diff --git a/slsDetectorServers/compileAllServers.sh b/slsDetectorServers/compileAllServers.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index eec8907bf..97b03bc6e
--- a/slsDetectorServers/compileAllServers.sh
+++ b/slsDetectorServers/compileAllServers.sh
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-other
 # Copyright (C) 2021 Contributors to the SLS Detector Package
 
-# empty branch = developer branch in updateAPIVersion.sh
-branch=""
 det_list=("ctbDetectorServer  
 	gotthardDetectorServer  
 	gotthard2DetectorServer 
 	jungfrauDetectorServer 
 	mythen3DetectorServer 
 	moenchDetectorServer
-	xilinx_ctbDetectorServer" 
+	xilinx_ctbDetectorServer"
 	)
-usage="\nUsage: compileAllServers.sh [server|all(opt)] [branch(opt)]. \n\tNo arguments mean all servers with 'developer' branch. \n\tNo 'branch' input means 'developer branch'"
+usage="\nUsage: compileAllServers.sh [server|all(opt)] [update_api(opt)]. \n\tNo arguments mean all servers with 'developer' branch. \n\tupdate_api if true updates the api to version in VERSION file"
 
+update_api=false
+target=clean
 # arguments
 if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
 	# no argument, all servers
@@ -35,15 +35,13 @@ elif [ $# -eq 1 ] || [ $# -eq 2 ]; then
 		declare -a det=("${1}")
 		#echo "Compiling only $1"
 	fi
-	# branch
+
 	if [ $# -eq 2 ]; then
-		# arg in list
-		if [[ $det_list == *$2* ]]; then
-			echo -e "Invalid argument 2: $2. $usage"
-			return 1
+		update_api=$2
+		if $update_api ; then
+			target=version
+			echo "updating api to $(cat ../VERSION)"
 		fi
-		branch+=$2
-		#echo "with branch $branch"
 	fi
 else
 	echo -e "Too many arguments.$usage"
@@ -62,8 +60,7 @@ do
 	file="${i}_developer"
 	echo -e "Compiling $dir [$file]"
 	cd $dir
-	make clean
-	if make version API_BRANCH=$branch; then
+	if make $target; then
 		deterror[$idet]="OK"
 	else
 		deterror[$idet]="FAIL"
diff --git a/slsDetectorServers/compileAllServers_noAPIUpdate.sh b/slsDetectorServers/compileAllServers_noAPIUpdate.sh
index ecfbdf6fb..9bef8400e 100644
--- a/slsDetectorServers/compileAllServers_noAPIUpdate.sh
+++ b/slsDetectorServers/compileAllServers_noAPIUpdate.sh
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-other
 # Copyright (C) 2021 Contributors to the SLS Detector Package
 
-# empty branch = developer branch in updateAPIVersion.sh
-branch=""
 det_list=("ctbDetectorServer" 
 	"gotthardDetectorServer" 
 	"gotthard2DetectorServer"
@@ -11,14 +9,14 @@ det_list=("ctbDetectorServer"
 	"moenchDetectorServer"
 	"xilinx_ctbDetectorServer"
 	)
-usage="\nUsage: compileAllServers.sh [server|all(opt)] [branch(opt)]. \n\tNo arguments mean all servers with 'developer' branch. \n\tNo 'branch' input means 'developer branch'"
+usage="\nUsage: compileAllServers.sh [server|all(opt)]. \n\tNo arguments mean all servers with 'developer' branch."
 
 # arguments
 if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
 	# no argument, all servers
 	declare -a det=${det_list[@]}
 	echo "Compiling all servers"
-elif [ $# -eq 1 ] || [ $# -eq 2 ]; then
+elif [ $# -eq 1 ]; then
 	# 'all' servers
 	if [[ $1 == "all" ]]; then
 		declare -a det=${det_list[@]}
@@ -33,16 +31,6 @@ elif [ $# -eq 1 ] || [ $# -eq 2 ]; then
 		declare -a det=("${1}")
 		#echo "Compiling only $1"
 	fi
-	# branch
-	if [ $# -eq 2 ]; then
-		# arg in list
-		if [[ $det_list == *$2* ]]; then
-			echo -e "Invalid argument 2: $2. $usage"
-			return -1
-		fi
-		branch+=$2
-		#echo "with branch $branch"
-	fi
 else
 	echo -e "Too many arguments.$usage"
 	return -1
@@ -60,8 +48,7 @@ do
 	file="${i}_developer"
 	echo -e "Compiling $dir [$file]"
 	cd $dir
-	make clean
-	if make API_BRANCH=$branch; then
+	if make clean; then
 		deterror[$idet]="OK"
 	else
 		deterror[$idet]="FAIL"
diff --git a/slsDetectorServers/ctbDetectorServer/Makefile b/slsDetectorServers/ctbDetectorServer/Makefile
index 5bdb5679d..22547fdc5 100755
--- a/slsDetectorServers/ctbDetectorServer/Makefile
+++ b/slsDetectorServers/ctbDetectorServer/Makefile
@@ -25,15 +25,15 @@ version: clean versioning $(PROGS)
 
