diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4f185f4..72648d6 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
 # 02110-1301, USA
 
 
-
-  CFLAGS +=	 -pedantic -Wall -W -Wno-unused-parameter -Os -g3 -std=gnu99 -I./
+  GIT_REV = $(shell [ -d .git ] && git --no-pager log -n 1 --oneline|cut -d " " -f 1 || echo 0)
+  CFLAGS += -pedantic -Wall -W -Wno-unused-parameter -Os -g3 -std=gnu99 -I./ -DGIT_REV=\"$(GIT_REV)\"
 #-DHAVE_CONFIG_H
 
 # optinal defines:
diff --git a/bmx.c b/bmx.c
index cdd8d45..954dfb5 100644
--- a/bmx.c
+++ b/bmx.c
@@ -1256,8 +1256,8 @@ static void segmentation_fault(int32_t sig)
                 debug_function_calls();
 #endif
 
-                dbg(DBGL_SYS, DBGT_ERR, "Terminating with error code %d (%s-%s-cv%d)! Please notify a developer",
-                        sig, BMX_BRANCH, BRANCH_VERSION, CODE_VERSION);
+                dbg(DBGL_SYS, DBGT_ERR, "Terminating with error code %d (%s-%s-rev%s)! Please notify a developer",
+                        sig, BMX_BRANCH, BRANCH_VERSION, GIT_REV);
 
                 if (initializing) {
                         dbg_sys(DBGT_ERR,
@@ -1767,8 +1767,8 @@ void register_status_handl(uint16_t min_msg_size, IDM_T multiline, const struct
 
 struct bmx_status {
         char version[(sizeof(BMX_BRANCH)-1) + (sizeof("-")-1) + (sizeof(BRANCH_VERSION)-1) + 1];
-        uint16_t compatibility;
-        uint16_t codeVersion;
+        uint16_t compat;
+        char* revision;
         GLOBAL_ID_T *globalId;
         IPX_T primaryIp;
         struct net_key *tun6Address;
@@ -1781,8 +1781,8 @@ struct bmx_status {
 
 static const struct field_format bmx_status_format[] = {
         FIELD_FORMAT_INIT(FIELD_TYPE_STRING_CHAR,       bmx_status, version,       1, FIELD_RELEVANCE_HIGH),
-        FIELD_FORMAT_INIT(FIELD_TYPE_UINT,              bmx_status, compatibility, 1, FIELD_RELEVANCE_HIGH),
-        FIELD_FORMAT_INIT(FIELD_TYPE_UINT,              bmx_status, codeVersion,   1, FIELD_RELEVANCE_HIGH),
+        FIELD_FORMAT_INIT(FIELD_TYPE_UINT,              bmx_status, compat,        1, FIELD_RELEVANCE_HIGH),
+        FIELD_FORMAT_INIT(FIELD_TYPE_POINTER_CHAR,      bmx_status, revision,      1, FIELD_RELEVANCE_HIGH),
         FIELD_FORMAT_INIT(FIELD_TYPE_POINTER_GLOBAL_ID, bmx_status, globalId,      1, FIELD_RELEVANCE_HIGH),
         FIELD_FORMAT_INIT(FIELD_TYPE_IPX,               bmx_status, primaryIp,     1, FIELD_RELEVANCE_HIGH),
         FIELD_FORMAT_INIT(FIELD_TYPE_NETP,              bmx_status, tun6Address,   1, FIELD_RELEVANCE_HIGH),
@@ -1798,8 +1798,8 @@ static int32_t bmx_status_creator(struct status_handl *handl, void *data)
 {
         struct bmx_status *status = (struct bmx_status *) (handl->data = debugRealloc(handl->data, sizeof (struct bmx_status), -300365));
         sprintf(status->version, "%s-%s", BMX_BRANCH, BRANCH_VERSION);
-        status->compatibility = COMPATIBILITY_VERSION;
-        status->codeVersion = CODE_VERSION;
+        status->compat = COMPATIBILITY_VERSION;
+        status->revision = GIT_REV;
         status->globalId = &self->global_id;
         status->primaryIp = self->primary_ip;
         status->tun6Address = tun6_address.af ? &tun6_address : NULL;
@@ -2002,8 +2002,8 @@ int32_t opt_version(uint8_t cmd, uint8_t _save, struct opt_type *opt, struct opt
 
         assertion(-501257, !strcmp(opt->name, ARG_VERSION));
 
