diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-all.yaml b/.github/workflows/build-all.yaml
index 315e648ff..32d3b0db2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-all.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-all.yaml
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@ on:
 jobs:
   common:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      SEMVER: ${{ steps.version_generator.outputs.SEMVER }}
+      PROJECTNAME: ${{ steps.version_generator.outputs.PROJECTNAME }}
+      GitVersion_Major: ${{ steps.version_generator.outputs.GitVersion_Major }}
+      GitVersion_Minor: ${{ steps.version_generator.outputs.GitVersion_Minor }}
+      GitVersion_Patch: ${{ steps.version_generator.outputs.GitVersion_Patch }}
+      GitVersion_VersionSourceDistance: ${{ steps.version_generator.outputs.GitVersion_VersionSourceDistance }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout project
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
@@ -34,8 +41,15 @@ jobs:
             semantic-version-format=Loose
             next-version=1.93.1
 
-      - name: Check environment
+      - name: Print and register result
+        id: version_generator
         run: |
+          echo "SEMVER=$GitVersion_SemVer" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "GitVersion_Major=$GitVersion_Major" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "GitVersion_Minor=$GitVersion_Minor" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "GitVersion_Patch=$GitVersion_Patch" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "GitVersion_VersionSourceDistance=$GitVersion_VersionSourceDistance" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "PROJECTNAME=$PROJECTNAME" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           printenv | sort
 
   build-linux:
@@ -80,6 +94,9 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           oolite/ShellScripts/Linux/install_mozilla_js.sh system
       - name: Build Oolite
+        env:
+          SEMVER: ${{ needs.common.outputs.SEMVER }}
+          PROJECTNAME: ${{ needs.common.outputs.PROJECTNAME }}
         run: |
           oolite/ShellScripts/common/build_oolite.sh ${{matrix.flavour}}
       - name: Archive installer
@@ -103,6 +120,9 @@ jobs:
           path: oolite
           fetch-depth: 0
       - name: Build flatpak
+        env:
+          SEMVER: ${{ needs.common.outputs.SEMVER }}
+          PROJECTNAME: ${{ needs.common.outputs.PROJECTNAME }}
         run: |
           oolite/installers/flatpak/create_flatpak.sh
       - name: Archive installer
@@ -151,6 +171,13 @@ jobs:
         shell: msys2 {0}
         env:
           msystem: UCRT64
+          VER_MAJ: ${{ needs.common.outputs.GitVersion_Major }}
+          VER_MIN: ${{ needs.common.outputs.GitVersion_Minor }}
+          VER_REV: ${{ needs.common.outputs.GitVersion_Patch }}
+          VER_GITREV: ${{ needs.common.outputs.GitVersion_VersionSourceDistance }}
+          SEMVER: ${{ needs.common.outputs.SEMVER }}
+          VER_NSIS: ${{ needs.common.outputs.GitVersion_Major }}.${{ needs.common.outputs.GitVersion_Minor }}.${{ needs.common.outputs.GitVersion_Patch }}.${{ needs.common.outputs.GitVersion_VersionSourceDistance }}
+          PROJECTNAME: ${{ needs.common.outputs.PROJECTNAME }}
         run: |
           oolite/ShellScripts/common/build_oolite.sh ${{matrix.flavour}}
       - name: Archive installer
@@ -162,7 +189,7 @@ jobs:
           retention-days: 5
 
