From 048a85fa3d2eeca8689046448e59a47385d72c9e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Irene Koivisto <irene@novoyuuparosk.org>
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 13:08:18 +0900
Subject: [PATCH] docs: add proper README with build/deploy instructions

---
 README.md | 74 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--
 1 file changed, 72 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 41e458a..3df0099 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,73 @@
-# nih-plug-template
+# NIH-plug Template
 
-Minimal NIH-plug audio plugin scaffold (Rust + CLAP/VST3 + egui)
\ No newline at end of file
+Minimal scaffold for new [NIH-plug](https://github.com/robbert-vdh/nih-plug) audio plugins (Rust + CLAP/VST3 + egui).
+
+Based on patterns from [`musiikki/codename-206`](http://192.168.2.199:3005/musiikki/codename-206).
+
+## Quick Start
+
+```bash
+# Clone this repo as your starting point
+git clone http://192.168.2.199:3005/musiikki/nih-plug-template my-plugin
+cd my-plugin
+
+# Edit: src/lib.rs, Cargo.toml, bundler.toml — replace placeholder values
+# See musiikki/codename-206 for a real-world example of how to fill these in
+```
+
+## Build
+
+```bash
+# Install Rust via rustup: https://rustup.rs
+# No VST3 SDK needed — NIH-plug bundles its own bindings.
+
+# Build + bundle the VST3 and CLAP
+cargo xtask bundle nih_plug_template --release
+```
+
+**Output:** `target/bundled/nih_plug_template.vst3` and `nih_plug_template.clap`
+
+## Deploy
+
+### FL Studio
+
+FL Studio scans `C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3` by default, **ignores directory junctions**
+(so a symlinked bundle is invisible to its scanner), and caches failed scans.
+
+1. Copy the `.vst3` bundle to a folder FL scans (e.g. `C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3`).
+2. Copy the `.clap` bundle to a folder FL scans (e.g. `C:\Program Files\Common Files\CLAP`).
+3. In FL Studio: **Options → Manage plugins → tick "Rescan previously failed plugins" → Find installed plugins**, then search for your plugin name (set in `bundler.toml`).
+
+### Linux
+
+```bash
+# VST3
+cp target/bundled/nih_plug_template.vst3 ~/.vst3/
+
+# CLAP
+cp target/bundled/nih_plug_template.clap ~/.clap/
+
+# Or globally:
+# sudo cp target/bundled/nih_plug_template.vst3 /usr/lib/vst3/
+# sudo cp target/bundled/nih_plug_template.clap /usr/lib/clap/
+```
+
+## Project Structure
+
+```
+Cargo.toml          # Package deps — NIH-plug pinned to codename-206's rev
+bundler.toml        # Bundle name for `cargo xtask bundle`
+src/lib.rs          # Plugin skeleton — fill in params, DSP, editor
+xtask/              # Bundler xtask (cargo xtask bundle)
+.cargo/config.toml  # xtask alias
+```
+
+## License
+
+Apache-2.0
+
+## VST3 Licensing Note
+
+You must accept Steinberg's VST3 SDK licence before distributing VST3 binaries.
+NIH-plug's VST3 bindings are GPLv3; if you distribute, the plugin must also be GPLv3
+(or you need a commercial Steinberg licence). CLAP has no such restriction.