diff --git a/build.xml b/build.xml
index 211d4b534..9f6577f99 100644
--- a/build.xml
+++ b/build.xml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ PROPERTIES
   <property file="${properties.file}"/>
   <!-- Defines the product being built -->
   <property name="vendor.name" value="LAMP/EPFL"/>
-  <property name="copyright.string" value="Copyright 2002-2007 ${vendor.name}"/>
+  <property name="copyright.string" value="(c) 2002-2007 ${vendor.name}"/>
   <property name="number.file" value="${basedir}/build.number"/>
   <!-- Configuring how the compiler is run -->
   <property name="nsc.log-files" value="no"/>
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ PROPERTIES
   <property name="scalac.exec.name" value="scalac"/>
   <property name="scaladoc.exec.name" value="scaladoc"/>
   <property name="fsc.exec.name" value="fsc"/>
+  <property name="comp.prop.name" value="compiler.properties"/>
 
 <!-- ===========================================================================
 INITIALISATION
@@ -317,6 +318,16 @@ BUILD LOCAL REFERENCE (LOCKER) LAYER
       <include name="**/*.scala"/>
       <excludesfile name="${nsc.excludes.file}" if="excludes.avail"/>
     </starr>
+    <echo
+      file="${locker.dir}/lib/compiler/${comp.prop.name}"
+      message="version.number=${version.number}${line.separator}"
+      append="false"
+    />
+    <echo
+      file="${locker.dir}/lib/compiler/${comp.prop.name}"
+      message="copyright.string=${copyright.string}${line.separator}"
+      append="true"
+    />
   <!-- Timing the build -->
     <stopwatch name="timer.locker" action="total"/>
   <!-- Copy support files to build folder and links external libraries-->
@@ -451,6 +462,16 @@ BUILD QUICK-TEST LAYER
       <include name="**/*.scala"/>
       <excludesfile name="${nsc.excludes.file}" if="excludes.avail"/>
     </locker>
+    <echo
+      file="${quick.dir}/lib/compiler/${comp.prop.name}"
+      message="version.number=${version.number}${line.separator}"
+      append="false"
+    />
+    <echo
+      file="${quick.dir}/lib/compiler/${comp.prop.name}"
+      message="copyright.string=${copyright.string}${line.separator}"
+      append="true"
+    />
   <!-- Timing the build -->
     <stopwatch name="timer.quick" action="total"/>
   <!-- Copy support files to build folder and links external libraries-->
@@ -585,6 +606,17 @@ TEST
       <include name="**/*.scala"/>
       <excludesfile name="${nsc.excludes.file}" if="excludes.avail"/>
     </quick>
+    <echo
+      file="${strap.dir}/lib/compiler/${comp.prop.name}"
+      message="version.number=${version.number}${line.separator}"
+      append="false"
+    />
+    <echo
+      file="${strap.dir}/lib/compiler/${comp.prop.name}"
+      message="copyright.string=${copyright.string}${line.separator}"
+      append="true"
+    />
+
   <!-- Timing the build -->
     <stopwatch name="timer.strap" action="total"/>
   <!-- Copy support files to build folder and links external libraries-->
diff --git a/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/Scalac.scala b/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/Scalac.scala
index 6b9fc7869..7e51be00d 100644
--- a/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/Scalac.scala
+++ b/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/Scalac.scala
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@
 
 package scala.tools.ant
 
-import java.lang.System.getProperty
-
 import java.io.File
 import java.net.{URL, URLClassLoader}
 import java.util.{ArrayList, Vector}
@@ -71,9 +69,6 @@ import scala.tools.nsc.{Global, FatalError, Settings}
  */
 class Scalac extends MatchingTask {
 
-  private val SCALA_PRODUCT: String = getProperty("scala.product", "scalac")
-  private val SCALA_VERSION: String = getProperty("scala.version", "Unknown version")
-
   /** The unique Ant file utilities instance to use in this task. */
   private val fileUtils = FileUtils.newFileUtils()
 
diff --git a/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/templates/tool-unix.tmpl b/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/templates/tool-unix.tmpl
index 3e38b8970..8c7dbbd5c 100644
--- a/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/templates/tool-unix.tmpl
+++ b/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/templates/tool-unix.tmpl
@@ -70,4 +70,4 @@ if $cygwin; then
     BOOT_CLASSPATH=`cygpath --path --$format "$BOOT_CLASSPATH"`
 fi
 
