diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c3cc013..6bbc36c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ isn't required.`
     git clone https://git.psi.ch/lsm-hpce/merlin-cryosparc.git config
 
 Next, all `cluster_info.json` scripts need to be modified to include the correct
-worker path by replacing `USERNAME`.
+worker path by replacing `USERNAME`. A script is provided to do this
+automatically:
+
+    dev/install_filters.sh
 
 Finally, connect the newly modified scripts to cryosparc. This should be done
 on same machine cryosparc runs on. To connect all lanes:
@@ -41,6 +44,14 @@ Then, connect the lanes to your cryosparc cluster as in installation:
 
     ./connect_all.sh
 
+## Developers
+
+If you plan on committing changes to this repository, make sure you run
+`dev/install_filters.sh` to install git hooks and filters.
+
+When releasing a new version, `dev/mkrelease.sh` will update version numbers
+consistently.
+
 ## References
 
 - [PSI CryoSparc docs](https://intranet.psi.ch/BIO/ComputingCryoSPARC)
diff --git a/dev/install_filters.sh b/dev/install_filters.sh
index 3d78ae1..03fda8e 100755
--- a/dev/install_filters.sh
+++ b/dev/install_filters.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ cd "$ROOT"
 git config filter.username.smudge dev/git-filter-smudge-username.sh
 git config filter.username.clean dev/git-filter-clean-username.sh
 
+# Initial smudge
+sed -i -e "s/USERNAME/$USER/g" */cluster_info.json
+
 # pre-commit hook to varify usernames aren't committed
 if [ -f .git/hooks/pre-commit ]; then
     if ! cmp -s .git/hooks/pre-commit dev/pre-commit; then