diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index e1d9df8a..55a83dcd 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -1,293 +1,419 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-# Minimum Software Versions
-REQ_DOCKER_VERSION=18.2.0
-REQ_PYTHON_VERSION=3.6.9
-
-PYTHON_CMD=python3
-
-sys_arch=$(uname -m)
-
-while test $# -gt 0
-do
-    case "$1" in
-        --no-ask) NOASKCONFIRM="true"
-            ;;
-        --*) echo "bad option $1"
-            ;;
-    esac
-    shift
-done
-
-echo "IOTstack Installation"
-if [ "$EUID" -eq "0" ]; then
-  echo "Please do not run as root"
-  exit
+echo "                                         "
+echo "  _____ ____ _______  _             _    "
+echo " |_   _/ __ \\__   __|| | installer | |   "
+echo "   | || |  | | | |___| |_ __ _  ___| | __"
+echo "   | || |  | | | / __| __/ _\` |/ __| |/ /"
+echo "  _| || |__| | | \\__ \\ || (_| | (__|   < "
+echo " |_____\\____/  |_|___/\\__\\__,_|\\___|_|\\_\\"
+echo "                                         "
+echo "                                         "
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+# The intention of this script is that it should be able to be run
+# multiple times WITHOUT doing any harm. If you propose changes, please
+# make sure you test the script in both a "green fields" system AND on
+# a working system where docker, docker-compose and IOTstack are already
+# installed.
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# overuse of sudo is a very common problem among new IOTstack users
+[ "$EUID" -eq 0 ] && echo "This script should NOT be run using sudo" && exit 1
+
+# the name of this script is
+SCRIPT=$(basename "$0")
+
+# this script should be run without arguments
+[ $# -ne 0 ] && echo "$SCRIPT parameter(s) $@ ignored"
+
+# assumption(s) which can be overridden
+IOTSTACK=${IOTSTACK:-"$HOME/IOTstack"}
+
+# form absolute path
+IOTSTACK=$(realpath "$IOTSTACK")
+
+# derived path(s) - note that the menu knows about most of these so
+# they can't just be changed without a lot of care.
+IOTSTACK_ENV="$IOTSTACK/.env"
+IOTSTACK_MENU_REQUIREMENTS="$IOTSTACK/requirements-menu.txt"
+IOTSTACK_MENU_VENV_DIR="$IOTSTACK/.virtualenv-menu"
+IOTSTACK_INSTALLER_HINT="$IOTSTACK/.new_install"
+
+# the expected installation location of docker-compose-plugin is
+COMPOSE_PLUGIN_PATH="/usr/libexec/docker/cli-plugins/docker-compose"
+
+# the default location of a symlink in the PATH pointing to the above is
+COMPOSE_SYMLINK_PATH="/usr/local/bin/docker-compose"
+
+# add these to /boot/cmdline.txt (if it exists)
+CMDLINE_OPTIONS="cgroup_memory=1 cgroup_enable=memory"
+
+# dependencies installed via apt
+APT_DEPENDENCIES="curl git jq python3-pip python3-dev python3-virtualenv uuid-runtime whiptail"
+
+# minimum version requirements
+DOCKER_VERSION_MINIMUM="24"
+COMPOSE_VERSION_MINIMUM="2.20"
+PYTHON_VERSION_MINIMUM="3.9"
+
+# best-practice for group membership
+DESIRED_GROUPS="docker bluetooth"
+
+# what to do at script completion (reboot takes precedence)
+REBOOT_REQUIRED=false
+LOGOUT_REQUIRED=false
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+#						Check script dependencies
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+echo -e -n "\nChecking operating-system environment - "
+# This script assumes apt and dpkg are available. That's more-or-less
+# the same as saying Debian oe Debian-derived. If apt and/or dpkg are
+# missing then there's not much that can be done.
+if [ -z $(which apt) -o -z $(which dpkg) ] ; then
+	echo "fail"
+	unset ID
+	[ -f "/etc/os-release" ] && eval $(grep "^ID=" /etc/os-release)
+	if [ "$ID" = "debian" ] ; then
+		echo "This system looks like it is based on Debian but seems to be missing"
+		echo "some key utilities (apt and/or dpkg). That suggests something is wrong."
+		echo "This script can't proceed until those issues are resolved."
+	else
+		echo "Some key utilities that are needed by this script seem to be missing"
+		echo "from this system. Both the Advanced Package Tool (apt) and the Debian"
+		echo "Package Manager (dpkg) are core components of Debian and Debian-derived"
+		echo "distributions like Raspberry Pi OS (aka Raspbian). It looks like you"
+		echo "might be trying to install IOTstack on a system which isn't based on"
+		echo "Debian. IOTstack has only ever been tested on Debian-based distributions"
+		echo "and is not qualified for other Linux or Unix distributions. This script"
+		echo "can't proceed."
+	fi
+	# direct exit - not via handle_exit()
+	exit 1
+else
+	echo "pass"
 fi
 
