diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from LICENSE
rename to LICENSE.txt
diff --git a/openmc_source_plotter/__init__.py b/openmc_source_plotter/__init__.py
index 50c4954..91d707e 100644
--- a/openmc_source_plotter/__init__.py
+++ b/openmc_source_plotter/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
+try:
+    # this works for python 3.7 and lower
+    from importlib.metadata import version, PackageNotFoundError
+except (ModuleNotFoundError, ImportError):
+    # this works for python 3.8 and higher
+    from importlib_metadata import version, PackageNotFoundError
+try:
+    __version__ = version("openmc_source_plotter")
+except PackageNotFoundError:
+    from setuptools_scm import get_version
+
+    __version__ = get_version(root="..", relative_to=__file__)
+
+__all__ = ["__version__"]
+
 from .utils import get_particle_data
 from .utils import create_initial_particles
 from .core import plot_source_direction
diff --git a/openmc_source_plotter/_version.py b/openmc_source_plotter/_version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5787b28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openmc_source_plotter/_version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# coding: utf-8
+# file generated by setuptools_scm
+# don't change, don't track in version control
+__version__ = version = "0.2.1.dev1+g15fa018"
+__version_tuple__ = version_tuple = (0, 2, 1, "dev1", "g15fa018")
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4e5dcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = [
+    "setuptools >= 46.4.0",
+    "wheel",
+    "setuptools_scm[toml] >= 6.3.1",
+]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
+
+[tool.setuptools_scm]
+write_to = "openmc_source_plotter/_version.py"
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a46d61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+[metadata]
+name = openmc_source_plotter
+version = attr: openmc_source_plotter.__version__
+author = The openmc_source_plotter Development Team
+author_email = mail@jshimwell.com
+description = Extract data and create plots of OpenMC particle sources
+long_description = file: README.md
+long_description_content_type = text/markdown
+url = https://github.com/fusion-energy/openmc_source_plotter
+license = MIT
+license_file = LICENSE.txt
+classifiers =
+    Natural Language :: English
+    Topic :: Scientific/Engineering
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10
+    License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License
+    Operating System :: OS Independent
+project_urls =
+    Source = https://github.com/fusion-energy/openmc_source_plotter
+    Tracker = https://github.com/fusion-energy/openmc_source_plotter/issues
+
+[options]
+packages = find:
+python_requires= >=3.6
+install_requires=
+    numpy >= 1.21.1
+    plotly >= 5.1.0
+    h5py
+    # openmc is also required but can't yet be installed by pip
+
+[flake8]
+per-file-ignores = __init__.py:F401
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index e8010f4..1abbd06 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,29 +1,4 @@
 import setuptools
 
-with open("README.md", "r") as fh:
-    long_description = fh.read()
-
-setuptools.setup(
-    name="openmc_source_plotter",
-    version="develop",
-    author="The Fusion Energy Development Team",
-    author_email="mail@jshimwell.com",
-    description="Extract data and create plots of OpenMC particle sources",
-    long_description=long_description,
-    long_description_content_type="text/markdown",
-    url="https://github.com/fusion-energy/openmc_source_plotter",
-    packages=setuptools.find_packages(),
-    classifiers=[
-        "Natural Language :: English",
-        "Topic :: Scientific/Engineering",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
-        "License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License",
-        "Operating System :: OS Independent",
-    ],
-    python_requires=">=3.6",
-    install_requires=["plotly>=5.1.0", "numpy>=1.21.1", "h5py"],
-)
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    setuptools.setup()