[WorldMaker]

I sometimes dump git describe to a JSON file rather than modifying a source file and let the build bundle it as an embedded resource. You can .gitignore the JSON file to keep it from accidentally getting checked in (and causing merge conflicts).

As also pointed out, many build tools that want or need version numbers often also have command line flags or can take environment variables instead of using source files.

[jonnycomputer]

There seems a lot to like about that approach.