diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,8 +13,20 @@
 
 ## Compile
 
-To compile KDevelop, please refer to the Wiki instructions:
-https://community.kde.org/KDevelop/HowToCompile_v5
+KDevelop is built the same way as most KDE projects, using CMake to set up a build directory and build options.
+For detailed instructions how to compile KDevelop, please refer to the Wiki:
+https://community.kde.org/KDevelop/HowToCompile_v5 .
+
+### Optional dependencies
+
+Most of KDevelop's optional dependencies are opportunistic under the assumption that the build should
+always use all available functionality, as well as the most recent version. CMake has a lesser known feature
+to control which of such dependencies is used.
+
+For instance, to skip building the Subversion plugin, use
+`-DCMAKE_DISABLE_FIND_PACKAGE_SubversionLibrary=ON`. To use QtWebKit instead of QtWebEngine for
+documentation rendering when both are available, add `-DCMAKE_DISABLE_FIND_PACKAGE_Qt5WebEngineWidgets=ON` to
+the CMake arguments.
 
 ## Contribute