diff --git a/bld/nco.spec b/bld/nco.spec
index 69348b9..341756f 100644
--- a/bld/nco.spec
+++ b/bld/nco.spec
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@ fi
 # %{_libdir}/libnco++.so
 
 %changelog
+* Mon Jun 02 2022 Charlie Zender <zender@uci.edu> - 5.0.8-1
+- new upstream 5.0.8
+
 * Mon May 02 2022 Charlie Zender <zender@uci.edu> - 5.0.7-1
 - new upstream 5.0.7
 
diff --git a/bld/nco_dst.pl b/bld/nco_dst.pl
index 4a398a9..b9d42f2 100755
--- a/bld/nco_dst.pl
+++ b/bld/nco_dst.pl
@@ -5,20 +5,20 @@
 
 # Usage:
 # Export tagged, public versions
-# /usr/bin/scp ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7.tar.gz zender,nco@web.sf.net:/home/project-web/nco/htdocs/src
-
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --bld --cln nco-5.0.7 # Build, do not release on SF
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --bld --cln --sf nco-5.0.7 # Build, release on SF
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --nst_all nco-5.0.7 # Install, do not build
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --bld --cln --nst_all nco-5.0.7 # Build and install
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --acd_cnt nco-5.0.7
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --acd_prs nco-5.0.7
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --cgd_cnt nco-5.0.7
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --cray_prs nco-5.0.7
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --bbl_cnt nco-5.0.7
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --blk_cnt nco-5.0.7
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --dat_cnt nco-5.0.7
-# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --ute_prs nco-5.0.7
+# /usr/bin/scp ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8.tar.gz zender,nco@web.sf.net:/home/project-web/nco/htdocs/src
+
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --bld --cln nco-5.0.8 # Build, do not release on SF
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --bld --cln --sf nco-5.0.8 # Build, release on SF
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --nst_all nco-5.0.8 # Install, do not build
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --bld --cln --nst_all nco-5.0.8 # Build and install
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --acd_cnt nco-5.0.8
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --acd_prs nco-5.0.8
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --cgd_cnt nco-5.0.8
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --cray_prs nco-5.0.8
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --bbl_cnt nco-5.0.8
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --blk_cnt nco-5.0.8
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --dat_cnt nco-5.0.8
+# ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --cln --ute_prs nco-5.0.8
 
 # Export daily snapshot
 # ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ if($bld){
 # Set up FTP server
     chdir $dst_pth_pfx or die "$prg_nm: ERROR unable to chdir to $dst_pth_pfx: $!\n"; # $! is system error string
     cmd_prc("$cp_cmd $doc_fl ./$dst_vrs/doc"); # Copy derived documentation to source directory
-    cmd_prc("$tar_cmd cvzf $dst_fl --exclude='nco-5.0.7/debian*' --exclude='.cvsignore' --exclude=ncap_lex.c --exclude=ncap_yacc.[ch] ./$dst_vrs"); # Create gzipped tarfile
+    cmd_prc("$tar_cmd cvzf $dst_fl --exclude='nco-5.0.8/debian*' --exclude='.cvsignore' --exclude=ncap_lex.c --exclude=ncap_yacc.[ch] ./$dst_vrs"); # Create gzipped tarfile
     cmd_prc("$rsh_cmd $www_mch $rm_cmd $www_drc/src/$dst_fl"); # Remove any distribution with same name
     if($dly_snp){cmd_prc("$rsh_cmd $www_mch $rm_cmd -r $www_drc/src/nco-????????.tar.gz");} # Remove previous daily snapshots from WWW server
     cmd_prc("$rcp_cmd $dst_fl $www_mch:$www_drc/src"); # Copy local tarfile to WWW server
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 2fcb37d..1b8e4eb 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #! /bin/sh
 # Guess values for system-dependent variables and create Makefiles.
-# Generated by GNU Autoconf 2.71 for NCO netCDF Operators 5.0.7.
+# Generated by GNU Autoconf 2.71 for NCO netCDF Operators 5.0.8-alpha01.
 #
 # Report bugs to <nco-bugs@lists.sourceforge.net>.
 #
@@ -623,8 +623,8 @@ MAKEFLAGS=
 # Identity of this package.
 PACKAGE_NAME='NCO netCDF Operators'
 PACKAGE_TARNAME='nco'
-PACKAGE_VERSION='5.0.7'
-PACKAGE_STRING='NCO netCDF Operators 5.0.7'
+PACKAGE_VERSION='5.0.8-alpha01'
+PACKAGE_STRING='NCO netCDF Operators 5.0.8-alpha01'
 PACKAGE_BUGREPORT='nco-bugs@lists.sourceforge.net'
 PACKAGE_URL=''
 
@@ -1431,7 +1431,7 @@ if test "$ac_init_help" = "long"; then
   # Omit some internal or obsolete options to make the list less imposing.
   # This message is too long to be a string in the A/UX 3.1 sh.
   cat <<_ACEOF
-\`configure' configures NCO netCDF Operators 5.0.7 to adapt to many kinds of systems.
+\`configure' configures NCO netCDF Operators 5.0.8-alpha01 to adapt to many kinds of systems.
 
