diff --git a/.env b/.env
index 9a061ee77..345803b0d 100644
--- a/.env
+++ b/.env
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # This top-level .env file under AirStack/ defines variables that are propagated through docker-compose.yaml
 PROJECT_NAME="airstack"
-PROJECT_VERSION="0.13.1"
+# auto-generated from git commit hash
+DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG="3f238b1"
 # can replace with your docker hub username
 PROJECT_DOCKER_REGISTRY="airlab-storage.andrew.cmu.edu:5001/shared"
 DEFAULT_ISAAC_SCENE="omniverse://airlab-storage.andrew.cmu.edu:8443/Projects/AirStack/AFCA/fire_academy_faro_with_sky.scene.usd"
diff --git a/docker-compose.yaml b/docker-compose.yaml
index 4f7aa45a4..8e1198836 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 # top-level docker-compose file for the autonomy stack
+# This file includes all component docker-compose files
+# Each component has its own docker-compose.yaml file
+# Components are organized by functionality
+# This allows for modular development and deployment
 include: 
   - simulation/isaac-sim/docker/docker-compose.yaml
   - robot/docker/docker-compose.yaml
diff --git a/docs/docker/docker-compose.yaml b/docs/docker/docker-compose.yaml
index c8c8ae3ab..f0ee2856f 100644
--- a/docs/docker/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/docs/docker/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ services:
       - ""
       - sitl
       - hitl
-    image: &image_tag ${PROJECT_DOCKER_REGISTRY}/${PROJECT_NAME}:v${PROJECT_VERSION}_mkdocs
+    image: &image_tag ${PROJECT_DOCKER_REGISTRY}/${PROJECT_NAME}:v${DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG}_mkdocs
     build:
       dockerfile: ./Dockerfile
       tags:
diff --git a/git-hooks/README.md b/git-hooks/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b046c0f1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/git-hooks/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# Git Hooks
+
+This directory contains git hooks used in the AirStack repository.
+
+## Available Hooks
+
+### Docker Versioning Hook
+
+The `update-docker-image-tag.pre-commit` hook automatically updates the `DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG` in the `.env` file with the current git commit hash whenever Docker-related files (Dockerfile or docker-compose.yaml) are modified. It also adds a comment above the variable indicating that the value is auto-generated from the git commit hash.
+
+This ensures that Docker images are always tagged with the exact commit they were built from, eliminating version conflicts between parallel branches.
+
+### Installation
+
+To install the hooks:
+
+1. Copy the hook to your local .git/hooks directory:
+   ```bash
+   cp git-hooks/docker-versioning/update-docker-image-tag.pre-commit .git/hooks/pre-commit
+   ```
+
+2. Make sure the hook file is executable:
+   ```bash
+   chmod +x .git/hooks/pre-commit
+   ```
+
+## How the Docker Versioning Hook Works
+
+1. When you commit changes, the hook checks if any Dockerfile or docker-compose.yaml files are being committed
+2. If Docker-related files are detected, it updates the DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG in the .env file with the current git commit hash and adds a comment above the variable
+3. The modified .env file is automatically added to the commit
+
+This approach eliminates version conflicts between parallel branches by ensuring Docker images are tagged with the exact commit they were built from.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/git-hooks/docker-versioning/README.md b/git-hooks/docker-versioning/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bbfe7521b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/git-hooks/docker-versioning/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# Docker Versioning Git Hook
+
+This directory contains a git hook that automatically updates the Docker image tag with the current git commit hash.
+
+## Hook: update-docker-image-tag.pre-commit
+
+This pre-commit hook automatically updates the `DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG` in the `.env` file with the current git commit hash whenever Docker-related files (Dockerfile or docker-compose.yaml) are modified.
+
+### Features
+
+- Automatically updates `DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG` with the git commit hash
+- Adds a comment above the variable indicating it's auto-generated
+- Only triggers when Docker-related files are modified
+- Automatically stages the modified .env file for commit
+
+### Installation
+
+To install the hook:
+
+1. Copy the hook to your local .git/hooks directory:
+   ```bash
+   cp update-docker-image-tag.pre-commit ../../.git/hooks/pre-commit
+   ```
+
+2. Make sure the hook file is executable:
+   ```bash
+   chmod +x ../../.git/hooks/pre-commit
+   ```
+
+### Benefits
+
+- Eliminates version conflicts between parallel branches
+- Ensures Docker images are tagged with the exact commit they were built from
+- Simplifies tracking which version of the code is running in Docker containers
+- Provides a consistent and automated versioning system for Docker images
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/git-hooks/docker-versioning/update-docker-image-tag.pre-commit b/git-hooks/docker-versioning/update-docker-image-tag.pre-commit
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..3165c91fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/git-hooks/docker-versioning/update-docker-image-tag.pre-commit
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Pre-commit hook to update DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG in .env file with git commit hash
+# when Dockerfile or docker-compose.yaml files are modified
+
+# Check if any Dockerfile or docker-compose.yaml files are staged for commit
+DOCKER_FILES_CHANGED=$(git diff --cached --name-only | grep -E 'Dockerfile|docker-compose\.yaml$')
+
+if [ -n "$DOCKER_FILES_CHANGED" ]; then
+    echo "Docker-related files changed. Updating DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG in .env file..."