-function command_exists() {
-	command -v "$@" > /dev/null 2>&1
-}
 
-function minimum_version_check() {
-	# Usage: minimum_version_check required_version current_major current_minor current_build
-	# Example: minimum_version_check "1.2.3" 1 2 3
-	REQ_MIN_VERSION_MAJOR=$(echo "$1"| cut -d' ' -f 2 | cut -d'.' -f 1)
-	REQ_MIN_VERSION_MINOR=$(echo "$1"| cut -d' ' -f 2 | cut -d'.' -f 2)
-	REQ_MIN_VERSION_BUILD=$(echo "$1"| cut -d' ' -f 2 | cut -d'.' -f 3)
-
-	CURR_VERSION_MAJOR=$2
-	CURR_VERSION_MINOR=$3
-	CURR_VERSION_BUILD=$4
-	
-	VERSION_GOOD="Unknown"
-
-	if [ -z "$CURR_VERSION_MAJOR" ]; then
-		echo "$VERSION_GOOD"
-		return 1
-	fi
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+#					script memory (exit conditions)
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-	if [ -z "$CURR_VERSION_MINOR" ]; then
-		echo "$VERSION_GOOD"
-		return 1
-	fi
+function handle_exit() {
 
-	if [ -z "$CURR_VERSION_BUILD" ]; then
-		echo "$VERSION_GOOD"
-		return 1
-	fi
+	# record the exit condition (if possible)
+	[ -d "$IOTSTACK" ] && echo "$1" >"$IOTSTACK_INSTALLER_HINT"
 
-	if [ "${CURR_VERSION_MAJOR}" -ge $REQ_MIN_VERSION_MAJOR ]; then
-		VERSION_GOOD="true"
-		echo "$VERSION_GOOD"
-		return 0
-	else
-		VERSION_GOOD="false"
-	fi
+	# inform the user
+	echo -n "$SCRIPT completed"
 
-	if [ "${CURR_VERSION_MAJOR}" -ge $REQ_MIN_VERSION_MAJOR ] && \
-		[ "${CURR_VERSION_MINOR}" -ge $REQ_MIN_VERSION_MINOR ]; then
-		VERSION_GOOD="true"
-		echo "$VERSION_GOOD"
-		return 0
-	else
-		VERSION_GOOD="false"
+	# reboot takes precedence over logout
+	if [ "$REBOOT_REQUIRED" = "true" ] ; then
+		echo " - a reboot is required."
+		sleep 2
+		sudo reboot
+	elif [ "$LOGOUT_REQUIRED" = "true" ] ; then
+		echo " - a logout is required."
+		sleep 2
+		kill -HUP "$PPID"
 	fi
 
-	if [ "${CURR_VERSION_MAJOR}" -ge $REQ_MIN_VERSION_MAJOR ] && \
-		[ "${CURR_VERSION_MINOR}" -ge $REQ_MIN_VERSION_MINOR ] && \
-		[ "${CURR_VERSION_BUILD}" -ge $REQ_MIN_VERSION_BUILD ]; then
-		VERSION_GOOD="true"
-		echo "$VERSION_GOOD"
-		return 0
-	else
-		VERSION_GOOD="false"
-	fi
+	# exit as instructed
+	echo ""
+	exit $1
 
-	echo "$VERSION_GOOD"
 }
 
-function user_in_group()
-{
-	if grep -q $1 /etc/group ; then
-		if id -nGz "$USER" | grep -qzxF "$1";	then
-				echo "true"
-		else
-				echo "false"
-		fi
-	else
-		echo "notgroup"
-	fi
-}
 