 Usage: $0 [OPTION]... [VAR=VALUE]...
 
@@ -1503,7 +1503,7 @@ fi
 
 if test -n "$ac_init_help"; then
   case $ac_init_help in
-     short | recursive ) echo "Configuration of NCO netCDF Operators 5.0.7:";;
+     short | recursive ) echo "Configuration of NCO netCDF Operators 5.0.8-alpha01:";;
    esac
   cat <<\_ACEOF
 
@@ -1677,7 +1677,7 @@ fi
 test -n "$ac_init_help" && exit $ac_status
 if $ac_init_version; then
   cat <<\_ACEOF
-NCO netCDF Operators configure 5.0.7
+NCO netCDF Operators configure 5.0.8-alpha01
 generated by GNU Autoconf 2.71
 
 Copyright (C) 2021 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@@ -2433,7 +2433,7 @@ cat >config.log <<_ACEOF
 This file contains any messages produced by compilers while
 running configure, to aid debugging if configure makes a mistake.
 
-It was created by NCO netCDF Operators $as_me 5.0.7, which was
+It was created by NCO netCDF Operators $as_me 5.0.8-alpha01, which was
 generated by GNU Autoconf 2.71.  Invocation command line was
 
   $ $0$ac_configure_args_raw
@@ -4320,7 +4320,7 @@ fi
 
 # Define the identity of the package.
  PACKAGE='nco'
- VERSION='5.0.7'
+ VERSION='5.0.8-alpha01'
 
 
 printf "%s\n" "#define PACKAGE \"$PACKAGE\"" >>confdefs.h
@@ -22751,7 +22751,7 @@ cat >>$CONFIG_STATUS <<\_ACEOF || ac_write_fail=1
 # report actual input values of CONFIG_FILES etc. instead of their
 # values after options handling.
 ac_log="
-This file was extended by NCO netCDF Operators $as_me 5.0.7, which was
+This file was extended by NCO netCDF Operators $as_me 5.0.8-alpha01, which was
 generated by GNU Autoconf 2.71.  Invocation command line was
 
   CONFIG_FILES    = $CONFIG_FILES
@@ -22819,7 +22819,7 @@ ac_cs_config_escaped=`printf "%s\n" "$ac_cs_config" | sed "s/^ //; s/'/'\\\\\\\\
 cat >>$CONFIG_STATUS <<_ACEOF || ac_write_fail=1
 ac_cs_config='$ac_cs_config_escaped'
 ac_cs_version="\\
-NCO netCDF Operators config.status 5.0.7
+NCO netCDF Operators config.status 5.0.8-alpha01
 configured by $0, generated by GNU Autoconf 2.71,
   with options \\"\$ac_cs_config\\"
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1fe671d..417192a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 # 20170808: Choose between traditional version and Git-based version
 # If Git, consider that Linux dynamic libraries will have full messy name, MacOS will not
 # https://stackoverflow.com/questions/43526939/how-to-insert-git-based-version-in-autoconf-managed-project
-AC_INIT([NCO netCDF Operators],[5.0.7],[nco-bugs@lists.sourceforge.net],[nco])
+AC_INIT([NCO netCDF Operators],[5.0.8-alpha01],[nco-bugs@lists.sourceforge.net],[nco])
 
 # Print GNU copyright in configure script
 AC_COPYRIGHT
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 49146c3..72d018a 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,15 @@
+nco (5.0.7+git20220502.1.1af73bc-1) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
+
+  * New upstream snapshot.
+
+ -- Debian Janitor <janitor@jelmer.uk>  Tue, 03 May 2022 06:49:50 -0000
+
+nco (5.0.8-1) unstable; urgency=low
+
+  * new upstream version fxm:
+
+ -- Charlie Zender <zender@uci.edu>  Mon, 02 Jun 2022 12:25:56 -0700
+
 nco (5.0.7-1) unstable; urgency=medium
 
   * New upstream release.
diff --git a/doc/ChangeLog b/doc/ChangeLog
index a06283a..1061b82 100644
--- a/doc/ChangeLog
+++ b/doc/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 2022-05-02  Charlie Zender  <zender@uci.edu>
 
