1 files changed, 161 insertions, 22 deletions

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a447fec..ac49f5d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,6 +5,21 @@ via USB.*
 
 ![](https://github.com/libimobiledevice/libirecovery/workflows/build/badge.svg)
 
+## Table of Contents
+- [Features](#features)
+- [Building](#building)
+  - [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)
+    - [Linux (Debian/Ubuntu based)](#linux-debianubuntu-based)
+    - [macOS](#macos)
+    - [Windows](#windows)
+  - [Configuring the source tree](#configuring-the-source-tree)
+  - [Building and installation](#building-and-installation)
+- [Usage](#usage)
+- [Contributing](#contributing)
+- [Links](#links)
+- [License](#license)
+- [Credits](#credits)
+
 ## Features
 
 libirecovery is a cross-platform library which implements communication to
@@ -14,38 +29,164 @@ iBoot/iBSS found on Apple's iOS devices via USB. A command-line utility named
 This is a fork of an older version from former openjailbreak.org and is meant to
 be used with [idevicerestore](https://github.com/libimobiledevice/idevicerestore.git/) from the [libimobiledevice](https://github.com/libimobiledevice/) project.
 
-## Installation / Getting started
+## Building
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+You need to have a working compiler (gcc/clang) and development environent
+available. This project uses autotools for the build process, allowing to
+have common build steps across different platforms.
+Only the prerequisites differ and they are described in this section.
+
+libirecovery requires [libimobiledevice-glue](https://github.com/libimobiledevice/libimobiledevice-glue).
+Check the [Building](https://github.com/libimobiledevice/libimobiledevice-glue?tab=readme-ov-file#building)
+section of the README on how to build it. Note that some platforms might have it as a package.
+
+#### Linux (Debian/Ubuntu based)
+
+* Install all required dependencies and build tools:
+  ```shell
+  sudo apt-get install \
+        build-essential \
+        pkg-config \    
+        checkinstall \
+        git \
+        autoconf \
+        automake \
+        libtool-bin \
+        libimobiledevice-glue-dev \
+        libreadline-dev \
+        libusb-1.0-0-dev
+  ```
+
+  In case libimobiledevice-glue-dev is not available, you can manually build and install it. See note above.
+
+#### macOS
+
+* Make sure the Xcode command line tools are installed. Then, use either [MacPorts](https://www.macports.org/)
+  or [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/) to install `automake`, `autoconf`, `libtool`, etc.
+
+  Using MacPorts:
+  ```shell
+  sudo port install libtool autoconf automake pkgconfig
+  ```
+
+  Using Homebrew:
+  ```shell
+  brew install libtool autoconf automake pkg-config
+  ```
 
-### Debian / Ubuntu Linux
+#### Windows
+
+* Using [MSYS2](https://www.msys2.org/) is the official way of compiling this project on Windows. Download the MSYS2 installer
+  and follow the installation steps.
+
+  It is recommended to use the _MSYS2 MinGW 64-bit_ shell. Run it and make sure the required dependencies are installed:
+
+  ```shell
+  pacman -S base-devel \
+        git \
+        mingw-w64-x86_64-gcc \
+        make \
+        libtool \
+        autoconf \
+        automake-wrapper \
+        pkg-config
+  ```
+  NOTE: You can use a different shell and different compiler according to your needs. Adapt the above command accordingly.
+
+### Configuring the source tree
+
+You can build the source code from a git checkout, or from a `.tar.bz2` release tarball from [Releases](https://github.com/libimobiledevice/libirecovery/releases).
+Before we can build it, the source tree has to be configured for building. The steps depend on where you got the source from.
+
+Since libirecovery depends on other packages, you should set the pkg-config environment variable `PKG_CONFIG_PATH`
+accordingly. Make sure to use a path with the same prefix as the dependencies. If they are installed in `/usr/local` you would do
 
-First install all required dependencies and build tools:
 ```shell
-sudo apt-get install \
-        build-essential \
-        pkg-config \    
-        checkinstall \
-        git \
-        autoconf \
-        automake \
-        libtool-bin \
-        libimobiledevice-glue-dev \
-        libreadline-dev \
-        libusb-1.0-0-dev
+export PKG_CONFIG_PATH=/usr/local/lib/pkgconfig
 ```
 
-Then clone the actual project repository:
+* **From git**
+
+  If you haven't done already, clone the actual project repository and change into the directory.
+  ```shell
+  git clone https://github.com/libimobiledevice/libirecovery
+  cd libirecovery
+  ```
+
+  Configure the source tree for building:
+  ```shell
+  ./autogen.sh
+  ```
+
+* **From release tarball (.tar.bz2)**
+
+  When using an official [release tarball](https://github.com/libimobiledevice/libirecovery/releases) (`libirecovery-x.y.z.tar.bz2`)
+  the procedure is slightly different.
+
+  Extract the tarball:
+  ```shell
+  tar xjf libirecovery-x.y.z.tar.bz2
+  cd libirecovery-x.y.z
+  ```
+
+  Configure the source tree for building:
+  ```shell
+  ./configure
+  ```
+
+Both `./configure` and `./autogen.sh` (which generates and calls `configure`) accept a few options, for example `--prefix` to allow
+building for a different target folder. You can simply pass them like this:
+
+```shell
+./autogen.sh --prefix=/usr/local
+```
+or
 ```shell
-git clone https://github.com/libimobiledevice/libirecovery.git
-cd libirecovery
+./configure --prefix=/usr/local
 ```
 
-Now you can build and install it:
+Once the command is successful, the last few lines of output will look like this:
+```
+[...]
+config.status: creating config.h
+config.status: executing depfiles commands
+config.status: executing libtool commands
+
+Configuration for libirecovery 1.2.0:
+-------------------------------------------
+
+  Install prefix: .........: /usr/local
+  USB backend: ............: IOKit
+
+  Now type 'make' to build libirecovery 1.2.0,
+  and then 'make install' for installation.
+```
+
+### Building and installation
+
+If you followed all the steps successfully, and `autogen.sh` or `configure` did not print any errors,
+you are ready to build the project. This is simply done with
+
 ```shell
-./autogen.sh
 make
+```
+
+If no errors are emitted you are ready for installation. Depending on whether
+the current user has permissions to write to the destination directory or not,
+you would either run
+```shell
+make install
+```
+_OR_
+```shell
 sudo make install
 ```
 
+If you are on Linux, you want to run `sudo ldconfig` after installation to
+make sure the installed libraries are made available.
+
 ## Usage
 
 First of all attach your device to your machine. Make sure your device is not
@@ -92,8 +233,6 @@ Please make sure your contribution adheres to:
 * Try to split larger changes into individual commits of a common domain
 * Use your real name and a valid email address for your commits
 
-We are still working on the guidelines so bear with us!
-
 ## Links
 
 * Homepage: https://libimobiledevice.org/
@@ -116,4 +255,4 @@ iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc.
 This project is an independent software library and has not been authorized,
 sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc.
 
-README Updated on: 2023-04-22
+README Updated on: 2024-03-23