diff --git a/index.rst b/index.rst
--- a/index.rst
+++ b/index.rst
@@ -34,6 +34,26 @@
    faq
 
 
+Quick Start
+-----------
+
+Here is a list of the basic step necessary to get set up and make a patch:
+
+1. get :ref:`a clone of CPython <setup>` with
+   ``hg clone http://hg.python.org/cpython``;
+2. On UNIX, run ``./configure --with-pydebug && make -j2`` to
+   :ref:`build Python <compiling>`.
+
+   On :ref:`Windows <windows-compiling>`, load the project file
+   :file:`PCbuild\\pcbuild.sln` in Visual Studio, select :menuselection:`Debug`,
+   and :menuselection:`Build -> Build Solution`;
+3. :doc:`run the tests <runtests>` with ``./python -m test -j3``
+   (use :file:`./python.exe` on :ref:`most <python.exe>` Mac OS X and
+   :file:`PCbuild\\python_d.exe` on Windows);
+4. make the :doc:`patch <patch>`;
+5. submit it to the `issue tracker <http://bugs.python.org/>`_.
+
+
 Quick Links
 -----------
 
diff --git a/setup.rst b/setup.rst
--- a/setup.rst
+++ b/setup.rst
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
 affected files as described below.)
 
 
+.. _compiling:
+
 Compiling (for debugging)
 -------------------------
 
@@ -122,6 +124,8 @@
 Otherwise the build failed and thus should be fixed (at least with a bug being
 filed on the `issue tracker`_).
 
+.. _python.exe:
+
 Once CPython is done building you will then have a working build
 that can be run in-place; ``./python`` on most machines (and what is used in
 all examples), ``./python.exe`` wherever a case-insensitive filesystem is used
@@ -148,6 +152,8 @@
 still build properly).
 
 
+.. _windows-compiling:
+
 Windows
 '''''''