+	* NCO 5.0.8-alpha01 release procedure:
+	cd ~/nco;git commit -a -m 'Version 5.0.8-alpha01: Functionally identical to 5.0.7';git push
+	git tag -a 5.0.8-alpha01 -m 'QuickBlade';git push --tags
+
 	* NCO 5.0.7 release procedure:
 	cd ~/nco;git commit -a -m 'Version 5.0.7: all: bit_xpl_dbl=52, tkn rdf wrn; ncap2: where() mss_val; ncclimo: -P fix; ncremap: add_fll fix, sub-SGS nrm, sgs_nm_gnr wrn';git push
 	git tag -a 5.0.7 -m 'Mariupol';git push --tags
diff --git a/doc/VERSION b/doc/VERSION
index 0043336..edfae27 100644
--- a/doc/VERSION
+++ b/doc/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-5.0.7
+5.0.8-alpha01
diff --git a/doc/debian.txt b/doc/debian.txt
index 5c82be7..435dc45 100644
--- a/doc/debian.txt
+++ b/doc/debian.txt
@@ -29,18 +29,18 @@ apt-get install dh-make debhelper devscripts fakeroot gnupg debian-policy develo
 
 2. Debian build procedure recommends placing entire package source in
    subdirectory of main package. 
-   For starters, we wish to create .debs of tagged releases, e.g., nco-5.0.7
-   First we create a clean source distribution of nco and place it in nco-5.0.7
+   For starters, we wish to create .debs of tagged releases, e.g., nco-5.0.8
+   First we create a clean source distribution of nco and place it in nco-5.0.8
    Until we know what is necessary, however, we just copy a snapshot
    
    2.1 Clean all build files from development directory
 
 cd ~/nco;make distclean;cd bld;make clean;cd ~
 tar cvzf ./nco/nco.tar.gz ./nco/*
-cd ~/nco;tar xvzf nco.tar.gz;mv nco nco-5.0.7
-/bin/rm nco.tar.gz;tar cvzf nco-5.0.7.tar.gz ./nco-5.0.7/*
-cd ~/nco/nco-5.0.7
-dh_make -e zender@uci.edu -f ../nco-5.0.7.tar.gz
+cd ~/nco;tar xvzf nco.tar.gz;mv nco nco-5.0.8
+/bin/rm nco.tar.gz;tar cvzf nco-5.0.8.tar.gz ./nco-5.0.8/*
+cd ~/nco/nco-5.0.8
+dh_make -e zender@uci.edu -f ../nco-5.0.8.tar.gz
 
     2.2 The preceding steps created template debian files for a .deb,
     Those files now reside in ~/nco/debian.
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ dh_make -e zender@uci.edu -f ../nco-5.0.7.tar.gz
    from previous build
 
    cd ~/nco;/bin/rm *.gz
-   cd ~/nco/nco-5.0.7
+   cd ~/nco/nco-5.0.8
    dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot > foo 2>&1
    dpkg-buildpackage -rsudo > foo 2>&1
 
@@ -84,33 +84,33 @@ patch -p0 < nco_X.Y.Z-3.diff   # Patch destination with Debian diff
    make tags
 # Put cute version-specific string in nco_ctl.c:nco_nmn_get()
 # Install correct version numbers before updating Debian
-# tags-query replace 5.0.7 with X.Y.Z+1
+# tags-query replace 5.0.8 with X.Y.Z+1
 # If tags-query replace does not work, be sure to manually change
 # versions in configure.ac, debian/files, doc/ANNOUNCE, doc/debian.txt,
 # doc/index.shtml, doc/nco.texi, bld/nco_dst.pl, doc/VERSION
 # 20141201: Change NCO_VERSION_PATCH in src/nco.h!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-   cd ~/nco/debian;dch -b --force-distribution --distribution=unstable -v 5.0.7-1 # Update changelog (-b forces this version number)
+   cd ~/nco/debian;dch -b --force-distribution --distribution=unstable -v 5.0.8-1 # Update changelog (-b forces this version number)
    emacs ~/nco/bld/nco.spec # Update changelog
 # For unknown reason rules file may lose its executable bit
    chmod a+x ~/nco/debian/rules
 # Rebuild autotools so new version # propagates
    cd ~/nco;aclocal;autoheader;automake --foreign;autoconf
 # Save all files in emacs before tagging
-   ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --bld --cln nco-5.0.7
+   ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco_dst.pl --dbg=2 --bld --cln nco-5.0.8
 # Upload tarball to SF https://sourceforge.net/projects/nco/files 
-   cd;scp dust.ess.uci.edu:/var/www/html/nco/src/nco-5.0.7.tar.gz .
+   cd;scp dust.ess.uci.edu:/var/www/html/nco/src/nco-5.0.8.tar.gz .
 
