Add new (markdown) README

README

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-Since the Normative Types specification is not yet at Public Working Draft level,
-any implementation must be considered alpha. The implementations of helpers under
-this repo must be considered alpha level.
-

README.md

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+normativeTypesCPP
+=================
+
+normativeTypesCPP is a C++ module containing helper classes which implement
+and provide support for the EPICS V4 Normative Types.
+
+The latter are a set of standard high-level data types to aid interoperability
+of EPICS V4 applications and are specified in the
+[NormativeTypes Specification](http://epics-pvdata.sourceforge.net/alpha/normativeTypes/normativeTypes.html).
+
+
+Status
+------
+
+The current release (5.0) implements fully the
+[16 Mar 2015 version](http://epics-pvdata.sourceforge.net/alpha/normativeTypes/normativeTypes_20150316.html)
+of the Normative Types Specification.
+
+The module status is alpha and the API and behaviour may change in future
+versions.
+
+The previous release (4.0) supported only 6 types. 
+There is no documentation yet for the new types added in 5.0.
+
+
+Further Info
+------------
+
+Consult the documents in the documentation directory, in particular
+
+* normativeTypesCPP.html
+* RELEASE_NOTES.md
+
+Also see the [EPICS Version 4 website](http://epics-pvdata.sourceforge.net)
+
+
+Prerequisites
+-------------
+
+normativeTypesCPP requires recent versions of the following software:
+
+1. EPICS Base (v3.14.12.3 or later)
+2. EPICS4 pvCommonCPP (4.1.0 or later)
+2. pvDataCPP (5.0.0 or later)
+
+(pvCommonCPP may not be needed depending on host/compiler.)
+
+
+Building
+--------
+
+Building uses the make utility and the EPICS base build system.
+
+The build system needs the location of the prerequisites, e.g. by placing the
+lines of the form
+
+    PVDATA = /home/install/epicsV4/pvDataCPP
+    PVCOMMON = /home/install/epicsV4/pvCommonCPP
+    EPICS_BASE = /home/install/epics/base
+
+pointing to the locations in a file called RELEASE.local
+in the configure directory or the parent directory of normativeTypesCPP.
+
+With this in place, to build type make
+
+    make
+
+To perform a clean build type
+
+    make clean uninstall
+
+To run the unit tests type
+
+    make runtests
+
+For more information on the EPICS build system consult the
+[Application Development guide](http://www.aps.anl.gov/epics/base/R3-14/12-docs/AppDevGuide.pdf).
+