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+git series tracks changes to a patch series over time.  git series also tracks
+a cover letter for the patch series, formats the series for email, and prepares
+pull requests.
+
+About git-series
+================
+
+A patch series typically goes through multiple iterations before submission;
+the path from idea to RFC to `[PATCHv12 1/8]` includes many invocations of
+`git rebase -i`. However, while Git tracks and organizes commits quite well, it
+doesn't actually track changes to a patch series at all, outside of the
+ephemeral reflog.  This makes it a challenge to collaborate on a patch series,
+distribution package, backport, or any other development process that includes
+rebasing or non-fast-forward development.
+
+Typically, tracking the evolution of a patch series over time involves moving
+part of the version control outside of git.  You can move the patch series from
+git into quilt or a distribution package, and then version the patch files with
+git, losing the power of git's tools.  Or, you can keep the patch series in
+git, and version it via multiple named branches; however, names like
+feature-v2, feature-v3-typofix, and feature-v8-rebased-4.6-alice-fix sound like
+filenames from corporate email, not modern version control.  And either way,
+git doesn't track your cover letter at all.
+
+git-series tracks both a patch series and its evolution within the same git
+repository.  git-series works entirely with existing git features, allowing git
+to push and pull a series to any git repository along with other branches and
+tags.  git-series also tracks a cover letter for the patch series, formats the
+series for email, and prepares pull requests.
+
+Building and installing
+=======================
+
+git-series is written in Rust.  You'll need both Rust and Cargo installed to
+build it.  If your OS distribution includes packages for Rust and Cargo, start
+by installing those (for instance, on Debian, `apt install rustc cargo`).
+Otherwise, you can [download the stable version of Rust and Cargo from the
+rust-lang.org download page](https://www.rust-lang.org/downloads.html).
+
+With Rust and Cargo installed, you can download and install the latest release
+of git-series with:
+
+```
+cargo install --root ~/.local git-series
+```
+
+This will install git-series into `~/.local/bin/git-series`.  If you don't
+already have `~/.local/bin` on your `$PATH`, you may want to add it there, or
+change the `--root`.  You may also want to install the included manpage,
+`git-series.1`, into `~/.local/share/man/man1/git-series.1`.
+
+If you'd like to package git-series for your distribution, please contact me.
+
+Getting started
+===============
+
+- Use `git series start seriesname` to start a patch series seriesname.
+
+- Use normal git commands to commit changes.
+
+- Use `git series status` to check what has changed.
+
+- Use `git series cover` to add or edit a cover letter.
+
+- Use `git series add` and `git series commit` (or `git series commit -a`) to
+  commit changes to the patch series.
+
+- Use `git series rebase -i` to help rework or reorganize the patch series.
+
+- Use `git series format` to prepare the patch series to send via email, or
+  use `git series req` to prepare a "please pull" mail (after pushing the
+  changes to a repository as a branch or tag).