diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 95813b0..3d648aa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,19 +1,54 @@
 # 🎅 advent-pages 🎄
-<img width="834" alt="image" src="https://github.com/koalanis/advent-pages/assets/5452212/57f9aa2b-a1e7-417b-a69a-4b070d2742a4">
 ### an advent-of-code project site generator
+<img width="834" alt="image" src="https://github.com/koalanis/advent-pages/assets/5452212/57f9aa2b-a1e7-417b-a69a-4b070d2742a4">
+
 
 
-## how to use
-todo
+## Get started
+### Installing 
+Install the package and run the `generate` command to create the site folder.
+```sh
+npm install --save @koalanis/advent-pages
+npx @koalanis/advent-pages generate
+```
 
-## configuration
-the site's metadata is configured in a `advent.config.json` file. 
+## Configuration
+The static site's metadata is configured in a `advent.config.json` file.
+```json
+{
+  "lang": "rust",
+  "year": 2021,
+  "days": {
+    "1": {
+       "partOneDone": true,
+       "testDataOne": "./test_data.txt",
+       "codeOne": "./src/day1/partone.rs",
+       "answerOne": "./answer.txt",
 
-## under construction
-![d](https://http.cat/503)
+       "partTwoDone": true,
+       "testDataTwo": "./test_data_2.txt",
+       "codeTwo": "./src/day1/parttwo.rs",
+       "answerTwo": "./answer_2.txt",
+    },
+    ...
+    "25": {...}
+  }
+}
+```
+The fields `days[n].partOneDone` and `days[n].partOneTwo` are booleans that signify if a problem has been compelted, which in turn effects how the completion stars are rendered on the static site. 
+
+The other fields in `days[n]`, such as `testDataOne`, `codeOne`, etc, are relative paths that are used to inject source text blobs into the static site for display. You can use this to display your advent data & answers, and most importantly, your code solutions. 
+
+## details
+- built using [tsup](https://tsup.egoist.dev/)
+- default styling using [NES.css](https://nostalgic-css.github.io/NES.css/)
 
 ## roadmap
-- [ ] publish npm package
+- [x] publish npm package
+- [ ] add custom theming support
+- [ ] 
+
+## lastly
+the static site is styled in [NES.css](https://github.com/nostalgic-css/NES.css)https://github.com/nostalgic-css/NES.css 
+🙏 thanks to the nostalgic-css team  
 
-## styling
-static site is styled in [NES.css](https://github.com/nostalgic-css/NES.css)https://github.com/nostalgic-css/NES.css