diff --git a/readme.rst b/readme.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e1bdd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/readme.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+Documentation Guide
+===================
+
+Writing Documentation
+---------------------
+
+Docs are generated using :doc:`Sphinx <sphinx:usage/index>`.
+
+Documentation is written in :doc:`reStructuredText
+<sphinx:usage/restructuredtext/basics>` - see this link for the basic format.
+
+In reStructuredText documents, to create the section hierarchy (mapped in HTML
+to ``<h1>`` through ``<h5>``) use these characters to underline headings in the
+order given: ``=``, ``-`` ``"``, ``'``, ``^``.
+
+Referencing other Documentation
+-------------------------------
+
+Other Sphinx-built documentation, both ONF and non-ONF can be linked to using
+:doc:`Intersphinx <sphinx:usage/extensions/intersphinx>`.
+
+You can see all link targets available on a remote Sphinx's docs by running::
+
+  python -msphinx.ext.intersphinx http://otherdocs/objects.inv
+
+Building the Docs
+------------------
+
+The documentation build process is stored in the ``Makefile``. Building docs
+requires Python to be installed, and most steps will create a virtualenv
+(``venv_docs``) which contains the required tools.  You may also need to
+install the ``enchant`` C library using your system's package manager for the
+spelling checker to function properly.
+
+Run ``make html`` to generate html documentation in ``_build/html``.
+
+To check the formatting of documentation, run ``make lint``. This will be done
+in Jenkins to validate the documentation, so please do this before you create a
+patchset.
+
+To check spelling, run ``make spelling``. If there are additional words that
+are correctly spelled but not in the dictionary (acronyms, trademarks, etc.)
+please add them to the ``dict.txt`` file.
+
+Creating new Versions of Docs
+-----------------------------
+
+To change the version shown on the built site, change the contents of the
+``VERSION`` file.
+
+There is a ``make multiversion`` target which will build all versions published
+on the remote to ``_build``. This will use `sphinx-multiversion
+<https://github.com/Holzhaus/sphinx-multiversion>`_ to build multiple versions
+of the site.
+
+Adding Images and Diagrams
+--------------------------
+
+There are multiple ways to add images and diagrams to the documentation.
+Generally, you should prefer using `SVG
+<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalable_Vector_Graphics>`_ images, as these can
+be scaled to any size without quality loss.
+
+If you're creating diagrams, there are multiple tools available.
+:doc:`Graphviz <sphinx:usage/extensions/graphviz>` can render inline text-based
+graphs definitions and diagrams within the documentation, and is best for
+simple diagrams.
+
+More complex diagrams can be created in `Diagrams.net/Draw.io
+<https://www.diagrams.net/>`_ format. When saving these diagrams, use the
+SVG format, and check the "Include a copy of my diagram". This will let
+someone open the SVG later directly from the documentation and edit it, without
+any loss in functionality or quality.
+
+The last resort is to use raster images. If they're drawings or screen
+captures, use the `PNG
+<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Network_Graphics>`_ format.  Consider
+compressing them with a tool like `OptiPNG <http://optipng.sourceforge.net/>`_,
+or `pngquant <https://pngquant.org/>`_.  If it's a photograph, use `JPEG
+<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG>`_.