diff --git a/res/cmake/dep/cppdict.cmake b/res/cmake/dep/cppdict.cmake
index 44b5fdedc..87173652c 100644
--- a/res/cmake/dep/cppdict.cmake
+++ b/res/cmake/dep/cppdict.cmake
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 
 
-set(CPPDICT_SRCDIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/subprojects/cppdict)
-set(CPPDICT_VERSION master)
-phare_github_get_or_update(cppdict ${CPPDICT_SRCDIR} LaboratoryOfPlasmaPhysics/cppdict ${CPPDICT_VERSION})
+if(NOT DEFINED PHARE_CPPDICT_VERION)
+  SET(PHARE_CPPDICT_VERION "superserial")
+endif()
 
+set(CPPDICT_SRCDIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/subprojects/cppdict)
+# phare_github_get_or_update(cppdict ${CPPDICT_SRCDIR} LaboratoryOfPlasmaPhysics/cppdict ${PHARE_CPPDICT_VERION})
+phare_github_get_or_update(cppdict ${CPPDICT_SRCDIR} PhilipDeegan/cppdict ${PHARE_CPPDICT_VERION})
diff --git a/res/cmake/dep/highfive.cmake b/res/cmake/dep/highfive.cmake
index b74081c68..3bb5164df 100644
--- a/res/cmake/dep/highfive.cmake
+++ b/res/cmake/dep/highfive.cmake
@@ -3,10 +3,13 @@
 set (PHARE_HAS_HIGHFIVE "0")
 if(HighFive)
 
+  if(NOT DEFINED PHARE_HIGHFIVE_VERSION)
+    SET(PHARE_HIGHFIVE_VERSION "master")
+  endif()
+
   set (HIGHFIVE_SRC ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/subprojects/highfive)
-  set (HIGHFIVE_VERSION master)
 
-  phare_github_get_or_update(HighFive ${HIGHFIVE_SRC} BlueBrain/HighFive ${HIGHFIVE_VERSION})
+  phare_github_get_or_update(HighFive ${HIGHFIVE_SRC} BlueBrain/HighFive ${PHARE_HIGHFIVE_VERSION})
 
   include_directories(
     ${HIGHFIVE_SRC}/include
diff --git a/res/cmake/dep/pybind.cmake b/res/cmake/dep/pybind.cmake
index fb2e90135..b74ab9ac4 100644
--- a/res/cmake/dep/pybind.cmake
+++ b/res/cmake/dep/pybind.cmake
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ function(get_pybind)
     set (PHARE_FLAGS ${PHARE_FLAGS} -fsized-deallocation)
   endif()
 
+  if(NOT DEFINED PHARE_PYBIND11_VERSION)
+    SET(PHARE_PYBIND11_VERSION "master")
+  endif()
+
   message("downloading subproject pybind11")
   set(PYBIND11_SRCDIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/subprojects/pybind11)
   set(PYBIND11_VERSION master)
diff --git a/res/cmake/dep/samrai.cmake b/res/cmake/dep/samrai.cmake
index d4cc3354f..d90f2a86b 100644
--- a/res/cmake/dep/samrai.cmake
+++ b/res/cmake/dep/samrai.cmake
@@ -10,11 +10,15 @@ if (NOT SAMRAI_FOUND)
   if(DEFINED SAMRAI_ROOT)
     find_package(SAMRAI PATHS ${SAMRAI_ROOT} REQUIRED)
   else()
-    set(SAMRAI_VERSION develop)
+
+    if(NOT DEFINED PHARE_SAMRAI_VERSION)
+      SET(PHARE_SAMRAI_VERSION "develop")
+    endif()
+
     set(SAMRAI_SRCDIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/subprojects/samrai)
     set(SAMRAI_BIN ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/subprojects/samrai)
 
-    phare_github_get_or_update(SAMRAI ${SAMRAI_SRCDIR} LLNL/SAMRAI ${SAMRAI_VERSION})
+    phare_github_get_or_update(SAMRAI ${SAMRAI_SRCDIR} LLNL/SAMRAI ${PHARE_SAMRAI_VERSION})
 
     if (NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "Release")
       # enable samrai assertions if not in release mode
diff --git a/res/cmake/release.cmake b/res/cmake/release.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a479f4174
--- /dev/null
+++ b/res/cmake/release.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+
+# https://github.com/LLNL/SAMRAI/releases/tag/v-4-3-0
+SET(PHARE_SAMRAI_VERSION "v4.3.0")
+
+# https://github.com/pybind/pybind11/releases/tag/v2.13.6
+SET(PHARE_PYBIND11_VERSION "v2.13.6")
+
+# https://github.com/BlueBrain/HighFive/releases/tag/v2.10.0
+SET(PHARE_HIGHFIVE_VERSION "v2.10.0")
+
+# https://github.com/LaboratoryOfPlasmaPhysics/cppdict/releases/tag/v1.0.0
+SET(PHARE_CPPDICT_VERION "v1.0.0")
diff --git a/src/initializer/data_provider.hpp b/src/initializer/data_provider.hpp
index c48f31a6e..91fe976ac 100644
--- a/src/initializer/data_provider.hpp
+++ b/src/initializer/data_provider.hpp
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 #include "core/def.hpp"
 #include "core/utilities/span.hpp"
 
