diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 85e39a33..5c5bfd78 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import java.text.SimpleDateFormat
+
 // Top-level build file where you can add configuration options common to all sub-projects/modules.
 
 buildscript {
@@ -9,7 +11,7 @@ buildscript {
     // https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/gradle-plugin.html
     ext.version_gradle_tools = "3.1.0"
     // https://developer.android.com/topic/libraries/support-library/revisions.html
-    ext.version_library_appcompat = "27.1.0"
+    ext.version_library_appcompat = "27.1.1"
     // https://github.com/JakeWharton/butterknife/releases
     ext.version_library_butterknife = "8.8.1"
     // https://github.com/guardianproject/NetCipher/releases
@@ -88,3 +90,10 @@ ext.getGitHash = { ->
         return 'unknown'
     }
 }
+@SuppressWarnings(["UnnecessaryQualifiedReference", "SpellCheckingInspection", "GroovyUnusedDeclaration"])
+// Returns the build date in a RFC3339 compatible format. TZ is always converted to UTC
+static String getBuildDate() {
+    final SimpleDateFormat RFC3339_LIKE = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm'Z'")
+    RFC3339_LIKE.setTimeZone(TimeZone.getTimeZone("UTC"))
+    return RFC3339_LIKE.format(new Date())
+}