diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index db856d4..6b1d9d6 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 dist-newstyle/
+docs/build/
 
diff --git a/docs/Makefile b/docs/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee23016
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Minimal makefile for Sphinx documentation
+#
+
+# You can set these variables from the command line, and also
+# from the environment for the first two.
+SPHINXOPTS    ?=
+SPHINXBUILD   ?= sphinx-build
+SOURCEDIR     = src
+BUILDDIR      = build
+
+# Put it first so that "make" without argument is like "make help".
+help:
+	@$(SPHINXBUILD) -M help "$(SOURCEDIR)" "$(BUILDDIR)" $(SPHINXOPTS) $(O)
+
+.PHONY: help Makefile
+
+# Catch-all target: route all unknown targets to Sphinx using the new
+# "make mode" option.  $(O) is meant as a shortcut for $(SPHINXOPTS).
+%: Makefile
+	@$(SPHINXBUILD) -M $@ "$(SOURCEDIR)" "$(BUILDDIR)" $(SPHINXOPTS) $(O)
diff --git a/docs/src/commentary/stg.rst b/docs/src/commentary/stg.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5c7b81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/src/commentary/stg.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+The *Spineless Tagless G-Machine*
+=================================
+
+WIP. Here's a typeset state transition rule describing the action of
+dereferencing indirections when passed as function arguments.
+
+.. math::
+   \transrule
+        {a : s & d & h
+           \begin{bmatrix}
+               a : \mathtt{NAp} \; a_1 \; a_2 \\
+               a_2 : \mathtt{NInd} \; a_3
+           \end{bmatrix} & f}
+        {a : s & d & h[a : \mathtt{NAp} \; a_1 \; a_3] & f}
+   :label: rule1
+
diff --git a/docs/src/conf.py b/docs/src/conf.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e9b12f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/src/conf.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# Configuration file for the Sphinx documentation builder.
+#
+# For the full list of built-in configuration values, see the documentation:
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html
+
+# -- Project information -----------------------------------------------------
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#project-information
+
+project = 'rlp'
+copyright = '2023, madeleine sydney ślaga'
+author = 'madeleine sydney slaga'
+
+# -- General configuration ---------------------------------------------------
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#general-configuration
+
+extensions = ['sphinx.ext.imgmath']
+
+templates_path = ['_templates']
+exclude_patterns = []
+
+
+
+# -- Options for HTML output -------------------------------------------------
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#options-for-html-output
+
+html_theme = 'alabaster'
+html_static_path = ['_static']
+
+# -- Options for LaTeX image math --------------------------------------------
+imgmath_latex_preamble = r'''
+\usepackage{amsmath}
+\usepackage{tabularray}
+
+\newcommand{\transrule}[2]
+    {\begin{tblr}{|ccclc|}
+         \hline
+         & #1 \\
+         \implies & #2 \\
+         \hline
+    \end{tblr} }
+'''
+imgmath_image_format = 'svg'
+imgmath_font_size = 14
+
+# helps with inlining:
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/extensions/math.html#confval-imgmath_use_preview
+imgmath_use_preview = True
+
diff --git a/docs/src/index.rst b/docs/src/index.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a0ab572
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/src/index.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+Welcome to rlp's documentation!
+===============================
+
+Contents
+--------
+
+.. toctree::
+   :maxdepth: 2
+   :caption: Commentary
+   :glob:
+
+   commentary/*
+