diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 5871f26..1918894 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 *.pyc
-build
+MANIFEST
+build/
+dist/
+Minecraft_Overviewer.egg-info
 terrain.png
 cachedir*
 
@@ -14,10 +17,13 @@ ImPlatform.h
 Imaging.h
 
 # various forms of compiled c_overviewer extensions
-c_overviewer.so
-c_overviewer.pyd
-c_overviewer_d.pyd
-c_overviewer.dylib
+overviewer_core/c_overviewer.so
+overviewer_core/c_overviewer.pyd
+overviewer_core/c_overviewer_d.pyd
+overviewer_core/c_overviewer.dylib
+
+# generated version file
+overviewer_core/overviewer_version.py
 
 # Mac OS X noise
 .DS_Store
diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe84bcb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+include COPYING.txt
+include README.rst
+include CONTRIBUTORS.rst
+include overviewer.py
+include sample.settings.py
+recursive-include contrib/ *.py
+recursive-include overviewer_core/*.py
+recursive-include overviewer_core/src/ *.c *.h
+recursive-include overviewer_core/data/ *.png *.js index.html style.css
diff --git a/blockcounter.py b/contrib/blockcounter.py
similarity index 100%
rename from blockcounter.py
rename to contrib/blockcounter.py
diff --git a/overviewer.py b/overviewer.py
index 9f13b8f..29502aa 100755
--- a/overviewer.py
+++ b/overviewer.py
@@ -22,14 +22,13 @@ if not (sys.version_info[0] == 2 and sys.version_info[1] >= 6):
 
 import os
 import os.path
-from configParser import ConfigOptionParser
 import re
 import subprocess
 import multiprocessing
 import time
 import logging
-import util
 import platform
+from overviewer_core import util
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO,format="%(asctime)s [%(levelname)s] %(message)s")
 
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ this_dir = util.get_program_path()
 
 # make sure the c_overviewer extension is available
 try:
-    import c_overviewer
+    from overviewer_core import c_overviewer
 except ImportError:
     ## if this is a frozen windows package, the following error messages about
     ## building the c_overviewer extension are not appropriate
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ except ImportError:
 
 
     ## try to find the build extension
-    ext = os.path.join(this_dir, "c_overviewer.%s" % ("pyd" if platform.system() == "Windows" else "so"))
+    ext = os.path.join(this_dir, "overviewer_core", "c_overviewer.%s" % ("pyd" if platform.system() == "Windows" else "so"))
     if os.path.exists(ext):
         print "Something has gone wrong importing the c_overviewer extension.  Please"
         print "make sure it is up-to-date (clean and rebuild)"
@@ -57,14 +56,17 @@ except ImportError:
 
     print "You need to compile the c_overviewer module to run Minecraft Overviewer."
     print "Run `python setup.py build`, or see the README for details."
+    import traceback
+    traceback.print_exc()
     sys.exit(1)
 
+
 if hasattr(sys, "frozen"):
     pass # we don't bother with a compat test since it should always be in sync
 elif "extension_version" in dir(c_overviewer):
     # check to make sure the binary matches the headers
-    if os.path.exists(os.path.join(this_dir, "src", "overviewer.h")):
-        with open(os.path.join(this_dir, "src", "overviewer.h")) as f:
+    if os.path.exists(os.path.join(this_dir, "overviewer_core", "src", "overviewer.h")):
+        with open(os.path.join(this_dir, "overviewer_core", "src", "overviewer.h")) as f:
             lines = f.readlines()
             lines = filter(lambda x: x.startswith("#define OVERVIEWER_EXTENSION_VERSION"), lines)
             if lines:
@@ -76,12 +78,10 @@ else:
     print "Please rebuild your c_overviewer module.  It is out of date!"
     sys.exit(1)
 
+from overviewer_core.configParser import ConfigOptionParser
+from overviewer_core import optimizeimages, world, quadtree
+from overviewer_core import googlemap, rendernode
 
