diff --git a/README.mkd b/README.mkd
index 5a59bd1..fe85675 100644
--- a/README.mkd
+++ b/README.mkd
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 >   [IMPORTANT: There is now an "upgrade" document in the "doc" directory;
 >   please read if upgrading gitolite]
 
+>   [Update 2009-10-10: apart from all the nifty new features, there's now an
+>   "easy install" script in the src directory.  Please see the INSTALL
+>   document in the doc directory for details]
+
 ----
 
 Gitolite is the bare essentials of gitosis, with a completely different
diff --git a/doc/0-INSTALL.mkd b/doc/0-INSTALL.mkd
index c54c7eb..d4f3b44 100644
--- a/doc/0-INSTALL.mkd
+++ b/doc/0-INSTALL.mkd
@@ -1,6 +1,52 @@
 # installing gitolite
 
-### pre-requisites
+### easy install
+
+There is now an easy install script that makes installing very easy for the
+common case.  **This script is meant to be run on your workstation, not on the
+server!**  It will take care of all the server side work, *and* get you
+"push-to-admin" too :-)  In short, it does **everything**!
+
+Assumptions:
+
+  * you have a server to host gitolite
+  * git is installed on that server (and so is perl)
+  * you have a userid on that server
+  * you have ssh-pubkey (password-less) login to that userid
+      * (if you have only password access, run `ssh-keygen -t rsa` to create a
+        new keypair if needed, then run `ssh-copy-id user@host`)
+  * you have a clone or an archive of gitolite somewhere on your workstation
+
+If so, just `cd` to that clone and run `src/00-easy-install.sh` and follow the
+prompts!  (Running it without any arguments shows you usage plus other useful
+info).
+
+#### advantages over the older install methods
+
+  * all ssh problems reduced to **just one pre-requisite**: enable ssh pubkey
+    (password-less) access to the server from your workstation first
+  * the script takes care of all the server side work
+  * when done:
+      * you get two different pubkeys (the original one for command line
+        access as before, plus a new one, created by the script, for gitolite
+        access)
+      * you can admin gitolite by commit+push a "gitolite-admin" repo, just
+        like gitosis (i.e., full "push to admin" power!)
+
+#### disadvantages
+
+  * has been tested only with Linux.  However, the script now makes a much
+    better "document" on what actually needs to be done, so people installing
+    on non-Linux machines can probably follow the steps in the script and
+    install if they wish.  Sort of "simulate" it... :)
+
+### manual install
+
+If for some reason you cannot use the easy-install method, (for example,
+you're on a non-Linux machine) read on.  Unlike the easy install, all the
+below stuff is meant to be run on the server.
+
+#### pre-requisites on the server
 
 If you managed to install git, you might already have what gitolite needs:
 
@@ -13,7 +59,7 @@ 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.
 
-### getting a tar file from a clone
+#### getting a tar file from a clone
 
 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
@@ -24,7 +70,7 @@ tar file of the branch you want.  Please use the make command, not a plain
     make master.tar
     # or maybe "make rebel.tar" or "make pu.tar"
 