+    
+    # Get the current commit hash (short version)
+    COMMIT_HASH=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
+    
+    # Update the DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG in .env file
+    if [ -f ".env" ]; then
+        # Check if DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG line exists
+        if grep -q "^DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG=" .env; then
+            # Replace the existing DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG line and ensure comment is above it
+            # First, remove any existing auto-generated comment
+            sed -i '/^# auto-generated from git commit hash$/d' .env
+            # Add the comment above the DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG line
+            sed -i '/^DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG=/i\# auto-generated from git commit hash' .env
+            # Update the DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG value
+            sed -i "s/^DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG=.*$/DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG=\"$COMMIT_HASH\"/" .env
+            echo "Updated DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG to $COMMIT_HASH in .env file"
+            
+            # Stage the modified .env file for commit
+            git add .env
+        else
+            echo "Error: DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG line not found in .env file"
+            exit 1
+        fi
+    else
+        echo "Error: .env file not found"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+fi
+
+exit 0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ground_control_station/docker/ground-control-station-base-docker-compose.yaml b/ground_control_station/docker/ground-control-station-base-docker-compose.yaml
index c6783cf41..7abdb6618 100644
--- a/ground_control_station/docker/ground-control-station-base-docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/ground_control_station/docker/ground-control-station-base-docker-compose.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # docker compose file
 services:
   ground-control-station-base:
-    image: &gcs_image ${PROJECT_DOCKER_REGISTRY}/${PROJECT_NAME}:v${PROJECT_VERSION}_gcs
+    image: &gcs_image ${PROJECT_DOCKER_REGISTRY}/${PROJECT_NAME}:v${DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG}_gcs
     build:
       context: ../
       dockerfile: docker/Dockerfile.gcs
diff --git a/robot/docker/docker-compose.yaml b/robot/docker/docker-compose.yaml
index a52b25f2b..01d7ab6db 100644
--- a/robot/docker/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/robot/docker/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ services:
     extends:
       file: ./robot-base-docker-compose.yaml
       service: robot_base
-    image: &desktop_image ${PROJECT_DOCKER_REGISTRY}/${PROJECT_NAME}:v${PROJECT_VERSION}_robot-x86-64
+    image: &desktop_image ${PROJECT_DOCKER_REGISTRY}/${PROJECT_NAME}:v${DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG}_robot-x86-64
     build:
       dockerfile: ./Dockerfile.robot
       args:
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ services:
     extends:
       file: ./robot-base-docker-compose.yaml
       service: robot_base
-    image: &l4t_image ${PROJECT_DOCKER_REGISTRY}/${PROJECT_NAME}:v${PROJECT_VERSION}_robot-l4t
+    image: &l4t_image ${PROJECT_DOCKER_REGISTRY}/${PROJECT_NAME}:v${DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG}_robot-l4t
     build:
       dockerfile: ./Dockerfile.robot
       args:
diff --git a/simulation/isaac-sim/docker/docker-compose.yaml b/simulation/isaac-sim/docker/docker-compose.yaml
index bd4c7b9e7..b926c2565 100644
--- a/simulation/isaac-sim/docker/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/simulation/isaac-sim/docker/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 services:
   isaac-sim:
-    image: &image_tag ${PROJECT_DOCKER_REGISTRY}/${PROJECT_NAME}:v${PROJECT_VERSION}_isaac-sim
+    image: &image_tag ${PROJECT_DOCKER_REGISTRY}/${PROJECT_NAME}:v${DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG}_isaac-sim
     build:
       context: ../
       dockerfile: docker/Dockerfile.isaac-ros
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ services:
       # developer stuff
       - .dev:/root/.dev:rw # developer config
       - .bashrc:/root/.bashrc:rw # bash config
-      - ../../common/inputrc:/etc/inputrc:rw # for using page up/down to search through command history	
+      - ../../common/inputrc:/etc/inputrc:rw # for using page up/down to search through command history 
       # code
       - ../sitl_integration/kit-app-template/source/extensions/:/root/Documents/Kit/shared/exts/
       - ../sitl_integration:/sitl_integration:rw