diff --git a/scripts/release_publish.py b/scripts/release_publish.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..538a2d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/release_publish.py
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+import re
+import subprocess
+import os
+import argparse
+
+class FileWithVersionToUpdate:
+    def __init__(self, filename, version_regex) -> None:
+        self.filename = filename
+        self.version_regex = version_regex
+        self.location = None
+
+    def set_file_location(self, location):
+        self.location = location
+
+
+def get_new_release_version_from_branch_name() -> str:
+    git_branch = subprocess.check_output(['git', 'rev-parse', '--abbrev-ref', 'HEAD']).strip().decode()
+    return git_branch
+
+def replace_version_in_files(files : list, new_release_version: str):
+    if files is None:
+        print("Error: No Files found!")
+        return
+
+    for file in files:
+        replace_version_in_file(file,new_release_version)
+
+def replace_version_in_file(file: FileWithVersionToUpdate,new_release_version: str):
+    with open(file.location, 'r') as input_file:
+        input_text = input_file.read()
+
+    output_text = re.sub(file.version_regex, rf'\g<1>{new_release_version}\g<3>', input_text)
+    print(f"Info: Replaced version with '{new_release_version}' in file '{file.location}'.")
+
+    with open(file.location, 'w') as output_file:
+        output_file.write(output_text)
+
+def get_file_to_update_list():
+    file_list = []
+    file_list.append(FileWithVersionToUpdate('package.json', r'("version":\s*")([\d\.]+)(")'))
+    file_list.append(FileWithVersionToUpdate('sushi-config.yaml', r'(version:\s*")(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)(")'))
+    file_list.append(FileWithVersionToUpdate('ruleset.fsh', r'(\*\s*version\s*=\s*")([\d\.]+)(")'))
+    return file_list
+
+
+def locate_files_in_current_project(files: list):
+    return_list = []
+    for current_file in files:
+        file_location = find_file(current_file.filename, ".")
+        if file_location is not None:
+            current_file.set_file_location(file_location)
+            return_list.append(current_file)
+        else:
+            print(f"Warning: File '{current_file.filename}' not found.")
+    return return_list
+
+def find_file(name, path="."):
+    for root, dirs, files in os.walk(path):
+
+        if name in files:
+            print(f"Info: Found '{name}' in {root}.")
+            return os.path.join(root, name)
+    return None
+
+def get_latest_release_tag():
+    cmd = 'git describe --abbrev=0 --tags --match "v*.*.*" HEAD'
+    try:
+        output = subprocess.check_output(cmd, shell=True)
+        return output.decode().strip()
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+        return None
+
+def output_commit_messages_since_last_release():
+    latest_release_tag = get_latest_release_tag()
+    if latest_release_tag is None:
+        print("Warning: No release tag found.")
+        return
+
+    cmd = f'git log --pretty=format:"%s" {latest_release_tag}..HEAD'
+    try:
+        output = subprocess.check_output(cmd, shell=True)
+        print(output.decode())
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+        print("Warning: Failed to get commit messages.")
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Update release version number')
+    parser.add_argument('-b', '--branch', action='store_true', help='get new version from branch name')
+    parser.add_argument('-v', '--version', type=str, help='specify new version number')
+    parser.add_argument('-o', '--output', action='store_true', help='output commit messages since last release')
+
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    if args.version:
+        new_release_version = args.version
+    elif args.branch:
+        new_release_version = get_new_release_version_from_branch_name()
+    else:
+        parser.error('No new release version specified. Please use either -v or -b to specify the new release version.')
+
+    if args.output:
+        output_commit_messages_since_last_release()
+
+    file_to_update_list = get_file_to_update_list()
+    file_list = locate_files_in_current_project(file_to_update_list)
+    replace_version_in_files(file_list, new_release_version)
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
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