   release:
-    needs: [build-linux, build-flatpak, build-windows]
+    needs: [build-linux, build-flatpak, build-windows, common]
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     steps:
       ## This is for debugging only and helps developing the workflow.
@@ -181,6 +208,9 @@ jobs:
           fetch-depth: 0
       - name: Calculate version number and set OOLITE_VERSION
         id: version
+        env:
+          SEMVER: ${{ needs.common.outputs.SEMVER }}
+          PROJECTNAME: ${{ needs.common.outputs.PROJECTNAME }}
         run: |
           set -x
           cd oolite
@@ -199,7 +229,6 @@ jobs:
       # For changes on master branch, create a new release.
       # It should move the 'latest' tag automatically.
       - name: Create Release
-        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' || endsWith(github.ref, 'maintenance')
         id: create_release
         uses: "marvinpinto/action-automatic-releases@latest"
         with:
diff --git a/ShellScripts/Linux/install_freedesktop_fn.sh b/ShellScripts/Linux/install_freedesktop_fn.sh
index 6429a223c..7638b3bfc 100644
--- a/ShellScripts/Linux/install_freedesktop_fn.sh
+++ b/ShellScripts/Linux/install_freedesktop_fn.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,14 @@
-#!/bin/bash
+#!/bin/bash -x
+#
+# Installs the manifest and injects version number
+#
+# Requires environment variables:
+#   VERSION
+#   APP_DATE
+#
+
+echo "I am install_freedesktop_fn.sh $@"
+printenv | sort
 
 install_freedesktop() {
     # Install metainfo (eg. for FlatHub and AppImageHub)
@@ -45,10 +55,15 @@ install_freedesktop() {
     sed -i "s/@VER@/${VERSION}/g" "$APP_METAINFO"
     sed -i "s/@DATE@/${APP_DATE}/g" "$APP_METAINFO"
 
+    echo ===========================================
+    echo Our manifest looks like this:
+    cat "$APP_METAINFO"
+    echo ===========================================
+
     # Desktop and Icon
     install -D ../../installers/FreeDesktop/space.oolite.Oolite.desktop "$APPSHR/applications/space.oolite.Oolite.desktop" || { echo "$err_msg desktop file" >&2; return 1; }
 
     install -D "$PROGDIR/Resources/Textures/oolite-logo1.png" "$APPSHR/icons/hicolor/256x256/apps/space.oolite.Oolite.png" || { echo "$err_msg icon file" >&2; return 1; }
 
     popd
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/ShellScripts/common/get_version.sh b/ShellScripts/common/get_version.sh
index 462bd02a8..da7d67261 100755
--- a/ShellScripts/common/get_version.sh
+++ b/ShellScripts/common/get_version.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/bash
+#
+# Calculates the Oolite version number if not passed via env variables.
+# Output goes into the OOLITE_VERSION.txt file and to stdout.
+#
 
 SCRIPT_DIR=$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" &> /dev/null && pwd)
 pushd "$SCRIPT_DIR" > /dev/null
@@ -6,14 +10,9 @@ pushd "$SCRIPT_DIR" > /dev/null
 mkdir -p ../../build
 cd ../../build
 
-VERSION=$(cat ../src/Cocoa/oolite-version.xcconfig | cut -d '=' -f 2)
-VER_MAJ=$(echo "$VERSION" | cut -d. -f1)
-VER_MIN=$(echo "$VERSION" | cut -d. -f2)
-VER_REV=$(echo "$VERSION" | cut -d. -f3)
-if [ "" == "$VER_REV" ]; then
-    VER_REV="0"
-fi
+# Timestamp of last commit/push
 TIMESTAMP=$(git log -1 --format=%ct)
+
 # Date conversions use UTC for consistency
 # Convert to __DATE__ format (e.g., Feb 20 2026)
 CPP_DATE=$(date -u -d "@$TIMESTAMP" +"%b %e %Y")
@@ -22,14 +21,29 @@ APP_DATE=$(date -u -d "@$TIMESTAMP" +"%Y-%m-%d")
 # Convert to YYMMDD format (e.g., 260313)
 VER_DATE=$(date -u -d "@$TIMESTAMP" +"%y%m%d")
 
