diff --git a/STATUS.md b/STATUS.md
index 1f13594..5bb1242 100644
--- a/STATUS.md
+++ b/STATUS.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Rover implementation status — 0.2.0-alpha.1
+# Rover implementation status — 0.0.1
 
 This is an expanded local OSS implementation, not completion of every capability in
 the original ten-layer vision. Working code and independently tested boundaries are
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8acdd82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0.0.1