-function install_python3_and_deps() {
-	CURR_PYTHON_VER="${1:-Unknown}"
-	CURR_VIRTUALENV="${2:-Unknown}"
-  if ([ "$NOASKCONFIRM" == "true" ] ||
-      whiptail --title "Python 3 and virtualenv" --yesno "Python 3.6.9 or later (Current = $CURR_PYTHON_VER) and virtualenv (Installed = $CURR_VIRTUALENV) are required for the main menu. Install these now?" 20 78); then
-    echo "Installing Python3 and virtualenv"
-    sudo apt install -y python3-dev python3-virtualenv
-    if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
-      PYTHON_VERSION_GOOD="true"
-    else
-      echo "Failed to install Python and virtualenv" >&2
-      exit 1
-    fi
-  fi
-}
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+#				IOTstack dependencies installed via apt
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function install_docker() {
-  if command_exists docker; then
-    echo "Docker already installed" >&2
-  else
-    echo "Install Docker" >&2
-    curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
-    sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
-  fi
-
-  if command_exists docker-compose; then
-    echo "docker-compose already installed" >&2
-  else
-    echo "Install docker-compose" >&2
-    sudo apt install -y docker-compose
-  fi
-
-	echo "" >&2
-	echo "You should now restart your system" >&2
-}
+echo -e "\nUpdating Advanced Package Tool (apt) caches"
+sudo apt update
 
-function update_docker() {
-	sudo apt upgrade docker docker-compose
-}
+echo -e "\nInstalling/updating IOTstack dependencies"
+sudo apt install -y $APT_DEPENDENCIES
 
-function do_python3_checks() {
-	VIRTUALENV_GOOD="false"
-	if command_exists virtualenv; then
-		VIRTUALENV_GOOD="true"
-		echo "Python virtualenv found." >&2
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+#						docker + compose installation
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# is docker installed?
+if [ -z $(which docker) ] ; then
+	# no! use the convenience script
+	echo -e "\nInstalling docker and docker-compose-plugin using the 'convenience script'"
+	echo "from https://get.docker.com ..."
+	curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sudo sh
+	if [ $? -eq 0 ] ; then
+		echo -e "\nInstallation of docker and docker-compose-plugin completed normally."
+		REBOOT_REQUIRED=true
+	else
+		echo -e "\nThe 'convenience script' returned an error. Unable to proceed."
+		handle_exit 1
 	fi
-	PYTHON_VERSION_GOOD="false"
-	if command_exists $PYTHON_CMD; then
-		PYTHON_VERSION=$($PYTHON_CMD --version 2>/dev/null)
-		PYTHON_VERSION_MAJOR=$(echo "$PYTHON_VERSION"| cut -d' ' -f 2 | cut -d' ' -f 2 | cut -d'.' -f 1)
-		PYTHON_VERSION_MINOR=$(echo "$PYTHON_VERSION"| cut -d' ' -f 2 | cut -d'.' -f 2)
-		PYTHON_VERSION_BUILD=$(echo "$PYTHON_VERSION"| cut -d' ' -f 2 | cut -d'.' -f 3)
-
-		printf "Python Version: '${PYTHON_VERSION:-Unknown}'. "
-		if [ "$(minimum_version_check $REQ_PYTHON_VERSION $PYTHON_VERSION_MAJOR $PYTHON_VERSION_MINOR $PYTHON_VERSION_BUILD)" == "true" -a "$VIRTUALENV_GOOD" == "true" ]; then
-			PYTHON_VERSION_GOOD="true"
-			echo "Python and virtualenv is up to date." >&2
-		else
-			echo "Python is outdated or virtualenv is missing" >&2
-			install_python3_and_deps "$PYTHON_VERSION_MAJOR.$PYTHON_VERSION_MINOR.$PYTHON_VERSION_BUILD" "$VIRTUALENV_GOOD"
-			return 1
-		fi
+else
+	echo -e -n "\nDocker is already installed - checking your version - "
+	DOCKER_VERSION_INSTALLED="$(docker version -f "{{.Server.Version}}")"
+	if dpkg --compare-versions "$DOCKER_VERSION_MINIMUM" "gt" "$DOCKER_VERSION_INSTALLED" ; then
+		echo "fail"
+		echo "You have an obsolete version of Docker installed:"
+		echo "      Minimum version required: $DOCKER_VERSION_MINIMUM"
+		echo "   Version currently installed: $DOCKER_VERSION_INSTALLED"
+		echo "Try updating your system by running:"
+		echo "   \$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y"
+		echo "   \$ docker version -f {{.Server.Version}}"
+		echo "If the version number changes, try re-running this script. If the"
+		echo "version number does not change, you may need to uninstall both"
+		echo "docker and docker-compose. If any containers are running, stop"
+		echo "them, then run:"
+		echo "   \$ sudo systemctl stop docker.service"
+		echo "   \$ sudo systemctl disable docker.service"
+		echo "   \$ sudo apt -y purge docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose"
+		echo "   \$ sudo apt -y autoremove"
+		echo "   \$ sudo reboot"
+		echo "and then re-run this script after the reboot."
+		handle_exit 1
 	else
-		install_python3_and_deps
-		return 1
+		echo "pass"
 	fi
+fi
+
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+#							group memberships
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function should_add_user_to_group()
+{
+	# sense group does not exist
+	grep -q "^$1:" /etc/group || return 1
+	# sense group exists and user is already a member
+	groups | grep -q "\b$1\b" && return 1
+	# group exists, user should be added
+	return 0
 }
 
