diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index aa41b9e..330fe48 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -50,6 +50,26 @@ docker compose up --build
 
 Open: http://127.0.0.1:5000
 
+## Release (git + docker)
+
+There is a helper script that:
+
+- updates `release.py` with the version
+- commits + pushes to git using the version as the commit message
+- builds + pushes Docker images tagged with the version (and optionally `latest`)
+
+Example:
+
+```bash
+python release_tool.py v1.0.2 --image git.alphen.cloud/bramval/rssfeedviewer --also-latest
+```
+
+Dry run (prints commands only):
+
+```bash
+python release_tool.py v1.0.2 --dry-run
+```
+
 ## Controls
 
 - Click/tap: next headline
diff --git a/release.py b/release.py
index 70f8235..9800e23 100644
--- a/release.py
+++ b/release.py
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ This module exists so the running application and/or deployments can introspect
 which version is currently deployed.
 """
 
-VERSION = "v1.0.1"
+VERSION = "v1.0.1"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/release_tool.py b/release_tool.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7b79a39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release_tool.py
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+"""Release helper.
+
+Automates the release flow for this repo:
+
+1) Updates `release.py` VERSION
+2) Commits with the version as the commit message
+3) Pushes to the configured git remote
+4) Builds a Docker image tagged with the version (and optionally `latest`)
+5) Pushes the Docker tags to the registry
+
+Usage:
+    python release_tool.py v1.0.2 --image git.alphen.cloud/bramval/rssfeedviewer --also-latest
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+import re
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent
+RELEASE_PY = REPO_ROOT / "release.py"
+
+
+def run(cmd: list[str], *, cwd: Path = REPO_ROOT, dry_run: bool = False) -> None:
+    printable = " ".join(cmd)
+    print(f"$ {printable}")
+    if dry_run:
+        return
+    subprocess.run(cmd, cwd=str(cwd), check=True)
+
+
+def get_stdout(cmd: list[str], *, cwd: Path = REPO_ROOT) -> str:
+    out = subprocess.check_output(cmd, cwd=str(cwd))
+    return out.decode("utf-8", errors="replace")
+
+
+def ensure_git_clean() -> None:
+    status = get_stdout(["git", "status", "--porcelain"]).strip()
+    if status:
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            "Working tree is not clean. Please commit/stash changes first.\n" + status
+        )
+
+
+def update_release_py(version: str, *, dry_run: bool) -> None:
+    content = (
+        '"""Release metadata.\n\n'
+        "This module exists so the running application and/or deployments can introspect\n"
+        "which version is currently deployed.\n"
+        '"""\n\n'
+        f'VERSION = "{version}"\n'
+    )
+
+    # If the file exists, try to surgically replace VERSION; otherwise create it.
+    if RELEASE_PY.exists():
+        existing = RELEASE_PY.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        if re.search(r"^VERSION\s*=\s*\".*\"\s*$", existing, flags=re.MULTILINE):
+            updated = re.sub(
+                r"^VERSION\s*=\s*\".*\"\s*$",
+                f'VERSION = "{version}"',
+                existing,
+                flags=re.MULTILINE,
+            )
+            if dry_run:
+                print(f"[dry-run] Would update {RELEASE_PY.name} VERSION to {version}")
+            else:
+                RELEASE_PY.write_text(updated, encoding="utf-8")
+            return
+
+    if dry_run:
+        print(f"[dry-run] Would write {RELEASE_PY.name} with VERSION={version}")
+        return
+
+    RELEASE_PY.write_text(content, encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def main(argv: list[str]) -> int:
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Release helper for git + docker")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "version",
+        help="Version string used as git commit message and docker tag (e.g. v1.0.2)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--image",
+        default="git.alphen.cloud/bramval/rssfeedviewer",
+        help="Docker image repository (no tag), e.g. git.alphen.cloud/bramval/rssfeedviewer",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--also-latest",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Also tag and push :latest in addition to the version tag",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--skip-git",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Skip git commit/push steps",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--skip-docker",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Skip docker build/push steps",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--dry-run",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Print commands without executing them",
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args(argv)
+
+    version = args.version.strip()
+    if not version:
+        parser.error("version must be non-empty")
+
+    # In dry-run mode we want to be able to preview the flow even if the working
+    # tree is currently dirty.
+    if not args.skip_git and not args.dry_run:
+        ensure_git_clean()
+    elif not args.skip_git and args.dry_run:
+        print("[dry-run] Skipping clean working-tree check")
+
+    update_release_py(version, dry_run=args.dry_run)
+
+    if not args.skip_git:
+        run(["git", "add", "release.py"], dry_run=args.dry_run)
+        run(["git", "commit", "-m", version], dry_run=args.dry_run)
+        run(["git", "push"], dry_run=args.dry_run)
+
+    if not args.skip_docker:
+        tags: list[str] = [f"{args.image}:{version}"]
+        if args.also_latest:
+            tags.append(f"{args.image}:latest")
+
+        build_cmd = ["docker", "build"]
+        for t in tags:
+            build_cmd += ["-t", t]
+        build_cmd.append(".")
+
+        run(build_cmd, dry_run=args.dry_run)
+        for t in tags:
+            run(["docker", "push", t], dry_run=args.dry_run)
+
+    print("Done.")
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main(sys.argv[1:]))