-        dbg_printf(cn, "%s-%s compatibility=%d codeVersion=%d\n",
-                        BMX_BRANCH, BRANCH_VERSION, COMPATIBILITY_VERSION, CODE_VERSION);
+        dbg_printf(cn, "%s-%s comPatibility=%d revision=%s\n",
+                        BMX_BRANCH, BRANCH_VERSION, COMPATIBILITY_VERSION, GIT_REV);
 
         if (initializing)
                 cleanup_all(CLEANUP_SUCCESS);
diff --git a/bmx.h b/bmx.h
index 55c2d41..e3eda69 100644
--- a/bmx.h
+++ b/bmx.h
@@ -33,12 +33,16 @@
  * dont touch this for compatibility reasons:
  */
 
-#define CODE_VERSION 9             // to be incremented after each critical code change
 #define BMX_BRANCH "BMX6"
 #define BRANCH_VERSION "0.1-alpha" //put exactly one distinct word inside the string like "0.3-pre-alpha" or "0.3-rc1" or "0.3"
 
 #define COMPATIBILITY_VERSION 16
 
+#ifndef GIT_REV
+#define GIT_REV "0"             // to be incremented after each critical code change
+#endif
+extern uint32_t rev_u32;
+
 /*
  * from iid.h:
  */
diff --git a/dump.c b/dump.c
index 920fabf..129f02e 100644
--- a/dump.c
+++ b/dump.c
@@ -439,7 +439,6 @@ struct plugin *dump_get_plugin( void ) {
 
 	dump_plugin.plugin_name = CODE_CATEGORY_NAME;
 	dump_plugin.plugin_size = sizeof ( struct plugin );
-        dump_plugin.plugin_code_version = CODE_VERSION;
 	dump_plugin.cb_init = init_dump;
 	dump_plugin.cb_cleanup = cleanup_dump;
         dump_plugin.cb_plugin_handler[PLUGIN_CB_BMX_DEV_EVENT] = init_cleanup_dev_traffic_data;
diff --git a/hna.c b/hna.c
index 626da71..cf6b121 100644
--- a/hna.c
+++ b/hna.c
@@ -2834,7 +2834,6 @@ struct plugin *hna_get_plugin( void ) {
 
 	hna_plugin.plugin_name = CODE_CATEGORY_NAME;
 	hna_plugin.plugin_size = sizeof ( struct plugin );
-        hna_plugin.plugin_code_version = CODE_VERSION;
         hna_plugin.cb_init = hna_init;
 	hna_plugin.cb_cleanup = hna_cleanup;
         hna_plugin.cb_plugin_handler[PLUGIN_CB_SYS_DEV_EVENT] = hna_dev_event_hook;
diff --git a/lib/bmx6_http_info/http_info.c b/lib/bmx6_http_info/http_info.c
index 6a18eeb..54e376c 100644
--- a/lib/bmx6_http_info/http_info.c
+++ b/lib/bmx6_http_info/http_info.c
@@ -288,7 +288,6 @@ struct plugin* get_plugin( void ) {
 
 	http_info_plugin.plugin_name = "bmx6_http_info_plugin";
 	http_info_plugin.plugin_size = sizeof ( struct plugin );
-        http_info_plugin.plugin_code_version = CODE_VERSION;
 	http_info_plugin.cb_init = http_info_init;
 	http_info_plugin.cb_cleanup = http_info_cleanup;
 	
