diff --git a/cmd/version.go b/cmd/version.go
index d479002..80e56f4 100644
--- a/cmd/version.go
+++ b/cmd/version.go
@@ -1,49 +1,50 @@
-/*
-Copyright © 2022 NAME HERE <EMAIL ADDRESS>
-
-Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-limitations under the License.
-*/
-package cmd
-
-import (
-	"github.com/bfv/pasoe-cli/logic"
-	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
-)
-
-// versionCmd represents the version command
-var versionCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:   "version",
-	Short: "Displays the version number",
-	Long:  ``,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		displayVersion()
-	},
-}
-
-func init() {
-	rootCmd.AddCommand(versionCmd)
-
-	// Here you will define your flags and configuration settings.
-
-	// Cobra supports Persistent Flags which will work for this command
-	// and all subcommands, e.g.:
-	// versionCmd.PersistentFlags().String("foo", "", "A help for foo")
-
-	// Cobra supports local flags which will only run when this command
-	// is called directly, e.g.:
-	// versionCmd.Flags().BoolP("toggle", "t", false, "Help message for toggle")
-}
-
-func displayVersion() {
-	logic.DisplayVersion()
-}
+/*
+Copyright © 2022 NAME HERE <EMAIL ADDRESS>
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"github.com/bfv/pasoe-cli/logic"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+// versionCmd represents the version command
+var versionCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:     "version",
+	Aliases: []string{"about"},
+	Short:   "Displays the version number",
+	Long:    ``,
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		displayVersion()
+	},
+}
+
+func init() {
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(versionCmd)
+
+	// Here you will define your flags and configuration settings.
+
+	// Cobra supports Persistent Flags which will work for this command
+	// and all subcommands, e.g.:
+	// versionCmd.PersistentFlags().String("foo", "", "A help for foo")
+
+	// Cobra supports local flags which will only run when this command
+	// is called directly, e.g.:
+	// versionCmd.Flags().BoolP("toggle", "t", false, "Help message for toggle")
+}
+
+func displayVersion() {
+	logic.DisplayVersion()
+}
diff --git a/logic/colors.go b/logic/colors.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ec576c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/logic/colors.go
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+package logic
+
+var (
+	red    = string([]byte{27, 91, 51, 49, 109})
+	yellow = string([]byte{27, 91, 51, 51, 109})
+	reset  = string([]byte{27, 91, 48, 109})
+)
diff --git a/logic/github.go b/logic/github.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44493a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/logic/github.go
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+package logic
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/bfv/pasoe-cli/model"
+)
+
+func GetLatestRelease() (model.GitRelease, error) {
+
+	releases, err := GetReleases()
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println("err3")
+		printError(err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	return releases[0], nil
+}
+
+func GetReleases() (model.GitReleases, error) {
+
+	res, _ := doGithubRequest("GET", "releases")
+	defer res.Body.Close()
+
+	releases := model.GitReleases{}
+	err := json.NewDecoder(res.Body).Decode(&releases)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println("err3")
+		printError(err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	return releases, nil
+}
+
+func doGithubRequest(verb string, path string) (*http.Response, error) {
+
+	client := &http.Client{
+		Timeout: time.Second * 5,
+	}
+
+	url := fmt.Sprintf("https://api.github.com/repos/bfv/pasoe-cli/%v", path)
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(verb, url, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println("err1")
+		printError(err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	req.Header.Add("Accept", "application/vnd.github+json")
+
+	res, err := client.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println("err2")
+		printError(err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	return res, nil
+}
diff --git a/logic/version.go b/logic/version.go
index 274086a..81f9ad2 100644
--- a/logic/version.go
+++ b/logic/version.go
@@ -3,11 +3,25 @@ package logic
 import (
 	_ "embed"
 	"fmt"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 //go:embed version.txt
 var vStr string
 
 func DisplayVersion() {
+	thisVersion := strings.Split(strings.Split(vStr, "\n")[0], " ")[1]
 	fmt.Printf("\n%v\n", vStr)
+	latest, _ := GetLatestRelease()
+	if thisVersion != latest.Name {
+		fmt.Printf("%vupdate available: %v as of %v%v\n", red, latest.Name, latest.ReleasedAt, reset)
+		if runtime.GOOS == "linux" {
+			fmt.Printf("  %v%v%v\n", yellow, latest.LinuxArchiveURL, reset)
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("  %v%v%v\n", yellow, latest.WindowsArchiveURL, reset)
+		}
+	}
+
+	fmt.Println()
 }
diff --git a/model/github-model.go b/model/github-model.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a028e0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/model/github-model.go
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+package model
+
+type GitRelease struct {
+	Name              string `json:"name"`
+	ReleasedAt        string `json:"published_at"`
+	LinuxArchiveURL   string `json:"tarball_url"`
+	WindowsArchiveURL string `json:"zipball_url"`
+}
+
+type GitReleases []GitRelease
diff --git a/scripts/create-release.cmd b/scripts/create-release.cmd
index 17a7e32..5de02b3 100644
--- a/scripts/create-release.cmd
+++ b/scripts/create-release.cmd
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ sed -i "s/${version}/%1/" logic/version.txt
 
 rem 2. commit the file
 git add logic/version.txt
-git commit -m "bumped version to %1"
+git commit -m "release version %1"
 
 rem 3. create, commit an annotated tag
 git tag -a %1 -m "release: %1"
diff --git a/version-template.txt b/version-template.txt
index 411a9fb..e2716d1 100644
--- a/version-template.txt
+++ b/version-template.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 pasoe-cli ${version}
-by Bronco Oostermeyer 2022
-Published under GPL3
-https://github.com/bfv/pasoe-cli
\ No newline at end of file
+  Bronco Oostermeyer 2022
+  Published under GPL3
+  https://github.com/bfv/pasoe-cli
\ No newline at end of file