diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 577e7efaa..aae4e0feb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ send commands to a Meshtastic device lives here.
 
 ## Packages
 
-All projects live under `packages/`.
+Libraries live under `packages/`; the reference web client lives under `apps/`.
 
 | Package | Purpose |
 | --- | --- |
@@ -83,8 +83,12 @@ Expected domain errors are returned as `Result<T, E>` via [`better-result`](http
 
 ### Prerequisites
 
-You need [pnpm](https://pnpm.io/) installed. If you plan to regenerate
-protobufs, also install the [Buf CLI](https://buf.build/docs/cli/installation/).
+- [pnpm](https://pnpm.io/) — package manager for the workspace.
+- [Buf CLI](https://buf.build/docs/cli/installation/) — required whenever
+  `@meshtastic/protobufs` needs to build (which happens on a full
+  `pnpm -r build`, since it runs `buf generate`). If you only want to run
+  the web client in dev, `pnpm --filter meshtastic-web dev` does not need
+  Buf as long as the protobuf stubs are already generated.
 
 ### Setup
 
@@ -97,15 +101,32 @@ pnpm install
 ### Run the web client
 
 ```bash
-pnpm --filter @meshtastic/web dev
+pnpm --filter meshtastic-web dev
 ```
 
 ### Build everything
 
+Requires the Buf CLI (see Prerequisites) — `@meshtastic/protobufs` runs
+`buf generate` as part of its `build` script.
+
 ```bash
 pnpm -r build
 ```
 
+`pnpm -r` sorts packages by their `workspace:` dependencies (dependencies
+before dependents) and runs up to `--workspace-concurrency` packages in
+parallel. Packages linked over other protocols (for example `jsr:`) are
+not sequenced against workspace peers, so run `pnpm --filter
+@meshtastic/protobufs build` first if you are iterating on generated
+stubs consumed via a non-workspace protocol.
+
+If you only need the web client, build it and its dependency graph without
+touching every publishable package:
+
+```bash
+pnpm --filter meshtastic-web... build
+```
+
 ### Run tests
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/apps/web/README.md b/apps/web/README.md
index ccce1876d..8a5f9d57a 100644
--- a/apps/web/README.md
+++ b/apps/web/README.md
@@ -86,17 +86,16 @@ instructions listed on the home page.
 
 ### Development
 
-Install the dependencies.
+Install the dependencies from the repo root (pnpm workspaces installs every package in one pass).
 
 ```bash
-cd packages/web &&
 pnpm install
 ```
 
-Start the development server:
+Start the development server for the web client:
 
 ```bash
-pnpm run dev
+pnpm --filter meshtastic-web dev
 ```
 
 ### Building and Packaging
@@ -104,13 +103,13 @@ pnpm run dev
 Build the project:
 
 ```bash
-pnpm run build
+pnpm --filter meshtastic-web build
 ```
 
 GZip the output:
 
 ```bash
-pnpm run package
+pnpm --filter meshtastic-web run package
 ```
 
 ### Why pnpm?
@@ -151,6 +150,6 @@ requests:
     Meshtastic nodes.
 
 Please review our
-[Contribution Guidelines](https://github.com/meshtastic/web/blob/main/packages/web/CONTRIBUTING.md)
+[Contribution Guidelines](https://github.com/meshtastic/web/blob/main/apps/web/CONTRIBUTING.md)
 before submitting a pull request. We appreciate your help in making the project
 better!