updated README, changed to markdown

diff --git a/README b/README
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-NLopt is a library for nonlinear local and global optimization, for
-functions with and without gradient information.  It is designed as
-as simple, unified interface and packaging of several free/open-source
-nonlinear optimization libraries.
-
-The latest version and a complete manual may be found at the NLopt
-home page:
-
-     http://ab-initio.mit.edu/nlopt
-
-It is compiled and installed with the standard GNU autoconf/automake
-commands:
-       ./configure
-       make
-       make install
-(See './configure --help' or the INSTALL file for other options.)
-
-Once it is installed, #include <nlopt.h> in your C/C++ programs and
-link it with -lnlopt -lm.  You may need to use the C++ compiler to link
-in order to include the C++ libraries (which are used internally by NLopt,
-even though it has a C API).
-
-The minimization function, nlopt_minimize, is described in the man
-page (api/nlopt_minimize.3, which is installed by 'make install'.
-
-Interfaces for other languages may be added in the future.

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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+NLopt is a library for nonlinear local and global optimization, for
+functions with and without gradient information.  It is designed as
+as simple, unified interface and packaging of several free/open-source
+nonlinear optimization libraries.
+
+The latest version and a complete manual may be found at the NLopt
+home page: http://ab-initio.mit.edu/nlopt
+
+It is compiled and installed with the standard GNU autoconf/automake
+commands:
+
+       ./configure
+       make
+       make install
+
+(See `./configure --help` or the `INSTALL` file for other options.)
+
+Once it is installed, `#include <nlopt.h>` in your C/C++ programs and
+link it with `-lnlopt -lm`.  You may need to use the C++ compiler to link
+in order to include the C++ libraries (which are used internally by NLopt,
+even though it has a C API).
+
+The minimization function, `nlopt_minimize`, is described in the [man
+page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_page) (`api/nlopt_minimize.3`,
+which is installed by `make install`.
+
+There are also interfaces for Fortran, Python, Matlab, Octave, OCaml,
+GNU Guile, GNU R, Lua, and Julia.  Interfaces for other languages may
+be added in the future.