diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 519ed4c..79cf38c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,39 +11,49 @@ upstreaming into nixpkgs if there is sufficient interest
 
 ## usage
 
-dragnpkgs provides a set of nixos modules and a nixpkgs overlay containing custom packages
-(automatically applied). to use, import the top-level module into your system configuration, eg
+dragnpkgs provides a set of nixos modules and a nixpkgs overlay containing custom packages. the
+modules require the overlay
+
+### non-flake
 
 ```nix
 {config, lib, pkgs, ...}:
 {
   imports = [
-    path/to/dragnpkgs
+    /path/to/dragnpkgs/module.nix
   ];
-}
-```
 
-alternatively, add it as a nix channel
-```bash
-nix-channel --add https://git.lain.faith/haskal/dragnpkgs/archive/main.tar.gz dragnpkgs
-```
-
-then in system config
-```nix
-{config, lib, pkgs, ...}:
-{
-  imports = [
-    <dragnpkgs>
-  ];
+  nixpkgs.overlays = [ (import /path/to/dragnpkgs/overlay.nix) ];
 }
 ```
 
 for standalone nix on other distros, use `~/.config/nixpkgs/overlays.nix` to enable the dragnpkgs
 overlay
 ```nix
-(import <dragnpkgs> {}).nixpkgs.overlays
+[ (import <dragnpkgs/overlay.nix>) ]
 ```
 
+### flake
+
+for flake usage, point your `nixpkgs` to this repo
+
+```nix
+{
+  inputs = {
+    # for nixos-24.05
+    nixpkgs.url = "git+https://git.lain.faith/haskal/dragnpkgs.git?ref=nixos-24.05";
+
+    # for nixos-unstable
+    nixpkgs.url = "git+https://git.lain.faith/haskal/dragnpkgs.git?ref=main";
+  };
+}
+```
+
+note that overriding inputs to the flake won't necessarily work because of the way nixpkgs registers
+itself with the system. this requires really annoying hacks to get working at all. if you want to
+depend on `dragnpkgs` with a different version of `nixpkgs` (ie not 24.05 or unstable), clone the
+repo and recreate `flake.lock`. aren't flakes so cool and fun!!!!
+
 ## options documentation
 
 documentation for options provided by dragnpkgs