-${JAVACMD:=java} @javaflags@ -Xbootclasspath/a:"$BOOT_CLASSPATH" -cp "$EXTENSION_CLASSPATH" -Dscala.home="$SCALA_HOME" -Denv.classpath="$CLASSPATH" -Dscala.tool.name="@name@" -Dscala.tool.version="@version@" @properties@ @class@ @toolflags@ "$@@"
+${JAVACMD:=java} @javaflags@ -Xbootclasspath/a:"$BOOT_CLASSPATH" -cp "$EXTENSION_CLASSPATH" -Dscala.home="$SCALA_HOME" -Denv.classpath="$CLASSPATH" @properties@ @class@ @toolflags@ "$@@"
diff --git a/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/templates/tool-windows.tmpl b/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/templates/tool-windows.tmpl
index 56e582b5e..11b9a3ae3 100644
--- a/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/templates/tool-windows.tmpl
+++ b/src/compiler/scala/tools/ant/templates/tool-windows.tmpl
@@ -55,16 +55,12 @@ shift
 goto loop
 
 :exec
-set _PROPS=-Dscala.home="%_SCALA_HOME%" -Denv.classpath="%CLASSPATH%" -Dscala.tool.name="@name@" -Dscala.tool.version="@version@" @properties@
+set _PROPS=-Dscala.home="%_SCALA_HOME%" -Denv.classpath="%CLASSPATH%" @properties@
 
 rem echo %_JAVACMD% -Xbootclasspath/a:"%_BOOT_CLASSPATH%" @javaflags@ %_PROPS% -cp "%_EXTENSION_CLASSPATH%" @class@ @toolflags@ %_ARGS%
 %_JAVACMD% -Xbootclasspath/a:"%_BOOT_CLASSPATH%" @javaflags@ %_PROPS% -cp "%_EXTENSION_CLASSPATH%" @class@ @toolflags@ %_ARGS%
 goto end
 
-:version
-echo @name@ version @version@ -- @copyright@
-goto end
-
 rem ##########################################################################
 rem # subroutines
 
diff --git a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileClient.scala b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileClient.scala
index e8496dc1e..bb24ad2d3 100644
--- a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileClient.scala
+++ b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileClient.scala
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 /* NSC -- new Scala compiler
- * Copyright 2005-2006 LAMP/EPFL
+ * Copyright 2005-2007 LAMP/EPFL
  * @author  Martin Odersky
  */
 // $Id$
 
 package scala.tools.nsc
 
-import java.lang.System.getProperty
 import java.io.{BufferedReader, File, InputStreamReader, PrintWriter}
 
 import scala.compat.StringBuilder
@@ -16,11 +15,9 @@ import scala.tools.util.StringOps
  *  language Scala.
  */
 object CompileClient {
-  val PRODUCT: String = getProperty("scala.tool.name", "scalac")
-  val VERSION: String = getProperty("scala.tool.version", "unknown version")
-  val COPYRIGHT: String = getProperty("scala.copyright", "(c) 2002-2007 LAMP/EPFL")
-
-  val versionMsg = PRODUCT + " " + VERSION + " -- " + COPYRIGHT
+  val versionMsg = "Fast Scala Compiler " +
+    Properties.versionString + " -- " +
+    Properties.copyrightString
 
   var verbose = false
   var version = false
diff --git a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileServer.scala b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileServer.scala
index 3a3b7744e..65ff49300 100644
--- a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileServer.scala
+++ b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileServer.scala
@@ -6,16 +6,14 @@
 
 package scala.tools.nsc
 
-import scala.tools.util.SocketServer
-import scala.tools.nsc.util.FakePos //Position
-import scala.tools.nsc.reporters.{Reporter, ConsoleReporter}
-import scala.tools.nsc.doc.DocGenerator
+import java.io.{BufferedOutputStream, File, FileOutputStream, PrintStream}
+import java.lang.{Runtime, System, Thread}
+
 import scala.concurrent.Process.spawn
-import java.lang.System
-import java.lang.Thread
-import java.lang.Runtime
-import java.io.File
-import java.io.{PrintStream, BufferedOutputStream, FileOutputStream}
+import scala.tools.nsc.doc.DocGenerator
+import scala.tools.nsc.reporters.{Reporter, ConsoleReporter}
+import scala.tools.nsc.util.FakePos //Position
+import scala.tools.util.SocketServer
 