 boot: $(OBJS) 
 
-version_branch=$(API_BRANCH)
 version_name=APICTB
 version_path=slsDetectorServers/ctbDetectorServer
 versioning: 
-	cd ../../ && echo $(PWD) && echo `tput setaf 6; ./updateAPIVersion.sh $(version_name) $(version_path) $(version_branch);  tput sgr0;`
+	cd ../../ && echo $(PWD) && echo `tput setaf 6; python updateAPIVersion.py $(version_name) $(version_path);  tput sgr0;`
 
 
 $(PROGS): $(OBJS)
 #	echo $(OBJS) 
+	cd $(current_dir)
 	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR) 
 	$(CC) -o $@ $^ $(CFLAGS) $(LDLIBS) 
 	mv $(PROGS) $(DESTDIR)
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ $(PROGS): $(OBJS)
 	rm $(main_src)*.o  $(md5_dir)*.o
 
 clean:
-	rm -rf $(DESTDIR)/$(PROGS)  *.o *.gdb $(main_src)*.o $(md5_dir)*.o
+	cd $(current_dir) && rm -rf $(DESTDIR)/$(PROGS)  *.o *.gdb $(main_src)*.o $(md5_dir)*.o
 	
 
 	
diff --git a/slsSupportLib/include/sls/Version.h b/slsSupportLib/include/sls/Version.h
index 33d10c27e..e4ec31631 100644
--- a/slsSupportLib/include/sls/Version.h
+++ b/slsSupportLib/include/sls/Version.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class Version {
   private:
     std::string version_;
     std::string date_;
-    const std::string defaultBranch_ = "developer";
+    inline static const std::string defaultBranch_[] = {"developer", "0.0.0"};
 
   public:
     explicit Version(const std::string &s);
diff --git a/slsSupportLib/src/Version.cpp b/slsSupportLib/src/Version.cpp
index 2be4e6c3e..3ace46217 100644
--- a/slsSupportLib/src/Version.cpp
+++ b/slsSupportLib/src/Version.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ Version::Version(const std::string &s) {
 }
 
 bool Version::hasSemanticVersioning() const {
-    return version_ != defaultBranch_;
+
+    return (version_ != defaultBranch_[0]) && (version_ != defaultBranch_[1]);
 }
 
 std::string Version::getVersion() const { return version_; }
diff --git a/slsSupportLib/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/slsSupportLib/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 4fae7a346..827db97ff 100755
--- a/slsSupportLib/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/slsSupportLib/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ target_sources(tests PRIVATE
                 ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test-TypeTraits.cpp
                 ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test-UdpRxSocket.cpp
                 ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test-logger.cpp
+                ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test-Version.cpp
                 ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test-ZmqSocket.cpp
                 )
 
diff --git a/slsSupportLib/tests/test-Version.cpp b/slsSupportLib/tests/test-Version.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9c1f1d3f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/slsSupportLib/tests/test-Version.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-other
+// Copyright (C) 2021 Contributors to the SLS Detector Package
+#include "catch.hpp"
+#include "sls/Version.h"
+
+namespace sls {
+
+TEST_CASE("check if version is semantic", "[.version]") {
+
+    auto [version_string, has_semantic_version] =
+        GENERATE(std::make_tuple("developer 0x250512", false),
+                 std::make_tuple("0.0.0 0x250512", false));
+
+    Version version(version_string);
+
+    CHECK(version.hasSemanticVersioning() == has_semantic_version);
+}
+
+} // namespace sls
diff --git a/tests/scripts/test_frame_synchronizer.py b/tests/scripts/test_frame_synchronizer.py
index 87c784cf7..b53e3f1de 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/test_frame_synchronizer.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/test_frame_synchronizer.py
@@ -44,16 +44,14 @@ def startFrameSynchronizer(num_mods, fp):
     time.sleep(1)
 