-VER_GITREV=$(git rev-list --count HEAD)
-VER_GITHASH=$(git rev-parse --short=7 HEAD)
-VER_FULL="$VER_MAJ.$VER_MIN.$VER_REV.$VER_GITREV-$VER_DATE-$VER_GITHASH"
-BUILDTIME=$(date "+%Y.%m.%d %H:%M")
-
+if [[ -z "${SEMVER}" ]] || [[ -z "${PROJECTNAME}" ]]
+then
+    # Variables not passed in. Calculate the classic way.
+
+    VERSION=$(cat ../src/Cocoa/oolite-version.xcconfig | cut -d '=' -f 2)
+    VER_MAJ=$(echo "$VERSION" | cut -d. -f1)
+    VER_MIN=$(echo "$VERSION" | cut -d. -f2)
+    VER_REV=$(echo "$VERSION" | cut -d. -f3)
+    if [[ "" == "$VER_REV" ]]; then
+        VER_REV="0"
+    fi
+
+    VER_GITREV=$(git rev-list --count HEAD)
+    VER_GITHASH=$(git rev-parse --short=7 HEAD)
+    VER_FULL="$VER_MAJ.$VER_MIN.$VER_REV.$VER_GITREV-$VER_DATE-$VER_GITHASH"
+    BUILDTIME=$(date "+%Y.%m.%d %H:%M")
+else
+    # Variables passed in. Make use of them.
+
+    VER_FULL="${SEMVER}"
+fi
 
 echo "OOLITE_VERSION=$VER_FULL" > OOLITE_VERSION.txt
-
 echo "$VER_FULL"
 
-popd > /dev/null
\ No newline at end of file
+popd > /dev/null
diff --git a/installers/appimage/create_appimage.sh b/installers/appimage/create_appimage.sh
index 866c1c920..dbdaf1880 100755
--- a/installers/appimage/create_appimage.sh
+++ b/installers/appimage/create_appimage.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
-#!/bin/bash
+#!/bin/bash -x
+#
+# Creates the appimage.
+# First parameter can be set to build type, typically one of "test", "dev" or omitted for release builds.
+#
+
+echo I am $0 $@
 
 run_script() {
     # First parameter is a suffix for the build type eg. test, dev
diff --git a/installers/flatpak/create_flatpak.sh b/installers/flatpak/create_flatpak.sh
index 79ec2085f..5f4232d7f 100755
--- a/installers/flatpak/create_flatpak.sh
+++ b/installers/flatpak/create_flatpak.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#!/bin/bash
+#!/bin/bash -x
+
+echo "I am $0 $@"
 
 run_script() {
     # First parameter is a suffix for the build type eg. test, dev
@@ -31,8 +33,17 @@ run_script() {
     fi
 
     local MANIFEST="space.oolite.Oolite.yaml"
+
+    if [ -n "${SEMVER}" ] && [ -n "${PROJECTNAME}" ]; then
+        # patch manifest
+        sed -i "97a \      env:\n        SEMVER: $SEMVER\n        PROJECTNAME: $PROJECTNAME\n        VERSION: $SEMVER" $MANIFEST || return 1
+    fi
+
+    # check manifest
     if command -v flatpak-builder-lint >/dev/null 2>&1; then
         if ! flatpak-builder-lint manifest "$MANIFEST"; then
+            echo "❌ Flatpak manifest lint failed!" >&2
+            cat $MANIFEST
             echo "❌ Flatpak manifest lint failed!" >&2
             return 1
         fi
@@ -60,6 +71,10 @@ run_script() {
       - type: dir
         path: ../
 EOF
+
+    # show effective manifest
+    flatpak-builder --show-manifest $MANIFEST
+
     if ! flatpak-builder \
       --user \
       --force-clean \
diff --git a/installers/flatpak/flatpak_build.sh b/installers/flatpak/flatpak_build.sh
index 03e4cc17e..d22b38f73 100755
--- a/installers/flatpak/flatpak_build.sh
+++ b/installers/flatpak/flatpak_build.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
-#!/bin/bash
+#!/bin/bash -x
+#
+# Prepares the app directory for the flatpak builder
+#
+
+echo "I am flatpak_build.sh $@"
+printenv | sort
 
 source /app/share/GNUstep/Makefiles/GNUstep.sh
 source ShellScripts/common/get_version.sh
diff --git a/installers/win32/OOlite.nsi b/installers/win32/OOlite.nsi
index 1da430bf0..f3e85ec2d 100644
--- a/installers/win32/OOlite.nsi
+++ b/installers/win32/OOlite.nsi
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@
 !ifndef OUTDIR
 !define OUTDIR .
 !endif
+!ifndef SEMVER
+!define SEMVER ${VERSION}
+!endif
 