 /** The main class for NSC, a compiler for the programming
  *  language Scala.
@@ -25,13 +23,9 @@ import java.io.{PrintStream, BufferedOutputStream, FileOutputStream}
  */
 object CompileServer extends SocketServer {
 
-  val PRODUCT: String =
-    System.getProperty("scala.tool.name", "scalac")
-  val VERSION: String =
-    System.getProperty("scala.tool.version", "unknown version")
-  val COPYRIGHT: String =
-    System.getProperty("scala.copyright", "(c) 2002-2007 LAMP/EPFL")
-  val versionMsg = PRODUCT + " " + VERSION + " -- " + COPYRIGHT
+  val versionMsg = "Fast Scala compiler " +
+    Properties.versionString + " -- " +
+    Properties.copyrightString
 
   val MaxCharge = 0.8
 
@@ -99,8 +93,8 @@ object CompileServer extends SocketServer {
           override def displayPrompt = {}
         }
         def error(msg: String): unit =
-          reporter.error(/*new Position*/ FakePos(PRODUCT),
-                         msg + "\n  " + PRODUCT + " -help  gives more information")
+          reporter.error(/*new Position*/ FakePos("fsc"),
+                         msg + "\n  fsc -help  gives more information")
         val command = new CompilerCommand(args, error, false) {
           override val cmdName = "fsc"
           settings.disable(settings.prompt)
diff --git a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileSocket.scala b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileSocket.scala
index 2cefcc041..e0e257b8a 100644
--- a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileSocket.scala
+++ b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/CompileSocket.scala
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* NSC -- new Scala compiler
- * Copyright 2005-2006 LAMP/EPFL
+ * Copyright 2005-2007 LAMP/EPFL
  * @author  Martin Odersky
  */
 // $Id$
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import java.lang.{Thread, System, Runtime}
 import java.lang.NumberFormatException
 import java.io.{File, IOException, PrintWriter, FileOutputStream}
 import java.io.{BufferedReader, FileReader}
+import java.util.regex.Pattern
 import java.net._
 
 object CompileSocket {
@@ -19,19 +20,17 @@ object CompileSocket {
    */
   private val dirName = "scalac-compile-server-port"
 
-  private val isWin = System.getProperty("os.name") startsWith "Windows"
-  private val cmdName = if (isWin) "scala.bat" else "scala"
-
   /** The vm-part of the command to start a new scala compile server */
   private val vmCommand =
-    System.getProperty("scala.home") match {
-      case null => cmdName
+    Properties.scalaHome match {
+      case null =>
+        Properties.cmdName
       case dirname =>
-        val trial = new File(new File(dirname, "bin"), cmdName)
+        val trial = new File(new File(dirname, "bin"), Properties.cmdName)
         if (trial.canRead)
           trial.getPath
         else
-          cmdName
+          Properties.cmdName
     }
 
   /** The class name of the scala compile server */
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ object CompileSocket {
   val errorRegex = ".*errors? found.*"
     
   /** A Pattern object for checking compiler output for errors */
-  val errorPattern = java.util.regex.Pattern.compile(errorRegex)
+  val errorPattern = Pattern.compile(errorRegex)
 
   private def error(msg: String) = System.err.println(msg)
     
diff --git a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/Main.scala b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/Main.scala
index 0ff21f99b..81b0696a3 100644
--- a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/Main.scala
+++ b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/Main.scala
@@ -6,10 +6,9 @@
 
 package scala.tools.nsc
 
-import java.lang.System.getProperty
-import scala.tools.nsc.util.FakePos //{Position}
-import scala.tools.nsc.reporters.{Reporter, ConsoleReporter}
 import scala.tools.nsc.doc.DocGenerator
+import scala.tools.nsc.reporters.{Reporter, ConsoleReporter}
+import scala.tools.nsc.util.FakePos //{Position}
 
 
 /** The main class for NSC, a compiler for the programming
@@ -17,17 +16,16 @@ import scala.tools.nsc.doc.DocGenerator
  */
 object Main extends AnyRef with EvalLoop {
 
