diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 00c7779e0c..5bcf91b3d3 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -772,8 +772,6 @@ if (USE_MAINTAINER_MODE)
   find_package(BISON)
   # these are required for generateREADME.sh
   find_program(FGREP_EXECUTABLE fgrep)
-  find_program(MARKDOWN_EXECUTABLE markdown)
-  find_program(HTML2TEXT_EXECUTABLE html2text)
   find_program(SED_EXECUTABLE sed)
   find_program(AWK_EXECUTABLE awk)
 endif ()
diff --git a/README b/README
index e69de29bb2..7c8762a72f 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+ArangoDB
+========
+
+
+ArangoDB is a multi-model, open-source database with flexible data models for
+documents, graphs, and key-values. Build high performance applications using a
+convenient SQL-like query language or JavaScript extensions. Use ACID
+transactions if you require them. Scale horizontally with a few mouse clicks.
+
+The supported data models can be mixed in queries and allow ArangoDB to be the
+aggregation point for your data.
+
+To get started, try one of our 10 minutes [tutorials](https://www.arangodb.com/tutorials)
+in your favorite programming language or try one of our [ArangoDB Cookbook recipes](https://www.arangodb.com/docs/stable/cookbook/).
+
+For the impatient: [download](https://www.arangodb.com/download) and install
+ArangoDB. Start the server `arangod` and point your browser to `http://127.0.0.1:8529/`.
+
+Key Features in ArangoDB
+------------------------
+
+- **Multi-Model**: Documents, graphs and key-value pairs — model your data as
+  you see fit for your application.
+- **Joins**: Conveniently join what belongs together for flexible ad-hoc
+  querying, less data redundancy.
+- **Transactions**: Easy application development keeping your data consistent
+  and safe. No hassle in your client.
+
+Here is an AQL query that makes use of all those features:
+
+![AQL Query Example](https://www.arangodb.com/docs/assets/aql_query_with_traversal.png)
+
+Joins and transactions are key features for flexible, secure data designs,
+widely used in relational databases but lacking in many NoSQL products. However,
+there is no need to forgo them in ArangoDB. You decide how and when to use joins
+and strong consistency guarantees, without sacrificing performance and scalability. 
+
+Furthermore, ArangoDB offers a JavaScript framework called [Foxx](https://www.arangodb.com/foxx)
+that is executed in the database server with direct access to the data. Build your
+own data-centric microservices with a few lines of code:
+
+Microservice Example
+
+![Microservice Example](https://www.arangodb.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/microservice.png)
+
+By extending the HTTP API with user code written in JavaScript, ArangoDB can be
+turned into a strict schema-enforcing persistence engine.
+
+Next step, bundle your Foxx application as a [docker container](https://www.arangodb.com/docs/stable/cookbook/cloud-node-js-docker.html)
+and get it running in the cloud.
+
+Other features of ArangoDB include:
+
+- Use a **data-centric microservices** approach with ArangoDB Foxx and fuse your
+  application-logic and database together for maximal throughput
+- JavaScript for all: **no language zoo**, you can use one language from your
+  browser to your back-end
+- **Flexible data modeling**: model your data as combination of key-value pairs,
+  documents or graphs - perfect for social relations
+- Different **storage engines**: ArangoDB provides a storage engine for mostly
+  in-memory operations and an alternative storage engine based on RocksDB which 
+  handle datasets that are much bigger than RAM.
+- **Powerful query language** (AQL) to retrieve and modify data 
+- **Transactions**: run queries on multiple documents or collections with
+  optional transactional consistency and isolation
+- **Replication** and **Sharding**: set up the database in a master-slave
+  configuration or spread bigger datasets across multiple servers
+- Configurable **durability**: let the application decide if it needs more
+  durability or more performance
+- **Schema-free schemata** let you combine the space efficiency of MySQL with the
+  performance power of NoSQL
+- Free **index choice**: use the correct index for your problem, be it a skiplist 
+  or a fulltext search
+- ArangoDB is **multi-threaded** - exploit the power of all your cores
+- It is **open source** (Apache License 2.0)
+
+For more in-depth information read the [design goals of ArangoDB](https://www.arangodb.com/2012/03/avocadodbs-design-objectives/)
+
+
+Latest Release
+--------------
+
+Packages for all supported platforms can be downloaded from [https://www.arangodb.com/download](https://www.arangodb.com/download/).
+
+Please also check [what's new in ArangoDB](https://www.arangodb.com/docs/stable/release-notes.html).
+
+
+More Information
+----------------
+
+Please check the [Installation Manual](https://www.arangodb.com/docs/stable/installation.html)
+for installation and compilation instructions.
+
+The [User Manual](https://www.arangodb.com/docs/stable/getting-started.html) has an
+introductory chapter showing the basic operations of ArangoDB.
+
+
+Stay in Contact
+---------------
+
+We really appreciate feature requests and bug reports. Please use our Github
+issue tracker for reporting them:
+
+[https://github.com/arangodb/arangodb/issues](https://github.com/arangodb/arangodb/issues)
+
+You can use our Google group for improvements, feature requests, comments:
+
+[https://www.arangodb.com/community](https://www.arangodb.com/community)
+
+StackOverflow is great for questions about AQL, usage scenarios etc.
+
+[https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/arangodb](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/arangodb)
+
+To chat with the community and the developers we offer a Slack chat:
+
+[https://slack.arangodb.com/](https://slack.arangodb.com/)
diff --git a/utils/generateREADME.sh b/utils/generateREADME.sh
index c361eab83d..b85f49d190 100755
--- a/utils/generateREADME.sh
+++ b/utils/generateREADME.sh
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ OUT=${2:-README}
 fgrep -v "[Build Status]" $IN \
   | fgrep -v "ArangoDB-Logo" \
   | fgrep -v "[Build Status]" \
-  | markdown \
-  | html2text -style compact -nobs \
   | sed -e 's:>:>:g' \
   | awk 'BEGIN { s = 0; } /^\*\*\*\*/ {if (s > 0) print ""} {if (length($0) == 0) {if (s != 0) print $0;} else {s = 1; print $0; }} /^\*\*\*\*/ {print ""}' \
   > $OUT