diff --git a/src/main/java/the/bytecode/club/bytecodeviewer/BytecodeViewer.java b/src/main/java/the/bytecode/club/bytecodeviewer/BytecodeViewer.java
index da05cb40..d8159be7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/the/bytecode/club/bytecodeviewer/BytecodeViewer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/the/bytecode/club/bytecodeviewer/BytecodeViewer.java
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ public class BytecodeViewer
         }
         
         //version checking
-        if (viewer.updateCheck.isSelected())
+        if (viewer.updateCheck.isSelected() && !DEV_MODE)
             versionChecker.start();
 
         //show the main UI
diff --git a/src/main/java/the/bytecode/club/bytecodeviewer/Constants.java b/src/main/java/the/bytecode/club/bytecodeviewer/Constants.java
index ebe19ff3..e4157393 100644
--- a/src/main/java/the/bytecode/club/bytecodeviewer/Constants.java
+++ b/src/main/java/the/bytecode/club/bytecodeviewer/Constants.java
@@ -16,14 +16,19 @@ import java.io.PrintStream;
 public class Constants
 {
 	/*per version*/
-	public static final String VERSION = BytecodeViewer.class.getPackage().getImplementationVersion();
 	public static String krakatauVersion = "12";
 	public static String enjarifyVersion = "4";
+	
 	public static final boolean BLOCK_TAB_MENU = true;
 	public static final boolean LAUNCH_DECOMPILERS_IN_NEW_PROCESS = false; //TODO
 	public static final boolean FAT_JAR = true; //could be automatic by checking if it's loaded a class named whatever for a library
 	public static final boolean OFFLINE_MODE = true; //disables the automatic updater
 	
+	//version is set via maven
+	public static final String VERSION = getVersion(BytecodeViewer.class.getPackage().getImplementationVersion());
+	//dev mode is just a check for running via IDE
+	public static boolean DEV_MODE;
+	
 	public static final String fs = System.getProperty("file.separator");
 	public static final String nl = System.getProperty("line.separator");
 	
@@ -84,4 +89,15 @@ public class Constants
 	{
 		return System.getProperty("os.name").toLowerCase().contains("win");
 	}
+	
+	public static String getVersion(String mavenVersion)
+	{
+		if(mavenVersion == null)
+		{
+			DEV_MODE = true;
+			return "Developer Mode";
+		}
+		
+		return mavenVersion;
+	}
 }