diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 46610df8..b1b73c0d 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,33 +7,36 @@ set(CMAKE_AUTOMOC ON)
 # auto prepare .qrc files
 set(CMAKE_AUTORCC ON)
 
-IF ( POLICY CMP0026 )
+if ( POLICY CMP0026 )
 	CMAKE_POLICY( SET CMP0026 OLD )
-ENDIF()
+endif()
 
 # Configure CCache if available
 find_program(CCACHE_FOUND ccache)
-if(CCACHE_FOUND)
+if ( CCACHE_FOUND )
 	set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY RULE_LAUNCH_COMPILE ccache)
 	set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY RULE_LAUNCH_LINK ccache)
 endif(CCACHE_FOUND)
 
+find_package( PythonInterp 3.5 REQUIRED )
+
 # Read version from version.json
 EXECUTE_PROCESS (
-	COMMAND python test/jsonchecks/version.py ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/version.json
+	COMMAND ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE} test/jsonchecks/version.py version.json
 	WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
+	RESULT_VARIABLE error_code
 	OUTPUT_VARIABLE RETURN_VERSION
 )
 
 SET( VERSION_REGEX "[0-9]+\\.[0-9]+\\.[0-9]+(-[a-zA-Z0-9_]+)?" )
-IF( ${RETURN_VERSION} MATCHES ${VERSION_REGEX})
+if ( ${RETURN_VERSION} MATCHES ${VERSION_REGEX} )
 	STRING(REGEX MATCHALL "[0-9]+|-([A-Za-z0-9_]+)" VERSION_PARTS ${RETURN_VERSION} )
 	LIST( GET VERSION_PARTS 0 VERSION_MAJOR )
 	LIST( GET VERSION_PARTS 1 VERSION_MINOR )
 	LIST( GET VERSION_PARTS 2 VERSION_PATCH )
-ELSE( ${RETURN_VERSION} MATCHES ${VERSION_REGEX} )
-	message( FATAL_ERROR "Failed to parse version.json string properly. Expect X.Y.Z.")
-ENDIF()
+else ( ${RETURN_VERSION} MATCHES ${VERSION_REGEX} )
+	message( FATAL_ERROR "Failed to parse version.json string properly. ${error_code}" )
+endif()
 
 SET( HYPERION_VERSION_MAJOR ${VERSION_MAJOR} )
 SET( HYPERION_VERSION_MINOR ${VERSION_MINOR} )
@@ -41,11 +44,16 @@ SET( HYPERION_VERSION_PATCH ${VERSION_PATCH} )
 
 # Read channel from version.json
 EXECUTE_PROCESS (
-	COMMAND python test/jsonchecks/version.py ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/version.json "channel"
+	COMMAND ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE} test/jsonchecks/version.py version.json "channel"
 	WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
+	RESULT_VARIABLE error_code
 	OUTPUT_VARIABLE RETURN_CHANNEL
 )
 
+if ( error_code )
+	message( FATAL_ERROR "Failed to parse version.json string properly. ${error_code}" )
+endif()
+
 SET ( HYPERION_VERSION_CHANNEL ${RETURN_CHANNEL} )
 
 # Set build variables
@@ -147,10 +155,9 @@ if ( "${PLATFORM}" MATCHES "-dev" )
 	SET ( DEFAULT_TESTS      ON )
 endif()
 
-# is this necessary?
-# STRING( TOUPPER "-DPLATFORM_${PLATFORM}" PLATFORM_DEFINE)
-# STRING( REPLACE "-DEV" "" PLATFORM_DEFINE "${PLATFORM_DEFINE}" )
-# ADD_DEFINITIONS( ${PLATFORM_DEFINE} )
+STRING( TOUPPER "-DPLATFORM_${PLATFORM}" PLATFORM_DEFINE)
+STRING( REPLACE "-DEV" "" PLATFORM_DEFINE "${PLATFORM_DEFINE}" )
+ADD_DEFINITIONS( ${PLATFORM_DEFINE} )
 
 # set the build options
 option(ENABLE_AMLOGIC "Enable the AMLOGIC video grabber" ${DEFAULT_AMLOGIC} )
@@ -209,7 +216,7 @@ SET( JSON_FILES
 	${HYPERION_SCHEMAS}
 )
 EXECUTE_PROCESS (
-	COMMAND python test/jsonchecks/checkjson.py ${JSON_FILES}
+	COMMAND ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE} test/jsonchecks/checkjson.py ${JSON_FILES}
 	WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
 	RESULT_VARIABLE CHECK_JSON_FAILED
 )
@@ -218,7 +225,7 @@ IF ( ${CHECK_JSON_FAILED} )
 ENDIF ()
 
