diff --git a/.goreleaser.yaml b/.goreleaser.yaml
index d438222..6197580 100644
--- a/.goreleaser.yaml
+++ b/.goreleaser.yaml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ archives:
     formats:
       - tar.gz
     name_template: >-
-      {{ .ProjectName }}_{{ .Version }}_{{ .Os }}_{{ .Arch }}
+      {{ .ProjectName }}_{{ .Os }}_{{ .Arch }}
 
 checksum:
   name_template: checksums.txt
diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bf673dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/INSTALL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+# Install
+
+The fast path is the install script in the [README](README.md). This file covers the alternatives.
+
+## Install script options
+
+The install script accepts a few env-var overrides:
+
+```bash
+# Install to a custom directory (no sudo needed if writable)
+TRY_INSTALL_DIR=~/.local/bin curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/main/install.sh | sh
+
+# Pin to a specific version
+TRY_VERSION=v0.1.3 curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/main/install.sh | sh
+
+# Install the binary but skip editing your shell rc file
+TRY_NO_RC_EDIT=1 curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/main/install.sh | sh
+```
+
+## With Go
+
+```bash
+go install github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/cmd/try@latest
+```
+
+Then add the shell function manually (see "Manual shell setup" below).
+
+## Manual download
+
+Pick the tarball for your OS/arch from [Releases](https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/releases/latest):
+
+```bash
+# macOS, Apple Silicon
+curl -fsSL -o try.tar.gz https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/releases/latest/download/try-bedazzled_darwin_arm64.tar.gz
+
+# macOS, Intel
+curl -fsSL -o try.tar.gz https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/releases/latest/download/try-bedazzled_darwin_amd64.tar.gz
+
+# Linux, amd64
+curl -fsSL -o try.tar.gz https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/releases/latest/download/try-bedazzled_linux_amd64.tar.gz
+
+# Linux, arm64
+curl -fsSL -o try.tar.gz https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/releases/latest/download/try-bedazzled_linux_arm64.tar.gz
+
+tar xzf try.tar.gz
+sudo mv try /usr/local/bin/
+```
+
+Then add the shell function manually (see "Manual shell setup" below).
+
+## Debian / RPM packages
+
+Each release ships `.deb` and `.rpm` packages on the [Releases page](https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/releases/latest).
+
+```bash
+# Debian/Ubuntu
+sudo dpkg -i try-bedazzled_linux_amd64.deb
+
+# RHEL/Fedora
+sudo rpm -i try-bedazzled_linux_amd64.rpm
+```
+
+Then add the shell function manually (see "Manual shell setup" below).
+
+## Manual shell setup
+
+`try` needs a shell function wrapper to be able to `cd` your shell into the selected directory. The install script adds it for you; the other paths above don't.
+
+**bash / zsh** (`.bashrc` or `.zshrc`):
+```bash
+eval "$(try init)"
+```
+
+**fish** (`config.fish`):
+```fish
+try init | source
+```
+
+Use a custom tries directory:
+```bash
+eval "$(try init ~/workspace/experiments)"
+```
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3801122..7e31fee 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 
 A Go rewrite of [tobi/try-cli](https://github.com/tobi/try-cli) using [Charmbracelet](https://charm.sh) —
 the same dated-throwaway-folder workflow, now with shifting cursor hues, rainbow fuzzy hits,
-gradient row highlights, and a theme picker that lets you turn the sparkle up to 11 (or off, if
-you're a coward).
+gradient row highlights, and a theme picker that lets you turn the sparkle up to 11 (or all the way
+down to a calm monochrome — every preference welcome). 🦄
 
 ![demo](demo.gif)
 
@@ -33,65 +33,15 @@ Type to filter. Press Enter to `cd`. Type a new name and press Enter to create.
 
