diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 407b978..d5df362 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 env:
-  EXPLORER_BUILD: true
+  NETCDF_BUILD: true
   RUST_TOOLCHAIN_VERSION: nightly-2022-08-16
   MIX_ENV: test
 
@@ -61,4 +61,4 @@ jobs:
         with:
           otp-version: 25.0
           elixir-version: 1.14
-      - run: mix format --check-formatted
\ No newline at end of file
+      - run: mix format --check-formatted
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8eeb70b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+name: Elixir CI
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [published]
+
+env:
+  RUST_TOOLCHAIN_VERSION: nightly-2022-08-16
+  MIX_ENV: prod
+  NETCDF_BUILD: true
+
+jobs:
+  build_release:
+    name: Release ${{ matrix.nif }} - ${{ matrix.job.target }}
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.job.os }}
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        nif: ["2.15", "2.16"]
+        job:
+          - { target: x86_64-apple-darwin, os: macos-11 }
+          - { target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu, os: ubuntu-20.04 }
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Install Conda
+        uses: s-weigand/setup-conda@v1
+        with:
+          conda-channels: conda-forge
+      - name: Extract project version
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          # Get the project version from mix.exs
+          echo "PROJECT_VERSION=$(sed -n 's/^  @version "\(.*\)"/\1/p' mix.exs | head -n1)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Install Rust toolchain
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+        with:
+          toolchain: stable
+          target: ${{ matrix.job.target }}
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        if: ${{ matrix.job.os != 'macos-11' }}
+        run: |
+          conda install -y -c conda-forge libnetcdf=4.8.1 hdf5=1.12.1
+          echo "HDF5_DIR=${CONDA_PREFIX}"
+          echo "NETCDF_DIR=${CONDA_PREFIX}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "RUSTFLAGS=-C link-args=-Wl,-rpath,$CONDA_PREFIX/lib" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Install dependencies (Mac)
+        if: ${{ matrix.job.os == 'macos-11' }}
+        run: brew install nco
+      - name: Build the project
+        id: build-crate
+        uses: philss/rustler-precompiled-action@v1.0.0
+        with:
+          project-name: ex_netcdf
+          project-version: ${{ env.PROJECT_VERSION }}
+          target: ${{ matrix.job.target }}
+          nif-version: ${{ matrix.nif }}
+          use-cross: ${{ matrix.job.use-cross }}
+          project-dir: "native/ex_netcdf"
+      - name: Artifact upload
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+        with:
+          name: ${{ steps.build-crate.outputs.file-name }}
+          path: ${{ steps.build-crate.outputs.file-path }}
+      - name: Publish archives and packages
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
+        with:
+          files: |
+            ${{ steps.build-crate.outputs.file-path }}
+        if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 2dce70b..d492a2f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ erl_crash.dump
 