 7. Ubuntu PPA
 https://help.launchpad.net/Packaging/PPA
-dput NCO nco_5.0.7-2~ppa1_source.changes
+dput NCO nco_5.0.8-2~ppa1_source.changes
 sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com
 
 # Location of build diagnostics for mentors to help 
-http://dust.ess.uci.edu/nco/src/nco_5.0.7-1.dpkg-buildpackage.txt
-http://dust.ess.uci.edu/nco/src/nco_5.0.7-1.dsc
-http://dust.ess.uci.edu/nco/src/nco_5.0.7-1_i386.changes
-http://dust.ess.uci.edu/nco/src/nco_5.0.7-1_i386.deb
-http://dust.ess.uci.edu/nco/src/nco_5.0.7.orig.tar.gz
+http://dust.ess.uci.edu/nco/src/nco_5.0.8-1.dpkg-buildpackage.txt
+http://dust.ess.uci.edu/nco/src/nco_5.0.8-1.dsc
+http://dust.ess.uci.edu/nco/src/nco_5.0.8-1_i386.changes
+http://dust.ess.uci.edu/nco/src/nco_5.0.8-1_i386.deb
+http://dust.ess.uci.edu/nco/src/nco_5.0.8.orig.tar.gz
 
 # Becoming a Debian developer
 http://www.debian.org/devel/join/newmaint
@@ -164,31 +164,31 @@ Matej Vela <vela@debian.org>, Daniel Baumann <daniel@debian.org>, Warren Turkal
 # export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/lib:/lib:/usr/X11R6/lib
 # sudo aptitude install antlr bison flex gsl-bin libgsl0-dev libantlr-dev netcdf-bin libnetcdfc7 libnetcdf-dev texinfo libcurl4-gnutls-dev libexpat1-dev libxml2-dev udunits-bin libudunits2-0 libudunits2-dev
 cd ~/nco;cvc
-sudo /bin/rm -rf ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7 ${DATA}/nco_5.0.7* ${DATA}/debian # Cleanup last build. sudo necessary for removal because dpkg-buildpackage uses sudo?
-# cd ${DATA};cvs -d zender@nco.cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/nco export -kkv -r nco-5.0.7-1 -d nco-5.0.7 nco # Export based on tag
-cd ${DATA};cvs -d zender@nco.cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/nco export -kkv -D "1 second ago" -d nco-5.0.7 nco # Export most recent
-tar cvzf ./nco_5.0.7.orig.tar.gz --exclude='nco-5.0.7/debian*' --exclude='.cvsignore' --exclude='ncap_lex.c' --exclude='ncap_yacc.[ch]' ./nco-5.0.7 
-/bin/rm -rf ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7 # Remove cvs-exported directory
-tar xvzf ./nco_5.0.7.orig.tar.gz # Untar to get directory without excluded files
-mkdir -p ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7/debian/source;cd ~/nco/debian;/bin/cp changelog compat control convert copyright doc-base files info rules ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7/debian;cd ~/nco/debian/source;/bin/cp format ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7/debian/source # Replace debian directory with _CURRENT_ (main trunk) settings
+sudo /bin/rm -rf ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8 ${DATA}/nco_5.0.8* ${DATA}/debian # Cleanup last build. sudo necessary for removal because dpkg-buildpackage uses sudo?
+# cd ${DATA};cvs -d zender@nco.cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/nco export -kkv -r nco-5.0.8-1 -d nco-5.0.8 nco # Export based on tag
+cd ${DATA};cvs -d zender@nco.cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/nco export -kkv -D "1 second ago" -d nco-5.0.8 nco # Export most recent
+tar cvzf ./nco_5.0.8.orig.tar.gz --exclude='nco-5.0.8/debian*' --exclude='.cvsignore' --exclude='ncap_lex.c' --exclude='ncap_yacc.[ch]' ./nco-5.0.8 
+/bin/rm -rf ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8 # Remove cvs-exported directory
+tar xvzf ./nco_5.0.8.orig.tar.gz # Untar to get directory without excluded files
+mkdir -p ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8/debian/source;cd ~/nco/debian;/bin/cp changelog compat control convert copyright doc-base files info rules ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8/debian;cd ~/nco/debian/source;/bin/cp format ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8/debian/source # Replace debian directory with _CURRENT_ (main trunk) settings
 #export DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS='disable-dap-netcdf disable-netcdf4 disable-udunits2'; # Disable optional packages based on available Debian support
-#cd ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7;dpkg-buildpackage -rsudo -uc -us > ~/foo.nco 2>&1 # -uc -us: Do not sign changes or source files
-#cd ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7;dpkg-buildpackage -rsudo -sa > ~/foo.nco 2>&1 # -sa: Include _orig.tar.gz in .changes 
-cd ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7;dpkg-buildpackage -rsudo > ~/foo.nco 2>&1
+#cd ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8;dpkg-buildpackage -rsudo -uc -us > ~/foo.nco 2>&1 # -uc -us: Do not sign changes or source files
+#cd ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8;dpkg-buildpackage -rsudo -sa > ~/foo.nco 2>&1 # -sa: Include _orig.tar.gz in .changes 
+cd ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8;dpkg-buildpackage -rsudo > ~/foo.nco 2>&1
 sudo dpkg --remove nco
-sudo dpkg --install ${DATA}/nco_5.0.7-1_*.deb
+sudo dpkg --install ${DATA}/nco_5.0.8-1_*.deb
 cd ~/nco/bld;MY_BIN_DIR=/usr/bin ../bm/nco_bm.pl --regress
 # http://lintian.debian.org/full/zender@uci.edu.html
-lintian ${DATA}/nco_5.0.7-1_*.deb
-ls -l ${DATA}/nco_5.0.7*
+lintian ${DATA}/nco_5.0.8-1_*.deb
+ls -l ${DATA}/nco_5.0.8*
 m ~/foo.nco
 # Upload Ubuntu (rather than Debian) packages to websites
-scp ${DATA}/nco_5.0.7* dust.ess.uci.edu:/var/www/html/nco/src
-scp ${DATA}/nco_5.0.7* zender,nco@web.sf.net:/home/project-web/nco/htdocs/src
+scp ${DATA}/nco_5.0.8* dust.ess.uci.edu:/var/www/html/nco/src
+scp ${DATA}/nco_5.0.8* zender,nco@web.sf.net:/home/project-web/nco/htdocs/src
 # NB: Make sure RPMs build before uploading to debian, since changing
 # Debian versions is a PITA
 # NB: Only upload pbuilder Debian Sid (not personal Ubuntu) .deb builds to Debian mentors
-# cd ${DATA};dupload -t mentors nco_5.0.7-1_*.changes
+# cd ${DATA};dupload -t mentors nco_5.0.8-1_*.changes
 bsrc # Reset shell environment for regular development
 