-function do_env_setup() {
-	echo "Setting up environment:"
-	if [[ ! "$(user_in_group bluetooth)" == "notgroup" ]] && [[ ! "$(user_in_group bluetooth)" == "true" ]]; then
-    echo "User is NOT in 'bluetooth' group. Adding:" >&2
-    echo "sudo usermod -G bluetooth -a $USER" >&2
-		sudo usermod -G "bluetooth" -a $USER
+# check group membership
+echo -e -n "\nChecking group memberships"
+for GROUP in $DESIRED_GROUPS ; do
+	echo -n " - $GROUP "
+	if should_add_user_to_group $GROUP ; then
+		echo -n "adding $USER"
+		sudo /usr/sbin/usermod -G $GROUP -a $USER
+		LOGOUT_REQUIRED=true
+	else
+		echo -n "pass"
 	fi
+done
+echo ""
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+#					docker-compose setup/verification
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Correct installation of docker-compose is defined as the result of
+# `which docker-compose` (typically $COMPOSE_SYMLINK_PATH) being a
+# symlink pointing to the expected location of docker-compose-plugin as
+# it is installed by the convenience script ($COMPOSE_PLUGIN_PATH).
+# Alternatively, if `which docker-compose` returns null but the plugin
+# is in the expected location, the necessary symlink can be created by
+# this script and then docker-compose will be installed "correctly".
+
+function is_running_OS_release() {
+	unset VERSION_CODENAME
+	[ -f "/etc/os-release" ] && eval $(grep "^VERSION_CODENAME=" /etc/os-release)
+	[ "$VERSION_CODENAME" = "$1" ] && return 0
+	return 1
+}
 
-	if [ ! "$(user_in_group docker)" == "true" ]; then
-    echo "User is NOT in 'docker' group. Adding:" >&2
-    echo "sudo usermod -G docker -a $USER" >&2
-		sudo usermod -G "docker" -a $USER
-	fi
+function is_python_script() {
+	[ $(file -b "$1" | grep -c "^Python script") -gt 0 ] && return 0
+	return 1
 }
 