 ## Install
 
-### With Go
-
-```bash
-go install github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/cmd/try@latest
-```
-
-### curl (pre-built binary)
-
-Pick the tarball for your OS/arch from [Releases](https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/releases/latest):
-
 ```bash
-# macOS, Apple Silicon
-curl -fsSL -o try.tar.gz https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/releases/latest/download/try-bedazzled_Darwin_arm64.tar.gz
-
-# macOS, Intel
-curl -fsSL -o try.tar.gz https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/releases/latest/download/try-bedazzled_Darwin_amd64.tar.gz
-
-# Linux, amd64
-curl -fsSL -o try.tar.gz https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/releases/latest/download/try-bedazzled_Linux_amd64.tar.gz
-
-# Linux, arm64
-curl -fsSL -o try.tar.gz https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/releases/latest/download/try-bedazzled_Linux_arm64.tar.gz
-
-tar xzf try.tar.gz
-sudo mv try /usr/local/bin/
+curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/main/install.sh | sh
 ```
 
-> **macOS Gatekeeper**: the published binaries aren't notarized yet. If the
-> first run prints "cannot be opened because the developer cannot be
-> verified", clear the quarantine flag once:
->
-> ```bash
-> xattr -d com.apple.quarantine /usr/local/bin/try
-> ```
-
-### Debian / RPM
+Then restart your shell (or `source ~/.zshrc`) and run `try`.
 
-Each release also ships `.deb` and `.rpm` packages on the Releases page.
+The installer downloads the latest release for your platform, drops the binary in `/usr/local/bin/`, and adds the shell function to your rc file. macOS binaries are signed and notarized.
 
----
-
-## Setup
-
-Add one line to your shell config and you're done:
-
-**bash / zsh** (`.bashrc` or `.zshrc`):
-```bash
-eval "$(try init)"
-```
-
-**fish** (`config.fish`):
-```fish
-try init | source
-```
-
-Use a custom directory:
-```bash
-eval "$(try init ~/workspace/experiments)"
-```
+For other install paths (Go, manual download, custom directory), see [INSTALL.md](INSTALL.md).
 
 ---
 
@@ -133,10 +83,10 @@ Five built-in themes, switchable live with `try theme` — pick your sparkle lev
 | Theme | Vibe |
 |---|---|
 | `bedazzled` *(default)* | 🌈 Catppuccin Mocha pastels under a full rainbow finish — rainbow search rules, shifting cursor hues, rainbow fuzzy hits, gradient row highlight |
-| `rainbow` | 💖 Hot-pink accent, all rainbow, no apologies — the loudest one |
-| `catppuccin` | 🍮 Catppuccin Mocha pastels, no rainbow (for grown-ups) |
+| `rainbow` | 💖 Hot-pink accent, all rainbow, all the time — the loudest one |
+| `catppuccin` | 🍮 Catppuccin Mocha pastels, sparkle dialed back |
 | `dracula` | 🧛 Dark and saturated |
-| `minimal` | 🪨 ASCII-safe, no unicode, no glitter — good for CI and people who hate joy |
+| `minimal` | 🪨 ASCII-safe, no unicode, no glitter — perfect for CI logs and quiet terminals |
 
 Set in config or override per-session:
 