-import optimizeimages
-import world
-import quadtree
-import googlemap
-import rendernode
 
 helptext = """
 %prog [OPTIONS] <World # / Name / Path to World> <tiles dest dir>
@@ -124,14 +124,14 @@ def main():
 
 
     if options.version:
-        print "Minecraft-Overviewer"
-        print "Git version: %s" % util.findGitVersion()
         try:
-            import overviewer_version
-            if hasattr(sys, "frozen"):
-                print "py2exe version build on %s" % overviewer_version.BUILD_DATE
-                print "Build machine: %s %s" % (overviewer_version.BUILD_PLATFORM, overviewer_version.BUILD_OS)
+            import overviewer_core.overviewer_version as overviewer_version
+            print "Minecraft-Overviewer %s" % overviewer_version.VERSION
+            print "Git commit: %s" % overviewer_version.HASH
+            print "built on %s" % overviewer_version.BUILD_DATE
+            print "Build machine: %s %s" % (overviewer_version.BUILD_PLATFORM, overviewer_version.BUILD_OS)
         except:
+            print "version info not found"
             pass
         sys.exit(0)
     
diff --git a/overviewer_core/__init__.py b/overviewer_core/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/chunk.py b/overviewer_core/chunk.py
similarity index 100%
rename from chunk.py
rename to overviewer_core/chunk.py
diff --git a/composite.py b/overviewer_core/composite.py
similarity index 100%
rename from composite.py
rename to overviewer_core/composite.py
diff --git a/configParser.py b/overviewer_core/configParser.py
similarity index 100%
rename from configParser.py
rename to overviewer_core/configParser.py
diff --git a/textures/fire.png b/overviewer_core/data/textures/fire.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/fire.png
rename to overviewer_core/data/textures/fire.png
diff --git a/textures/lava.png b/overviewer_core/data/textures/lava.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/lava.png
rename to overviewer_core/data/textures/lava.png
diff --git a/textures/portal.png b/overviewer_core/data/textures/portal.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/portal.png
rename to overviewer_core/data/textures/portal.png
diff --git a/textures/water.png b/overviewer_core/data/textures/water.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/water.png
rename to overviewer_core/data/textures/water.png
diff --git a/web_assets/compass.png b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/compass.png
similarity index 100%
rename from web_assets/compass.png
rename to overviewer_core/data/web_assets/compass.png
diff --git a/web_assets/control-bg-active.png b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/control-bg-active.png
similarity index 100%
rename from web_assets/control-bg-active.png
rename to overviewer_core/data/web_assets/control-bg-active.png
diff --git a/web_assets/control-bg.png b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/control-bg.png
similarity index 100%
rename from web_assets/control-bg.png
rename to overviewer_core/data/web_assets/control-bg.png
diff --git a/web_assets/index.html b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/index.html
similarity index 100%
rename from web_assets/index.html
rename to overviewer_core/data/web_assets/index.html
diff --git a/web_assets/overviewer.css b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/overviewer.css
similarity index 100%
rename from web_assets/overviewer.css
rename to overviewer_core/data/web_assets/overviewer.css
diff --git a/web_assets/overviewer.js b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/overviewer.js
similarity index 100%
rename from web_assets/overviewer.js
rename to overviewer_core/data/web_assets/overviewer.js
diff --git a/web_assets/overviewerConfig.js b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/overviewerConfig.js
similarity index 100%
rename from web_assets/overviewerConfig.js
rename to overviewer_core/data/web_assets/overviewerConfig.js
diff --git a/web_assets/signpost-shadow.png b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/signpost-shadow.png
similarity index 100%
rename from web_assets/signpost-shadow.png
rename to overviewer_core/data/web_assets/signpost-shadow.png
diff --git a/web_assets/signpost.png b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/signpost.png
similarity index 100%
rename from web_assets/signpost.png
rename to overviewer_core/data/web_assets/signpost.png
diff --git a/web_assets/signpost_icon.png b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/signpost_icon.png
similarity index 100%
rename from web_assets/signpost_icon.png
rename to overviewer_core/data/web_assets/signpost_icon.png
diff --git a/googlemap.py b/overviewer_core/googlemap.py
similarity index 93%
rename from googlemap.py
rename to overviewer_core/googlemap.py
index 48fede1..7d4dc7e 100644
--- a/googlemap.py
+++ b/overviewer_core/googlemap.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import json
 
 import util
 from c_overviewer import get_render_mode_inheritance
+import overviewer_version
 
 """
 This module has routines related to generating a Google Maps-based
@@ -98,7 +99,11 @@ class MapGen(object):
             blank.save(os.path.join(tileDir, "blank."+quadtree.imgformat))
 