 # New build system #2
@@ -202,52 +202,52 @@ DIST=sid sudo pbuilder update # Update chroot before building package in it
 # dget http://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/main/n/nco/nco_3.9.0-1.dsc
 # dget http://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/main/n/netcdf/netcdf_3.6.1-1.dsc
 # apt-get source nco # Get package source
-sudo /bin/rm /var/cache/pbuilder/result/nco_5.0.7* # Cleanup prior build
+sudo /bin/rm /var/cache/pbuilder/result/nco_5.0.8* # Cleanup prior build
 # To pass DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS to pbuilder while using sudo, one must first
 # modify sudoers with visudo to prevent sudo from resetting environment
 #export DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS='disable-dap-netcdf disable-netcdf4 disable-udunits2'; # Disable optional packages based on available Debian support
-cd ${DATA};DIST=sid sudo pbuilder build nco_5.0.7-1.dsc > ~/foo.nco.pbuilder 2>&1
-cd /var/cache/pbuilder/result;debsign -k6F635D10 nco_5.0.7-1_*.changes
-lintian /var/cache/pbuilder/result/nco_5.0.7-1_*.deb
+cd ${DATA};DIST=sid sudo pbuilder build nco_5.0.8-1.dsc > ~/foo.nco.pbuilder 2>&1
+cd /var/cache/pbuilder/result;debsign -k6F635D10 nco_5.0.8-1_*.changes
+lintian /var/cache/pbuilder/result/nco_5.0.8-1_*.deb
 sudo dpkg --remove nco
-sudo dpkg --install /var/cache/pbuilder/result/nco_5.0.7-1_*.deb
+sudo dpkg --install /var/cache/pbuilder/result/nco_5.0.8-1_*.deb
 cd ~/nco/bld;MY_BIN_DIR=/usr/bin ../bm/nco_bm.pl --regress
 # NB: Upload pbuilder Debian Sid packages to Debian mentors, but not
 # to personal or NCO websites since most people use Ubuntu not Debian
 # NB: Debian versions are a PITA, ensure RPMs build before uploading to Debian
-cd /var/cache/pbuilder/result;dupload -t mentors nco_5.0.7-1_*.changes
+cd /var/cache/pbuilder/result;dupload -t mentors nco_5.0.8-1_*.changes
 
