diff --git a/app/data/version.txt b/app/data/version.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..81447904
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/data/version.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# This file should be re-generated running: scripts/update-version-file.sh script
+v1.0.6-alpha 9278d09
diff --git a/app/version.py b/app/version.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0547f0ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Copyright © 2023 Cerc
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+import click
+import importlib
+
+@click.command()
+@click.pass_context
+def command(ctx):
+    '''print tool version'''
+
+    # See: https://stackoverflow.com/a/20885799/1701505
+    from . import data
+    with importlib.resources.open_text(data, "version.txt") as version_file:
+        # TODO: code better version that skips comment lines
+        version_string = version_file.read().splitlines()[1]
+
+    print(f"Version: {version_string}")
diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index 1703a422..e2e94ab2 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from app import setup_repositories
 from app import build_containers
 from app import build_npms
 from app import deploy_system
+from app import version
 
 CONTEXT_SETTINGS = dict(help_option_names=['-h', '--help'])
 
@@ -49,3 +50,4 @@ cli.add_command(setup_repositories.command, "setup-repositories")
 cli.add_command(build_containers.command, "build-containers")
 cli.add_command(build_npms.command, "build-npms")
 cli.add_command(deploy_system.command, "deploy-system")
+cli.add_command(version.command, "version")
diff --git a/scripts/build-shiv-package.sh b/scripts/build-shiv-package.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..98f49f4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build-shiv-package.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Builds the shiv "package" for distribution
+./scripts/update_version_file.sh
+shiv -c laconic-so -o package/laconic-so .
diff --git a/first_time_setup.sh b/scripts/first_time_setup.sh
similarity index 100%
rename from first_time_setup.sh
rename to scripts/first_time_setup.sh
diff --git a/scripts/update-version-file.sh b/scripts/update-version-file.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..fdcdac32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/update-version-file.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version_file_name=./app/data/version.txt
+echo "# This file should be re-generated running: scripts/update-version-file.sh script" > $version_file_name
+echo $( git describe --tags --abbrev=0 ; git rev-parse --short HEAD ) >> $version_file_name