diff --git a/VERSION.py b/VERSION.py
index 337786e6b0..fa97ecff36 100644
--- a/VERSION.py
+++ b/VERSION.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # -*- mode: python -*-
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-SCOVERSION = "7.19a"
+SCOVERSION = "8.00a"
 
 SCONAME = "ScoDoc"