 # RPM builds as root
 export rpm_root='/usr/src/redhat'
 # export sudo_sng='' # sudo not-necessary when builing in user directories
 export sudo_sng='sudo' # sudo necessary when building in system directories
 cd ~/nco;cvc;cvu
-/bin/rm -rf ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7 ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7* # Cleanup last build
+/bin/rm -rf ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8 ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8* # Cleanup last build
 ${sudo_sng} /bin/rm -r -f \
-${rpm_root}/BUILD/nco-5.0.7 \
-${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-5.0.7-?.i386.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-debuginfo-5.0.7-?.i386.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-devel-5.0.7-?.i386.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/SOURCES/nco-5.0.7.tar.gz \
-${rpm_root}/SPECS/nco-5.0.7.spec \
-${rpm_root}/SRPMS/nco-5.0.7-?.src.rpm
-cd ${DATA};cvs -d zender@nco.cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/nco export -kkv -r nco-5.0.7-1 -d nco-5.0.7 nco # Export based on tag
-${sudo_sng} ln -s ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco.spec ${rpm_root}/SPECS/nco-5.0.7.spec
-tar cvzf ./nco-5.0.7.tar.gz --exclude='nco-5.0.7/debian*' --exclude='.cvsignore' --exclude='ncap_lex.c' --exclude='ncap_yacc.[ch]' ./nco-5.0.7 
-${sudo_sng} /bin/cp ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7.tar.gz ${rpm_root}/SOURCES
+${rpm_root}/BUILD/nco-5.0.8 \
+${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-5.0.8-?.i386.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-debuginfo-5.0.8-?.i386.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-devel-5.0.8-?.i386.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/SOURCES/nco-5.0.8.tar.gz \
+${rpm_root}/SPECS/nco-5.0.8.spec \
+${rpm_root}/SRPMS/nco-5.0.8-?.src.rpm
+cd ${DATA};cvs -d zender@nco.cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/nco export -kkv -r nco-5.0.8-1 -d nco-5.0.8 nco # Export based on tag
+${sudo_sng} ln -s ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco.spec ${rpm_root}/SPECS/nco-5.0.8.spec
+tar cvzf ./nco-5.0.8.tar.gz --exclude='nco-5.0.8/debian*' --exclude='.cvsignore' --exclude='ncap_lex.c' --exclude='ncap_yacc.[ch]' ./nco-5.0.8 
+${sudo_sng} /bin/cp ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8.tar.gz ${rpm_root}/SOURCES
 cd ${rpm_root}/SPECS
-${sudo_sng} rpmbuild -ba --sign nco-5.0.7.spec > ~/foo.nco 2>&1
+${sudo_sng} rpmbuild -ba --sign nco-5.0.8.spec > ~/foo.nco 2>&1
 scp \
-${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-5.0.7-?.i386.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-debuginfo-5.0.7-?.i386.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-devel-5.0.7-?.i386.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/SRPMS/nco-5.0.7-?.src.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-5.0.8-?.i386.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-debuginfo-5.0.8-?.i386.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-devel-5.0.8-?.i386.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/SRPMS/nco-5.0.8-?.src.rpm \
 dust.ess.uci.edu:/var/www/html/nco/src
 scp \
-${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-5.0.7-?.i386.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-debuginfo-5.0.7-?.i386.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-devel-5.0.7-?.i386.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/SRPMS/nco-5.0.7-?.src.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-5.0.8-?.i386.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-debuginfo-5.0.8-?.i386.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/RPMS/i386/nco-devel-5.0.8-?.i386.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/SRPMS/nco-5.0.8-?.src.rpm \
 zender,nco@web.sf.net:/home/project-web/nco/htdocs/src
 