 
-def acquire(fp):
+def acquire(fp, det):
     Log(LogLevel.INFO, 'Acquiring')
     Log(LogLevel.INFO, 'Acquiring', fp)
-    d = Detector()
-    d.acquire()
+    det.acquire()
 
 
-def testFramesCaught(name, num_frames):
-    d = Detector()
-    fnum = d.rx_framescaught[0]
+def testFramesCaught(name, det, num_frames):
+    fnum = det.rx_framescaught[0]
     if fnum != num_frames:
         raise RuntimeException(f"{name} caught only {fnum}. Expected {num_frames}") 
     
@@ -61,7 +59,7 @@ def testFramesCaught(name, num_frames):
     Log(LogLevel.INFOGREEN, f'Frames caught test passed for {name}', fp)
 
 
-def testZmqHeadetTypeCount(name, num_mods, num_frames, fp):
+def testZmqHeadetTypeCount(name, det, num_mods, num_frames, fp):
 
     Log(LogLevel.INFO, f"Testing Zmq Header type count for {name}")
     Log(LogLevel.INFO, f"Testing Zmq Header type count for {name}", fp)
@@ -88,8 +86,7 @@ def testZmqHeadetTypeCount(name, num_mods, num_frames, fp):
                     continue
 
         # test if file contents matches expected counts
-        d = Detector()
-        num_ports_per_module = 1 if name == "gotthard2" else d.numinterfaces
+        num_ports_per_module = 1 if name == "gotthard2" else det.numinterfaces
         total_num_frame_parts = num_ports_per_module * num_mods * num_frames
         for htype, expected_count in [("header", num_mods), ("series_end", num_mods), ("module", total_num_frame_parts)]:
             if htype_counts[htype] != expected_count:
@@ -111,10 +108,10 @@ def startTestsForAll(args, fp):
             startDetectorVirtualServer(server, args.num_mods, fp)
             startFrameSynchronizerPullSocket(server, fp)
             startFrameSynchronizer(args.num_mods, fp)
-            loadConfig(name=server, rx_hostname=args.rx_hostname, settingsdir=args.settingspath, fp=fp, num_mods=args.num_mods, num_frames=args.num_frames)
-            acquire(fp)
-            testFramesCaught(server, args.num_frames)
-            testZmqHeadetTypeCount(server, args.num_mods, args.num_frames, fp)
+            d = loadConfig(name=server, rx_hostname=args.rx_hostname, settingsdir=args.settingspath, fp=fp, num_mods=args.num_mods, num_frames=args.num_frames)
+            acquire(fp, d)
+            testFramesCaught(server, d, args.num_frames)
+            testZmqHeadetTypeCount(server, d, args.num_mods, args.num_frames, fp)
             Log(LogLevel.INFO, '\n')
         except Exception as e:
             raise RuntimeException(f'Synchronizer Tests failed') from e
diff --git a/tests/scripts/utils_for_test.py b/tests/scripts/utils_for_test.py
index 389bfad4a..b3c4ddabf 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/utils_for_test.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/utils_for_test.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def startDetectorVirtualServer(name :str, num_mods, fp):
         cmd = [name + 'DetectorServer_virtual', '-p', str(port_no)]
         if name == 'gotthard':
             cmd += ['-m', '1']
-        startProcessInBackground(cmd, fp)
+        startProcessInBackgroundWithLogFile(cmd, fp, "/tmp/virtual_det_" + name + str(i) + ".txt")
         match name:
             case 'jungfrau':
                 time.sleep(7)
@@ -206,6 +206,8 @@ def loadConfig(name, rx_hostname, settingsdir, fp, num_mods = 1, num_frames = 1)
         d.frames = num_frames
     except Exception as e:
         raise RuntimeException(f'Could not load config for {name}. Error: {str(e)}') from e
+    
+    return d
 