 /priv
 /priv/native/libex_netcdf
+/release_build
+*.so.tar.gz
+
 
 ### Elixir Patch ###
 
diff --git a/Dockerfile.gnu-linux b/Dockerfile.gnu-linux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8f8c33d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile.gnu-linux
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+# Find eligible builder and runner images on Docker Hub. We use Ubuntu/Debian
+# instead of Alpine to avoid DNS resolution issues in production.
+#
+# https://hub.docker.com/r/hexpm/elixir/tags?page=1&name=ubuntu
+# https://hub.docker.com/_/ubuntu?tab=tags
+#
+# This file is based on these images:
+#
+#   - https://hub.docker.com/r/hexpm/elixir/tags - for the build image
+#   - https://hub.docker.com/_/debian?tab=tags&page=1&name=bullseye-20210902-slim - for the release image
+#   - https://pkgs.org/ - resource for finding needed packages
+#   - Ex: hexpm/elixir:1.14.2-erlang-25.0.2-debian-bullseye-20210902-slim
+#
+ARG ELIXIR_VERSION=1.14.2
+ARG OTP_VERSION=25.0.2
+ARG DEBIAN_VERSION=bullseye-20210902-slim
+
+ARG BUILDER_IMAGE="hexpm/elixir:${ELIXIR_VERSION}-erlang-${OTP_VERSION}-debian-${DEBIAN_VERSION}"
+ARG RUNNER_IMAGE="debian:${DEBIAN_VERSION}"
+
+ARG RUSTLER_NIF_VERSION
+
+FROM ${BUILDER_IMAGE} as builder
+
+# install build dependencies
+RUN apt-get update -y && apt-get install -y cmake build-essential git curl wget \
+  && apt-get clean && rm -f /var/lib/apt/lists/*_*
+
+# install Rust non-interactively, and put it in the $PATH so the netcdf Elixir dep can find it
+RUN curl https://sh.rustup.rs -sSf | sh -s -- -y --default-toolchain 1.66.1
+ENV PATH="/root/.cargo/bin:$PATH"
+
+ENV CONDA_PREFIX=/opt/conda
+ENV PATH=${CONDA_PREFIX}/bin:$PATH
+RUN wget --quiet https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Linux-$(arch).sh -O ~/miniconda.sh && /bin/bash ~/miniconda.sh -b -p ${CONDA_PREFIX}
+RUN conda install -y -c conda-forge libnetcdf=4.8.1 hdf5=1.12.1
+ENV HDF5_DIR=${CONDA_PREFIX}
+ENV NETCDF_DIR=${CONDA_PREFIX}
+ENV RUSTFLAGS="-C link-args=-Wl,-rpath,$CONDA_PREFIX/lib"
+ENV NETCDF_BUILD=true
+
+ENV MIX_ENV=prod
+
+# prepare build dir
+WORKDIR /app
+
+# install hex + rebar
+RUN mix local.hex --force && \
+  mix local.rebar --force
+
+# install mix dependencies
+COPY mix.exs mix.lock VERSION ./
+RUN mix deps.get --only prod
+RUN mkdir config
+
+# copy compile-time config files before we compile dependencies
+# to ensure any relevant config change will trigger the dependencies
+# to be re-compiled.
+# COPY config/config.exs config/prod.exs config/
+RUN mix deps.compile
+
+COPY lib lib
+COPY native native
+
+# Compile the release
+RUN mix compile
+
+# Changes to config/runtime.exs don't require recompiling the code
+# COPY config/runtime.exs config/
+
+ENV RUSTLER_NIF_VERSION=${RUSTLER_NIF_VERSION}
+RUN mix release
+
+FROM ${RUNNER_IMAGE}
+
+WORKDIR "/app"
+
+COPY --from=builder --chown=nobody:nogroup /app/_build/prod/rel/netcdf ./
+
+RUN mkdir /mnt/release
+RUN chown nobody:nogroup /mnt/release
+RUN chown nobody:nogroup /app
+
+USER nobody
+
+
+CMD ["/bin/bash"]
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22fb3fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+# Usage:
+# Run `make` or `make all` to generate all combinations of OS=linux/mac and NIF_VERSION=2.15/2.16
+# for the host architecture. Mostly useful for aarch64 because CI takes care of x86_64 releases.
+
+VALID_NIF_VERSIONS := 2.15 2.16
+
+VERSION_PATTERN := ^[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+$$
+
+# Set the VERSION environment variable using the contents of the VERSION file
+VERSION := $(shell cat VERSION)
+
+# Check that the VERSION variable matches the expected pattern
+ifeq ($(shell echo $(VERSION) | grep -Eo '$(VERSION_PATTERN)'),$(VERSION))
+  $(info VERSION is valid: '$(VERSION)')
+else
+  $(error VERSION is invalid: '$(VERSION)')
+endif
+
+ifeq ($(shell uname -s), Darwin)
+TARGET_OS := apple-darwin
+else
+TARGET_OS := unknown-linux-gnu
+endif
+
+ifeq ($(shell uname -m), arm64)
+# Processor is Mac arm
+TARGET_ARCH := aarch64
+else
+# Processor is not Mac arm
+TARGET_ARCH := x86_64
+endif
+
+NETCDF_SO_PREFIX := libex_netcdf-v$(VERSION)-nif-$(NIF_VERSION)-$(TARGET_ARCH)
+NETCDF_SO := $(NETCDF_SO_PREFIX)-$(TARGET_OS).so
+GNU_NETCDF_SO := $(NETCDF_SO_PREFIX)-unknown-linux-gnu.so
+
+.PHONY: all
+all:
+	@echo "Building targets for NIF versions: $(VALID_NIF_VERSIONS) and arch: $(TARGET_ARCH)"
+	@$(foreach nif_version,$(VALID_NIF_VERSIONS), \
+		$(MAKE) gnu-docker-release NIF_VERSION=$(nif_version); \
+		$(MAKE) host-release NIF_VERSION=$(nif_version); \
+	)
+
+.PHONY: validate_nif_env
+validate_nif_env:
+	@if [ -z "$$NIF_VERSION" ]; then \
+        echo "NIF_VERSION is not set"; \
+        exit 1; \
+	fi
+	@if [ -z "$(filter ${NIF_VERSION}, ${VALID_NIF_VERSIONS})" ]; then \
+		echo "NIF_VERSION is set to ${NIF_VERSION}, but it should be one of: ${VALID_NIF_VERSIONS}"; \
+		exit 1; \
+	fi
+	@echo "NIF_VERSION is set to ${NIF_VERSION} and is valid"
+
+.PHONY: gnu-docker-release
+gnu-docker-release: validate_nif_env
+	docker build --tag netcdf-release --build-arg RUSTLER_NIF_VERSION=$(NIF_VERSION) -f Dockerfile.gnu-linux .
+	docker run --mount type=bind,source="$(shell pwd)",target=/mnt/release netcdf-release cp /app/lib/netcdf-$(VERSION)/priv/native/libex_netcdf.so /mnt/release/$(GNU_NETCDF_SO)
+	tar -czvf $(GNU_NETCDF_SO).tar.gz $(GNU_NETCDF_SO)
+	rm $(GNU_NETCDF_SO)
+
+.PHONY: host-release
+host-release: validate_nif_env
+	mix deps.get --only=prod
+	RUSTLER_NIF_VERSION=$(NIF_VERSION) MIX_ENV=prod NETCDF_BUILD=true mix release --overwrite --force
+	mv _build/prod/rel/netcdf/lib/netcdf-$(VERSION)/priv/native/libex_netcdf.so $(NETCDF_SO)
+	tar -czvf $(NETCDF_SO).tar.gz $(NETCDF_SO)
+	rm $(NETCDF_SO)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2215dad..82376fb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,26 +11,46 @@ by adding `netcdf` to your list of dependencies in `mix.exs`:
 ```elixir
 def deps do
   [
-    {:netcdf, "~> 0.1.0"}
+    {:netcdf, "~> 0.2.0"}
   ]
 end
 ```
 