 !ifndef SNAPSHOT
 !ifndef DEPLOYMENT
@@ -58,10 +61,10 @@ SetCompress auto
 SetCompressor LZMA
 SetCompressorDictSize 32
 SetDatablockOptimize on
-OutFile "${OUTDIR}\OoliteInstall-${VER}-win${EXTVER}.exe"
+OutFile "${OUTDIR}\OoliteInstall-${SEMVER}-win${EXTVER}.exe"
 BrandingText "(C) 2003-2026 Giles Williams, Jens Ayton and contributors"
 Name "Oolite"
-Caption "Oolite ${VER}${EXTVER} Setup"
+Caption "Oolite ${SEMVER} ${EXTVER} Setup"
 SubCaption 0 " "
 SubCaption 1 " "
 SubCaption 2 " "
@@ -83,7 +86,7 @@ VIAddVersionKey "ProductName" "Oolite"
 VIAddVersionKey "FileDescription" "A space combat/trading game, inspired by Elite."
 VIAddVersionKey "LegalCopyright" "� 2003-2026 Giles Williams, Jens Ayton and contributors"
 VIAddVersionKey "FileVersion" "${VER}"
-VIAddVersionKey "ProductVersion" "${VER}"
+VIAddVersionKey "ProductVersion" "${SEMVER}"
 !ifdef SNAPSHOT
 VIAddVersionKey "GIT Revision" "${VER_GITHASH}"
 !endif
diff --git a/installers/win32/create_nsis.sh b/installers/win32/create_nsis.sh
index 3e85ff186..c00ce9bf0 100644
--- a/installers/win32/create_nsis.sh
+++ b/installers/win32/create_nsis.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,14 @@
-#!/bin/bash
+#!/bin/bash -x
+#
+# Creates the windows installer using NSIS.
+# First parameter can be set to build type, typically one of "test", "dev" or omitted for release builds.
+# Accepts two verion variables:
+#   VER_FULL - the full version number Oolite is getting built with
+#   VER_NSIS - the numberical version number (x.x.x.x) that the NSIS installer is built with
+#
+
+echo I am $0 $@
+
 
 run_script() {
     # First parameter is a suffix for the build type eg. test, dev
@@ -32,6 +42,11 @@ run_script() {
        return 1
     fi
 
+    if [[ -z "${VER_NSIS}" ]]
+    then
+        export VER_NSIS=$VER_FULL;
+    fi
+
     # Passing arguments cause problems with some versions of NSIS.
     # Because of this, we generate them into a separate file and include them.
     echo "; Version Definitions for Oolite" > OoliteVersions.nsh
@@ -41,7 +56,8 @@ run_script() {
     echo "!define VER_REV ${VER_REV}" >> OoliteVersions.nsh
     echo "!define VER_GITREV ${VER_GITREV}" >> OoliteVersions.nsh
     echo "!define VER_GITHASH ${VER_GITHASH}" >> OoliteVersions.nsh
-    echo "!define VERSION ${VER_FULL}" >> OoliteVersions.nsh
+    echo "!define VERSION ${VER_NSIS}" >> OoliteVersions.nsh
+    echo "!define SEMVER ${SEMVER}" >> OoliteVersions.nsh
     echo "!define BUILDTIME \"${BUILDTIME}\"" >> OoliteVersions.nsh
     echo "!define BUILDHOST_IS64BIT 1" >> OoliteVersions.nsh