diff --git a/rever.xsh b/rever.xsh
deleted file mode 100644
index 7270f322a..000000000
--- a/rever.xsh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-$PROJECT = 'regolith'
-$ACTIVITIES = ['version_bump',
-               'changelog',
-               'tag',
-               'push_tag',
-               'ghrelease',
-               'conda_forge']
-
-$VERSION_BUMP_PATTERNS = [
-    ('regolith/__init__.py', '__version__\s*=.*', "__version__ = '$VERSION'"),
-    ('setup.py', 'version\s*=.*,', "version='$VERSION',")
-    ]
-$CHANGELOG_FILENAME = 'CHANGELOG.rst'
-$CHANGELOG_IGNORE = ['TEMPLATE.rst']
-$PUSH_TAG_REMOTE = 'git@github.com:regro/regolith.git'
-
-$GITHUB_ORG = 'regro'
-$GITHUB_REPO = 'regolith'
diff --git a/src/regolith/__init__.py b/src/regolith/__init__.py
index 0d5143d00..5e614912d 100644
--- a/src/regolith/__init__.py
+++ b/src/regolith/__init__.py
@@ -3,10 +3,16 @@
 from xonsh.built_ins import XSH
 from xonsh.execer import Execer
 
+from regolith.version import __version__
+
+"""A Research group database management system"""
+
+# silence the pyflakes syntax checker
+assert __version__ or True
+
+
 XSH.load(execer=Execer())
 execer = XSH.execer
 xonsh.imphooks.install_import_hooks(execer=execer)
 
-__version__ = "0.8.2"
-
 del xonsh
diff --git a/src/regolith/version.py b/src/regolith/version.py
index 04517257c..9807f59a8 100644
--- a/src/regolith/version.py
+++ b/src/regolith/version.py
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
 #
 # regolith         by DANSE Diffraction group
 #                   Simon J. L. Billinge
-#                   (c) 2011 The Trustees of Columbia University
+#                   (c) 2011-2024 The Trustees of Columbia University
 #                   in the City of New York.  All rights reserved.
 #
-# File coded by:    Pavol Juhas
+# File coded by:    Pavol Juhas, Simon Billinge
 #
 # See AUTHORS.txt for a list of people who contributed.
 # See LICENSE_DANSE.txt for license information.
@@ -55,4 +55,14 @@
 
 del cp
 
+# from cookiecutter in case we want to migrate later:
+#
+# # We do not use the other three variables, but can be added back if needed.
+# # __all__ = ["__date__", "__git_commit__", "__timestamp__", "__version__"]
+
+# # obtain version information
+# from importlib.metadata import version
+#
+# __version__ = version("regolith")
+
 # End of file