+#include "cppdict/include/dict/exp/serializer.hpp"
+
 namespace PHARE
 {
 namespace initializer
@@ -52,6 +54,25 @@ namespace initializer
                                     std::size_t, std::optional<std::size_t>, std::string,
                                     InitFunction<1>, InitFunction<2>, InitFunction<3>>;
 
+    void inline dump_phare_dict(PHAREDict const& dict, std::string const& filename)
+    {
+        using Serializer
+            = cppdict::DictSerializer<bool, int, std::vector<int>, double, std::vector<double>,
+                                      std::size_t, std::optional<std::size_t>, std::string,
+                                      InitFunction<1>, InitFunction<2>, InitFunction<3>>;
+
+        Serializer{filename}(dict);
+    }
+
+    auto inline load_phare_dict(std::string const& filename)
+    {
+        using Deserializer
+            = cppdict::DictDeSerializer<bool, int, std::vector<int>, double, std::vector<double>,
+                                        std::size_t, std::optional<std::size_t>, std::string,
+                                        InitFunction<1>, InitFunction<2>, InitFunction<3>>;
+        return Deserializer{filename}();
+    }
+
 
     class PHAREDictHandler
     {
@@ -69,6 +90,14 @@ namespace initializer
             return *phareDict;
         }
 
+        void dump(std::string const& filename) const { dump_phare_dict(*phareDict, filename); }
+
+        static auto& load(std::string const& filename)
+        {
+            INSTANCE().phareDict = std::make_unique<PHAREDict>();       // reset
+            return (*INSTANCE().phareDict = load_phare_dict(filename)); // ?
+        }
+
     private:
         PHAREDictHandler() = default;
         std::unique_ptr<PHAREDict> phareDict;
diff --git a/tests/initializer/phare_dict.cpp b/tests/initializer/phare_dict.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..24928e3c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/initializer/phare_dict.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+
+#include "phare_core.hpp"
+
+#include "core/numerics/ion_updater/ion_updater.hpp"
+#include "tests/core/data/vecfield/test_vecfield_fixtures.hpp"
+#include "tests/core/data/tensorfield/test_tensorfield_fixtures.hpp"
+#include "tests/initializer/init_functions.hpp"
+
+using namespace PHARE::initializer::test_fn::func_1d;
+using InitFunctionT = PHARE::initializer::InitFunction<1>;
+
+PHARE::initializer::PHAREDict createDict()
+{
+    PHARE::initializer::PHAREDict dict;
+    dict["ions"]["nbrPopulations"] = std::size_t{2};
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["name"]   = std::string{"protons"};
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["mass"]   = 1.;
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["name"]
+        = std::string{"MaxwellianParticleInitializer"};
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["density"] = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(density);
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["bulk_velocity_x"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vx);
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["bulk_velocity_y"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vy);
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["bulk_velocity_z"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vz);
+
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["thermal_velocity_x"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vthx);
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["thermal_velocity_y"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vthy);
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["thermal_velocity_z"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vthz);
+
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["nbrPartPerCell"] = int{100};
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["charge"]         = -1.;
+    dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["basis"]          = std::string{"Cartesian"};
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["name"] = std::string{"alpha"};
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["mass"] = 1.;
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["name"]
+        = std::string{"MaxwellianParticleInitializer"};
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["density"] = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(density);
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["bulk_velocity_x"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vx);
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["bulk_velocity_y"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vy);
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["bulk_velocity_z"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vz);
+
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["thermal_velocity_x"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vthx);
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["thermal_velocity_y"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vthy);
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["thermal_velocity_z"]
+        = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(vthz);
+
+
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["nbrPartPerCell"] = int{100};
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["charge"]         = -1.;
+    dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["basis"]          = std::string{"Cartesian"};
+
+    dict["electromag"]["name"]             = std::string{"EM"};
+    dict["electromag"]["electric"]["name"] = std::string{"E"};
+    dict["electromag"]["magnetic"]["name"] = std::string{"B"};
+
+    dict["electromag"]["magnetic"]["initializer"]["x_component"] = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(bx);
+    dict["electromag"]["magnetic"]["initializer"]["y_component"] = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(by);
+    dict["electromag"]["magnetic"]["initializer"]["z_component"] = static_cast<InitFunctionT>(bz);
+
+    dict["electrons"]["pressure_closure"]["name"] = std::string{"isothermal"};
+    dict["electrons"]["pressure_closure"]["Te"]   = 0.12;
+
+    return dict;
+}
+
+
+
+int main(int argc, char** argv)
+{
+    std::string const filename = "pharedict.dat";
+    PHARE::initializer::dump_phare_dict(createDict(), filename);
+    // auto const dict = PHARE::initializer::load_phare_dict(filename);
+
+    auto const dict = PHARE::initializer::PHAREDictHandler::load(filename);
+
+    int r = 0;
+
+    r += dict["ions"]["nbrPopulations"].to<std::size_t>() != 2;
+
+    r += dict["ions"]["pop0"]["particle_initializer"]["nbrPartPerCell"].to<int>() != 100;
+    r += dict["ions"]["pop1"]["particle_initializer"]["nbrPartPerCell"].to<int>() != 100;
+
+    r += dict["electromag"]["magnetic"]["initializer"]["x_component"].isValue(); // NOT SERIALIZABLE
+
+    r += dict["electrons"]["pressure_closure"]["Te"].to<double>() != 0.12;
+
+    return r;
+}