 ### Dependencies
 
+For usage, you don't need any dependencies installed.
+The library uses `:rustler_precompiled` to fetch compiled versions for the following targets:
+
+- x86_64-apple-darwin
+- x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
+- aarch64-apple-darwin
+- aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu
+
+If you want to compile locally or if you are running on an unsupported target,
+you must set `NETCDF_BUILD=true` in your environment, and follow the instructions below.
+
 Before compiling, you also must ensure that the following dependencies are installed on your system:
 
-- hdf5
-- libnetcdf
+- hdf5@1.12.1
+- libnetcdf@4.8.1
 
 On Ubuntu:
 
-`apt install ibhdf5-serial-dev libnetcdf-dev`
+`apt install libhdf5-serial-dev libnetcdf-dev`
 
 On macOS:
 
 `brew install netcdf-cxx`, which will also bring `hdf5` as a dependency
 
+Conda can also be used to install the dependencies instead:
+
+```shell
+conda install -y -c conda-forge libnetcdf=4.8.1 hdf5=1.12.1
+echo "HDF5_DIR=${CONDA_PREFIX}"
+echo "NETCDF_DIR=${CONDA_PREFIX}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+echo "RUSTFLAGS=-C link-args=-Wl,-rpath,$CONDA_PREFIX/lib" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+```
+
 ### Utilities
 
 Although not necessary for the library to work, `ncks` is helpful for downloading `.nc` files in the correct way,
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..341cf11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0.2.0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/netcdf/native.ex b/lib/netcdf/native.ex
index 08684b5..2c43c5b 100644
--- a/lib/netcdf/native.ex
+++ b/lib/netcdf/native.ex
@@ -1,6 +1,26 @@
 defmodule NetCDF.Native do
   @moduledoc false
-  use Rustler, otp_app: :netcdf, crate: "ex_netcdf"
+
+  mode = if Mix.env() in [:dev, :test], do: :debug, else: :release
+  force_build = mode == :debug or System.get_env("NETCDF_BUILD") in ["1", "true"]
+
+  mix_config = Mix.Project.config()
+  version = mix_config[:version]
+  github_url = mix_config[:package][:links]["GitHub"]
+
+  use RustlerPrecompiled,
+    otp_app: :netcdf,
+    crate: "ex_netcdf",
+    base_url: "#{github_url}/releases/download/v#{version}",
+    version: version,
+    force_build: force_build,
+    targets: [
+      "aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu",
+      "aarch64-apple-darwin",
+      "x86_64-apple-darwin",
+      "x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
+    ],
+    mode: mode
 
