diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index db38686..9907cd0 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,11 +1,24 @@
 plugins {
     `maven-publish`
     id("io.github.gradle-nexus.publish-plugin") version "2.0.0"
+    id("pl.allegro.tech.build.axion-release") version "1.16.1" // this is the last version that supports Java 8
 }
 
+scmVersion {
+    tag {
+        prefix = "javacan-"
+    }
+    nextVersion {
+        suffix = "SNAPSHOT"
+        separator = "-"
+    }
+}
+
+val gitVersion: String = scmVersion.version
+
 allprojects {
     group = "tel.schich"
-    version = "3.5.0-SNAPSHOT"
+    version = gitVersion
 }
 
 nexusPublishing {