-  val PRODUCT: String = getProperty("scala.tool.name", "scalac")
-  val VERSION: String = getProperty("scala.tool.version", "unknown version")
-  val COPYRIGHT: String = getProperty("scala.copyright", "(c) 2002-2007 LAMP/EPFL")
-  val versionMsg = PRODUCT + " " + VERSION + " -- " + COPYRIGHT
+  val versionMsg = "Scala compiler " +
+    Properties.versionString + " -- " +
+    Properties.copyrightString
   val prompt = "\nnsc> "
 
   var reporter: ConsoleReporter = _
 
   def error(msg: String): unit =
-    reporter.error(/*new Position */FakePos(PRODUCT),
-                   msg + "\n  " + PRODUCT + " -help  gives more information")
+    reporter.error(/*new Position */FakePos("scalac"),
+                   msg + "\n  scalac -help  gives more information")
 
   /* needed ?? */
   def errors() = reporter.errors
diff --git a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/MainGenericRunner.scala b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/MainGenericRunner.scala
index df753d020..36c3da2d6 100644
--- a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/MainGenericRunner.scala
+++ b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/MainGenericRunner.scala
@@ -7,9 +7,8 @@
 
 package scala.tools.nsc
 
-import java.lang.System.getProperty
-import java.lang.{ClassNotFoundException, NoSuchMethodException}
 import java.io.File
+import java.lang.{ClassNotFoundException, NoSuchMethodException}
 import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
 
 /** An object that runs Scala code.  It has three possible
@@ -24,8 +23,8 @@ object MainGenericRunner {
    *  @param  classpath
    *  @return ...
    */
-  def addClasspathExtras(classpath: String): String = {
-    val scalaHome = getProperty("scala.home")
+  private def addClasspathExtras(classpath: String): String = {
+    val scalaHome = Properties.scalaHome
 
     val extraClassPath = 
       if (scalaHome eq null)
@@ -70,10 +69,10 @@ object MainGenericRunner {
     }
 
     if (settings.version.value) {
-      val version = getProperty("scala.tool.version", "unknown version")
       Console.println(
-          "Scala code runner version " + version + " -- " + 
-           "(c) 2002-2007 LAMP/EPFL")
+        "Scala code runner " +
+        Properties.versionString + " -- " +
+        Properties.copyrightString)
       return
     }
 
diff --git a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/Properties.scala b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/Properties.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ae9d9dc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/Properties.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/* NSC -- new Scala compiler
+ * Copyright 2006-2007 LAMP/EPFL
+ * @author  Stephane Micheloud
+ */
+
+// $Id: $
+
+package scala.tools.nsc
+
+/** A utility to load the compiler properties from a Java properties file
+ *  included in the jar.
+ */
+object Properties {
+
+  /** The name of the properties file */
+  private val propFilename = "/compiler.properties"
+
+  /** The loaded properties */
+  private val props = {
+    val props = new java.util.Properties
+    val stream = classOf[Global].getResourceAsStream(propFilename)
+    if (stream != null)
+      props.load(stream)
+    props
+  }
+
+  /** The version number of the jar this was loaded from, or
+    * "(unknown)" if it cannot be determined.
+    */
+  val versionString: String = {
+    val defaultString = "(unknown)"
+    "version " + props.getProperty("version.number")
+  }
+  
+  val copyrightString: String = {
+    val defaultString = "(c) 2002-2006 LAMP/EPFL"
+    props.getProperty("copyright.string", defaultString)
+  }
+
+  val scalaHome: String =
+    System.getProperty("scala.home")
+
+  val cmdName: String = {
+    val isWin = System.getProperty("os.name") startsWith "Windows"
+    if (isWin) "scala.bat" else "scala"
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/Settings.scala b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/Settings.scala
index d5e5c98bd..cc9f9b21c 100644
--- a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/Settings.scala
+++ b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/Settings.scala
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class Settings(error: String => unit) {
      else p2
 
   private def guessedScalaBootClassPath = {
-    val scalaHome = System.getProperty("scala.home")
+    val scalaHome = Properties.scalaHome
     if (scalaHome ne null) {
       val guessJar = new File(new File(new File(scalaHome), "lib"), "scala-library.jar")
       if (guessJar.exists()) guessJar.getPath()
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class Settings(error: String => unit) {
   }
 
   private def guessedScalaExtDirs = {
-    val scalaHome = System.getProperty("scala.home")
+    val scalaHome = Properties.scalaHome
     if (scalaHome ne null) {
       val guess = new File(new File(scalaHome), "lib")
       if (guess.exists()) guess.getPath else null