diff --git a/tools/get_dependencies.sh b/tools/get_dependencies.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..4d26a28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/get_dependencies.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# auto-install dependency packages using the systems package manager.
+# this assumes you have installed or are running as root.
+#
+
+get_fedora_deps()
+{
+ yum install clang llvm-devel automake autogen libtool \
+  libxml2-devel uuid-devel openssl-devel bash
+}
+
+get_freebsd_deps()
+{
+ for pkgname in llvm-devel automake autogen libtool \
+  libxml2 ossp-uuid openssl bash; do
+    echo $pkgname
+    pkg install $pkgname
+ done
+}
+
+get_netbsd_deps()
+{
+ pkgin install clang llvm-devel automake autogen libtool \
+  libxml2-devel uuid-devel openssl-devel bash
+}
+
+get_opensuse_deps()
+{
+ zypper install clang llvm-devel automake autogen libtool \
+  libxml2-devel uuid-devel openssl-devel bash
+}
+
+get_mageia_deps()
+{
+ urpmi ctags
+ urpmi task-c-devel task-c++-devel clang llvm-devel automake autogen libtool \
+  libxml2-dev uuid-dev openssl bash
+}
+
+get_debian_deps()
+{
+ for pkg in build-essential clang llvm-devel automake autogen libtool \
+  libxml2-dev uuid-dev openssl bash; do apt-get -y install $pkg;
+ done
+}
+
+unknown()
+{
+ echo "Unknown system type. Please get dependencies by hand "
+ echo "following README.md. Or update get_dependencies.sh and submit a patch."
+}
+
+if [ -e /etc/issue ]; then
+ if [ "`grep -i ubuntu /etc/issue`" ]; then
+  get_debian_deps
+ elif [ "`grep -i debian /etc/issue`" ]; then
+  get_debian_deps
+ elif [ "`grep -i raspbian /etc/issue`" ]; then
+  get_debian_deps
+ elif [ "`grep -i mint /etc/issue`" ]; then
+  get_debian_deps
+ elif [ "`grep -i suse /etc/issue`" ]; then
+  get_opensuse_deps
+ elif [ "`grep -i fedora /etc/issue`" ]; then
+  get_fedora_deps
+ elif [ "`grep -i red.hat /etc/issue`" ]; then
+  get_fedora_deps
+ elif [ "`grep -i mageia /etc/issue`" ]; then
+  get_mageia_deps
+ else
+  unknown
+ fi
+elif [ "`uname | grep -i freebsd `" ]; then
+ get_freebsd_deps
+elif [ "`uname | grep -i netbsd`" ]; then
+ get_netbsd_deps
+else
+ unknown
+fi
+
+