 EXECUTE_PROCESS (
-	COMMAND python test/jsonchecks/checkeffects.py effects effects/schema
+	COMMAND ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE} test/jsonchecks/checkeffects.py effects effects/schema
 	WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
 	RESULT_VARIABLE CHECK_EFFECTS_FAILED
 )
@@ -226,6 +233,7 @@ IF ( ${CHECK_EFFECTS_FAILED} )
 	MESSAGE (FATAL_ERROR "check of json effect files failed" )
 ENDIF ()
 
+# for python 3 the checkschema.py file must be rewritten
 EXECUTE_PROCESS (
 	COMMAND python test/jsonchecks/checkschema.py config/hyperion.config.json.default libsrc/hyperion/hyperion.schema.json
 	WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
@@ -367,3 +375,4 @@ add_custom_target(uninstall COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -P ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_D
 
 # enable make package - no code after this line !
 include (${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/packages.cmake)
+
diff --git a/CompileHowto.md b/CompileHowto.md
index 36326948..9aadfcec 100644
--- a/CompileHowto.md
+++ b/CompileHowto.md
@@ -1,24 +1,33 @@
 # With Docker
-If you are using [Docker](https://www.docker.com/), you can compile Hyperion inside a docker container. This keeps your system clean and with a simple script it's easy to use. Supported is also cross compilation for Raspberry Pi (Debian Stretch)
+If you are using [Docker](https://www.docker.com/), you can compile Hyperion inside a docker container. This keeps your system clean and with a simple script it's easy to use. Supported is also cross compiling for Raspberry Pi (Debian Stretch or higher). To compile Hyperion just execute one of the following commands.
 
-To compile Hyperion for Debain Stretch (x64 architecture) or higher just execute the following command
+The compiled binaries and packages will be available at the deploy folder next to the script
+Note: call the script with `./docker-compile.sh -h` for more options
+
+## Native compiling on Raspberry Pi
+
+```
+wget -qN https://raw.github.com/hyperion-project/hyperion.ng/master/bin/scripts/docker-compile.sh && chmod +x *.sh && ./docker-compile.sh -t rpi-raspbian
+```
+
+## Cross compiling on X64_86 for:
+
+**X64:**
 ```
 wget -qN https://raw.github.com/hyperion-project/hyperion.ng/master/bin/scripts/docker-compile.sh && chmod +x *.sh && ./docker-compile.sh
 ```
-To compile Hyperion for i386 architecture
+**i386:**
 ```
 wget -qN https://raw.github.com/hyperion-project/hyperion.ng/master/bin/scripts/docker-compile.sh && chmod +x *.sh && ./docker-compile.sh -t i386
 ```
-To compile Hyperion for Raspberry Pi v1 & ZERO
+**Raspberry Pi v1 & ZERO**
 ```
 wget -qN https://raw.github.com/hyperion-project/hyperion.ng/master/bin/scripts/docker-compile.sh && chmod +x *.sh && ./docker-compile.sh -t armv6hf
 ```
-To compile Hyperion for Raspberry Pi 2 & 3
+**Raspberry Pi 2 & 3**
 ```
 wget -qN https://raw.github.com/hyperion-project/hyperion.ng/master/bin/scripts/docker-compile.sh && chmod +x *.sh && ./docker-compile.sh -t armv7hf
 ```
-The compiled binaries and packages will be available at the deploy folder next to the script
-Note: call the script with `./docker-compile.sh -h` for more options
 
 # The usual way
 
diff --git a/HyperionConfig.h.in b/HyperionConfig.h.in
index b121c88a..a56cebee 100644
--- a/HyperionConfig.h.in
+++ b/HyperionConfig.h.in
@@ -39,9 +39,10 @@
 // the hyperion build id string
 #define HYPERION_BUILD_ID "${HYPERION_BUILD_ID}"
 
-#define HYPERION_VERSION_MAJOR "${HYPERION_VERSION_MAJOR}"
-#define HYPERION_VERSION_MINOR "${HYPERION_VERSION_MINOR}"
-#define HYPERION_VERSION_PATCH "${HYPERION_VERSION_PATCH}"
-#define HYPERION_VERSION       "${HYPERION_VERSION_CHANNEL}.${HYPERION_VERSION_MAJOR}.${HYPERION_VERSION_MINOR}.${HYPERION_VERSION_PATCH}"
+#define HYPERION_VERSION_MAJOR   "${HYPERION_VERSION_MAJOR}"
+#define HYPERION_VERSION_MINOR   "${HYPERION_VERSION_MINOR}"
+#define HYPERION_VERSION_PATCH   "${HYPERION_VERSION_PATCH}"
+#define HYPERION_VERSION         "${HYPERION_VERSION_MAJOR}.${HYPERION_VERSION_MINOR}.${HYPERION_VERSION_PATCH}"
+#define HYPERION_VERSION_CHANNEL "${HYPERION_VERSION_CHANNEL}"
 