 # RPM builds as user
@@ -256,33 +256,33 @@ zender,nco@web.sf.net:/home/project-web/nco/htdocs/src
 export rpm_root="${DATA}/rpm/nco"
 #cd ~/nco;cvc;cvu # This risks committing unwanted *.[ch]pp files
 mkdir -p ${DATA}/rpm/nco/TMP ${DATA}/rpm/nco/BUILD
-/bin/rm -rf ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7 ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7* # Cleanup last build
+/bin/rm -rf ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8 ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8* # Cleanup last build
 /bin/rm -r -f \
-${rpm_root}/nco-5.0.7-?.src.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/nco-5.0.7.spec \
-${rpm_root}/nco-5.0.7.tar.gz \
-${rpm_root}/*/nco-5.0.7-?.*.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/*/nco-debuginfo-5.0.7-?.*.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/*/nco-devel-5.0.7-?.*.rpm
-# cd ${DATA};cvs -d zender@nco.cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/nco export -kkv -r nco-5.0.7-1 -d nco-5.0.7 nco # Export based on tag
-cd ${DATA};cvs -d zender@nco.cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/nco export -kkv -D "1 second ago" -dnco-5.0.7 nco # Export most recent and build as 5.0.7-1
-tar cvzf ./nco-5.0.7.tar.gz --exclude='nco-5.0.7/debian*' --exclude='.cvsignore' --exclude='ncap_lex.c' --exclude='ncap_yacc.[ch]' ./nco-5.0.7 
-/bin/cp ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7.tar.gz ${rpm_root}
+${rpm_root}/nco-5.0.8-?.src.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/nco-5.0.8.spec \
+${rpm_root}/nco-5.0.8.tar.gz \
+${rpm_root}/*/nco-5.0.8-?.*.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/*/nco-debuginfo-5.0.8-?.*.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/*/nco-devel-5.0.8-?.*.rpm
+# cd ${DATA};cvs -d zender@nco.cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/nco export -kkv -r nco-5.0.8-1 -d nco-5.0.8 nco # Export based on tag
+cd ${DATA};cvs -d zender@nco.cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/nco export -kkv -D "1 second ago" -dnco-5.0.8 nco # Export most recent and build as 5.0.8-1
+tar cvzf ./nco-5.0.8.tar.gz --exclude='nco-5.0.8/debian*' --exclude='.cvsignore' --exclude='ncap_lex.c' --exclude='ncap_yacc.[ch]' ./nco-5.0.8 
+/bin/cp ${DATA}/nco-5.0.8.tar.gz ${rpm_root}
 ln -s ${HOME}/nco/bld/nco.spec ${rpm_root}/nco.spec
 cd ${rpm_root}
 rpmbuild -ba --sign nco.spec > ~/foo.nco 2>&1
-rpmlint ${rpm_root}/*/nco-5.0.7-?.*.rpm
+rpmlint ${rpm_root}/*/nco-5.0.8-?.*.rpm
 sudo yum remove nco
-sudo yum install ${rpm_root}/*/nco-5.0.7-?.*.rpm
+sudo yum install ${rpm_root}/*/nco-5.0.8-?.*.rpm
 scp \
-${rpm_root}/*/nco-5.0.7-?.*.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/*/nco-debuginfo-5.0.7-?.*.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/*/nco-devel-5.0.7-?.*.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/nco-5.0.7-?.*.src.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/*/nco-5.0.8-?.*.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/*/nco-debuginfo-5.0.8-?.*.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/*/nco-devel-5.0.8-?.*.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/nco-5.0.8-?.*.src.rpm \
 dust.ess.uci.edu:/var/www/html/nco/src
 scp \
-${rpm_root}/*/nco-5.0.7-?.*.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/*/nco-debuginfo-5.0.7-?.*.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/*/nco-devel-5.0.7-?.*.rpm \
-${rpm_root}/nco-5.0.7-?.*.src.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/*/nco-5.0.8-?.*.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/*/nco-debuginfo-5.0.8-?.*.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/*/nco-devel-5.0.8-?.*.rpm \
+${rpm_root}/nco-5.0.8-?.*.src.rpm \
 zender,nco@web.sf.net:/home/project-web/nco/htdocs/src
diff --git a/doc/index.shtml b/doc/index.shtml
index 4884226..ec1879a 100644
--- a/doc/index.shtml
+++ b/doc/index.shtml
@@ -810,12 +810,12 @@ Thanks to Gavin Burris and Kyle Wilcox for documenting build procedures for RHEL
 <h3><a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/">Mac&nbsp;OS&nbsp;Darwin</a></h3>
 <ul>
 <!-- 
-# MacOS 12.1 (Monterey) systems (firn, sastrugi):
+# MacOS 12.3 (Monterey) systems (firn, sastrugi):
 /usr/bin/scp ~/nco/doc/index.shtml zender,nco@web.sf.net:/home/project-web/nco/htdocs
-cd ~/bin;tar cvzf ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7.macos.12.1.tar.gz nc*;scp ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7.macos.12.1.tar.gz zender,nco@web.sf.net:/home/project-web/nco/htdocs/src
+cd ~/bin;tar cvzf ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7.macos.12.3.tar.gz nc*;scp ${DATA}/nco-5.0.7.macos.12.3.tar.gz zender,nco@web.sf.net:/home/project-web/nco/htdocs/src
 -->
 The most up-to-date executables are probably those in the tarball below. Those unfamiliar with installing executables from tarballs may try the (older) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Disk_Image">DMG</a> files (you may need to add <tt>/opt/local/bin</tt> to your executable path to access those operators).
-<li><a href="src/nco-5.0.7.macos.12.1.tar.gz">nco-5.0.7.macos.12.1.tar.gz</a> (<!--#fsize file="src/nco-5.0.7.macos.12.1.tar.gz"-->): Executables MacOS 12.1-compatible (last updated <!--#flastmod file="src/nco-5.0.7.macos.12.1.tar.gz"-->). Maintained by NCO Project.</li>
+<li><a href="src/nco-5.0.7.macos.12.3.tar.gz">nco-5.0.7.macos.12.3.tar.gz</a> (<!--#fsize file="src/nco-5.0.7.macos.12.3.tar.gz"-->): Executables MacOS 12.3-compatible (last updated <!--#flastmod file="src/nco-5.0.7.macos.12.3.tar.gz"-->). Maintained by NCO Project.</li>
 <li><a href="http://fink.sf.net">Fink</a> packages for <a href="http://fink.sf.net/pdb/package.php/nco">NCO</a>: Currently NCO 4.9.5. Maintained by Alexander Hansen.</li> 
 <li><a href="http://brew.sh">Homebrew</a> packages for <a href="https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/nco">NCO</a>: Currently NCO 5.0.0. Install with &lsquo;<tt>brew install nco</tt>&rsquo;. Maintained by Carlo Cabrera, Ian Lancaster, Alejandro Soto, and others over the years.</li> 
 <li><a href="http://trac.macosforge.org/projects/macports/wiki">MacPorts</a> infrastructure for <a href="http://svn.macports.org/repository/macports/trunk/dports/science/nco">NCO</a>: <a href="http://svn.macports.org/repository/macports/trunk/dports/science/nco">Portfile</a>: Currently NCO 4.9.9. Install with &lsquo;<tt>sudo port install nco</tt>&rsquo;. Maintained by Takeshi Enomoto.</li>
diff --git a/doc/nco.texi b/doc/nco.texi
index bb11ffc..c87bae1 100644
--- a/doc/nco.texi
+++ b/doc/nco.texi
@@ -125,8 +125,8 @@ Octave TeXInfo manual shows clean TeXInfo structure
 @setfilename nco.info
 