   # netcdf::file
   def file_open(_filename), do: :erlang.nif_error(:nif_not_loaded)
diff --git a/mix.exs b/mix.exs
index 40bdfa6..eb053c4 100644
--- a/mix.exs
+++ b/mix.exs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-defmodule DataParser.MixProject do
+defmodule NetCDF.MixProject do
   use Mix.Project
 
   @source_url "https://github.com/DockYard/netcdf"
-  @version "0.1.1"
+  @version File.read!("VERSION")
 
   def project do
     [
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ defmodule DataParser.MixProject do
   # Run "mix help deps" to learn about dependencies.
   defp deps do
     [
-      {:rustler, "~> 0.26.0"},
+      {:rustler_precompiled, "~> 0.6.1"},
+      {:rustler, "~> 0.26.0", optional: true},
       {:ex_doc, "~> 0.29.0", only: :docs}
     ]
   end
diff --git a/mix.lock b/mix.lock
index 06401ce..be6e4be 100644
--- a/mix.lock
+++ b/mix.lock
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 %{
+  "castore": {:hex, :castore, "1.0.1", "240b9edb4e9e94f8f56ab39d8d2d0a57f49e46c56aced8f873892df8ff64ff5a", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "b4951de93c224d44fac71614beabd88b71932d0b1dea80d2f80fb9044e01bbb3"},
   "complex": {:hex, :complex, "0.4.2", "923e5db0be13dbb3ea00cf8459d9f75f3afdd9ff5a82742ded21064330d28273", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "069a085ef820ce675a2619fd125b963ff4514af2102c7f7d7965128e5ec0a429"},
   "earmark_parser": {:hex, :earmark_parser, "1.4.29", "149d50dcb3a93d9f3d6f3ecf18c918fb5a2d3c001b5d3305c926cddfbd33355b", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "4902af1b3eb139016aed210888748db8070b8125c2342ce3dcae4f38dcc63503"},
   "elixir_make": {:hex, :elixir_make, "0.6.3", "bc07d53221216838d79e03a8019d0839786703129599e9619f4ab74c8c096eac", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "f5cbd651c5678bcaabdbb7857658ee106b12509cd976c2c2fca99688e1daf716"},
@@ -11,5 +12,6 @@
   "nimble_parsec": {:hex, :nimble_parsec, "1.2.3", "244836e6e3f1200c7f30cb56733fd808744eca61fd182f731eac4af635cc6d0b", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "c8d789e39b9131acf7b99291e93dae60ab48ef14a7ee9d58c6964f59efb570b0"},
   "nx": {:hex, :nx, "0.3.0", "12448769619ed1442e22bd198faf4629ae3d0ee3ed565e42be49829cc42bf35f", [:mix], [{:complex, "~> 0.4.2", [hex: :complex, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "d08d8962f4379ade54281aad84c45cb7eb0118b406fc836f07b94acc40df5859"},
   "rustler": {:hex, :rustler, "0.26.0", "06a2773d453ee3e9109efda643cf2ae633dedea709e2455ac42b83637c9249bf", [:mix], [{:jason, "~> 1.0", [hex: :jason, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:toml, "~> 0.6", [hex: :toml, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "42961e9d2083d004d5a53e111ad1f0c347efd9a05cb2eb2ffa1d037cdc74db91"},
+  "rustler_precompiled": {:hex, :rustler_precompiled, "0.6.1", "160b545bce8bf9a3f1b436b2c10f53574036a0db628e40f393328cbbe593602f", [:mix], [{:castore, "~> 0.1 or ~> 1.0", [hex: :castore, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:rustler, "~> 0.23", [hex: :rustler, repo: "hexpm", optional: true]}], "hexpm", "0dd269fa261c4e3df290b12031c575fff07a542749f7b0e8b744d72d66c43600"},
   "toml": {:hex, :toml, "0.6.2", "38f445df384a17e5d382befe30e3489112a48d3ba4c459e543f748c2f25dd4d1", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "d013e45126d74c0c26a38d31f5e8e9b83ea19fc752470feb9a86071ca5a672fa"},
 }
diff --git a/native/ex_netcdf/Cargo.lock b/native/ex_netcdf/Cargo.lock
index 723b6bb..615bfda 100644
--- a/native/ex_netcdf/Cargo.lock
+++ b/native/ex_netcdf/Cargo.lock
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ version = 3
 
