diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5f72683f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+VERSION export-subst
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..998eb1f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+$Format:%d$