diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index fd91d47f..888fce40 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -215,6 +215,25 @@ jobs:
 
     # ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    - name: Clone simulator
+      uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      with:
+        repository: Rconybea/xo-simulator
+        path: repo/simulator
+
+    - name: Configure simulator
+      # configure cmake for simulator in dedicated build directory.
+      run: cmake -B ${{github.workspace}}/build_simulator -DCMAKE_MODULE_PATH=${{github.workspace}}/local/share/cmake -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=${{github.workspace}}/local -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${{github.workspace}}/local repo/simulator
+
+    - name: Build simulator
+      run: cmake --build ${{github.workspace}}/build_simulator --config ${{env.BUILD_TYPE}}
+
+    - name: Install simulator
+      # install into ${{github.workspace}}/local
+      run: cmake --install ${{github.workspace}}/build_simulator
+
+    # ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
     - name: Configure self (process)
       # Configure CMake in a 'build' subdirectory. `CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE` is only required if you are using a single-configuration generator such as make.
       # See https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/variable/CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE.html?highlight=cmake_build_type
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 154de215..53d0b6d0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ constructive, simulation-aware models for stochastic processes
 
 build+install these first
 
-- xo-reactor [github.com/Rconybea/xo-reactor](https://github.com/Rconybea/xo-reactor)
+- xo-simulator [github.com/Rconybea/xo-simulator](https://github.com/Rconybea/xo-simulator)
 - randomgen [github.com/Rconybea/randomgen](https://github.com/Rconybea/randomgen)
 
 # build + install