         # copy web assets into destdir:
-        mirror_dir(os.path.join(util.get_program_path(), "web_assets"), self.destdir)
+        global_assets = os.path.join(util.get_program_path(), "overviewer_core", "data", "web_assets")
+        if not os.path.isdir(global_assets):
+            global_assets = os.path.join(util.get_program_path(), "web_assets")
+        mirror_dir(global_assets, self.destdir)
+        
         # do the same with the local copy, if we have it
         if self.web_assets_path:
             mirror_dir(self.web_assets_path, self.destdir)
@@ -131,9 +136,9 @@ class MapGen(object):
         indexpath = os.path.join(self.destdir, "index.html")
 
         index = open(indexpath, 'r').read()
-        index = index.replace(
-                "{time}", str(strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %Z", localtime())))
-        index = index.replace("{version}", util.findGitVersion())
+        index = index.replace("{time}", str(strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %Z", localtime())))
+        versionstr = "%s (%s)" % (overviewer_version.VERSION, overviewer_version.HASH[:7])
+        index = index.replace("{version}", versionstr)
 
         with open(os.path.join(self.destdir, "index.html"), 'w') as output:
             output.write(index)
diff --git a/nbt.py b/overviewer_core/nbt.py
similarity index 100%
rename from nbt.py
rename to overviewer_core/nbt.py
diff --git a/optimizeimages.py b/overviewer_core/optimizeimages.py
similarity index 100%
rename from optimizeimages.py
rename to overviewer_core/optimizeimages.py
diff --git a/quadtree.py b/overviewer_core/quadtree.py
similarity index 100%
rename from quadtree.py
rename to overviewer_core/quadtree.py
diff --git a/rendernode.py b/overviewer_core/rendernode.py
similarity index 100%
rename from rendernode.py
rename to overviewer_core/rendernode.py
diff --git a/src/Draw.c b/overviewer_core/src/Draw.c
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Draw.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/Draw.c
diff --git a/src/composite.c b/overviewer_core/src/composite.c
similarity index 100%
rename from src/composite.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/composite.c
diff --git a/src/endian.c b/overviewer_core/src/endian.c
similarity index 100%
rename from src/endian.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/endian.c
diff --git a/src/iterate.c b/overviewer_core/src/iterate.c
similarity index 99%
rename from src/iterate.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/iterate.c
index d86ecbf..29d1219 100644
--- a/src/iterate.c
+++ b/overviewer_core/src/iterate.c
@@ -33,13 +33,13 @@ PyObject *init_chunk_render(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    textures = PyImport_ImportModule("textures");
+    textures = PyImport_ImportModule("overviewer_core.textures");
     /* ensure none of these pointers are NULL */    
     if ((!textures)) {
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    chunk_mod = PyImport_ImportModule("chunk");
+    chunk_mod = PyImport_ImportModule("overviewer_core.chunk");
     /* ensure none of these pointers are NULL */    
     if ((!chunk_mod)) {
         return NULL;
diff --git a/src/main.c b/overviewer_core/src/main.c
similarity index 100%
rename from src/main.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/main.c
diff --git a/src/overviewer.h b/overviewer_core/src/overviewer.h
similarity index 100%
rename from src/overviewer.h
rename to overviewer_core/src/overviewer.h
diff --git a/src/rendermode-cave.c b/overviewer_core/src/rendermode-cave.c
similarity index 100%
rename from src/rendermode-cave.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/rendermode-cave.c
diff --git a/src/rendermode-lighting.c b/overviewer_core/src/rendermode-lighting.c
similarity index 100%
rename from src/rendermode-lighting.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/rendermode-lighting.c
diff --git a/src/rendermode-night.c b/overviewer_core/src/rendermode-night.c
similarity index 100%
rename from src/rendermode-night.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/rendermode-night.c
diff --git a/src/rendermode-normal.c b/overviewer_core/src/rendermode-normal.c
similarity index 100%
rename from src/rendermode-normal.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/rendermode-normal.c
diff --git a/src/rendermode-overlay.c b/overviewer_core/src/rendermode-overlay.c
similarity index 100%
rename from src/rendermode-overlay.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/rendermode-overlay.c
diff --git a/src/rendermode-spawn.c b/overviewer_core/src/rendermode-spawn.c
similarity index 100%
rename from src/rendermode-spawn.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/rendermode-spawn.c
diff --git a/src/rendermodes.c b/overviewer_core/src/rendermodes.c
similarity index 100%
rename from src/rendermodes.c
rename to overviewer_core/src/rendermodes.c
diff --git a/src/rendermodes.h b/overviewer_core/src/rendermodes.h
similarity index 100%
rename from src/rendermodes.h
rename to overviewer_core/src/rendermodes.h
diff --git a/textures.py b/overviewer_core/textures.py
similarity index 99%
rename from textures.py
rename to overviewer_core/textures.py
index 5e2db3b..f1da1b2 100644
--- a/textures.py
+++ b/overviewer_core/textures.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #    with the Overviewer.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import sys
+import imp
 import os
 import os.path
 import zipfile
@@ -32,8 +33,8 @@ def _find_file(filename, mode="rb"):
     This searches the following locations in this order:
     