-function do_docker_checks() {
-	if command_exists docker; then
-		DOCKER_VERSION_GOOD="false"
-		DOCKER_VERSION=$(docker version -f "{{.Server.Version}}")
-		if [ -z "$DOCKER_VERSION" ]; then
-			echo "Error getting docker version. Error when running docker command. Check that docker is installed correctly."
+# presume docker-compose not installed correctly
+COMPOSE_INSTALLED_CORRECTLY=false
+
+# search for docker-compose in the PATH
+COMPOSE_CMD_PATH=$(which docker-compose)
+
+# is docker-compose in the PATH?
+echo -e -n "\nChecking whether docker-compose is installed correctly - "
+if [ -n "$COMPOSE_CMD_PATH" ] ; then
+	# yes! is it a symlink and does the symlink point to a file?
+	if [ -L "$COMPOSE_CMD_PATH" -a -f "$COMPOSE_CMD_PATH" ] ; then
+		# yes! fetch the inode of what the link points to
+		COMPOSE_CMD_INODE=$(stat -c "%i" -L "$COMPOSE_CMD_PATH")
+		# does the plugin exist at the expected path?
+		if [ -f "$COMPOSE_PLUGIN_PATH" ] ; then
+			# yes! fetch the plugin's inode
+			COMPOSE_PLUGIN_INODE=$(stat -c "%i" "$COMPOSE_PLUGIN_PATH")
+			# are the inodes the same?
+			if [ $COMPOSE_CMD_INODE -eq $COMPOSE_PLUGIN_INODE ] ; then
+				# yes! thus docker-compose is installed correctly
+				COMPOSE_INSTALLED_CORRECTLY=true
+			fi
 		fi
-		DOCKER_VERSION_MAJOR=$(echo "$DOCKER_VERSION"| cut -d'.' -f 1)
-		DOCKER_VERSION_MINOR=$(echo "$DOCKER_VERSION"| cut -d'.' -f 2)
-		DOCKER_VERSION_BUILD=$(echo "$DOCKER_VERSION"| cut -d'.' -f 3)
-		DOCKER_VERSION_BUILD=$(echo "$DOCKER_VERSION_BUILD"| cut -f1 -d"-")
-		DOCKER_VERSION_BUILD=$(echo "$DOCKER_VERSION_BUILD"| cut -f1 -d"+")
-
-		if [ "$(minimum_version_check $REQ_DOCKER_VERSION $DOCKER_VERSION_MAJOR $DOCKER_VERSION_MINOR $DOCKER_VERSION_BUILD )" == "true" ]; then
-			[ -f .docker_outofdate ] && rm .docker_outofdate
-			DOCKER_VERSION_GOOD="true"
-			echo "Docker version $DOCKER_VERSION >= $REQ_DOCKER_VERSION. Docker is good to go." >&2
+	fi
+else
+	# no! does the plugin exist at the expected location?
+	if [ -f "$COMPOSE_PLUGIN_PATH" ] ; then
+		# yes! so, no command, but plugin present. Fix with symlink
+		sudo ln -s "$COMPOSE_PLUGIN_PATH" "$COMPOSE_SYMLINK_PATH"
+		# and now compose is installed correctly
+		COMPOSE_INSTALLED_CORRECTLY=true
+	else
+		echo "fail"
+		echo "Your system has docker installed but doesn't seem to have either"
+		echo "docker-compose or docker-compose-plugin. Try running:"
+		echo "   \$ sudo apt install -y docker-compose-plugin"
+		echo "and then try re-running this script."
+		handle_exit 1
+	fi
+fi
+
+# is docker-compose installed correctly?
+if [ "$COMPOSE_INSTALLED_CORRECTLY" = "true" ] ; then
+	echo "pass"
+	echo -e -n "\nChecking your version of docker-compose - "
+	COMPOSE_VERSION_INSTALLED="$(docker-compose version --short)"
+	if dpkg --compare-versions "$COMPOSE_VERSION_MINIMUM" "gt" "$COMPOSE_VERSION_INSTALLED" ; then
+		echo "fail"
+		echo "You have an obsolete version of docker-compose installed:"
+		echo "      Minimum version required: $COMPOSE_VERSION_MINIMUM"
+		echo "   Version currently installed: $COMPOSE_VERSION_INSTALLED"
+		echo "Try updating your system by running:"
+		echo "   \$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y"
+		echo "and then try re-running this script."
+		handle_exit 1
+	else
+		echo "pass"
+	fi
+else
+	echo "fail"
+	echo "docker-compose is not installed correctly. The most common reason is"
+	echo "having installed docker and docker-compose without using the official"
+	echo "'convenience script'. You may be able to solve this problem by running"
+	if is_python_script "$COMPOSE_CMD_PATH" ; then
+		if is_running_OS_release bookworm ; then
+			echo "   \$ pip3 uninstall -y --break-system-packages docker-compose"
+			echo "   \$ sudo pip3 uninstall -y --break-system-packages docker-compose"
 		else
-      if [ "$NOASKCONFIRM" == "true" ]; then
-        update_docker
-      else
-        if [ ! -f .docker_outofdate ]; then
-          if (whiptail --title "Docker and Docker-Compose Version Issue" --yesno "Docker version is currently $DOCKER_VERSION which is less than $REQ_DOCKER_VERSION consider upgrading or you may experience issues. You will not be prompted again. You can manually upgrade by typing:\n  sudo apt upgrade docker docker-compose\n\nAttempt to upgrade now?" 20 78); then
-            update_docker
-          else
-            touch .docker_outofdate
-          fi
-        fi
-      fi
+			echo "   \$ pip3 uninstall -y docker-compose"
+			echo "   \$ sudo pip3 uninstall -y docker-compose"
 		fi
+		echo "   (ignore any errors from those commands)"
 	else
-		[ -f .docker_outofdate ] && rm .docker_outofdate
-		echo "Docker not installed" >&2
-    if [ "$NOASKCONFIRM" == "true" ]; then
-      do_env_setup
-      install_docker
-    else
-      if [ ! -f .docker_notinstalled ]; then
-        if (whiptail --title "Docker and Docker-Compose" --yesno "Docker is not currently installed, and is required to run IOTstack. Would you like to install docker and docker-compose now?\nYou will not be prompted again." 20 78); then
-            [ -f .docker_notinstalled ] && rm .docker_notinstalled
-            do_env_setup
-            install_docker
-          else
-            touch .docker_notinstalled
-        fi
-      fi
-    fi
+		echo "   \$ sudo apt purge -y docker-compose"
 	fi
-}
-
-function do_env_checks() {
-	GROUPSGOOD=0
+	echo "and then try re-running this script."
+	handle_exit 1
+fi
 