 
 def ParseArguments(description, default_num_mods=1):
diff --git a/updateAPIVersion.py b/updateAPIVersion.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..934df081d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/updateAPIVersion.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-other
+# Copyright (C) 2025 Contributors to the SLS Detector Package
+"""
+Script to update API VERSION file based on the version in VERSION file.
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import sys
+import os
+import re
+import time
+from datetime import datetime
+
+
+SCRIPT_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+
+API_FILE = SCRIPT_DIR + "/slsSupportLib/include/sls/versionAPI.h"
+
+VERSION_FILE = SCRIPT_DIR + "/VERSION"
+
+parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description = 'updates API version')
+parser.add_argument('api_module_name', choices=["APILIB", "APIRECEIVER", "APICTB", "APIGOTTHARD2", "APIMOENCH", "APIEIGER", "APIXILINXCTB", "APIJUNGFRAU", "APIMYTHEN3"], help = 'module name to change api version options are: ["APILIB", "APIRECEIVER", "APICTB", "APIGOTTHARD2", "APIMOENCH", "APIEIGER", "APIXILINXCTB", "APIJUNGFRAU", "APIMYTHEN3"]')
+parser.add_argument('api_dir', help = 'Relative or absolut path to the module code')
+
+def update_api_file(new_api : str, api_module_name : str, api_file_name : str): 
+
+    regex_pattern = re.compile(rf'#define\s+{api_module_name}\s+')
+    with open(api_file_name, "r") as api_file:
+        lines = api_file.readlines()
+
+    with open(api_file_name, "w") as api_file:
+        for line in lines:
+            if regex_pattern.match(line):
+                api_file.write(f'#define {api_module_name} "{new_api}"\n')
+            else:
+                api_file.write(line)
+
+def get_latest_modification_date(directory : str):
+    latest_time = 0
+    latest_date = None
+
+    for root, dirs, files in os.walk(directory):
+        for file in files:
+            if file.endswith(".o"):
+                continue
+            full_path = os.path.join(root, file)
+            try:
+                mtime = os.path.getmtime(full_path)
+                if mtime > latest_time:
+                    latest_time = mtime
+            except FileNotFoundError:
+                continue
+    
+    latest_date = datetime.fromtimestamp(latest_time).strftime("%y%m%d")            
+
+    return latest_date
+
+
+def update_api_version(api_module_name : str, api_dir : str):
+    api_date = get_latest_modification_date(api_dir)
+    api_date = "0x"+str(api_date)
+
+    with open(VERSION_FILE, "r") as version_file: 
+        api_version = version_file.read().strip()
+
+    api_version = api_version + " " + api_date #not sure if we should give an argument option version_branch 
+
+    update_api_file(api_version, api_module_name, API_FILE)
+
+    print(f"updated {api_module_name} api version to: {api_version}")
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+
+    args = parser.parse_args() 
+
+    api_dir = SCRIPT_DIR + "/" + args.api_dir
+    
+
+    update_api_version(args.api_module_name, api_dir)
+
+
diff --git a/updateAPIVersion.sh b/updateAPIVersion.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 8c45e0c48..000000000
--- a/updateAPIVersion.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,65 +0,0 @@
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-other
-# Copyright (C) 2021 Contributors to the SLS Detector Package
-usage="\nUsage: updateAPIVersion.sh [API_NAME] [API_DIR] [API_BRANCH(opt)]."
-
-if [ $# -lt 2 ]; then
-    echo -e "Requires atleast 2 arguments. $usage"
-    return [-1]
-fi
-
-API_NAME=$1
-PACKAGE_DIR=$PWD
-API_DIR=$PACKAGE_DIR/$2
-API_FILE=$PACKAGE_DIR/slsSupportLib/include/sls/versionAPI.h
-CURR_DIR=$PWD
-
-if [ ! -d "$API_DIR" ]; then
-    echo "[API_DIR] does not exist. $usage"
-    return [-1]
-fi
-
-#go to directory
-cd $API_DIR
-
-#deleting line from file
-NUM=$(sed -n '/'$API_NAME' /=' $API_FILE)
-#echo $NUM
-
-
-if [ "$NUM" -gt 0 ]; then
-    sed -i ${NUM}d $API_FILE
-fi
-
-#find new API date
