diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1b29ccd..0520441 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -150,11 +150,48 @@ spectrum and image passthrough through tmux, install the optional tools too:
 sudo pacman -S mpv ffmpeg libpulse tmux
 ```
 
+### Standalone binary (no Nix, no packaging step)
+
+`uv` can build the package and drop the executable in `~/.local/bin` — this is
+the `pip install --user`-style install, without touching a system or project
+environment:
+
+```bash
+uv tool install git+https://tildeforge.dev/beefcarver/beefy-player
+# or, from a checkout:
+uv tool install .
+```
+
+That creates its own isolated environment under `~/.local/share/uv/tools/` and
+symlinks `beefy-player` into `~/.local/bin` (uv's default, which is also where
+`pip install --user` writes on Linux). If uv warns that the directory is not on
+your `PATH`:
+
+```bash
+uv tool update-shell        # or add ~/.local/bin to PATH by hand
+```
+
+Then run `beefy-player` from anywhere. `uv tool upgrade beefy-player`
+re-installs the current source; `uv tool uninstall beefy-player` removes it.
+`pipx install git+https://tildeforge.dev/beefcarver/beefy-player` is the
+`pipx` equivalent and lands in the same place.
+
+Only the Python side is installed this way, so `mpv` / `ffmpeg` (and `parec`
+for the synced spectrum) still come from your package manager; without them the
+app runs but has no audio.
+
+> On macOS, note that `~/.local/bin` is uv's and pipx's choice, not Python's:
+> a `pip install --user` against Homebrew's Python uses
+> `~/Library/Python/3.x/bin` instead.
+
 ### From source
 
+`uv sync` installs into a project virtualenv, so the executable is
+`.venv/bin/beefy-player` and is not on your `PATH`:
+
 ```bash
 uv sync
-uv run beefy-player
+uv run beefy-player     # or: .venv/bin/beefy-player
 ```
 
 ## Usage