-	if [[ ! "$(user_in_group bluetooth)" == "notgroup" ]] && [[ ! "$(user_in_group bluetooth)" == "true" ]]; then
-	  GROUPSGOOD=1
-    echo "User is NOT in 'bluetooth' group" >&2
-	fi
 
-	if [[ ! "$(user_in_group docker)" == "true" ]]; then
-	  GROUPSGOOD=1
-    echo "User is NOT in 'docker' group" >&2
-	fi
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+#							Clone IOTstack repo
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-	if [ "$GROUPSGOOD" == 1 ]; then
-		echo "!! You might experience issues with docker or bluetooth. To fix run: ./menu.sh --run-env-setup"
+# does the IOTstack folder already exist?
+if [ ! -d "$IOTSTACK" ] ; then
+	# no! clone from GitHub
+	echo -e "\nCloning the IOTstack repository from GitHub"
+	git clone https://github.com/SensorsIot/IOTstack.git "$IOTSTACK"
+	if [ $? -eq 0 -a -d "$IOTSTACK" ] ; then
+		echo "IOTstack cloned successfully into $IOTSTACK"
+		mkdir -p "$IOTSTACK/backups" "$IOTSTACK/services"
+	else
+		echo "Unable to clone IOTstack (likely a git or network error)"
+		handle_exit 1
 	fi
-}
+else
+	echo -e "\n$IOTSTACK already exists - no need to clone from GitHub"
+fi
 
-function do_kernel_checks() {
-    if ! grep -q "cgroup_memory=1 cgroup_enable=memory" /boot/cmdline.txt; then
-        echo "Kernel cgroups not enabled. Adding kernel parameters." >&2
-        echo "You will need to restart your system before the changes take effect."
-        echo $(cat /boot/cmdline.txt) cgroup_memory=1 cgroup_enable=memory | sudo tee /boot/cmdline.txt
-    fi
-}
+# initialise docker-compose global environment file with system timezone
+if [ ! -f "$IOTSTACK_ENV" ] || [ $(grep -c "^TZ=" "$IOTSTACK_ENV") -eq 0 ] ; then
+	echo "TZ=$(cat /etc/timezone)" >>"$IOTSTACK_ENV"
+fi
 
