diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
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@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@
### master
- initial work on the plugin
+- add readme
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+# Tmux sensible
+
+A set of tmux options that should be acceptable for everyone.
+
+Inspired by [vim-sensible](https://github.com/tpope/vim-sensible).
+
+### Principles
+
+- `tmux-sensible` options should be acceptable to **every** tmux user!
+ If any option bothers you, please open an issue and it will probably be
+ updated (or removed).
+- if you think a new option should be added, feel free to open a pull request.
+- **no overriding** of user defined settings.
+ Your existing `.tmux.conf` settings are respected and they won't be changed.
+ That way you can use `tmux-sensible` if you have a few specific options.
+ See [feature section](#example-feature) for an example.
+- [source code](https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tmux-sensible/blob/master/sensible.tmux)
+ is the authoritative documentation.
+ It's really not that scary and you should have a look, even if you're a
+ tmux beginner.
+
+### Goals
+
+- group standard tmux community options in one place
+- remove clutter from your `.tmux.conf`
+- educate new tmux users about basic options
+
+### Example feature
+
+Sets tmux prefix to `Ctrl-a`.
+
+ # set prefix to `Ctrl-a`
+ tmux set-option -g prefix C-a
+ tmux unbind-key C-b
+
+Since user defined `.tmux.conf` settings are respected, if prefix is set to
+`Ctrl-z` - it won't be overriden!
+
+### Installation with [Tmux Plugin Manager](https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm) (recommended)
+
+Add plugin to the list of TPM plugins in `.tmux.conf`:
+
+ set -g @tpm_plugins " \
+ tmux-plugins/tpm \
+ tmux-plugins/tmux-sensible \
+ "
+
+Hit `prefix + I` to fetch the plugin and source it. That's it!
+
+You might also want to restart your tmux server, just in case.
+
+### Manual Installation
+
+Clone the repo:
+
+ $ git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tmux-sensible ~/clone/path
+
+Add this line to the bottom of `.tmux.conf`:
+
+ run-shell ~/clone/path/sensible.tmux
+
+Reload TMUX environment:
+
+ # type this in terminal
+ $ tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf
+
+You might also want to restart your tmux server, just in case.
+
+### Other goodies
+
+You might also find these useful:
+
+- [copycat](https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tmux-copycat)
+ improve tmux search and reduce mouse usage
+- [pain control](https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tmux-pain-control)
+ useful standard bindings for controlling panes
+
+### License
+
+[MIT](LICENSE.md)