diff --git a/lib/bmx6_json/json.c b/lib/bmx6_json/json.c
index 5037f85..5979a3e 100644
--- a/lib/bmx6_json/json.c
+++ b/lib/bmx6_json/json.c
@@ -769,7 +769,6 @@ struct plugin* get_plugin( void ) {
 
 	json_plugin.plugin_name = CODE_CATEGORY_NAME;
 	json_plugin.plugin_size = sizeof ( struct plugin );
-        json_plugin.plugin_code_version = CODE_VERSION;
 	json_plugin.cb_init = json_init;
 	json_plugin.cb_cleanup = json_cleanup;
         json_plugin.cb_plugin_handler[PLUGIN_CB_DESCRIPTION_CREATED] = (void (*) (int32_t, void*)) json_description_event_hook;
diff --git a/lib/bmx6_quagga/quagga.c b/lib/bmx6_quagga/quagga.c
index a38493b..02cc1a6 100644
--- a/lib/bmx6_quagga/quagga.c
+++ b/lib/bmx6_quagga/quagga.c
@@ -1295,7 +1295,6 @@ struct plugin* get_plugin( void ) {
 
 	quagga_plugin.plugin_name = CODE_CATEGORY_NAME;
 	quagga_plugin.plugin_size = sizeof ( struct plugin );
-        quagga_plugin.plugin_code_version = CODE_VERSION;
 	quagga_plugin.cb_init = quagga_init;
 	quagga_plugin.cb_cleanup = quagga_cleanup;
 
diff --git a/lib/bmx6_sms/sms.c b/lib/bmx6_sms/sms.c
index 326cf28..082b2b6 100644
--- a/lib/bmx6_sms/sms.c
+++ b/lib/bmx6_sms/sms.c
@@ -463,7 +463,6 @@ struct plugin* get_plugin( void ) {
 
 	sms_plugin.plugin_name = CODE_CATEGORY_NAME;
 	sms_plugin.plugin_size = sizeof ( struct plugin );
-        sms_plugin.plugin_code_version = CODE_VERSION;
 	sms_plugin.cb_init = sms_init;
 	sms_plugin.cb_cleanup = sms_cleanup;
 
diff --git a/lib/bmx6_uci_config/uci_config.c b/lib/bmx6_uci_config/uci_config.c
index f3a42b9..132ea35 100644
--- a/lib/bmx6_uci_config/uci_config.c
+++ b/lib/bmx6_uci_config/uci_config.c
@@ -915,7 +915,6 @@ struct plugin* get_plugin( void ) {
 	
 	conf_plugin.plugin_name = CODE_CATEGORY_NAME;
 	conf_plugin.plugin_size = sizeof ( struct plugin );
-        conf_plugin.plugin_code_version = CODE_VERSION;
 	conf_plugin.cb_init = init_conf;
 	conf_plugin.cb_cleanup = cleanup_conf;
 
diff --git a/metrics.c b/metrics.c
index 15fca98..8a7f5b5 100644
--- a/metrics.c
+++ b/metrics.c
@@ -1621,7 +1621,6 @@ struct plugin *metrics_get_plugin( void ) {
 
 	metrics_plugin.plugin_name = CODE_CATEGORY_NAME;
 	metrics_plugin.plugin_size = sizeof ( struct plugin );
-        metrics_plugin.plugin_code_version = CODE_VERSION;
         metrics_plugin.cb_init = init_metrics;
 	metrics_plugin.cb_cleanup = cleanup_metrics;
 
diff --git a/msg.c b/msg.c
index d433374..60cf67f 100644
--- a/msg.c
+++ b/msg.c
@@ -3510,7 +3510,13 @@ void update_my_description_adv(void)
         dsc->ogmSqnRange = htons(self->ogmSqn_rangeSize);
         dsc->txInterval = htons(my_tx_interval);
 