 [[package]]
 name = "aho-corasick"
-version = "0.7.19"
+version = "0.7.20"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "b4f55bd91a0978cbfd91c457a164bab8b4001c833b7f323132c0a4e1922dd44e"
+checksum = "cc936419f96fa211c1b9166887b38e5e40b19958e5b895be7c1f93adec7071ac"
 dependencies = [
  "memchr",
 ]
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ checksum = "bef38d45163c2f1dde094a7dfd33ccf595c92905c8f8f4fdc18d06fb1037718a"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "cc"
-version = "1.0.73"
+version = "1.0.79"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "2fff2a6927b3bb87f9595d67196a70493f627687a71d87a0d692242c33f58c11"
+checksum = "50d30906286121d95be3d479533b458f87493b30a4b5f79a607db8f5d11aa91f"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "cfg-if"
@@ -35,6 +35,30 @@ version = "1.0.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "baf1de4339761588bc0619e3cbc0120ee582ebb74b53b4efbf79117bd2da40fd"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "cmake"
+version = "0.1.50"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "a31c789563b815f77f4250caee12365734369f942439b7defd71e18a48197130"
+dependencies = [
+ "cc",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "curl-sys"
+version = "0.4.61+curl-8.0.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "14d05c10f541ae6f3bc5b3d923c20001f47db7d5f0b2bc6ad16490133842db79"
+dependencies = [
+ "cc",
+ "libc",
+ "libz-sys",
+ "openssl-sys",
+ "pkg-config",
+ "vcpkg",
+ "winapi",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "ex_netcdf"
 version = "0.1.0"
@@ -45,14 +69,26 @@ dependencies = [
  "thiserror",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "hdf5-src"
+version = "0.8.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "e01493db39ddc0519cf2a83d620d2c037fee60f4fed724cb72dc23763f1727a8"
+dependencies = [
+ "cmake",
+ "libz-sys",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "hdf5-sys"
 version = "0.8.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "4842d5980dc311a7c8933c7b45534fdae84df5ae7939a0ae8e449a56d4beb3d2"
 dependencies = [
+ "hdf5-src",
  "libc",
  "libloading",
+ "libz-sys",
  "pkg-config",
  "regex",
  "serde",
@@ -62,9 +98,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "heck"
-version = "0.4.0"
+version = "0.4.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "2540771e65fc8cb83cd6e8a237f70c319bd5c29f78ed1084ba5d50eeac86f7f9"
+checksum = "95505c38b4572b2d910cecb0281560f54b440a19336cbbcb27bf6ce6adc6f5a8"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lazy_static"
@@ -74,15 +110,15 @@ checksum = "e2abad23fbc42b3700f2f279844dc832adb2b2eb069b2df918f455c4e18cc646"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "libc"
-version = "0.2.135"
+version = "0.2.140"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "68783febc7782c6c5cb401fbda4de5a9898be1762314da0bb2c10ced61f18b0c"
+checksum = "99227334921fae1a979cf0bfdfcc6b3e5ce376ef57e16fb6fb3ea2ed6095f80c"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "libloading"
-version = "0.7.3"
+version = "0.7.4"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "efbc0f03f9a775e9f6aed295c6a1ba2253c5757a9e03d55c6caa46a681abcddd"
+checksum = "b67380fd3b2fbe7527a606e18729d21c6f3951633d0500574c4dc22d2d638b9f"
 dependencies = [
  "cfg-if",
  "winapi",
@@ -130,9 +166,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "netcdf"
-version = "0.7.0"
+version = "0.8.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "9668c493289156ed0dce9472ea33ab7a6f6dfe4565a8433bd103995f8053b467"
+checksum = "dfea96e04fb6c7cc3e58d735dbf9213e30b7e88aac0349feeab66abbcb826acc"
 dependencies = [
  "bitflags",
  "lazy_static",
@@ -140,21 +176,35 @@ dependencies = [
  "netcdf-sys",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "netcdf-src"
+version = "0.3.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9efdec1c75d5b0adad74b499c3d97a3906cedd1a9a0dae02a9b8547baef79ec3"
+dependencies = [
+ "cmake",
+ "hdf5-sys",
+ "libz-sys",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "netcdf-sys"
-version = "0.4.0"
+version = "0.5.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "f1028362b1f88b5c4bdf3538b202b2c83ab3cc8a5537f6337ac147e6e36dc5f9"
+checksum = "33907cddc6881b45f9106ff87aa02eaeb362855826e02765357320a5151a34da"
 dependencies = [
+ "curl-sys",
  "hdf5-sys",
  "libz-sys",
+ "netcdf-src",
+ "semver",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "num-complex"
-version = "0.4.2"
+version = "0.4.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "7ae39348c8bc5fbd7f40c727a9925f03517afd2ab27d46702108b6a7e5414c19"
+checksum = "02e0d21255c828d6f128a1e41534206671e8c3ea0c62f32291e808dc82cff17d"
 dependencies = [
  "num-traits",
 ]
@@ -178,26 +228,49 @@ dependencies = [
  "autocfg",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "openssl-src"
+version = "111.25.2+1.1.1t"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "320708a054ad9b3bf314688b5db87cf4d6683d64cfc835e2337924ae62bf4431"
+dependencies = [
+ "cc",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "openssl-sys"
