diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ce983a5517..e35c8be6cd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,39 @@
 
 Engine-q is an experimental project to replace the core functionality in Nushell (parser, engine, protocol). It's still in an alpha state, and there is still a lot to do: please see TODO.md
 
+## Contributing
+
 If you'd like to help out, come join us on the [discord](https://discord.gg/NtAbbGn) or propose some work in an issue or PR draft. We're currently looking to begin porting Nushell commands to engine-q.
 
 If you are interested in porting a command from Nushell to engine-q you are welcome to
 [comment on this issue 242](https://github.com/nushell/engine-q/issues/242) with the command name you would like to port.
+
+## Giving engine-q a test drive
+
+To try out engine-q you need a recent Rust toolchain consisting of the rust compiler and `cargo` (https://www.rust-lang.org/tools/install).
+
+Switch to a directory where you want to create the directory with engine-q code and clone the repository from github with
+
+```
+git clone https://github.com/nushell/engine-q.git
+# Switch to the newly created directory `engine-q` containing the current source code
+cd engine-q
+```
+
+Build and run with:
+
+```
+cargo run
+```
+
+For full performance build and run in release mode
+
+```
+cargo run --release
+```
+
+If you also want to have access to all ported plugins including dataframe support you need to enable the `extra` features with:
+
+```
+cargo run --features extra
+```