 #define HYPERION_JSON_VERSION "1.0.0"
diff --git a/assets/webconfig/js/content_dashboard.js b/assets/webconfig/js/content_dashboard.js
index cafb3bdd..47eae059 100644
--- a/assets/webconfig/js/content_dashboard.js
+++ b/assets/webconfig/js/content_dashboard.js
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ $(document).ready( function() {
 	$('#dash_currv').html(window.currentVersion);
 	$('#dash_instance').html(window.serverConfig.general.name);
 	$('#dash_ports').html(window.serverConfig.flatbufServer.port+' | '+window.serverConfig.protoServer.port);
-	$('#dash_versionbranch').html(window.serverConfig.general.versionBranch);
+	$('#dash_versionbranch').html(window.currentChannel);
 
 	getReleases(function(callback){
 		if(callback)
diff --git a/assets/webconfig/js/content_index.js b/assets/webconfig/js/content_index.js
index acc33d74..59dd580b 100644
--- a/assets/webconfig/js/content_index.js
+++ b/assets/webconfig/js/content_index.js
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ $(document).ready( function() {
 		window.sysInfo = event.response.info;
 
 		window.currentVersion = window.sysInfo.hyperion.version;
+		window.currentChannel = window.sysInfo.hyperion.channel;
 	});
 
 	$(window.hyperion).one("cmd-config-getschema", function(event) {
diff --git a/assets/webconfig/js/hyperion.js b/assets/webconfig/js/hyperion.js
index 90c2dcb6..912e5f84 100644
--- a/assets/webconfig/js/hyperion.js
+++ b/assets/webconfig/js/hyperion.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ window.webPrio = 1;
 window.webOrigin = "Web Configuration";
 window.showOptHelp = true;
 window.gitHubReleaseApiUrl = "https://api.github.com/repos/hyperion-project/hyperion.ng/releases";
+window.currentChannel = null;
 window.currentVersion = null;
 window.latestVersion = null;
 window.latestStableVersion = null;
diff --git a/config/hyperion.config.json.default b/config/hyperion.config.json.default
index 30224989..d863fb0d 100644
--- a/config/hyperion.config.json.default
+++ b/config/hyperion.config.json.default
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 	"general" :
 	{
 		"name"       : "My Hyperion Config",
-		"versionBranch" : "Stable",
 		"showOptHelp" : true
 	},
 	"logger" :
diff --git a/libsrc/api/JsonAPI.cpp b/libsrc/api/JsonAPI.cpp
index 786fd3cc..84fc31d6 100644
--- a/libsrc/api/JsonAPI.cpp
+++ b/libsrc/api/JsonAPI.cpp
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ void JsonAPI::handleSysInfoCommand(const QJsonObject&, const QString& command, c
 	QJsonObject hyperion;
 	hyperion["jsonrpc_version" ] = QString(HYPERION_JSON_VERSION);
 	hyperion["version"         ] = QString(HYPERION_VERSION);
+	hyperion["channel"         ] = QString(HYPERION_VERSION_CHANNEL);
 	hyperion["build"           ] = QString(HYPERION_BUILD_ID);
 	hyperion["time"            ] = QString(__DATE__ " " __TIME__);
 	hyperion["id"              ] = _hyperion->getId();
diff --git a/libsrc/hyperion/schema/schema-general.json b/libsrc/hyperion/schema/schema-general.json
index fff7a320..bbb07d0a 100644
--- a/libsrc/hyperion/schema/schema-general.json
+++ b/libsrc/hyperion/schema/schema-general.json
@@ -14,19 +14,6 @@
 			"required" : true,
 			"propertyOrder" : 1
 		},
-		"versionBranch" :
-		{
-			"type" : "string",
-			"title" : "edt_conf_gen_versionBranch_title",
-			"enum" : ["Stable", "Beta"],
-			"required" : true,
-			"access" : "expert",
-			"default" : "Stable",
-			"options" : {
-				"enum_titles" : ["Stable", "Beta"]
-			},
-			"propertyOrder" : 2
-		},
 		"showOptHelp" :
 		{
 			"type" : "boolean",