     * the textures_path given in the config file (if present)
-    * The program dir (same dir as this file)
-    * The program dir / textures
+    * The program dir (same dir as overviewer.py)
+    * The overviewer_core textures dir
     * On Darwin, in /Applications/Minecraft
     * Inside minecraft.jar, which is looked for at these locations
 
@@ -53,9 +54,14 @@ def _find_file(filename, mode="rb"):
     if os.path.exists(path):
         return open(path, mode)
     
-    path = os.path.join(programdir, "textures", filename)
+    path = os.path.join(programdir, "overviewer_core", "data", "textures", filename)
     if os.path.exists(path):
         return open(path, mode)
+    elif hasattr(sys, "frozen") or imp.is_frozen("__main__"):
+        # windows special case, when the package dir doesn't exist
+        path = os.path.join(programdir, "textures", filename)
+        if os.path.exists(path):
+            return open(path, mode)
 
     if sys.platform == "darwin":
         path = os.path.join("/Applications/Minecraft", filename)
diff --git a/util.py b/overviewer_core/util.py
similarity index 68%
rename from util.py
rename to overviewer_core/util.py
index 7a0323d..2bd15b5 100644
--- a/util.py
+++ b/overviewer_core/util.py
@@ -21,19 +21,22 @@ import imp
 import os
 import os.path
 import sys
+from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
 
 def get_program_path():
     if hasattr(sys, "frozen") or imp.is_frozen("__main__"):
         return os.path.dirname(sys.executable)
     else:
         try:
-            return os.path.dirname(__file__)
+            # normally, we're in ./overviewer_core/util.py
+            # we want ./
+            return os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__))
         except NameError:
             return os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0])
 
 
-
-def findGitVersion():
+# does not require git, very likely to work everywhere
+def findGitHash():
     this_dir = get_program_path()
     if os.path.exists(os.path.join(this_dir,".git")):
         with open(os.path.join(this_dir,".git","HEAD")) as f:
@@ -46,6 +49,24 @@ def findGitVersion():
         else:
             return data
     else:
+        try:
+            import overviewer_version
+            return overviewer_version.HASH
+        except:
+            return "unknown"
+
+def findGitVersion():
+    try:
+        p = Popen(['git', 'describe', '--tags'], stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE)
+        p.stderr.close()
+        line = p.stdout.readlines()[0]
+        if line.startswith('release-'):
+            line = line.split('-', 1)[1]
+        # turn 0.1.2-50-somehash into 0.1.2-50
+        # and 0.1.3 into 0.1.3
+        line = '-'.join(line.split('-', 2)[:2])
+        return line.strip()
+    except:
         try:
             import overviewer_version
             return overviewer_version.VERSION
diff --git a/world.py b/overviewer_core/world.py
similarity index 100%
rename from world.py
rename to overviewer_core/world.py
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index da767ed..a3a4c37
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,26 +1,60 @@
-from distutils.core import setup, Extension
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+from distutils.core import setup
+from distutils.extension import Extension
 from distutils.command.build import build
 from distutils.command.clean import clean
 from distutils.command.build_ext import build_ext
+from distutils.command.sdist import sdist
 from distutils.dir_util import remove_tree
 from distutils.sysconfig import get_python_inc
 from distutils import log
-import os, os.path
+import sys, os, os.path
 import glob
 import platform
 import time
+import overviewer_core.util as util
 
