diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index aa4ab50..39b1c2b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -88,8 +88,24 @@
 ansible-playbook -i inventory/frontend deploy-xos-playbook.yml
 ```
 
-Assuming it runs without error, you can then explore the environment you've set
-up.  When you're ready to tear down your environment, run:
+Setting up the initial environment, and launching XOS for the first time,
+will take about 30 minutes.  You can then explore the environment you've set up.
+
+Suppose you've made a change to your code and want the changes reflected
+in the running XOS containers.  To get there, run:
+
+```
+ansible-playbook -i inventory/frontend redeploy-xos-playbook.yml
+```
+
+Rebuilding and redeploying containers using this method will usually take much
+less time than the initial setup phase.  All changes to the local environment's
+source tree should be reflected in the redeployed containers.  Note that
+running the above playbook will preserve the existing database.
+
+When you're ready to tear down your environment, for example to switch
+to another profile, or to launch the current profile again from a fresh
+database, run:
 
 ```
 ansible-playbook -i inventory/frontend teardown-playbook.yml
diff --git a/redeploy-xos-playbook.yml b/redeploy-xos-playbook.yml
index 1e0a026..464baad 100644
--- a/redeploy-xos-playbook.yml
+++ b/redeploy-xos-playbook.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 # This playbook is used for development.  It walks through CORD's
 # fetch -> build -> deploy container pipeline to rebuild and redeploy
-# containers annotated with "rebuild: true".
+# containers.  It assumes that the environment has already been set up.
 
 - name: Include vars
   hosts: all
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@
         - "profile_manifests/{{ cord_profile }}.yml"
         - profile_manifests/local_vars.yml
 
-# pull / build base XOS images
-- include: ../../orchestration/xos/pull-xos-playbook.yml
+# rebuild XOS images
 - include: ../../orchestration/xos/build-xos-playbook.yml
 
 # build XOS core