diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 6b416abc..33141cef 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,5 +1,17 @@
+import net.researchgate.release.ReleaseExtension
+
 subprojects {
     repositories {
         mavenCentral()
     }
 }
+
+plugins {
+    id("net.researchgate.release") version "3.0.2"
+}
+
+configure<ReleaseExtension> {
+    preCommitText.set("release: ")
+    preTagCommitMessage.set("update version to ")
+    newVersionCommitMessage.set("update version to ")
+}
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 60de3c8a..7edd18b4 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+version=0.1.0-SNAPSHOT
 javaOperatorVersion=4.0.1
 crdGeneratorVersion=6.1.1
 slf4jVersion=2.0.3
diff --git a/operator/build.gradle.kts b/operator/build.gradle.kts
index f9d19421..65eec44f 100644
--- a/operator/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/operator/build.gradle.kts
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ plugins {
 }
 
 group = "eu.glasskube.operator"
-version = "0.1-SNAPSHOT"
 
 val javaOperatorVersion: String by project
 val crdGeneratorVersion: String by project