 try:
     import py2exe
 except ImportError:
     py2exe = None
 
+try:
+    import py2app
+    from setuptools.extension import Extension
+except ImportError:
+    py2app = None
+
 # now, setup the keyword arguments for setup
-# (because we don't know until runtime if py2exe is available)
+# (because we don't know until runtime if py2exe/py2app is available)
 setup_kwargs = {}
-setup_kwargs['options'] = {}
 setup_kwargs['ext_modules'] = []
 setup_kwargs['cmdclass'] = {}
+setup_kwargs['options'] = {}
+
+#
+# metadata
+#
+
+# Utility function to read the README file.  
+# Used for the long_description.  It's nice, because now 1) we have a top level
+# README file and 2) it's easier to type in the README file than to put a raw
+# string in below ...
+def read(fname):
+    return open(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), fname)).read()
+
+setup_kwargs['name'] = 'Minecraft-Overviewer'
+setup_kwargs['version'] = util.findGitVersion()
+setup_kwargs['description'] = 'Generates large resolution images of a Minecraft map.'
+setup_kwargs['url'] = 'http://overviewer.org/'
+setup_kwargs['author'] = 'Andrew Brown'
+setup_kwargs['author_email'] = 'brownan@gmail.com'
+setup_kwargs['license'] = 'GNU General Public License v3'
+setup_kwargs['long_description'] = read('README.rst')
+
+# top-level files that should be included as documentation
+doc_files = ['COPYING.txt', 'README.rst', 'CONTRIBUTORS.rst', 'sample.settings.py']
 
 # helper to create a 'data_files'-type sequence recursively for a given dir
 def recursive_data_files(src, dest=None):
@@ -46,9 +80,9 @@ def recursive_data_files(src, dest=None):
 
 if py2exe is not None:
     setup_kwargs['console'] = ['overviewer.py']
-    setup_kwargs['data_files'] = [('textures', ['textures/lava.png', 'textures/water.png', 'textures/fire.png', 'textures/portal.png']),
-                                  ('', ['COPYING.txt', 'README.rst'])]
-    setup_kwargs['data_files'] += recursive_data_files('web_assets')
+    setup_kwargs['data_files'] = [('', doc_files)]
+    setup_kwargs['data_files'] += recursive_data_files('overviewer_core/data/textures', 'textures')
+    setup_kwargs['data_files'] += recursive_data_files('overviewer_core/data/web_assets', 'web_assets')
     setup_kwargs['zipfile'] = None
     if platform.system() == 'Windows' and '64bit' in platform.architecture():
         b = 3
@@ -56,6 +90,28 @@ if py2exe is not None:
         b = 1
     setup_kwargs['options']['py2exe'] = {'bundle_files' : b, 'excludes': 'Tkinter'}
 
+#
+# py2app options
+#
+
+if py2app is not None:
+    setup_kwargs['app'] = ['overviewer.py']
+    setup_kwargs['options']['py2app'] = {'argv_emulation' : False}
+    setup_kwargs['setup_requires'] = ['py2app']
+
+#
+# script, package, and data
+#
+
+setup_kwargs['packages'] = ['overviewer_core']
+setup_kwargs['scripts'] = ['overviewer.py']
+setup_kwargs['package_data'] = {'overviewer_core':
+                                    ['data/textures/*',
+                                     'data/web_assets/*']}
+if py2exe is None:
+    setup_kwargs['data_files'] = [('share/doc/minecraft-overviewer', doc_files)]
+
+
 #
 # c_overviewer extension
 #
@@ -79,20 +135,23 @@ except:
 # used to figure out what files to compile
 render_modes = ['normal', 'overlay', 'lighting', 'night', 'spawn', 'cave']
 
-c_overviewer_files = ['src/main.c', 'src/composite.c', 'src/iterate.c', 'src/endian.c', 'src/rendermodes.c']
-c_overviewer_files += map(lambda mode: 'src/rendermode-%s.c' % (mode,), render_modes)
-c_overviewer_files += ['src/Draw.c']
-c_overviewer_includes = ['src/overviewer.h', 'src/rendermodes.h']
+c_overviewer_files = ['main.c', 'composite.c', 'iterate.c', 'endian.c', 'rendermodes.c']
+c_overviewer_files += map(lambda mode: 'rendermode-%s.c' % (mode,), render_modes)
+c_overviewer_files += ['Draw.c']
+c_overviewer_includes = ['overviewer.h', 'rendermodes.h']
+
+c_overviewer_files = map(lambda s: 'overviewer_core/src/'+s, c_overviewer_files)
+c_overviewer_includes = map(lambda s: 'overviewer_core/src/'+s, c_overviewer_includes)
+
+setup_kwargs['ext_modules'].append(Extension('overviewer_core.c_overviewer', c_overviewer_files, include_dirs=['.', numpy_include] + pil_include, depends=c_overviewer_includes, extra_link_args=[]))
 
