diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3c553b6..ce4d9fb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -30,17 +30,7 @@ installation, use the guides below. Pick your agent:
 - **[Droid](guides/droid.md)**
 - **[Gemini CLI](guides/gemini-cli.md)**
 - **[Anything else (standalone installer)](guides/generic.md)** — works in any
-  agent with a shell (and for humans at a terminal):
-
-  ```bash
-  curl -fsSL https://zero.xyz/install.sh | bash
-  ```
-
-  It provisions the same runner the plugins use, puts `zero` on PATH, and
-  installs the Zero skill where most harnesses look (`~/.claude/skills/` and
-  `~/.agents/skills/`). The whole install is reversible with `zero uninstall`.
-  See the [standalone install guide](guides/generic.md) for what gets installed
-  where, the `--skills-dir` flag for bespoke skill directories, and updates.
+  agent with a shell (and for humans at a terminal)
 
 Once installed, ask your agent to *"help me set up and test Zero"* — it signs
 you in and takes it from there.
diff --git a/guides/generic.md b/guides/generic.md
index 3a0b5f2..f56b08f 100644
--- a/guides/generic.md
+++ b/guides/generic.md
@@ -1,67 +1,45 @@
 # Zero for any agent (standalone installer)
 
-How to install Zero in any agent or harness with a shell — and for humans at a
-terminal — using the standalone installer, then keep it up to date.
-
-Use this when there's no dedicated plugin for your harness (Claude Code, Codex,
-Droid, and Gemini CLI have their own guides — prefer those). The installer
-provisions the **same** runner the plugins use, so you end up in the same place.
+How to install Zero in any agent or harness with a shell. Use this when there's
+no dedicated guide for your agent.
 
 ## Install
 
+Run this in your terminal:
+
 ```bash
 curl -fsSL https://zero.xyz/install.sh | bash
 ```
 
-That single command:
-
-- provisions the Zero runner (downloading a `node` binary if one isn't found)
-  and puts `zero` on your `PATH`,
-- runs `zero init`, which installs the **Zero skill** and registers the **Zero
-  hooks** (see [What gets installed where](#what-gets-installed-where) below).
+That's it — Zero sets itself up automatically and works across all your agents.
+You only need to do this once per machine.
 
-Once it finishes, ask your agent: *"Help me set up and test Zero."* It walks
-you through signing in (you approve a browser sign-in once per machine).
+When it finishes, ask your agent: *"Help me set up and test Zero."* It walks you
+through signing in (a quick browser sign-in, once per machine).
 
-## What gets installed where
+### Using an agent with its own skills folder?
 
-`zero init` writes to the directories nearly every skills-capable harness reads:
+The installer already covers nearly every agent. If yours keeps skills in its
+own folder and didn't pick Zero up, point the installer at that folder:
 
-- **The Zero skill** → `~/.claude/skills/zero/` **and** `~/.agents/skills/zero/`.
-  Between those two locations, almost every harness picks up the skill from one
-  or the other.
-- **The Zero hooks** → `~/.claude/settings.json`, for Claude-compatible hosts.
-  These keep the runner provisioned and up to date and remind the agent that
-  Zero is available.
-
-All hosts share one login (`~/.zero/config.json`) and one runtime
-(`~/.zero/runtime`), so you only sign in once per machine.
+```bash
+zero init --skills-dir ~/.youragent/skills
+```
 
-### Harnesses with a bespoke skills directory
+## Staying up to date
 
-`~/.claude/skills` and `~/.agents/skills` are **always** written. If your
-harness reads skills from its own directory in addition to those (say
-`~/.yourharness/skills`), name it with `--skills-dir` to install the skill there
-too — the flag is additive, and accepts more than one directory:
+To update, just re-run the install command:
 
 ```bash
-zero init --skills-dir ~/.yourharness/skills
-# or several at once:
-zero init --skills-dir ~/.kiro/skills ~/.other/skills
+curl -fsSL https://zero.xyz/install.sh | bash
 ```
 
-`zero init` is idempotent, so re-running it replaces rather than duplicates.
-Note that `zero uninstall` only cleans the default locations — skills written to
-a custom `--skills-dir` you remove by hand.
-
-## Staying up to date
-
-- The Zero runner updates automatically at the start of each session.
-- To refresh the skill and hooks, re-run `zero init`.
+If Zero is already installed, it simply updates in place. Safe to run as often
+as you like.
 
 ## Uninstalling
 
-The whole install is reversible:
+Changed your mind? Remove Zero completely:
 
 ```bash
 zero uninstall
@@ -69,6 +47,6 @@ zero uninstall
 
 ---
 
-Installing Zero for a coding agent yourself? The full agent-facing runbook —
-including authentication and per-harness plugin install — is in
+Setting Zero up for a coding agent and want the full technical details — what
+gets installed where, authentication, and per-agent plugins? See
 [agent-install.md](agent-install.md).