README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+[![made-with-datalad](https://www.datalad.org/badges/made_with.svg)](https://datalad.org)
+
+## DataLad datasets and how to use them
+
+This repository is a [DataLad](https://www.datalad.org/) dataset. It provides
+fine-grained data access down to the level of individual files, and allows for
+tracking future updates. In order to use this repository for data retrieval,
+[DataLad](https://www.datalad.org/) is required. It is a free and
+open source command line tool, available for all major operating
+systems, and builds up on Git and [git-annex](https://git-annex.branchable.com/)
+to allow sharing, synchronizing, and version controlling collections of
+large files. You can find information on how to install DataLad at
+[handbook.datalad.org/en/latest/intro/installation.html](http://handbook.datalad.org/en/latest/intro/installation.html).
+
+### Get the dataset
+
+A DataLad dataset can be `cloned` by running
+
+```
+datalad clone <url>
+```
+
+Once a dataset is cloned, it is a light-weight directory on your local machine.
+At this point, it contains only small metadata and information on the
+identity of the files in the dataset, but not actual *content* of the
+(sometimes large) data files.
+
+### Retrieve dataset content
+
+After cloning a dataset, you can retrieve file contents by running
+
+```
+datalad get <path/to/directory/or/file>`
+```
+
+This command will trigger a download of the files, directories, or
+subdatasets you have specified.
+
+DataLad datasets can contain other datasets, so called *subdatasets*.
+If you clone the top-level dataset, subdatasets do not yet contain
+metadata and information on the identity of files, but appear to be
+empty directories. In order to retrieve file availability metadata in
+subdatasets, run
+
+```
+datalad get -n <path/to/subdataset>
+```
+
+Afterwards, you can browse the retrieved metadata to find out about
+subdataset contents, and retrieve individual files with `datalad get`.
+If you use `datalad get <path/to/subdataset>`, all contents of the
+subdataset will be downloaded at once.
+
+### Stay up-to-date
+
+DataLad datasets can be updated. The command `datalad update` will
+*fetch* updates and store them on a different branch (by default
+`remotes/origin/master`). Running
+
+```
+datalad update --merge
+```
+
+will *pull* available updates and integrate them in one go.
+
+### Find out what has been done
+
+DataLad datasets contain their history in the ``git log``.
+By running ``git log`` (or a tool that displays Git history) in the dataset or on
+specific files, you can find out what has been done to the dataset or to individual files
+by whom, and when.
+
+### More information
+
+More information on DataLad and how to use it can be found in the DataLad Handbook at
+[handbook.datalad.org](http://handbook.datalad.org/en/latest/index.html). The chapter
+"DataLad datasets" can help you to familiarize yourself with the concept of a dataset.