diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f60da1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+*.tar
+*.tgz
+*.tar.gz
+*.tar.bz2
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..730fa72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# this is a simple wrapper around "git archive" using make
+
+# "make [refname].tar" produces a tar of refname, then adds a file containing
+# the "git describe" output for that refname to the tar.  This lets you say
+# "cat .GITOLITE-VERSION" to find out which ref produced this tar
+
+# Note: I'm not sure if that "-r" is a GNU tar extension...
+
+.GITOLITE-VERSION:
+	@touch .GITOLITE-VERSION
+
+%.tar:	.GITOLITE-VERSION
+	git describe --all --long $* > .GITOLITE-VERSION
+	git archive $* > $@
+	tar -r -f $@ .GITOLITE-VERSION
+	rm .GITOLITE-VERSION
diff --git a/doc/0-INSTALL.mkd b/doc/0-INSTALL.mkd
index 10450a2..9d92ce9 100644
--- a/doc/0-INSTALL.mkd
+++ b/doc/0-INSTALL.mkd
@@ -13,9 +13,19 @@ A major objective is to allow use by people without root access, permissions
 to create other userids, etc.  Even if you have root, please add a user just
 for gitolite and do all this from that user.
 
-### quick install
+### getting a tar file from a clone
 
-  * cd to the directory where you unpacked the source
+You can clone the repo from github, then execute a make command to extract a
+tar file of the branch you want.  Please use the make command, not a plain
+"git archive".  The comments in the `Makefile` will explain why.
+
+    git clone git://github.com/sitaramc/gitolite.git
+    make master.tar
+    # or maybe "make rebel.tar" or "make pu.tar"
+
+### quick install from tar file
+
+  * make a temp directory somewhere, cd to it, and unpack the tar file
   * run `src/install.pl` and follow the prompts
 
 **When you are told to edit some file, please read the comments in the file**.