pista` handles prompt modifications when you enter virtual environments.
+make sure to disable `virtualenv`'s changes.
+```shell
+export VIRTUAL_ENV_DISABLE_PROMPT=1
+```
+
+thats it! read on if you aren't happy with the defaults.
+
+### configuration
+
+this is the default configuration. drop this in your `.bashrc` to get started.
+remember to `source ~/.bashrc` to observe the changes!
+
+```
+# prompt string to display, for regular users
+export PROMPT_CHAR="$"
+export PROMPT_CHAR_COLOR="green"
+
+# prompt string to display, for the root user
+export PROMPT_CHAR_ROOT="#"
+export PROMPT_CHAR_ROOT_COLOR="red"
+
+# if SHORTEN_CWD is set to 1, `/home/nerdypepper/code` is shortened to
+# `/h/n/code`
+export SHORTEN_CWD=1
+export CWD_COLOR="white"
+
+# if EXPAND_TILDE is set to 0, `/home/nerdypepper` is shortened to `~`
+export EXPAND_TILDE=0
+
+# there are three possible states for a git repo
+# - unstaged (working tree has been modified) 
+# - staged (staging area has been modified)
+# - clean (all staged changes have committed)
+
+# symbol to represent clean repo state
+export GIT_CLEAN="·"
+export GIT_CLEAN_COLOR="green"
+
+# symbol to represent unstaged repo state
+export GIT_WT_MODIFIED="×"
+export GIT_WT_MODIFIED_COLOR="red"
+
+# symbol to represent staged repo state
+export GIT_INDEX_MODIFIED="±"
+export GIT_INDEX_MODIFIED_COLOR="yellow"
+
+# if HEAD ref peels to branch
+export BRANCH_COLOR="green"
+
+# if HEAD ref peels to a commit (detached state)
+export COMMIT_COLOR="green"
+```
+
+all 16 colors are available:
+```
+black
+red
+green
+yellow
+blue
+magenta (or purple)
+cyan
+white
 
-{cwd} {branch} {repo state}
-{prompt_char} 
+bright black
+bright red
+bright green
+bright yellow
+bright blue
+bright magenta (or purple)
+bright cyan
+bright white
 ```