-setup_kwargs['ext_modules'].append(Extension('c_overviewer', c_overviewer_files, include_dirs=['.', numpy_include] + pil_include, depends=c_overviewer_includes, extra_link_args=[]))
 
 # tell build_ext to build the extension in-place
 # (NOT in build/)
 setup_kwargs['options']['build_ext'] = {'inplace' : 1}
-# tell the build command to only run build_ext
-build.sub_commands = [('build_ext', None)]
 
 # custom clean command to remove in-place extension
+# and the version file
 class CustomClean(clean):
     def run(self):
         # do the normal cleanup
@@ -101,7 +160,7 @@ class CustomClean(clean):
         # try to remove '_composite.{so,pyd,...}' extension,
         # regardless of the current system's extension name convention
         build_ext = self.get_finalized_command('build_ext')
-        pretty_fname = build_ext.get_ext_filename('c_overviewer')
+        pretty_fname = build_ext.get_ext_filename('overviewer_core.c_overviewer')
         fname = pretty_fname
         if os.path.exists(fname):
             try:
@@ -114,8 +173,43 @@ class CustomClean(clean):
         else:
             log.debug("'%s' does not exist -- can't clean it",
                       pretty_fname)
+        
+        versionpath = os.path.join("overviewer_core", "overviewer_version.py")
+        try:
+            if not self.dry_run:
+                os.remove(versionpath)
+            log.info("removing '%s'", versionpath)
+        except OSError:
+            log.warn("'%s' could not be cleaned -- permission denied", versionpath)
 
-class CustomBuild(build_ext):
+def generate_version_py():
+    try:
+        outstr = ""
+        outstr += "VERSION=%r\n" % util.findGitVersion()
+        outstr += "HASH=%r\n" % util.findGitHash()
+        outstr += "BUILD_DATE=%r\n" % time.asctime()
+        outstr += "BUILD_PLATFORM=%r\n" % platform.processor()
+        outstr += "BUILD_OS=%r\n" % platform.platform()
+        f = open("overviewer_core/overviewer_version.py", "w")
+        f.write(outstr)
+        f.close()
+    except:
+        print "WARNING: failed to build overview_version file"
+
+class CustomSDist(sdist):
+    def run(self):
+        # generate the version file
+        generate_version_py()
+        sdist.run(self)
+
+class CustomBuild(build):
+    def run(self):
+        # generate the version file
+        generate_version_py()
+        build.run(self)
+        print "\nBuild Complete"
+
+class CustomBuildExt(build_ext):
     def build_extensions(self):
         c = self.compiler.compiler_type
         if c == "msvc":
@@ -123,32 +217,18 @@ class CustomBuild(build_ext):
             for e in self.extensions:
                 e.extra_link_args.append("/MANIFEST")
 
+        # build in place, and in the build/ tree
+        self.inplace = False
+        build_ext.build_extensions(self)
+        self.inplace = True
         build_ext.build_extensions(self)
         
 
-if py2exe  is not None:
-# define a subclass of py2exe to build our version file on the fly
-    class CustomPy2exe(py2exe.build_exe.py2exe):
-        def run(self):
-            try:
-                import util
-                f = open("overviewer_version.py", "w")
-                f.write("VERSION=%r\n" % util.findGitVersion())
-                f.write("BUILD_DATE=%r\n" % time.asctime())
-                f.write("BUILD_PLATFORM=%r\n" % platform.processor())
-                f.write("BUILD_OS=%r\n" % platform.platform())
-                f.close()
-                setup_kwargs['data_files'].append(('.', ['overviewer_version.py']))
-            except:
-                print "WARNING: failed to build overview_version file"
-            py2exe.build_exe.py2exe.run(self)
-    setup_kwargs['cmdclass']['py2exe'] = CustomPy2exe
-
 setup_kwargs['cmdclass']['clean'] = CustomClean
-setup_kwargs['cmdclass']['build_ext'] = CustomBuild
+setup_kwargs['cmdclass']['sdist'] = CustomSDist
+setup_kwargs['cmdclass']['build'] = CustomBuild
+setup_kwargs['cmdclass']['build_ext'] = CustomBuildExt
 ###
 
 setup(**setup_kwargs)
 
-
-print "\nBuild Complete"