Add build directions to README.md (#120)

README.md

@@ -5,6 +5,42 @@ This project aims to make updating firmware on Linux automatic, safe and reliabl
 
 Additional information is available at the website: http://www.fwupd.org
 
+## Compiling
+
+fwupd uses the [Meson build system](http://mesonbuild.com/) for compilation.
+All building is done in a temporary directory, and autotools is not required.
+
+### Create the build directory
+`# mkdir -p build; pushd build`
+### Generate the build script
+This is done relative to the location of `meson.build`.  Any missing dependencies will be mentioned while running `meson`.
+
+By default meson places `/etc` and `/var` under the prefix, which works incorrectly with fwupd.
+Unless you have a version of meson with the fix for https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/1637 you will need to
+You will need to build setting *sysconfdir* and *localstatedir* manually.
+
+`# meson --sysconfdir-/etc --localstatedir=/var ..`
+
+The default compilation options are documented in `meson_options.txt` in the root of the build tree.
+If you would like to override any option. you can do so when generating the build rules.
+For example to disable the *DELL* plugin you would run meson like this:
+
+`# meson --sysconfdir-/etc --localstatedir=/var -Denable-dell=false ..`
+
+### Compile using ninja
+Compilation is executed by one command:
+
+`# ninja `
+
+#### Common problems
+While compiling policykit policy: `/home/user/jhbuild/install/bin/msgfmt: cannot locate ITS rules for org.freedesktop.fwupd.policy.in`
+* This is caused by an older version of polkit (0.113 or older).  Some distros have patched polkit 0.113 to contain ITS rules.  See https://github.com/hughsie/fwupd/issues/107 for the most up to date information
+
+
+### Install using `ninja`
+
+`# sudo ninja install`
+
 Adding a new plugin
 -------------------