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-# Aethernet C++ client
-Dependencies are managed by CMake through CPM.cmake. Configure the project with CMake to download dependencies and apply local patches from `third_party`.
-**Projects** folder contains cmake files to build axamples for target platforms.
-VSCode + Platformio + ESP-IDF is a toolset that is currently supported.
+# Æthernet C++ SDK
 
-Please refer to [aethernet.io](https://aethernet.io) for documentation.
+The Æthernet C++ SDK connects embedded devices and native applications to Æthernet, a managed connectivity layer for secure real-time messaging over unstable or bandwidth-constrained networks.
 
-[Examples](https://github.com/aethernetio/testbed) of integrations into C++ and Java projects.
+It supports C++20 builds on Linux, macOS, Windows, and ESP32/ESP-IDF. Dependencies are resolved by CMake through CPM.cmake.
+
+[Documentation](https://aethernet.io/documentation) · [Tutorials](https://aethernet.io/tutorial) · [Examples](https://github.com/aethernetio/aethernet-examples)
+
+## Why Æthernet
+
+- handshake-free application requests with authentication and encryption data carried per request;
+- automatic endpoint recovery when responses are delayed;
+- self-provisioning for unattended devices;
+- request-response and fire-and-forget messaging;
+- compact binary protocol and specialized types for constrained devices;
+- support for Wi-Fi and cellular IoT deployments, including NB-IoT and LTE-M integrations.
+
+## Requirements
+
+- CMake 3.16 or newer;
+- a C++20 compiler;
+- Git, used by CPM.cmake to retrieve dependencies;
+- platform networking dependencies.
+
+The first configure can take longer because CMake downloads and patches the required third-party libraries.
+
+## Build the SDK and included examples
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/aethernetio/aether-client-cpp.git
+cd aether-client-cpp
+
+cmake -S . -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+cmake --build build --parallel
+```
+
+The root build enables tools, examples, and tests by default. To build only the library:
+
+```bash
+cmake -S . -B build \
+  -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+  -DAE_BUILD_TOOLS=OFF \
+  -DAE_BUILD_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+  -DAE_BUILD_TESTS=OFF
+cmake --build build --parallel
+```
+
+## Add it to another CMake project
+
+CPM.cmake is the dependency mechanism currently used by the SDK:
+
+```cmake
+CPMAddPackage(
+  NAME aether
+  GITHUB_REPOSITORY aethernetio/aether-client-cpp
+  GIT_TAG main
+)
+
+target_link_libraries(your_target PRIVATE aether)
+```
+
+For production builds, pin `GIT_TAG` to a reviewed commit SHA until versioned releases are available.
+
+## Important build options
+
+| Option | Default for a root build | Purpose |
+| --- | ---: | --- |
+| `AE_BUILD_EXAMPLES` | `ON` | Build bundled examples |
+| `AE_BUILD_TESTS` | `ON` | Build tests |
+| `AE_BUILD_TOOLS` | `ON` | Build SDK tools |
+| `AE_DISTILLATION` | `ON` | Enable distillation build mode |
+| `AE_FILTRATION` | `OFF` | Enable filtration mode |
+| `USER_CONFIG` | empty | Path to a user configuration header |
+| `FS_INIT` | empty | Path to generated saved-state data |
+
+## ESP32
+
+ESP32 builds use ESP-IDF components for Wi-Fi, networking, NVS, SPIFFS, and UART. For a complete device project, start with the [ESP32 examples](https://github.com/aethernetio/aethernet-examples) or the [temperature sensor reference project](https://github.com/aethernetio/temperature-sensor).
+
+## Tests
+
+```bash
+cmake -S . -B build -DAE_BUILD_TESTS=ON
+cmake --build build --parallel
+ctest --test-dir build --output-on-failure
+```
+
+## Maturity
+
+The current project version is `0.1.0`. The API and installation process may change before a stable release. Do not use benchmark or performance claims without the corresponding test methodology and raw results.
+
+## License
+
+Apache License 2.0. See [LICENSE](LICENSE).