-        dsc->codeVersion = htons(CODE_VERSION);
+        uint32_t rev_u32;
+        char rev_string[5];
+        strncpy( rev_string, GIT_REV, sizeof(rev_string));
+        rev_string[sizeof(rev_string)-1] = 0;
+        sscanf(rev_string, "%X", &rev_u32);
+
+        dsc->revision = htons(rev_u32);
         dsc->descSqn = htons(++(self->descSqn));
         dsc->reservedTtl = my_ttl;
 
@@ -3899,7 +3905,6 @@ struct plugin *msg_get_plugin( void ) {
 
 	msg_plugin.plugin_name = CODE_CATEGORY_NAME;
 	msg_plugin.plugin_size = sizeof ( struct plugin );
-        msg_plugin.plugin_code_version = CODE_VERSION;
         msg_plugin.cb_init = init_msg;
 	msg_plugin.cb_cleanup = cleanup_msg;
 
diff --git a/msg.h b/msg.h
index 774fd08..2f11e98 100644
--- a/msg.h
+++ b/msg.h
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ struct msg_dhash_adv { // 2 + X bytes
 struct description { // 48 bytes
 	GLOBAL_ID_T globalId; // 32 bytes
 
-        uint16_t codeVersion; // 2 bytes
+        uint16_t revision; // 2 bytes //TODO: increase to 4 bytes
 	uint16_t capabilities;// 2 bytes
 
         DESC_SQN_T descSqn;   // 2 bytes
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ struct msg_description_adv { // IPv6: >= 92 bytes
 #define DESCRIPTION_MSG_FORMAT { \
 {FIELD_TYPE_UINT,             -1, (8*sizeof(IID_T)),       0, FIELD_RELEVANCE_MEDI, "transmitterIid4x"}, \
 {FIELD_TYPE_GLOBAL_ID,        -1, (8*sizeof(GLOBAL_ID_T)), 1, FIELD_RELEVANCE_HIGH, "globalId"},  \
-{FIELD_TYPE_UINT,             -1, 16,                      0, FIELD_RELEVANCE_MEDI, "codeVersion" }, \
+{FIELD_TYPE_HEX,              -1, 16,                      0, FIELD_RELEVANCE_MEDI, "revision" }, \
 {FIELD_TYPE_HEX,              -1, 16,                      0, FIELD_RELEVANCE_MEDI, "capabilities" }, \
 {FIELD_TYPE_UINT,             -1, 16,                      0, FIELD_RELEVANCE_MEDI, "descSqn" }, \
 {FIELD_TYPE_UINT,             -1, (8*sizeof(OGM_SQN_T)),   0, FIELD_RELEVANCE_MEDI, "ogmSqnMin" }, \
diff --git a/plugin.c b/plugin.c
index 4a42434..0f177f2 100644
--- a/plugin.c
+++ b/plugin.c
@@ -247,11 +247,11 @@ int activate_plugin(struct plugin *p, void *dlhandle, const char *dl_name)
 		return FAILURE;
 	
 
-        if (p->plugin_size != sizeof ( struct plugin) || (p->plugin_code_version != CODE_VERSION)) {
+        if (p->plugin_size != sizeof ( struct plugin)) {
 
                 dbgf_sys(DBGT_ERR,
-                        "plugin with unexpected size %d != %zu, revision %d != %d",
-                        p->plugin_size, sizeof ( struct plugin), p->plugin_code_version, CODE_VERSION);
+                        "plugin with unexpected size %d != %zu, revision=%s",
+                        p->plugin_size, sizeof ( struct plugin), GIT_REV);
 
                 return FAILURE;
         }
diff --git a/plugin.h b/plugin.h
index 1490adc..63016a1 100644
--- a/plugin.h
+++ b/plugin.h
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ void cb_packet_hooks(struct packet_buff *pb);
 // for initializing:
 
 struct plugin {
-	uint32_t plugin_code_version;
 	uint32_t plugin_size;
 	char *plugin_name;
 	int32_t (*cb_init) ( void );