diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_exe.yml b/.github/workflows/build_exe.yml
index 93ffa35..8f69165 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_exe.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_exe.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ on:
   push:
     tags:
       - "v[0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+-?*"
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
@@ -70,6 +73,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install PyInstaller
         run: pip install pyinstaller
 
+      - name: Print version string (for tag)
+        id: get_version_tag
+        if: ${{ github.ref_type == 'tag' }}
+        run: echo ${{ github.ref_name }} > VERSION
+
+      - name: Print version string (for branch)
+        id: get_version_branch
+        if: ${{ github.ref_type != 'tag' }}
+        run: echo ${{ github.ref_name }}-${{ github.sha }} > VERSION
+
       - name: Build the executable
         run: |
           pyinstaller pyinstaller.spec
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3510a93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+v0.5.0-alpha.0
diff --git a/components/splash.py b/components/splash.py
index 9204a17..8e9cfe8 100644
--- a/components/splash.py
+++ b/components/splash.py
@@ -1,12 +1,27 @@
 from terminal_tools import clear_terminal, wait_for_key
+from pathlib import Path
+import os
 
 
 def splash():
   clear_terminal()
   print(_ascii_splash)
+  print("")
+  print(f"{get_version()}")
+  print("")
   wait_for_key(True)
 
 
+def get_version():
+  root_path = str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent)
+  version_path = os.path.join(root_path, "VERSION")
+  try:
+    with open(version_path, "r") as version_file:
+      return version_file.read().strip()
+  except FileNotFoundError:
+    return "<development version>"
+
+
 _ascii_splash: str = """
        -..*+:..-
        -.=-+%@%##+-=.-
diff --git a/pyinstaller.spec b/pyinstaller.spec
index 29770fd..dcebb56 100644
--- a/pyinstaller.spec
+++ b/pyinstaller.spec
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ a = Analysis(
     pathex=['.'],    # Ensure all paths are correctly included
     binaries=[],
     datas=[
+        # version file, if defined
+        *(
+            [('VERSION', 'VERSION')]
+            if os.path.exists('VERSION') else []
+        ),
+
         # inquirer depends on readchar as a hidden dependency that requires package metadata
         *copy_metadata('readchar'),