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..14243cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env sh
+# install.sh — install try-bedazzled and wire up the shell function.
+#
+#   curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmk/try-bedazzled/main/install.sh | sh
+#
+# Env overrides:
+#   TRY_INSTALL_DIR  install location for the binary  (default: /usr/local/bin)
+#   TRY_VERSION      release tag to install            (default: latest)
+#   TRY_NO_RC_EDIT   if set, skip editing the shell rc file
+
+set -eu
+
+REPO="hmk/try-bedazzled"
+INSTALL_DIR="${TRY_INSTALL_DIR:-/usr/local/bin}"
+VERSION="${TRY_VERSION:-latest}"
+
+bold() { printf '\033[1m%s\033[0m\n' "$1"; }
+info() { printf '  %s\n' "$1"; }
+warn() { printf '\033[33m  %s\033[0m\n' "$1" >&2; }
+die()  { printf '\033[31merror:\033[0m %s\n' "$1" >&2; exit 1; }
+
+bold "try-bedazzled installer"
+
+# --- detect platform ----------------------------------------------------------
+
+uname_s=$(uname -s)
+uname_m=$(uname -m)
+
+case "$uname_s" in
+  Darwin) os=darwin ;;
+  Linux)  os=linux  ;;
+  *) die "unsupported OS: $uname_s (try Homebrew or download from GitHub Releases)" ;;
+esac
+
+case "$uname_m" in
+  x86_64|amd64) arch=amd64 ;;
+  arm64|aarch64) arch=arm64 ;;
+  *) die "unsupported architecture: $uname_m" ;;
+esac
+
+info "platform: ${os}_${arch}"
+
+# --- resolve download URL -----------------------------------------------------
+
+if [ "$VERSION" = "latest" ]; then
+  url="https://github.com/${REPO}/releases/latest/download/try-bedazzled_${os}_${arch}.tar.gz"
+else
+  url="https://github.com/${REPO}/releases/download/${VERSION}/try-bedazzled_${os}_${arch}.tar.gz"
+fi
+
+info "download:  $url"
+
+# --- download + extract -------------------------------------------------------
+
+tmp=$(mktemp -d)
+trap 'rm -rf "$tmp"' EXIT
+
+if ! curl -fsSL -o "$tmp/try.tar.gz" "$url"; then
+  die "download failed — check that ${VERSION} has a release asset for ${os}_${arch}"
+fi
+
+tar -xzf "$tmp/try.tar.gz" -C "$tmp"
+
+if [ ! -x "$tmp/try" ]; then
+  die "downloaded archive does not contain a 'try' binary"
+fi
+
+# --- install binary -----------------------------------------------------------
+
+info "install:   $INSTALL_DIR/try"
+
+if [ -w "$INSTALL_DIR" ]; then
+  install -m 0755 "$tmp/try" "$INSTALL_DIR/try"
+else
+  if ! command -v sudo >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    die "$INSTALL_DIR is not writable and sudo is not available — set TRY_INSTALL_DIR to a writable path"
+  fi
+  warn "$INSTALL_DIR not writable — using sudo"
+  sudo install -m 0755 "$tmp/try" "$INSTALL_DIR/try"
+fi
+
+# --- wire up shell function ---------------------------------------------------
+
+if [ -n "${TRY_NO_RC_EDIT:-}" ]; then
+  info "rc file:   skipped (TRY_NO_RC_EDIT set)"
+  echo
+  bold "Done."
+  echo "  Add this line to your shell config to enable the 'try' function:"
+  echo "    eval \"\$(try init)\"   # bash/zsh"
+  echo "    try init | source     # fish"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+shell_name=$(basename "${SHELL:-/bin/sh}")
+
+case "$shell_name" in
+  bash) rc="$HOME/.bashrc";    line='eval "$(try init)"' ;;
+  zsh)  rc="$HOME/.zshrc";     line='eval "$(try init)"' ;;
+  fish) rc="$HOME/.config/fish/config.fish"; line='try init | source' ;;
+  *)
+    warn "unrecognized shell '$shell_name' — skipping rc edit"
+    echo
+    bold "Done."
+    echo "  Add the appropriate line to your shell config:"
+    echo "    eval \"\$(try init)\"   # bash/zsh"
+    echo "    try init | source     # fish"
+    exit 0
+    ;;
+esac
+
+mkdir -p "$(dirname "$rc")"
+[ -f "$rc" ] || : > "$rc"
+
+if grep -Fq 'try init' "$rc" 2>/dev/null; then
+  info "rc file:   $rc (already configured)"
+else
+  info "rc file:   $rc (appending)"
+  {
+    echo ''
+    echo '# try-bedazzled (https://github.com/hmk/try-bedazzled)'
+    echo "$line"
+  } >> "$rc"
+fi
+
+# --- done ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+echo
+bold "Installed!"
+echo "  Restart your shell or run:  source $rc"
+echo "  Then try it:                try"