update root docs

INSTALL.md

@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
 # INSTALLATION
 
-Zend Framework requires no special installation steps. Simply download
-the framework, extract it to the folder you would like to keep it in,
-and add the library directory to your PHP `include_path`.
+Although Zend Framework requires no special installation steps, 
+we highly recommend using [Composer][composer].
+However, you can simply download the framework, extract it to the folder you 
+would like to keep it in, and add the `library` directory to your PHP 
+`include_path`.
 
-
-## SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
--------------------
-
-Zend Framework 2 requires PHP 5.3.23 or later.
+Please refer to the [installation instructions][installation] in the [manual]
+ for more details.
 
 ## DEVELOPMENT VERSIONS
 
@@ -37,11 +36,19 @@ http://www.git-scm.org
 ## CONFIGURING THE INCLUDE PATH
 
 Once you have a copy of Zend Framework available, your application will
-need to access the framework classes. Though there are several ways to
-achieve this, your PHP `include_path` needs to contain the path to the
-Zend Framework classes under the `/library` directory in this
-distribution. You can find out more about the PHP `include_path`
-configuration directive here:
+need to access the framework classes.
+
+If you're using [Composer][composer], you just need to add `require 
+"vendor/autoload.php"` at the very beginning of your application main entry 
+point (i.e. `index.php`).
+Please not that this has already been done for you if you're using the 
+default [ZendSkeletonApplication][ZendSkeletonApplication].
+
+However, if you're not using [Composer][composer], there are several other 
+ways to achieve this: one is to set your PHP `include_path` so that it 
+contains the path to the Zend Framework classes under the `/library` 
+directory in this distribution. You can find out more about the PHP 
+`include_path` configuration directive here:
 
 http://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.core.php#ini.include-path
 
@@ -61,3 +68,8 @@ The QuickStart covers some of the most commonly used components of ZF.
 Since Zend Framework is designed with a use-at-will architecture and
 components are loosely coupled, you can select and use only those
 components that are needed for your project.
+
+[manual]: http://framework.zend.com/manual
+[installation]: http://framework.zend.com/manual/current/en/ref/installation.html
+[composer]: http://getcomposer.org
+[ZendSkeletonApplication]: https://github.com/zendframework/ZendSkeletonApplication

README.md

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ DD MMM YYY
 
 ### UPDATES IN 2.4.0
 
+- [#7095](https://github.com/zendframework/zf2/issues/7095) drops support for
+ PHP 5.3
 - [#6154](https://github.com/zendframework/zf2/pull/6154) updates
   `Zend\InputFilter\BaseInputFilter::isValid()` to accept an optional `$context`
   parameter; if used, this value will be passed to all composed inputs as
@@ -28,10 +30,13 @@ DD MMM YYY
 
 Please see [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md).
 
-### SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
+## SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
+-------------------
 
-Zend Framework 2 requires PHP 5.3.23 or later; we recommend using the
-latest PHP version whenever possible.
+Zend Framework 2 requires PHP 5.4 or later.
+Please be wary that the minimum PHP version may be bumped in subsequent
+framework releases; we hence encourage to use [Composer][composer] to ensure 
+that your application environment satisfies the requirements.
 
 ### INSTALLATION