diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 68b179e..64de61f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -32,4 +32,7 @@ Icon
 .AppleDesktop
 Network Trash Folder
 Temporary Items
-.apdisk
\ No newline at end of file
+.apdisk
+
+venv
+mangle.spec
diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1dfc44c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/INSTALL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+# Install Instructions
+
+For local development / building stand-alone binaries.
+
+You need [Python 2.7](https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-2718/).
+
+If you are using Windows download the 
+`Windows x86 MSI installer`
+because 32 bit Python is needed to create 
+a Windows executable with `py2exe`. 
+The performance increase from 64 bit is negligible.
+
+Be sure to add `python` to `PATH` during installation.
+
+Install [virtualenv](https://virtualenv.pypa.io/en/stable/) 
+globally, if you don't already have it.
+
+```
+> pip install virtualenv
+```
+
+and install all dependencies in a venv in the mangle directory, e.g.
+
+```
+...\mangle> virtualenv venv
+> venv\Scripts\activate
+(venv) > pip install -r requirements.txt
+```
+
+You can run the app via
+
+```
+(venv) > python mangle.pyw
+```
+
+Optionally, you can install all the dependencies globally
+so you can simply click on the `mangle.pyw` file to run it.
+
+# Building an Executable (Windows)
+
+To actually build a stand-alone `.exe`, install
+ 
+[Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler for Python 2.7](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=44266)
+
+A standalone binary can be created in the `dist` folder via
+
+```
+(venv) > python setup.py install
+```
+
+You may get an error which can be solved by looking at
+https://stackoverflow.com/questions/38444230/error-converting-gui-to-standalone-executable-using-py2exe
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ad8ee0e..05029ec 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -78,3 +78,5 @@ from source.
 
 *  [mangle\_win.zip](https://foosoft.net/projects/mangle/dl/mangle_win.zip)
 *  [mangle\_osx.zip](https://foosoft.net/projects/mangle/dl/mangle_osx.zip) (quite old)
+
+Check [INSTALL.md](INSTALL.md) for build instructions.
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..decdd52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Pillow==6.2.2
+py2exe-py2==0.6.9; platform_system=='Windows'
+PyQt4 @ https://download.lfd.uci.edu/pythonlibs/w4tscw6k/cp27/PyQt4-4.11.4-cp27-cp27m-win32.whl; platform_system=='Windows'
+reportlab==3.5.59
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 1f774fc..b74142d 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ setup(
     options={'py2exe': {
         'bundle_files': 1,
         'includes': ['sip'],
-        'packages': ['reportlab.pdfbase'],
-        'dll_excludes': ['w9xpopen.exe']
+        'packages': ['reportlab.pdfbase', 'reportlab.rl_settings'],
+        'dll_excludes': ['MSVCP90.dll', 'w9xpopen.exe']
     }},
     zipfile=None
 )