+version = "0.9.83"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "666416d899cf077260dac8698d60a60b435a46d57e82acb1be3d0dad87284e5b"
+dependencies = [
+ "autocfg",
+ "cc",
+ "libc",
+ "openssl-src",
+ "pkg-config",
+ "vcpkg",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pkg-config"
-version = "0.3.25"
+version = "0.3.26"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "1df8c4ec4b0627e53bdf214615ad287367e482558cf84b109250b37464dc03ae"
+checksum = "6ac9a59f73473f1b8d852421e59e64809f025994837ef743615c6d0c5b305160"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "proc-macro2"
-version = "1.0.47"
+version = "1.0.54"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "5ea3d908b0e36316caf9e9e2c4625cdde190a7e6f440d794667ed17a1855e725"
+checksum = "e472a104799c74b514a57226160104aa483546de37e839ec50e3c2e41dd87534"
 dependencies = [
  "unicode-ident",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "quote"
-version = "1.0.21"
+version = "1.0.26"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "bbe448f377a7d6961e30f5955f9b8d106c3f5e449d493ee1b125c1d43c2b5179"
+checksum = "4424af4bf778aae2051a77b60283332f386554255d722233d09fbfc7e30da2fc"
 dependencies = [
  "proc-macro2",
 ]
@@ -210,9 +283,9 @@ checksum = "60a357793950651c4ed0f3f52338f53b2f809f32d83a07f72909fa13e4c6c1e3"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "regex"
-version = "1.6.0"
+version = "1.7.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "4c4eb3267174b8c6c2f654116623910a0fef09c4753f8dd83db29c48a0df988b"
+checksum = "8b1f693b24f6ac912f4893ef08244d70b6067480d2f1a46e950c9691e6749d1d"
 dependencies = [
  "aho-corasick",
  "memchr",
@@ -221,9 +294,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "regex-syntax"
-version = "0.6.27"
+version = "0.6.29"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "a3f87b73ce11b1619a3c6332f45341e0047173771e8b8b73f87bfeefb7b56244"
+checksum = "f162c6dd7b008981e4d40210aca20b4bd0f9b60ca9271061b07f78537722f2e1"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "rustler"
@@ -245,7 +318,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "heck",
  "proc-macro2",
  "quote",
- "syn",
+ "syn 1.0.109",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -258,28 +331,45 @@ dependencies = [
  "unreachable",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "semver"
+version = "1.0.17"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "bebd363326d05ec3e2f532ab7660680f3b02130d780c299bca73469d521bc0ed"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "serde"
-version = "1.0.145"
+version = "1.0.159"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "728eb6351430bccb993660dfffc5a72f91ccc1295abaa8ce19b27ebe4f75568b"
+checksum = "3c04e8343c3daeec41f58990b9d77068df31209f2af111e059e9fe9646693065"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "serde_derive"
-version = "1.0.145"
+version = "1.0.159"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "81fa1584d3d1bcacd84c277a0dfe21f5b0f6accf4a23d04d4c6d61f1af522b4c"
+checksum = "4c614d17805b093df4b147b51339e7e44bf05ef59fba1e45d83500bcfb4d8585"
 dependencies = [
  "proc-macro2",
  "quote",
- "syn",
+ "syn 2.0.12",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "syn"
+version = "1.0.109"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "72b64191b275b66ffe2469e8af2c1cfe3bafa67b529ead792a6d0160888b4237"
+dependencies = [
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "unicode-ident",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "syn"
-version = "1.0.102"
+version = "2.0.12"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "3fcd952facd492f9be3ef0d0b7032a6e442ee9b361d4acc2b1d0c4aaa5f613a1"
+checksum = "79d9531f94112cfc3e4c8f5f02cb2b58f72c97b7efd85f70203cc6d8efda5927"
 dependencies = [
  "proc-macro2",
  "quote",
@@ -288,29 +378,29 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "thiserror"
-version = "1.0.37"
+version = "1.0.40"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "10deb33631e3c9018b9baf9dcbbc4f737320d2b576bac10f6aefa048fa407e3e"
+checksum = "978c9a314bd8dc99be594bc3c175faaa9794be04a5a5e153caba6915336cebac"
 dependencies = [
  "thiserror-impl",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "thiserror-impl"
-version = "1.0.37"
+version = "1.0.40"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "982d17546b47146b28f7c22e3d08465f6b8903d0ea13c1660d9d84a6e7adcdbb"
+checksum = "f9456a42c5b0d803c8cd86e73dd7cc9edd429499f37a3550d286d5e86720569f"
 dependencies = [
  "proc-macro2",
  "quote",
- "syn",
+ "syn 2.0.12",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "unicode-ident"
-version = "1.0.5"
+version = "1.0.8"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "6ceab39d59e4c9499d4e5a8ee0e2735b891bb7308ac83dfb4e80cad195c9f6f3"
+checksum = "e5464a87b239f13a63a501f2701565754bae92d243d4bb7eb12f6d57d2269bf4"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "unreachable"
diff --git a/native/ex_netcdf/Cargo.toml b/native/ex_netcdf/Cargo.toml
index 7877338..266c240 100644
--- a/native/ex_netcdf/Cargo.toml
+++ b/native/ex_netcdf/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,6 +11,6 @@ crate-type = ["cdylib"]
 
