diff --git a/src/service_versions.cpp b/src/service_versions.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d1266a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/service_versions.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#include "service_runner.hpp"
+#include "utils/hash.hpp"
+#include "utils/directories.hpp"
+#include "utils/utils.hpp"
+#include "templates.hpp"
+
+#include <fstream>
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+
+namespace dropshell {
+
+service_versions::service_versions(const std::string & server_name, const std::string & service_name) 
+    : m_server_name(server_name), m_service_name(service_name)
+{
+}
+
+XXH64_hash_t service_versions::calculate_version_local_service_template()
+{
+    template_info tinfo;
+    if (!get_template_info(m_service_name, tinfo)) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    return hash_directory_recursive(tinfo.local_template_path);
+}
+
+XXH64_hash_t service_versions::calculate_version_local_config()
+{
+    std::string config_path = get_local_service_path(m_server_name, m_service_name);
+    if (config_path.empty() || !fs::exists(config_path)) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    return hash_directory_recursive(config_path);
+}
+
+void service_versions::update_stored_remote_versions()
+{
+    XXH64_hash_t template_hash = calculate_version_remote_service_template();
+    XXH64_hash_t config_hash = calculate_version_remote_config();
+
+    // TODO - actually update things!
+}
+
+XXH64_hash_t service_versions::get_version_remote_config()
+{
+    // TODO - actually get the version!
+    return 0;
+}
+
+XXH64_hash_t service_versions::get_version_remote_service_template()
+{
+    // TODO - actually get the version!
+    return 0;
+}
+
+XXH64_hash_t service_versions::calculate_version_remote_service_template()
+{
+    // TODO - actually get the version!
+    return 0;
+}
+
+XXH64_hash_t service_versions::calculate_version_remote_config()
+{   
+    // TODO - actually get the version!
+    return 0;
+}
+
+} // namespace dropshell 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/templates.cpp b/src/templates.cpp
index 0ddf03f..792c7b2 100644
--- a/src/templates.cpp
+++ b/src/templates.cpp
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
             return;
         }
 
-        std::string user_templates_dir = local_config_directories[0] + "/templates";
+        std::string user_templates_dir = get_primary_local_config_path() + "/templates";
         std::string new_template_path = user_templates_dir + "/" + template_name;
         
         // Create the new template directory
diff --git a/src/utils/directories.cpp b/src/utils/directories.cpp
index 05ed728..ac6cce5 100644
--- a/src/utils/directories.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/directories.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ std::string get_local_system_templates_path()
     return "/opt/dropshell/templates";
 }
 
+std::string get_local_backup_path()
+{
+    config *cfg = get_global_config();
+    if (!cfg)
+        return std::string();
+    return cfg->get_local_backup_path();
+}
+
 int getNumConfigDirectories()
 {
     config *cfg = get_global_config();
@@ -43,6 +51,11 @@ int getNumConfigDirectories()
     return local_config_directories.size();
 }
 
+std::string get_primary_local_config_path()
+{
+    return get_local_config_path(0);
+}
+
 std::string get_local_config_path(int index)
 {
     config *cfg = get_global_config();
@@ -55,16 +68,6 @@ std::string get_local_config_path(int index)
     return local_config_directories[index];
 }
 
-
-std::string get_local_backup_path()
-{
-    config *cfg = get_global_config();
-    if (!cfg)
-        return std::string();
-
-    return cfg->get_local_backup_path();
-}
-
 std::string get_local_config_templates_path(int index)
 {
     std::string config_path = get_local_config_path(index);
@@ -81,14 +84,6 @@ std::string get_local_config_servers_path(int index)
     return config_path + "/servers";
 }
 
-std::string get_local_config_backups_path(int index)
-{
-    std::string config_path = get_local_config_path(index);
-    if (config_path.empty()) 
-        return std::string();
-    return config_path + "/backups";
-}
-
 std::string get_local_server_path(const std::string &server_name)
 {
     config *cfg = get_global_config();
@@ -133,6 +128,18 @@ std::string get_local_service_env_path(const std::string &server_name, const std
     return (fs::path(servicepath) / "service.env").string();
 }
 
+std::string get_local_service_hash_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name)
+{
+    if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty())
+        return std::string();
+
+    std::string config_path = get_primary_local_config_path();
+    if (config_path.empty())
+        return std::string();
+
+    return (fs::path(config_path) / ".remote_versions" / server_name / (service_name + ".hash.env")).string();
+}
+
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     // remote paths
diff --git a/src/utils/directories.hpp b/src/utils/directories.hpp
index 476b636..ec172c2 100644
--- a/src/utils/directories.hpp
+++ b/src/utils/directories.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ namespace dropshell {
     std::string get_local_dropshell_config_parent_path();
     std::string get_local_dropshell_config_file();
     std::string get_local_system_templates_path();
-
     std::string get_local_backup_path();
 
 
@@ -28,22 +27,17 @@ namespace dropshell {
     //   |       |-- example
     //   |           |-- service.env
     //   |           |-- (other service config files)
+    //   |-- .remote_versions
+    //   |   |-- server_name
+    //   |       |-- service_name.hash.env
 
+    std::string get_primary_local_config_path();
 
-    // system config directories (installed from templates in this git repository)
-    // /opt/dropshell
-    //   |-- templates
-    //   |   |-- template_name
-    //   |       |-- (script files)
-    //   |       |-- example
-    //   |           |-- service.env
-    //   |           |-- (other service config files)
 
     int getNumConfigDirectories();
     std::string get_local_config_path(int index);
     std::string get_local_config_templates_path(int index);
     std::string get_local_config_servers_path(int index);
-    std::string get_local_config_backups_path(int index);
 
     std::string get_local_server_path(const std::string &server_name);
     std::string get_local_server_env_path(const std::string &server_name);
@@ -51,6 +45,8 @@ namespace dropshell {
     std::string get_local_service_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
     std::string get_local_service_env_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
 
+    std::string get_local_service_hash_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
+
     // remote paths
     // DROPSHELL_DIR
     //   |-- backups