--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/README.txt	Mon May 19 16:45:24 2008 -0400
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+SQLPython is an open-source command-line environment for interacting with an
+Oracle database.  It is designed as an alternative to Oracle's SQL*Plus.
+
+Installing
+----------
+
+Debian/Ubuntu::
+
+  $ sudo apt-get install python python-dev python-setuptools
+  $ sudo easy_install cx_Oracle 
+  $ sudo easy_install -UZ sqlpython
+
+Windows:
+Download and run executable installers from::
+
+  http://www.python.org (Python language)
+  http://cx-oracle.sourceforge.net/ (cx_Oracle)
+  http://pypi.python.org/pypi/sqlpython (sqlpython) 
+
+Other:
+Python is typically already installed.  You'll need its
+development package (python-dev); then easy_install
+cx_Oracle and sqlpython as per Debian.
+
+Using
+-----
+
+Use sqlpython more or less as you would use SQL*Plus.  
+
+Read the help.  Experiment with UNIX-style and postgresql-style
+commands.
+
+Modifying
+---------
+
+Modify mysqlpy.py; add `do_mycommand(self, arg)` methods to the
+mysqlpy class to add your own commands.  Use `self.stdout.write(txt)`
+in place of `print txt` to make sure your output can be redirected
+into text files or the paste buffer with `>` and `>>`.
+
+Contributing
+------------
+
+Development trunk is available from::
+
+  http://www.assembla.com/wiki/show/sqlpython
+  
+Bugs and suggestions can be filed at::
+
+  http://www.assembla.com/spaces/sqlpython/tickets
+