+para_server streams binary audio data (mp3/ogg/m4a files) over local
+and/or remote networks. It supports three builtin streaming methods
+(senders): http, dccp, or rtp.
+
+para_audiod runs on the client side and connects to para_server. The audio
+stream is read from the network and sent through any of paraslash's filters
+(decoder, volume normalizer,...). The resulting stream is written to an output
+plugin (writer), e.g. the alsa writer on linux systems. It is possible to
+capture the stream at any position in the filter chain.
+
+The receiving/filtering/playing software is also available as standalone
+command line tools: para_recv, para_filter, and para_write.
+
+----------------------------------
+configurable audio file selectors:
+----------------------------------
+
+There are three audio file selectors available: random, playlist
+and mysql
+
+The first two of these are rather simple, and they are always
+supported. They allow streaming of randomly selected files or files
+given by a playlist respectively.
+
+The (optional) mysql selector is more involved. It manages
+statistics on your audio files, and audio file selection works by
+sending a user-defined sql-query to the mysql server. This allows
+rather sophisticated configurations and is explained in detail in
+README.mysql.
+
+It is possible to switch between all supported selectors at any time.
+
+-----------------------