diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 62dee65c..2037e428 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ docs/api/
 *.iml
 
 # generated headers
-include/version.h
+# v3/include/version.h is written by every build (kernel/Makefile, v3/Makefile): untracked 2026-11-11
+v3/include/version.h
 
 # bundles / archives
 *.bundle
diff --git a/capsules/BLOCK_MAP.md b/capsules/BLOCK_MAP.md
index 51052650..3b5d449e 100644
--- a/capsules/BLOCK_MAP.md
+++ b/capsules/BLOCK_MAP.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Capsule Block Manifest — Auto-generated
-<!-- Generated by mkcapsule --manifest  2026-10-17T02:58:45Z -->
+<!-- Generated by mkcapsule --manifest (no timestamp: it changes only with the capsules) -->
 <!-- DO NOT EDIT — re-run mkcapsule --manifest to refresh.  -->
 <!-- Hand-written justifications and immutability notes live  -->
 <!-- in MANIFEST.md alongside this auto-generated index.      -->
diff --git a/tools/mkcapsule.c b/tools/mkcapsule.c
index 5886a4f4..09329028 100644
--- a/tools/mkcapsule.c
+++ b/tools/mkcapsule.c
@@ -740,11 +740,6 @@ static int cmp_blockref(const void *a, const void *b) {
 }
 
 static void generate_manifest(FILE *out) {
-    time_t now = time(NULL);
-    struct tm *tm_ptr = gmtime(&now);
-    char timestamp[64];
-    strftime(timestamp, sizeof(timestamp), "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ", tm_ptr);
-
     qsort(manifest_entries, (size_t)manifest_count,
           sizeof(ManifestEntry), cmp_manifest_name);
 
@@ -762,11 +757,11 @@ static void generate_manifest(FILE *out) {
 
     fprintf(out,
         "# Capsule Block Manifest — Auto-generated\n"
-        "<!-- Generated by mkcapsule --manifest  %s -->\n"
+        "<!-- Generated by mkcapsule --manifest (no timestamp: it changes only with the capsules) -->\n"
         "<!-- DO NOT EDIT — re-run mkcapsule --manifest to refresh.  -->\n"
         "<!-- Hand-written justifications and immutability notes live  -->\n"
         "<!-- in MANIFEST.md alongside this auto-generated index.      -->\n"
-        "\n", timestamp);
+        "\n");
 
     /* Capsule summary */
     fprintf(out, "## Capsule Summary\n\n");
diff --git a/v3/include/version.h b/v3/include/version.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 3480949a..00000000
--- a/v3/include/version.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef STARFORTH_VERSION_H
-#define STARFORTH_VERSION_H
-
-#define STARFORTH_VERSION "3.2.0"
-#define STARFORTH_ARCH "amd64"
-#define STARFORTH_TARGET "kernel"
-#define STARFORTH_TIMESTAMP "2026-10-16T22:58:44-04:00"
-#define STARFORTH_VERSION_FULL "StarForth v3.2.0 amd64 kernel 2026-10-16T22:58:44-04:00"
-
-#define LITHOS_VERSION "2.1.0"
-#define LITHOS_VERSION_STR "LithosAnanke v2.1.0 amd64"
-
-#endif /* STARFORTH_VERSION_H */