diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 84d6ca1..29c2540 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,15 @@
+## dendrite.daemon
+
+The core component of [Dendrite](https://kristianjborgwarth.github.io/dendrite.docs/). A Go server that manages the index for a local markdown vault and exposes it over JSON-RPC 2.0.
+
+## Installation
+
+```sh
+curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/KristianJBorgwarth/dendrite.daemon/master/install.sh | sh
+```
+
+Supports Linux and macOS on amd64 and arm64. The script places the binary in `~/.local/bin` on Linux and `/usr/local/bin` on macOS. Re-run to update.
+
 ## Documentation
 
-See the [Dendrite docs](https://kristianjborgwarth.github.io/dendrite.docs/) for protocol reference and usage.
+See the [Dendrite docs](https://kristianjborgwarth.github.io/dendrite.docs/) for the full protocol reference, method documentation, and setup guide.
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..429ff4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -e
+
+REPO="KristianJBorgwarth/dendrite.daemon"
+BINARY="dendrite"
+
+# Detect OS
+OS="$(uname -s)"
+case "$OS" in
+  Linux)  GOOS="linux" ;;
+  Darwin) GOOS="darwin" ;;
+  *)
+    echo "Unsupported OS: $OS"
+    exit 1
+    ;;
+esac
+
+# Detect architecture
+ARCHITECTURE="$(uname -m)"
+case "$ARCHITECTURE" in
+  x86_64)          GOARCH="amd64" ;;
+  arm64 | aarch64) GOARCH="arm64" ;;
+  *)
+    echo "Unsupported architecture: $ARCHITECTURE"
+    exit 1
+    ;;
+esac
+
+# Resolve install dir
+if [ "$GOOS" = "darwin" ]; then
+  INSTALL_DIR="/usr/local/bin"
+else
+  INSTALL_DIR="$HOME/.local/bin"
+  mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR"
+fi
+
+# Fetch latest release tag
+echo "Fetching latest release..."
+TAG="$(curl -fsSL "https://api.github.com/repos/$REPO/releases/latest" \
+  | grep '"tag_name"' \
+  | sed 's/.*"tag_name": *"\(.*\)".*/\1/')"
+
+if [ -z "$TAG" ]; then
+  echo "Could not determine latest release tag."
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+ASSET="${BINARY}-${GOOS}-${GOARCH}"
+URL="https://github.com/$REPO/releases/download/$TAG/$ASSET"
+
+echo "Downloading $ASSET ($TAG)..."
+curl -fsSL "$URL" -o "$INSTALL_DIR/$BINARY"
+chmod +x "$INSTALL_DIR/$BINARY"
+
+echo ""
+echo "dendrite $TAG installed to $INSTALL_DIR/$BINARY"
+
+# Warn if install dir is not on PATH
+case ":$PATH:" in
+  *":$INSTALL_DIR:"*) ;;
+  *)
+    echo ""
+    echo "Warning: $INSTALL_DIR is not on your PATH."
+    echo "Add the following to your shell profile:"
+    echo ""
+    echo "  export PATH=\"$INSTALL_DIR:\$PATH\""
+    ;;
+esac