 [dependencies]
 rustler = "0.26.0"
-netcdf = "0.7.0"
+netcdf = { version = "0.8.1", features = ["static"] }
 thiserror = "1"
-ndarray = "0.15.6"
+ndarray = "0.15.6"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/native/ex_netcdf/src/lib.rs b/native/ex_netcdf/src/lib.rs
index 4870605..c4bfbbc 100644
--- a/native/ex_netcdf/src/lib.rs
+++ b/native/ex_netcdf/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use netcdf::attribute::Attribute;
+use netcdf::extent::{Extents, Extents::All};
 use netcdf::types::{BasicType, VariableType};
 use rustler::{Env, Term};
 
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ rustler::atoms! {
     u64_t = "u64",
     f32_t = "f32",
     f64_t = "f64",
+    string_t = "string"
 }
 
 fn on_load(env: Env, _info: Term) -> bool {
@@ -68,52 +70,57 @@ fn variable_values(
 fn get_variable_values(
     variable: &netcdf::variable::Variable,
 ) -> Result<(Value, rustler::types::atom::Atom), NetCDFError> {
+    match variable.vartype() {
+        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Byte) => load_numeric_variable_values::<u8>(variable),
+        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Char) => load_numeric_variable_values::<i8>(variable),
+        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Ubyte) => load_numeric_variable_values::<u8>(variable),
+        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Short) => load_numeric_variable_values::<i16>(variable),
+        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Ushort) => load_numeric_variable_values::<u16>(variable),
+        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Int) => load_numeric_variable_values::<i32>(variable),
+        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Uint) => load_numeric_variable_values::<u32>(variable),
+        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Int64) => load_numeric_variable_values::<i64>(variable),
+        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Uint64) => load_numeric_variable_values::<u64>(variable),
+        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Float) => load_numeric_variable_values::<f32>(variable),
+        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Double) => load_numeric_variable_values::<f64>(variable),
+        VariableType::String => load_string_variable_values(variable),
+        _ => Err(error::NetCDFError::NetCDF(
+            netcdf::error::Error::WrongDataset,
+        )),
+    }
+}
+
+fn load_numeric_variable_values<T>(
+    variable: &netcdf::variable::Variable,
+) -> Result<(Value, rustler::types::atom::Atom), NetCDFError>
+where
+    Value: From<Vec<T>>,
+    T: netcdf::NcPutGet,
+{
     let var_type = variable.vartype();
     let type_name = var_type.name();
+    let error = netcdf::error::Error::Str(format!("unable to load type {}", type_name));
 
