diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2633c20..826af4c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,6 +8,14 @@ There must also be an administrative interface through which privileged users ca
 
 generated using Luminus version "2.9.11.05"
 
+## Status
+
+**Nothing works yet**. This is very early development code, a long way pre-alpha.
+
+## What is it supposed to do?
+
+To understand what I'm aiming for, read [this essay](http://blog.journeyman.cc/2016/10/preparing-for-next-independence.html). Design documentation, such as there is of it yet, is in the *dummy* sub-directory. Also look at [src/clj/youyesyet/db/schema.clj](https://github.com/simon-brooke/youyesyet/blob/master/src/clj/youyesyet/db/schema.clj).
+
 ## Prerequisites
 
 You will need [Leiningen][1] 2.0 or above installed. The database required must be [Postgres][2].