diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f549ea4..160176b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,41 +1,61 @@
# eXist-db Function Documentation Browser App
-[](https://github.com/eXist-db/function-documentation/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
+[](https://github.com/eXist-db/function-documentation/actions/workflows/build.yml)
[](http://www.exist-db.org/exist/apps/homepage/index.html)
-This repository contains the function documentation browser app for the [eXist-db native XML database](http://www.exist-db.org).
+This repository contains the source code for the Function Documentation application for the [eXist-db native XML database](https://exist-db.org).
## Dependencies
-- [Maven](https://maven.apache.org): `3.5.2`
-- [eXist-db](http://exist-db.org): `6.2.0`
+- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org): LTS
+- [eXist-db](https://exist-db.org): `6.2.0` or later
## Installation
-- Just go to your eXist server's Dashboard and select Function Documentation.
-- Update to the latest release via the eXist-db package manager or via the eXist-db.org public app repository at [http://exist-db.org/exist/apps/public-repo/](http://exist-db.org/exist/apps/public-repo/).
+- Function Documentation is installed by default in the eXist distribution. Just go to your eXist server's Dashboard and select Function Documentation.
+- Update to the latest release via Dashboard > Package Manager, or download a release via the exist-db.org public app repository at [https://exist-db.org/exist/apps/public-repo/](https://exist-db.org/exist/apps/public-repo/).
## Building from source
1. Clone the repository to your system:
```bash
- git clone https://github.com/exist-db/function-documentation.git
+ git clone https://github.com/eXist-db/function-documentation.git
+ cd function-documentation
```
-2. Build the function documentation application:
+2. Install dependencies and build the application package (`.xar` file):
```bash
- cd function-documentation
- mvn clean package
+ npm ci
+ npm run build
```
- The compiled `.xar` file is located in the `/target` directory
+ The package is written to `dist/exist-function-documentation-.xar`. On a fresh clone, `` will be the placeholder in `package.json` (the real version is set in-memory on the CI runner during the release pipeline).
+
+3. Install the package via Dashboard > Package Manager.
+
+For local development against a running eXist-db, use `npm run develop` (live-reload) and `npm run deploy` (install the built package into the configured eXist-db instance — set credentials in `.env`, see `.env.example`).
+
+## Release Procedure
+
+Releases are fully automated: every push to `master` triggers [semantic-release](https://semantic-release.gitbook.io/), which computes the next version from [Conventional Commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/) since the last tag, builds the package, and publishes a GitHub Release with the package attached at [https://github.com/eXist-db/function-documentation/releases](https://github.com/eXist-db/function-documentation/releases).
+
+### What contributors need to do
+
+- **Write [Conventional Commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/).** A `commitlint` + `husky` `commit-msg` hook enforces this locally (`@commitlint/config-conventional`). The commit type determines the version bump:
+ - `feat:` → minor bump
+ - `fix:`, `perf:` → patch bump
+ - any commit with a `BREAKING CHANGE:` footer or a `!` after the type (e.g. `feat!:`) → major bump
+ - `chore:`, `docs:`, `ci:`, `build:`, `style:`, `refactor:`, `test:` → no release (cosmetic / housekeeping)
+- That's it. No version bump, no tag creation, no manual release commit.
+
+### What release managers need to do
-3. Install this file via the Dashboard > Package Manager.
+Pushes to `master` are released automatically. If the release pipeline fails (check the `Release` job in the [Actions tab](https://github.com/eXist-db/function-documentation/actions)) the commit history is still intact, and re-running the job is safe, since semantic-release is idempotent.
## License
-LGPLv2.1 [eXist-db.org](http://exist-db.org/exist/apps/homepage/index.html)
+LGPL v2.1 [exist-db.org](https://exist-db.org/exist/apps/homepage/index.html)