diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4433c84..52fbf7f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,17 +25,19 @@ Building on Linux
 
 ### Building for Linux
 
-You will need CMake, zlib, libpng, cairo, freetype. To build the GUI, you will need
-fontconfig, gtkmm 3.0 (version 3.16 or later), pangomm 1.4, OpenGL and OpenGL GLU, and
-optionally, the Space Navigator client library.
+You will need the usual build tools, CMake, zlib, libpng, cairo, freetype.
+To build the GUI, you will need fontconfig, gtkmm 3.0 (version 3.16 or later), pangomm 1.4,
+OpenGL and OpenGL GLU, and optionally, the Space Navigator client library.
 On a Debian derivative (e.g. Ubuntu) these can be installed with:
 
-    apt-get install cmake zlib1g-dev libpng-dev libcairo2-dev libfreetype6-dev
+    apt-get install git build-essential cmake zlib1g-dev libpng-dev libcairo2-dev libfreetype6-dev
     apt-get install libjson-c-dev libfontconfig1-dev libgtkmm-3.0-dev libpangomm-1.4-dev \
                     libgl-dev libglu-dev libspnav-dev
 
-Before building, check out the necessary submodules:
+Before building, check out the project and the necessary submodules:
 
+    git clone https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace
+    cd solvespace
     git submodule update --init extlib/libdxfrw
 
 After that, build SolveSpace as following:
@@ -52,14 +54,16 @@ by passing the `-DENABLE_GUI=OFF` flag to the cmake invocation.
 
 ### Building for Windows
 
-You will need CMake and a Windows cross-compiler.
+You will need the usual build tools, CMake and a Windows cross-compiler.
 On a Debian derivative (e.g. Ubuntu) these can be installed with:
 
-    apt-get install cmake mingw-w64
+    apt-get install git build-essential cmake mingw-w64
 
-Before building, check out the necessary submodules:
+Before building, check out the project and the necessary submodules:
 
-    git submodule update --init
+    git clone https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace
+    cd solvespace
+    git submodule update
 
 After that, build 32-bit SolveSpace as following:
 
@@ -88,13 +92,15 @@ Building on macOS
 You will need XCode tools, CMake, libpng and Freetype. To build tests, you
 will need cairo. Assuming you use [homebrew][], these can be installed with:
 
-    brew install cmake libpng freetype cairo
+    brew install git cmake libpng freetype cairo
 
 XCode has to be installed via AppStore or [the Apple website][appledeveloper];
 it requires a free Apple ID.
 
-Before building, check out the necessary submodules:
+Before building, check out the project and the necessary submodules:
 
+    git clone https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace
+    cd solvespace
     git submodule update --init extlib/libdxfrw
 
 After that, build SolveSpace as following:
@@ -135,6 +141,8 @@ First, ensure that git and cl (the Visual C++ compiler driver) are in your
 `%PATH%`; the latter is usually done by invoking `vcvarsall.bat` from your
 Visual Studio install. Then, run the following in cmd or PowerShell:
 
+    git clone https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace
+    cd solvespace
     git submodule update --init
     mkdir build
     cd build
@@ -149,6 +157,8 @@ Space Navigator support will be disabled.
 First, ensure that git and gcc are in your `$PATH`. Then, run the following
 in bash:
 
+    git clone https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace
+    cd solvespace
     git submodule update --init
     mkdir build
     cd build