-API_DATE="find .  -printf \"%T@ %CY-%Cm-%Cd\n\"| sort -nr | cut -d' ' -f2- | egrep -v '(\.)o' | head -n 1"
-
-API_DATE=`eval $API_DATE`
-
-API_DATE=$(sed "s/-//g" <<< $API_DATE | awk '{print $1;}' ) 
-
-#extracting only date
-API_DATE=${API_DATE:2:6}
-
-#prefix of 0x
-API_DATE=${API_DATE/#/0x}
-echo "date="$API_DATE
-
-
-# API_VAL concatenates branch and date
-API_VAL=""
-# API branch is defined (3rd argument)
-if [ $# -eq 3 ]; then
-    API_BRANCH=$3
-    echo "branch="$API_BRANCH
-    API_VAL+="\"$API_BRANCH $API_DATE\""
-else
-    # API branch not defined (default is developer)
-    echo "branch=developer"
-    API_VAL+="\"developer $API_DATE\""
-fi
-
-#copy it to versionAPI.h
-echo "#define "$API_NAME $API_VAL >> $API_FILE
-
-#go back to original directory
-cd $CURR_DIR
diff --git a/updateClientAPIVersion.py b/updateClientAPIVersion.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d7764cff9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/updateClientAPIVersion.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-other
+# Copyright (C) 2025 Contributors to the SLS Detector Package
+"""
+Script to update API VERSION for slsReceiverSoftware or slsDetectorSoftware 
+""" 
+
+import argparse
+import os
+
+from updateAPIVersion import update_api_version
+
+SCRIPT_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+
+parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description = 'updates API version')
+parser.add_argument('module_name', nargs="?", choices=["slsDetectorSoftware", "slsReceiverSoftware", "all"], default="all", help = 'module name to change api version options are: ["slsDetectorSoftware", "slsReceiverSoftware, "all"]')
+
+if __name__ == "__main__": 
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    if args.module_name == "all": 
+        client_names = ["APILIB", "APIRECEIVER"]
+        client_directories = [SCRIPT_DIR+"/slsDetectorSoftware", SCRIPT_DIR+"/slsReceiverSoftware"]
+    elif args.module_name == "slsDetectorSoftware": 
+        client_names = ["APILIB"]
+        client_directories = [SCRIPT_DIR+"/slsDetectorSoftware"]
+    else: 
+        client_names = ["APIRECEIVER"]
+        client_directories = [SCRIPT_DIR+"/slsReceiverSoftware"]
+	
+    for client_name, client_directory in zip(client_names, client_directories): 
+        update_api_version(client_name, client_directory)
+		
+
+	
diff --git a/updateClientAPIVersion.sh b/updateClientAPIVersion.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index bed281622..000000000
--- a/updateClientAPIVersion.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-other
-# Copyright (C) 2021 Contributors to the SLS Detector Package
-branch=""
-client_list=("slsDetectorSoftware" "slsReceiverSoftware")
-usage="\nUsage: updateClientAPI.sh [all|slsDetectorSoftware|slsReceiverSoftware] [branch]. \n\tNo arguments means all with 'developer' branch. \n\tNo 'branch' input means 'developer branch'"
-
-# arguments
-if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
-	declare -a client=${client_list[@]}
-	echo "API Versioning all"
-elif [ $# -eq 1 ] || [ $# -eq 2 ]; then
-	# 'all' client
-	if [[ $1 == "all" ]]; then
-		declare -a client=${client_list[@]}
-		echo "API Versioning all"
-	else
-		# only one server
-		if [[ $client_list != *$1* ]]; then
-			echo -e "Invalid argument 1: $1. $usage"
-			return -1
-		fi
-		declare -a client=("${1}")
-		#echo "Versioning only $1"
-	fi
-	if [ $# -eq 2 ]; then
-		if [[ $client_list == *$2* ]]; then
-			echo -e "Invalid argument 2: $2. $usage"
-			return -1
-		fi
-		branch+=$2
-		#echo "with branch $branch"
-	fi
-else
-	echo -e "Too many arguments.$usage"
-	return -1
-fi
-
-#echo "list is: ${client[@]}"
-
-# versioning each client
-for i in ${client[@]}
-do
-	dir=$i
-	case $dir in
-		slsDetectorSoftware)
-			declare -a name=APILIB
-			;;
-		slsReceiverSoftware)
-			declare -a name=APIRECEIVER
-			;;
-		*)
-			echo -n "unknown client argument $i"
-			return -1
-			;;
-	esac
-	echo -e "Versioning $dir [$name]"
-	./updateAPIVersion.sh $name $dir $branch
-done
-