-### quick install from tar file
+#### 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
diff --git a/src/00-easy-install.sh b/src/00-easy-install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..54cb5a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/00-easy-install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# easy install for gitolite
+
+# this is the client side piece.  This gets run *before* the server side piece
+
+# run without any arguments for "usage" info
+
+# important setting: bail on any errors (else we have to check every single
+# command!)
+set -e
+
+die() { echo "$@"; echo "run $0 again without any arguments for help and tips"; exit 1; }
+prompt() {
+    echo
+    echo
+    echo ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    echo "$1"
+    echo
+    read -p '...press enter to continue or Ctrl-C to bail out'
+}
+usage() {
+    cat <<EOFU
+Usage: $0 user host admin_name
+  - "user" is the username on the server where you will be installing gitolite
+  - "host" is that server's hostname (or IP address is also fine)
+  - "admin_name" is *your* name as you want it to appear in the eventual
+    gitolite config file
+
+Example usage: $0 git my.git.server sitaram
+
+Output:
+  - a proper gitolite admin repo in $HOME/gitolite-admin
+
+Notes:
+  - "user" and "admin_name" must be simple names -- no special characters etc
+    please (only alphanumerics, dot, hyphen, underscore)
+  - traditionally, the "user" is "git", but it can be anything you want
+  - "admin_name" should be your name, for clarity, or whoever will be the
+    gitolite admin
+
+Pre-requisites:
+  - you must run this from the gitolite working tree top level directory.
+    This means you run this as "src/00-easy-install-clientside.sh"
+  - you must already have pubkey based access to user@host.  If you currently
+    only have password access, use "ssh-copy-id" or something.  Somehow get to
+    the point where you can type "ssh user@host" and get a command line.  Run
+    this program only after that is done
+
+Errors:
+  - if you get a "pubkey [...filename...] exists" error, it is either leftover
+    from a previous, failed, run, or a genuine file you need.  Decide which it
+    is, and remove it and retry, or use a different "admin_name", respectively.
+
+EOFU
+    exit 1;
+}
+
+[[ -z $1 ]] && usage
+[[ -z $3 ]] && usage
+
+[[ "$1" =~ [^a-zA-Z0-9._-] ]] && die "user '$1' invalid"
+[[ "$3" =~ [^a-zA-Z0-9._-] ]] && die "admin_name '$3' invalid"
+
+user=$1
+host=$2
+admin_name=$3
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+# basic sanity checks
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# are we in the right directory?  We should have all the gitolite sources
+# here...
+ls src/gl-auth-command  \
+    src/gl-compile-conf \
+    src/install.pl  \
+    src/update-hook.pl  \
+    conf/example.conf   \
+    conf/example.gitolite.rc    >/dev/null ||
+    die "cant find at least some files in gitolite sources/config; aborting"
+
+# do we have pubkey auth on the server
+ssh -o PasswordAuthentication=no $user@$host pwd >/dev/null ||
+    die "pubkey access didn't work; please set it up using 'ssh-copy-id' or something"
+
+# can the "gitolite-admin" repo be safely created in $HOME
+[[ -d $HOME/gitolite-admin ]] &&
+    die "please delete or move aside the \$HOME/gitolite-admin directory"
+
+# cool; now let's create a new key for you as a "gitolite user" (as opposed to
+# a gitolite admin who needs to login to the server and get a command line)
+
+[[ -f $HOME/.ssh/$admin_name.pub ]] && die "pubkey $HOME/.ssh/$admin_name.pub exists; can't proceed"
+prompt "the next command will create a new keypair for your gitolite access
+
+    The pubkey will be $HOME/.ssh/$admin_name.pub.  You will have to
+    choose a passphrase or hit enter for none.  I recommend not having a
+    passphrase for now, and adding one with 'ssh-keygen -p' *as soon as*
+    all the setup is done and you've successfully cloned and pushed the
+    gitolite-admin repo.
+
+    After that, I suggest you (1) install 'keychain' or something
+    similar, and (2) add the following command to your bashrc (since
+    this is a non-default key)
+
+        ssh-add \$HOME/.ssh/$admin_name
+
+    This makes using passphrases very convenient."
+
+ssh-keygen -t rsa -f $HOME/.ssh/$admin_name || die "ssh-keygen failed for some reason..."
+
+if [[ -n $SSH_AGENT_PID ]]
+then
+    prompt "you're running ssh-agent.  We'll try and do an ssh-add of the
+    private key we just created, otherwise this key won't get picked up.  If
