+[LDK](https://lightningdevkit.org)/`rust-lightning` is a highly performant and flexible
+implementation of the Lightning Network protocol.
+
+The primary crate, `lightning`, is runtime-agnostic. Data persistence, chain interactions,
+and networking can be provided by LDK's [sample modules](#crates), or you may provide your
+own custom implementations.
+More information is available in the [`About`](#about) section.
+
+Status
+------
+The project implements all of the [BOLT specifications](https://github.com/lightning/bolts),
+and has been in production use since 2021. As with any Lightning implementation, care and attention
+to detail is important for safe deployment.
+
+Communications for `rust-lightning` and Lightning Development Kit happen through
+our LDK [Discord](https://discord.gg/5AcknnMfBw) channels.
+
+Crates
+-----------
+1. [lightning](./lightning)
+ The core of the LDK library, implements the Lightning protocol, channel state machine,
+ and on-chain logic. Supports `no-std` and exposes only relatively low-level interfaces.
+2. [lightning-background-processor](./lightning-background-processor)
+ Utilities to perform required background tasks for Rust Lightning.
+3. [lightning-block-sync](./lightning-block-sync)
+ Utilities to fetch the chain data from a block source and feed them into Rust Lightning.
+4. [lightning-invoice](./lightning-invoice)
+ Data structures to parse and serialize
+ [BOLT #11](https://github.com/lightning/bolts/blob/master/11-payment-encoding.md)
+ Lightning invoices.
+5. [lightning-net-tokio](./lightning-net-tokio)
+ Implementation of the `rust-lightning` network stack using the
+ [Tokio](https://github.com/tokio-rs/tokio) `async` runtime. For `rust-lightning`
+ clients which wish to make direct connections to Lightning P2P nodes, this is
+ a simple alternative to implementing the required network stack, especially
+ for those already using Tokio.
+6. [lightning-persister](./lightning-persister)
+ Implements utilities to manage `rust-lightning` channel data persistence and retrieval.
+ Persisting channel data is crucial to avoiding loss of channel funds.
+7. [lightning-rapid-gossip-sync](./lightning-rapid-gossip-sync)
+ Client for rapid gossip graph syncing, aimed primarily at mobile clients.
+
+About
+-----------
+LDK/`rust-lightning` is a generic library that allows you to build a Lightning
+node without needing to worry about getting all of the Lightning state machine,
+routing, and on-chain punishment code (and other chain interactions) exactly
+correct. Note that LDK isn't, in itself, a node. For an out-of-the-box Lightning
+node based on LDK, see [Sensei](https://l2.technology/sensei). However, if you
+want to integrate Lightning with custom features such as your own chain sync,
+key management, data storage/backup logic, etc., LDK is likely your best option.
+Some `rust-lightning` utilities such as those in
+[`chan_utils`](./lightning/src/ln/chan_utils.rs) are also suitable for use in
+non-LN Bitcoin applications such as Discreet Log Contracts (DLCs) and bulletin boards.
+
+A sample node which fetches blockchain data and manages on-chain funds via the
+Bitcoin Core RPC/REST interface is available
+[here](https://github.com/lightningdevkit/ldk-sample/). The individual pieces of
+that demo are composable, so you can pick the off-the-shelf parts you want
+and replace the rest.