diff --git a/readme-build.txt b/readme-build.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..df7d388
--- /dev/null
+++ b/readme-build.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Describes how to build xml-commons distributions and documentation.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+* The xml-commons distribution contains various utilities. Each utility
+is also available as a separate distribution (currently only resolver).
+
+* The top-level build.xml controls everything. It calls the separate
+build files for each sub-project. The sub-project builds can also be
+called direectly
+
+* All documentation is built by Apache Forrest (so you need that locally
+installed). See http://xml.apache.org/commons/howto-forrest.html
+The website update cronjob happens via user dims at 01:00 and 13:00 GMT.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+cd xml-commons
+ant -projecthelp
+... No point repeating the options here, but one hint:
+site, validate, war, and webapp targets are part of Forrest.
+
+ant all
+- Builds the documentation, builds each sub-project, and packs the
+distribution.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+cd xml-commons/java
+ant -buildfile resolver.xml dist
+... Builds separate resolver distribution and copies over some relevant
+Forrest-built docs.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------