diff --git a/src/service_runner.cpp b/src/service_runner.cpp
index 382959d..b954291 100644
--- a/src/service_runner.cpp
+++ b/src/service_runner.cpp
@@ -318,6 +318,34 @@ std::string service_runner::HealthStatus2String(HealthStatus status)
         return ":error:";
 }
 
+bool service_runner::ensure_service_dropshell_files_up_to_date()
+{
+    if (!m_server_env.is_valid()) {
+        std::cerr << "Error: Server service not initialized" << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
+    
+    // check if the service template and config are up to date on the remote server.
+    service_versions versions(m_server_name, m_service_info.service_name);
+    if (versions.remote_up_to_date())
+        return true;
+    
+    if (!versions.remote_template_is_up_to_date()) {
+        std::cerr << "Error: Service template is not up to date on the remote server" << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (!versions.remote_config_is_up_to_date()) {
+        std::cerr << "Error: Service config is not up to date on the remote server" << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
+
+// TODO - actually update things!
+
+    versions.update_stored_remote_versions();
+    return versions.remote_up_to_date();
+}
+
 std::string service_runner::healthmark()
 {
     HealthStatus status = is_healthy();
diff --git a/src/service_runner.hpp b/src/service_runner.hpp
index 915899a..efb6a7d 100644
--- a/src/service_runner.hpp
+++ b/src/service_runner.hpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "services.hpp"
 #include "utils/utils.hpp"
 #include "utils/assert.hpp"
+#include "utils/hash.hpp"
 
 namespace dropshell {
 
@@ -58,6 +59,9 @@ class service_runner {
         static std::map<std::string, ServiceStatus> get_all_services_status(std::string server_name);
         static std::string HealthStatus2String(HealthStatus status);
 
+        // ensure the service related dropshell files (template and config) are up to date on the remote server.
+        bool ensure_service_dropshell_files_up_to_date();
+
     private:    
         // install the service over ssh, using the credentials from server.env (via server_env.hpp), by:
         // 1. check if the server_name exists, and the service_name refers to a valid template
@@ -108,6 +112,33 @@ void interactive_ssh(const std::string & server_name, const std::string & comman
 void edit_server(const std::string & server_name);
 void edit_file(const std::string & file_path, const std::string & aftertext);
 
+// check if the service template and config are up to date on the remote server.
+class service_versions {
+    public:
+        service_versions(const std::string & server_name, const std::string & service_name);
+
+        bool remote_up_to_date() { return remote_template_is_up_to_date() && remote_config_is_up_to_date(); }
+
+        bool remote_template_is_up_to_date() { return get_version_remote_service_template() == calculate_version_local_service_template(); }
+        bool remote_config_is_up_to_date() { return get_version_remote_config() == calculate_version_local_config(); }    
+
+        XXH64_hash_t calculate_version_local_service_template();
+        XXH64_hash_t calculate_version_local_config();
+
+        void update_stored_remote_versions();
+        XXH64_hash_t get_version_remote_config();
+        XXH64_hash_t get_version_remote_service_template();
+
+    private:
+        XXH64_hash_t calculate_version_remote_service_template();
+        XXH64_hash_t calculate_version_remote_config();
+
+    private:
+        std::string m_server_name;
+        std::string m_service_name;
+};
+
+
 } // namespace dropshell
 
 #endif // SERVICE_RUNNER_HPP