-    let values = match var_type {
-        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Byte) => variable
-            .values::<u8>(None, None)
-            .map(|x| Value::from(x.into_raw_vec())),
-        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Char) => variable
-            .values::<i8>(None, None)
-            .map(|x| Value::from(x.into_raw_vec())),
-        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Ubyte) => variable
-            .values::<u8>(None, None)
-            .map(|x| Value::from(x.into_raw_vec())),
-        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Short) => variable
-            .values::<i16>(None, None)
-            .map(|x| Value::from(x.into_raw_vec())),
-        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Ushort) => variable
-            .values::<u16>(None, None)
-            .map(|x| Value::from(x.into_raw_vec())),
-        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Int) => variable
-            .values::<i32>(None, None)
-            .map(|x| Value::from(x.into_raw_vec())),
-        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Uint) => variable
-            .values::<u32>(None, None)
-            .map(|x| Value::from(x.into_raw_vec())),
-        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Int64) => variable
-            .values::<i64>(None, None)
-            .map(|x| Value::from(x.into_raw_vec())),
-        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Uint64) => variable
-            .values::<u64>(None, None)
-            .map(|x| Value::from(x.into_raw_vec())),
-        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Float) => variable
-            .values::<f32>(None, None)
-            .map(|x| Value::from(x.into_raw_vec())),
-        VariableType::Basic(BasicType::Double) => variable
-            .values::<f64>(None, None)
-            .map(|x| Value::from(x.into_raw_vec())),
-        _ => Err(netcdf::error::Error::Str(format!(
-            "unable to load type {}",
-            type_name
-        ))),
-    };
+    let value = variable
+        .values::<T, Extents>(All)
+        .map_err(|_| error::NetCDFError::NetCDF(error))?;
+    Ok((Value::from(value), as_type_atom(&type_name)))
+}
+
+fn load_string_variable_values(
+    variable: &netcdf::variable::Variable,
+) -> Result<(Value, rustler::types::atom::Atom), NetCDFError> {
+    let time_len = variable.len() as usize;
+    let mut values: Vec<String> = Vec::with_capacity(time_len);
+
+    for i in 0..time_len {
+        let error = netcdf::error::Error::Str("unable to load string variable".to_string());
+        let value: String = variable
+            .string_value::<Extents>(i.into())
+            .map_err(|_| error::NetCDFError::NetCDF(error))?;
+        values.push(value);
+    }
 
-    values
-        .map(|result| (result, as_type_atom(&type_name)))
-        .map_err(NetCDFError::NetCDF)
+    Ok((Value::from(values), string_t()))
 }
 
 fn as_type_atom(type_name: &str) -> rustler::types::atom::Atom {
diff --git a/priv/string_test.nc b/priv/string_test.nc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdf97c1
Binary files /dev/null and b/priv/string_test.nc differ
diff --git a/test/netcdf/variable_test.exs b/test/netcdf/variable_test.exs
index 5e507fc..c56bc46 100644
--- a/test/netcdf/variable_test.exs
+++ b/test/netcdf/variable_test.exs
@@ -47,5 +47,22 @@ defmodule NetCDF.VariableTest do
                      )
                    end
     end
+
+    test "loads string variable" do
+      filename = Path.join(:code.priv_dir(:netcdf), "string_test.nc")
+      {:ok, file} = File.open(filename)
+
+      assert %File{filename: ^filename, resource: _, variables: ["string_var"]} = file
+
+      assert {:ok,
+              %Variable{
+                name: "string_var",
+                value: ~w(Hello world ! This is a test),
+                type: :string,
+                attributes: attributes
+              }} = Variable.load(file, "string_var")
+
+      assert %{} == attributes
+    end
   end
 end