 @c Define edition, date, ...
-@set nco-edition 5.0.7
-@set doc-edition 5.0.7
+@set nco-edition 5.0.8-alpha01
+@set doc-edition 5.0.8-alpha01
 @set copyright-years 1995--2022
 @set update-year 2022
 @set update-date 2 May 2022
diff --git a/src/nco/nco.h b/src/nco/nco.h
index ab42a9b..38e6790 100644
--- a/src/nco/nco.h
+++ b/src/nco/nco.h
@@ -369,17 +369,17 @@ extern "C" {
 # define NCO_VERSION_MINOR 0
 #endif /* !NCO_VERSION_MINOR */
 #ifndef NCO_VERSION_PATCH
-# define NCO_VERSION_PATCH 7
+# define NCO_VERSION_PATCH 8
 #endif /* !NCO_VERSION_PATCH */
 #ifndef NCO_VERSION_NOTE
-# define NCO_VERSION_NOTE "" /* Blank for final versions, non-blank (e.g., "-beta37") for pre-release versions */
+# define NCO_VERSION_NOTE "-alpha01" /* Blank for final versions, non-blank (e.g., "-beta37") for pre-release versions */
 #endif /* !NCO_VERSION_NOTE */
 #ifndef NCO_LIB_VERSION
   /* Define NC_LIB_VERSION as three-digit number for arithmetic comparisons by CPP */
 # define NCO_LIB_VERSION ( NCO_VERSION_MAJOR * 100 + NCO_VERSION_MINOR * 10 + NCO_VERSION_PATCH )
 #endif /* !NCO_LIB_VERSION */
 #ifndef NCO_VERSION
-# define NCO_VERSION "5.0.7"
+# define NCO_VERSION "5.0.8-alpha01"
 #endif /* !NCO_VERSION */
 
 /* Compatibility tokens new to netCDF4 netcdf.h: */
diff --git a/src/nco/nco_scm.c b/src/nco/nco_scm.c
index 37417f7..0548717 100644
--- a/src/nco/nco_scm.c
+++ b/src/nco/nco_scm.c
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ nco_nmn_get(void) /* [fnc] Return mnemonic that describes current NCO version */
   /* Purpose: Return mnemonic describing current NCO version 
      20191221: ncremap/ncclimo print left quote and first word of this string, so one-word strings look best 
      20200117: fixed this limitation, multi-word versions work fine */
-  return "Mariupol";
+  return "QuickBlade";
 } /* !nco_nmn_get() */
 
 void