diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bec7128..60f347e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -53,6 +53,25 @@ inputs = {
 imports = [ inputs.nova-shell.homeModules.default ];
 ```
 
+### Without Nix
+
+You poor thing. Here's what the Nix packaging does for you, manually:
+
+1. Build [quickshell](https://quickshell.outfoxxed.me) from source. You'll need Qt 6.
+2. Build `nova-stats` from `stats-daemon/` (`cargo build --release`). Put the binary in your PATH.
+3. Put `gdbus` (from glib) in your PATH. The lock screen needs it.
+4. Compile the overview shader: `qsb --qt6 -o shell/modules/hex_wave.frag.qsb shell/modules/hex_wave.frag`
+5. Install [Symbols Nerd Font](https://www.nerdfonts.com/).
+6. Create `~/.config/nova-shell/theme.json` and `~/.config/nova-shell/modules.json`. The Nix module generates these from your config. Without it, you write JSON by hand like a human. See the theme and module tables below for keys.
+7. Run: `quickshell -p /path/to/nova-shell/shell/shell.qml`
+
+Optional runtime dependencies, depending on which modules you enable:
+- `wttrbar` for weather
+- `cava` for the audio visualizer on album art
+- `coreutils` (df) for disk usage
+
+If something breaks, the Nix module would have handled it. You chose this path. I respect it in the same way I respect people who free-climb skyscrapers.
+
 ## Configuration
 
 ### Turning it on