diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index ae2d0c8d..02102760 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -167,18 +167,6 @@ if test "x$enable_daemon" = "xyes"; then
   if test "x$ovs_of_path" = "xno" ; then
     AC_MSG_WARN([Could not locate ovs-ofctl cannot use OVS mode])
   fi
-
-  CFLAGS_save=$CFLAGS
-  CPPFLAGS_save=$CPPFLAGS
-  if test "x$PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR" = "x"; then
-    PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR=`$PYTHON -c "import distutils.sysconfig; print(distutils.sysconfig.get_python_inc())"`
-  fi
-  CFLAGS="-I$PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR"
-  CPPFLAGS="-I$PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR"
-  AC_CHECK_HEADERS([Python.h], [],
-    AC_MSG_ERROR([Python bindings require Python development headers (try installing your 'python-devel' or 'python-dev' package)]))
-  CFLAGS=$CFLAGS_save
-  CPPFLAGS=$CPPFLAGS_save
 fi
 
 if [ test "x$enable_daemon" = "xyes" || test "x$enable_vnodedonly" = "xyes" ] ; then
diff --git a/docs/install2.md b/docs/install2.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b8f7c099
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/install2.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Commands Used Ubuntu
+
+```shell
+# get pip
+sudo apt install python3-pip python3-venv
+
+# install pipx
+python3 -m pip install --user pipx
+python3 -m pipx ensurepath
+
+# install invoke
+pipx install invoke
+
+# install core
+inv install
+
+# run daemon
+inv daemon
+
+# run gui
+inv gui
+```
+
+Commands Used CentOS
+
+```shell
+```
diff --git a/install2.sh b/install2.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..a8366670
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install2.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# exit on error
+set -e
+
+# detect os/ver for install type
+os=""
+if [[ -f /etc/os-release ]]; then
+  . /etc/os-release
+  os=${ID}
+fi
+
+echo "installing CORE for ${os}"
+case ${os} in
+"ubuntu")
+  sudo apt install -y python3-pip
+
+  ;;
+"centos")
+  sudo yum install -y python3-pip
+  ;;
+*)
+  echo "unknown OS ID ${os} cannot install"
+  ;;
+esac
+
+python3 -m pip install --user pipx
+python3 -m pipx ensurepath
+python3 -m pipx install invoke
+inv install
diff --git a/tasks.py b/tasks.py
index b19e8925..37b2e10c 100644
--- a/tasks.py
+++ b/tasks.py
@@ -1,52 +1,123 @@
+import os
+
 from invoke import task
 
+UBUNTU = "ubuntu"
+CENTOS = "centos"
+DAEMON_DIR = "daemon"
+VCMD_DIR = "netns"
+GUI_DIR = "gui"
+
+
+def get_python(c):
+    with c.cd(DAEMON_DIR):
+        venv = c.run("poetry env info -p", hide=True).stdout.strip()
+        return os.path.join(venv, "bin", "python")
+
+
+def get_pytest(c):
+    with c.cd(DAEMON_DIR):
+        venv = c.run("poetry env info -p", hide=True).stdout.strip()
+        return os.path.join(venv, "bin", "pytest")
+
+
+def get_os():
+    d = {}
+    with open("/etc/os-release", "r") as f:
+        for line in f.readlines():
+            line = line.strip()
+            key, value = line.split("=")
+            d[key] = value
+    return d["ID"]
+
+
+@task
+def install(c):
+    """
+    install core
+    """
+    # get os
+    os_name = get_os()
+    # install system dependencies
+    print("installing system dependencies...")
+    if os_name == UBUNTU:
+        c.run(
+            "sudo apt install -y automake pkg-config gcc libev-dev ebtables iproute2 "
+            "ethtool tk python3-tk", hide=True
+        )
+    else:
+        raise Exception(f"unsupported os: {os_name}")
+    # install grpcio-tools for building proto files
+    print("installing grpcio-tools...")
+    c.run("python3 -m pip install --user grpcio-tools", hide=True)
+    # build core
+    print("building core...")
+    c.run("./bootstrap.sh", hide=True)
+    c.run("./configure", hide=True)
+    c.run("make -j", hide=True)
+    # install vcmd
+    print("installing vcmd...")
+    with c.cd(VCMD_DIR):
+        c.run("sudo make install", hide=True)
+    # install vcmd
+    print("installing gui...")
+    with c.cd(GUI_DIR):
+        c.run("sudo make install", hide=True)
+    # install poetry environment
+    print("installing poetry...")
+    c.run("pipx install poetry", hide=True)
+    with c.cd(DAEMON_DIR):
+        print("installing core environment using poetry...")
+        c.run("poetry install", hide=True)
+
 
 @task
 def daemon(c):
     """
-    Runs core-daemon.
+    start core-daemon
     """
-    with c.cd("daemon"):
-        poetry = c.run("which poetry").stdout.strip()
+    python = get_python(c)
+    with c.cd(DAEMON_DIR):
         c.run(
-            f"sudo {poetry} run scripts/core-daemon "
-            "-f data/core.conf -l data/logging.conf"
+            f"sudo {python} scripts/core-daemon "
+            "-f data/core.conf -l data/logging.conf",
+            pty=True
         )
 
 
 @task
 def gui(c):
     """
-    Run core-pygui.
+    start core-pygui
     """
-    with c.cd("daemon"):
-        c.run("poetry run scripts/core-pygui")
+    with c.cd(DAEMON_DIR):
+        c.run("poetry run scripts/core-pygui", pty=True)
 
 
 @task
 def test(c):
     """
-    Run core tests.
+    run core tests
     """
-    with c.cd("daemon"):
-        poetry = c.run("which poetry").stdout.strip()
-        c.run(f"sudo {poetry} run pytest -v --lf -x tests", pty=True)
+    pytest = get_pytest(c)
+    with c.cd(DAEMON_DIR):
+        c.run(f"sudo {pytest} -v --lf -x tests", pty=True)
 
 
 @task
 def test_mock(c):
     """
-    Run core tests using mock to avoid running as sudo.
+    run core tests using mock to avoid running as sudo
     """
-    with c.cd("daemon"):
+    with c.cd(DAEMON_DIR):
         c.run("poetry run pytest -v --mock --lf -x tests", pty=True)
 
 
 @task
 def test_emane(c):
     """
-    Run core emane tests.
+    run core emane tests
     """
-    with c.cd("daemon"):
-        poetry = c.run("which poetry").stdout.strip()
-        c.run(f"sudo {poetry} run pytest -v --lf -x tests/emane", pty=True)
+    pytest = get_pytest(c)
+    with c.cd(DAEMON_DIR):
+        c.run(f"{pytest} -v --lf -x tests/emane", pty=True)