diff --git a/news/create-app.rst b/news/create-app.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..238e7f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/create-app.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+**Added:**
+
+* Add CLI to return diffpy.cmi version
+
+**Changed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Deprecated:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Removed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Security:**
+
+* <news item>
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 00e749b..7e6df7c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ include = ["*"]  # package names should match these glob patterns (["*"] by defa
 exclude = []  # exclude packages matching these glob patterns (empty by default)
 namespaces = false  # to disable scanning PEP 420 namespaces (true by default)
 
+[project.scripts]
+diffpy-cmi = "diffpy.cmi.app:main"
+
 [tool.setuptools.dynamic]
 dependencies = {file = ["requirements/pip.txt"]}
 
diff --git a/src/diffpy/cmi/__init__.py b/src/diffpy/cmi/__init__.py
index 073d76e..436f6a8 100644
--- a/src/diffpy/cmi/__init__.py
+++ b/src/diffpy/cmi/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@
 # See LICENSE.rst for license information.
 #
 ##############################################################################
-"""Complex modeling infrastructure: a modulare framework for multi-modal modeling of scientific data."""
+"""
+Complex modeling infrastructure: a modulare framework for multi-modal
+modeling of scientific data.
+"""
 
 # package version
 from diffpy.cmi.version import __version__  # noqa
diff --git a/src/diffpy/cmi/app.py b/src/diffpy/cmi/app.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d3e9277
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/diffpy/cmi/app.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import getopt
+import sys
+
+
+def usage():
+    """Print short help message."""
+    print(
+        """\
+
+DiffPy-CMI is our complex modeling framework. It is a highly flexible library
+of Python modules for robust modeling of nanostructures in crystals,
+nanomaterials, and amorphous materials.
+
+Docs: https://www.diffpy.org/diffpy.cmi
+
+Usage:
+    diffpy-cmi [--version] [--help]
+
+Options:
+    -V, --version     Show version and exit
+    -h, --help        Show this message and exit
+"""
+    )
+
+
+def version():
+    from diffpy.cmi.version import __version__
+
+    print(f"diffpy-cmi {__version__}")
+
+
+def main():
+    try:
+        opts, args = getopt.gnu_getopt(sys.argv[1:], "hV", ["help", "version"])
+    except getopt.GetoptError as err:
+        print(f"Error: {err}", file=sys.stderr)
+        usage()
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    for opt, _ in opts:
+        if opt in ("-h", "--help"):
+            usage()
+            return
+        elif opt in ("-V", "--version"):
+            version()
+            return
+
+    # Default behavior (if no arguments)
+    usage()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()