+    you specified a passphrase in the previous step, you'll get asked for one
+    now -- type in the same one."
+
+    ssh-add $HOME/.ssh/$admin_name
+fi
+
+# ok the gitolite key is done; create a stanza for it in ~/.ssh/config
+echo "
+host gitolite
+     hostname $host
+     user $user
+     identityfile ~/.ssh/$admin_name" > $HOME/.ssh/.gl-stanza
+
+if grep 'host  *gitolite' $HOME/.ssh/config &>/dev/null
+then
+    prompt "your \$HOME/.ssh/config already has settings for gitolite.  I will
+    assume they're correct, but if they're not, please edit that file, delete
+    that paragraph (that line and the following few lines), and rerun.
+
+    In case you want to check right now (from another terminal) if they're
+    correct, here's what they are *supposed* to look like:
+$(cat ~/.ssh/.gl-stanza)"
+
+else
+    prompt "creating settings for your gitolite access in $HOME/.ssh/config;
+    these are the lines that will be appended to your ~/.ssh/config:
+$(cat ~/.ssh/.gl-stanza)"
+
+    cat $HOME/.ssh/.gl-stanza >> $HOME/.ssh/config
+    # if the file didn't exist at all, it might have the wrong permissions
+    chmod 644 $HOME/.ssh/config
+fi
+rm  $HOME/.ssh/.gl-stanza
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+# client side stuff almost done; server side now
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# setup the gitolite sources and conf on the server
+ssh $user@$host mkdir -p gitolite-install
+rsync -a src conf doc $user@$host:gitolite-install/
+
+# give the user an opportunity to change the rc
+cp conf/example.gitolite.rc .gitolite.rc
+    # hey here it means "release candidate" ;-)
+
+prompt "the gitolite rc file needs to be edited by hand.  The defaults
+are sensible, so if you wish, you can just exit the editor.
+
+Otherwise, make any changes you wish and save it.  Read the comments to
+understand what is what -- the rc file's documentation is inline.
+
+Please remember this file will actually be copied to the server, and
+that all the paths etc. represent paths on the server!"
+
+${VISUAL:-${EDITOR:-vi}} .gitolite.rc
+
+# copy the rc across
+scp .gitolite.rc $user@$host:
+
+prompt "ignore any 'please edit this file' or 'run this command' type
+lines in the next set of command outputs coming up.  They're only
+relevant for a manual install, not this one..."
+
+# extract the GL_ADMINDIR and REPO_BASE locations
+GL_ADMINDIR=$(ssh $user@$host "perl -e 'do \".gitolite.rc\"; print \$GL_ADMINDIR'")
+REPO_BASE=$(  ssh $user@$host "perl -e 'do \".gitolite.rc\"; print \$REPO_BASE'")
+
+# run the install script on the server
+ssh $user@$host "cd gitolite-install; src/install.pl"
+
+# setup the initial config file
+echo "#gitolite conf
+#please see conf/example.conf for details on syntax and features
+
+repo gitolite-admin
+    RW+                 = $admin_name
+
+repo testing
+    RW+                 = @all
+
+" > gitolite.conf
+
+# send the config and the key to the remote
+scp gitolite.conf $user@$host:$GL_ADMINDIR/conf/
+
+scp $HOME/.ssh/$admin_name.pub $user@$host:$GL_ADMINDIR/keydir
+
+# run the compile script on the server
+ssh $user@$host "cd $GL_ADMINDIR; src/gl-compile-conf"
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+# hey lets go the whole hog on this; setup push-to-admin!
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# setup the initial commit for the admin repo
+echo "cd $REPO_BASE/gitolite-admin.git
+GIT_WORK_TREE=$GL_ADMINDIR git add conf/gitolite.conf keydir
+GIT_WORK_TREE=$GL_ADMINDIR git commit -am start
+" | ssh $user@$host
+
+ssh $user@$host "cd gitolite-install; src/install.pl"
+
+prompt "now we will clone the gitolite-admin repo to your workstation
+and see if it all hangs together.  We'll do this in your \$HOME for now,
+and you can move it elsewhere later if you wish to."
+
+cd $HOME
+git clone gitolite:gitolite-admin.git
+
+echo
+echo
+echo ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+echo "Cool -- we're done.  Now you can edit the config file (currently
+in ~/gitolite-admin/conf/gitolite.conf) to add more repos, users, etc.
+When done, 'git add' the changed files, 'git commit' and 'git push'.
+
+Read the comments in conf/example.conf for information about the config
+file format -- like the rc file, this also has inline documentation.
+
+Your URL for cloning any repo on this server will be
+
+    gitolite:reponame.git
+
+However, any other users you set up will have to use
+
+    $user@$host:reponame.git
+
+unless they also create similar settings in their '.ssh/config' file."