diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c4fd251
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+*~
+Junk*
+Old*
+dist
+Stuff
+TAGS
+tags
+tarballs
+
+# Mac OS generates
+.DS_Store
+
+# Where do these files come from?  They're not readable.
+# For instance, .#Help.page
+.#*
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..62692bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+**checkers** is a library for reusable QuickCheck properties, particularly for standard type classes (class laws and [class morphisms](http://conal.net/papers/type-class-morphisms)).
+Checkers also has lots of support for randomly generating data values (thanks to Thomas Davie).