diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 5a38cab..7a54531 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,18 +11,41 @@ include_directories("${INCLUDE_PATH}")
 set(GIT_VERSION_FILE ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/version.h)
 set(GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/verison.h.tmp)
 
-add_custom_command(
-	OUTPUT ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
-	COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E echo "//File generated by CMake. Do not edit!" > ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
-	COMMAND python ${SCRIPT_DIR}/git_branch_name.py >> ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
-	COMMAND python ${SCRIPT_DIR}/git_commit_hash.py >> ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
-	COMMAND python ${SCRIPT_DIR}/git_tag_name.py >> ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
-	COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_if_different ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE} ${GIT_VERSION_FILE}
-	COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E remove ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
-	WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
-	COMMENT "Regenerating version.h"
-	VERBATIM
-)
+#require python on windows
+#i know this program can't be built on windows, but i wanted to figure out how to do this
+if(WIN32)
+	find_package(PythonInterp 3 REQUIRED)
+else()
+	find_package(PythonInterp 3 QUIET)
+endif()
+
+if(PYTHONINTERP_FOUND)
+	add_custom_command(
+		OUTPUT ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E echo "//File generated by CMake. Do not edit!" > ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE} ${SCRIPT_DIR}/git_branch_name.py >> ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE} ${SCRIPT_DIR}/git_commit_hash.py >> ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE} ${SCRIPT_DIR}/git_tag_name.py >> ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_if_different ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE} ${GIT_VERSION_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E remove ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
+		COMMENT "Regenerating version.h"
+		VERBATIM
+	)
+elseif(UNIX)
+	add_custom_command(
+		OUTPUT ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E echo "//File generated by CMake. Do not edit!" > ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${SCRIPT_DIR}/git_branch_name.sh >> ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${SCRIPT_DIR}/git_commit_hash.sh >> ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${SCRIPT_DIR}/git_tag_name.sh >> ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_if_different ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE} ${GIT_VERSION_FILE}
+		COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E remove ${GIT_VERSION_TMP_FILE}
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
+		COMMENT "Regenerating version.h"
+		VERBATIM
+	)
+endif()
 
 #setup cmake options
 option(BUILD_REXLEDCTL "Build led control program" ON)
diff --git a/scripts/git_branch_name.sh b/scripts/git_branch_name.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..ec0c6c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/git_branch_name.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+output="$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)"
+
+if test -n "$output";then
+	echo "#define GIT_BRANCH_NAME \"$output\" //test"
+fi
diff --git a/scripts/git_commit_hash.sh b/scripts/git_commit_hash.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..01e315d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/git_commit_hash.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+output="$(git describe --always --dirty --abbrev --match="NeVeRmAtCh")"
+
+if test -n output;then
+	echo "#define GIT_COMMIT_HASH \"$output\""
+fi
diff --git a/scripts/git_tag_name.sh b/scripts/git_tag_name.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8e3cb7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/git_tag_name.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+output="$(git tag --points-at HEAD)"
+
+if test -n "$output";then
+	if test "${output:0:1}" = "v" || test "${output:0:1}" = "V";then
+		echo "#define GIT_TAG_NAME \"${output:1}\""
+	fi
+fi