diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 9b859723..dbba8c05 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
-node_modules
-dist
+/node_modules
+/dist
 
-.vscode-test
+/.vscode-test
 
-test/__*
+/test/__*
 
-*.vsix
\ No newline at end of file
+/meta.json
+/LICENSES.txt
+
+/*.vsix
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/build.js b/build.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ede5efc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build.js
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2023 Katsute <https://github.com/Katsute>
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+const fs = require("fs");
+const path = require("path");
+const glob = require("glob");
+
+const mp = path.join(__dirname, "meta.json");
+
+const meta = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(mp, "utf-8"));
+
+let files = [];
+
+// glob all potential license files
+for(const dep of Object.keys(meta.inputs)
+                       .filter(k => k.startsWith("node_modules/"))
+                       .map(p => p.split('/')[1])
+                       .filter((p, i, self) => self.indexOf(p) === i)
+                       .sort((a, b) => a.length - b.length)){
+    for(const license of glob.sync(`node_modules/${dep}/**/LICENSE*`, {nodir: true, nocase: true}).map(p => p.replace(/\\/g, '/'))){
+        files.push(license);
+    }
+}
+
+let licenses = {};
+
+// sort so top level (newer) dependency licenses overwrite transient (potentially older) dependency licenses
+for(const license of files.sort((a, b) => b.length - a.length)){
+    const name = license.split("node_modules").splice(-1)[0].split('/').slice(0, -1).join('/').substring(1);
+    licenses[name] = fs.readFileSync(license, "utf-8").trim();
+}
+
+let out = "# Licenses\n\n---";
+
+// write sorted licenses
+for(const k of Object.keys(licenses).sort()){
+    out += `\n\n# ${k}`;
+    out += `\n\n${licenses[k]}`;
+}
+
+fs.writeFileSync(path.join(__dirname, "LICENSES.txt"), out, "utf-8");
+fs.rmSync(mp);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 78468d86..fca8f9ea 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -312,7 +312,9 @@
         "update": "npm update -D && npm i --package-lock --ignore-scripts && npm run prune",
         "// -- build -- //": "",
         "vscode:prepublish": "npm run prepare",
-        "build": "esbuild src/extension.ts --bundle --outfile=dist/index.js --external:vscode --format=cjs --platform=node --minify --legal-comments=none",
+        "build:esbuild": "esbuild src/extension.ts --bundle --outfile=dist/index.js --external:vscode --format=cjs --platform=node --minify --legal-comments=none --metafile=meta.json",
+        "build:post": "node build.js",
+        "build": "npm run build:esbuild && npm run build:post",
         "prepare": "npm run clean && npm run build",
         "// -- deploy -- //": "",
         "package": "vsce package",