-touch .new_install
-echo "Enter in the sudo password when prompted, to install dependencies"
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+#								Python support
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-sudo apt-get install git -y
-git clone https://github.com/SensorsIot/IOTstack.git
-cd IOTstack
+# make sure "python" invokes "python3"
+PYTHON_INVOKES=$(update-alternatives --list python 2>/dev/null)
+PYTHON3_PATH=$(which python3)
+if [ "$PYTHON_INVOKES" != "$PYTHON3_PATH" ] ; then
+	echo -e "\nMaking python3 the default"
+	sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python "$PYTHON3_PATH" 1
+fi
 
-if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
-  echo "IOTstack cloned"
+echo -e -n "\nChecking your version of Python - "
+PYTHON_VERSION_INSTALLED="$(python --version)"
+PYTHON_VERSION_INSTALLED="${PYTHON_VERSION_INSTALLED#*Python }"
+if dpkg --compare-versions "$PYTHON_VERSION_MINIMUM" "gt" "$PYTHON_VERSION_INSTALLED" ; then
+	echo "fail"
+	echo "You have an obsolete version of python installed:"
+	echo "      Minimum version required: $PYTHON_VERSION_MINIMUM"
+	echo "   Version currently installed: $PYTHON_VERSION_INSTALLED"
+	echo "Try updating your system by running:"
+	echo "   \$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y"
+	echo "   \$ python --version"
+	echo "If the version number changes, try re-running this script. If not, you"
+	echo "may need to reinstall python3-pip, python3-dev and python3-virtualenv."
+	handle_exit 1
 else
-  echo "Could not find IOTstack directory"
-	exit 5
+	echo "pass"
 fi
 
-do_python3_checks
-do_docker_checks
-echo "Setting up environment:"
-if [[ ! "$(user_in_group bluetooth)" == "notgroup" ]] && [[ ! "$(user_in_group bluetooth)" == "true" ]]; then
-	echo "User is NOT in 'bluetooth' group. Adding:" >&2
-	echo "sudo usermod -G bluetooth -a $USER" >&2
-	echo "You will need to restart your system before the changes take effect."
-	sudo usermod -G "bluetooth" -a $USER
+# implement menu requirements
+if [ -e "$IOTSTACK_MENU_REQUIREMENTS" ] ; then
+	echo -e "\nChecking and updating IOTstack dependencies (pip)" 
+	unset PYTHON_OPTIONS
+	if is_running_OS_release bookworm ; then
+		echo "Note: pip3 installs bypass externally-managed environment check"
+		PYTHON_OPTIONS="--break-system-packages"
+	fi
+	pip3 install -U $PYTHON_OPTIONS -r "$IOTSTACK_MENU_REQUIREMENTS"
 fi
 
-if [ ! "$(user_in_group docker)" == "true" ]; then
-	echo "User is NOT in 'docker' group. Adding:" >&2
-	echo "sudo usermod -G docker -a $USER" >&2
-	echo "You will need to restart your system before the changes take effect."
-	sudo usermod -G "docker" -a $USER
+# trigger re-creation of venv on next menu launch. Strictly speaking,
+# sudo is not required for this but it protects against accidental prior
+# use of sudo when the venv was created
+sudo rm -rf "$IOTSTACK_MENU_VENV_DIR"
+
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+#						Raspberry Pi boot options
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# set cmdline options (if possible - Raspberry Pi dependency)
+TARGET="/boot/cmdline.txt"
+if [ -e "$TARGET" ] ; then
+	echo -e -n "\nChecking Raspberry Pi boot-time options - "
+	unset APPEND
+	for OPTION in $CMDLINE_OPTIONS ; do
+		if [ $(grep -c "$OPTION" "$TARGET") -eq 0 ] ; then
+			APPEND="$APPEND $OPTION"
+		fi
+	done
+	if [ -n "$APPEND" ] ; then
+		echo "appending$APPEND"
+		sudo sed -i.bak "s/$/$APPEND/" "$TARGET"
+		REBOOT_REQUIRED=true
+	else
+		echo "no modifications needed"
+	fi
 fi
-do_env_checks
-do_kernel_checks
+
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+#							normal exit
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+echo "$SCRIPT completed."
+handle_exit 0